How Much Does a Tattoo Cost?
The short answer: at a quality Sydney studio, most tattoos cost somewhere between $150 for a small piece and $3,000+ for a large custom work, with full sleeves and back pieces running higher over several sessions.
That's the number. The rest of this page explains why a tattoo costs what it does, so you can plan your piece with confidence and know exactly what you're paying for.
Every piece is quoted individually, but here's a realistic guide to what you can expect to pay at a reputable Sydney tattoo studio.
| Tattoo size / type | Typical time | Estimated cost (Sydney) |
|---|---|---|
| Small (coin to palm size, simple linework) | Under 1 hour | $150 - $300 (often the shop minimum) |
| Medium (hand-sized, some detail or colour) | 1 – 3 hours | $300 – $900 |
| Large (half-sleeve, calf or thigh piece) | 4 – 10 hours | $900 – $3,000 |
| Full sleeve | 15 – 40 hours | $3,500 – $10,000+ |
| Back piece | 25 – 60+ hours | $6,000 – $15,000+ |
| Bodysuit (Japanese or large-scale custom) | 100+ hours | Paid session by session over several years |
Estimates only. Your artist will give you a clear quote after your consultation.
How tattoo pricing works at Hibernia
Hourly rates
Most of our work is quoted but the standard hourly rate is around $250/hr. You pay for the time your artist spends tattooing, not for the hours they spend drawing your design beforehand.
Shop minimum
Even the smallest tattoo takes the same setup as a big one: a fully sterilised station, single-use needles, fresh inks and protective barriers. That's why we have a shop minimum of $200.
Day sessions
For large-scale custom work like sleeves and back pieces, many collectors book full-day or half-day sessions at a set rate. It's the most efficient way to build a big piece, and it makes budgeting simple.
Deposits
A deposit secures your booking and comes straight off the price of your final session. It covers your artist's design time and holds your spot in their book. Deposits are non-refundable and 24-hrs notice to cancel or amend your appointment is required.
Pay as you go
Big pieces are paid session by session, not all upfront. You're never locked into a lump sum, and you can space sessions out to suit your budget and your healing.
What affects the cost of a
tattoo?
No two tattoos are priced the same, because no two tattoos are the same. These are the factors that matter most.
Size. Bigger pieces take more hours. Simple as that.
Detail and complexity. Fine shading, intricate linework and layered compositions take longer than bold, open designs.
Colour vs. black and grey. Packing solid colour takes time. A full-colour piece will usually take longer than the same design in black and grey.
Placement. Ribs, hands, feet, necks and other tricky spots need a slower hand and sometimes extra breaks.
Style. A bold traditional tattoo moves differently to a detailed Japanese piece or a delicate fine line design. Each style has its own pace.
Your skin and your sitting. How your skin takes ink and how well you sit both affect session length. We work at a pace that's right for you.
Cover-ups and reworks. Covering or reviving old work takes extra planning and often extra time.
The artist. Experienced artists with years of large-scale work behind them are in demand, and their rates reflect it. You're paying for decades of skill, not just hours in the chair.
Why a cheap tattoo are often the most expensive tattoo
It's tempting to shop around for the lowest price. We get it. But a tattoo is one of the few things you'll buy that stays with you for life.
A rushed or poorly applied tattoo can blur, fade unevenly or heal patchy. Fixing it usually means a cover-up (bigger, darker and more expensive than the original) or laser removal, which costs far more than the tattoo did in the first place.
When you get tattooed at Hibernia, your price includes:
A custom design drawn for you and your body, never copied off the internet
A sterile, hospital-grade environment with single-use needles and strict sterilisation procedures
Artists with real experience across Traditional, Japanese, Neo-Traditional, Blackwork, Fine Line and more…
Honest advice on size, placement and longevity, even if it means talking you into something better
Aftercare guidance and touch-up support so your tattoo heals the way it should
That's the difference between a tattoo you put up with and one you're proud of for decades.
How to get an accurate
quote
The fastest way to know what your tattoo will cost is to talk to us. Here's how it works.
Send us your idea. Use our enquiry form with a short description, a few reference images, the placement and a rough size.
Book a consultation. Come into the shop in Surry Hills or chat with us by video. Your artist will talk through design, size, placement and timing.
Get your quote. You'll get a clear estimate of hours and cost before anything is booked. No surprises.
Lock it in. Pay your deposit, and your artist starts on your custom design.
Interstate or visiting from overseas? Let us know your travel dates and we'll help plan sessions around your trip.
Planning for a bigger
piece
Dreaming of a full sleeve, back piece or Japanese bodysuit? Large-scale work is what many of our collectors come to us for, and it's worth planning properly.
Design the whole piece first. A good sleeve or back piece is designed as one composition, not built from scattered small tattoos.
Budget by session, not by total. Most collectors book a session every 3 to 6 weeks, which spreads the cost naturally.
Allow time to heal. Your artist will space sessions so your skin is ready for the next round.
Choose the right artist for the style. A traditional tattoo specialist and a Japanese tattoo specialist approach a sleeve very differently. Look through portfolios and pick the artist whose work you love.