Estimate the price, pain and healing time of your next tattoo — by city. Pick a spot on the body and watch everything update at once.
Prices shown pre-tax · From the makers of the TattooLens AR app · Free, no sign-up
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A 2D scale only gets you so far. TattooLens overlays the actual design on your skin in AR — so you know before the needle does.
Most artists in Canada charge by the hour, with a shop minimum for small pieces. Prices are usually quoted before sales tax. The big levers are the artist’s city, the detail of the style, and whether it’s colour or black & grey.
Typical hourly rates by city (CAD). Rates vary by studio reputation and artist demand — use these as a planning range, not a quote.
| City | Typical hourly rate | Shop minimum |
|---|
Other things that move the price: custom design time (drawing before the session), placement on curved or bony areas (slower work), touch-ups (often free within a window), and deposits (usually deducted from the final price, not added on top).
Pain depends on nerve density and how close the spot is to bone. Tap any card to load it into the calculator above.
In Toronto, expect roughly $150–$250 per hour with a shop minimum around $120. A small black & grey piece (under 10 cm) often lands at $150–$300, while a detailed half-sleeve can run into the thousands across multiple sessions. Use the calculator above for an estimate based on your exact size and style.
Most studios apply a minimum charge of roughly $120 regardless of how tiny the design is, because setup, sterilisation and the artist’s time are fixed costs. A simple 5 cm line tattoo usually costs the shop minimum.
Usually not. Studios typically quote the artwork price and sales tax is added at payment, where applicable. Estimates here are shown before tax.
Both. Larger custom work is usually charged hourly, while small or flash designs are often a flat per-piece price. Either way, size and detail are the main drivers of the final cost.
Areas over bone or with thin skin and dense nerves hurt most: ribs, spine, sternum, ankles, feet, hands and the back of the knee or elbow. Fleshier areas like the outer forearm, upper arm and thigh are the most tolerable. The calculator shows a pain estimate for each placement.
The surface usually heals in about 2–3 weeks, while the deeper layers settle over 2–3 months. High-friction spots such as hands, feet and joints can take longer and may need a touch-up.
Yes, tipping is customary here. Around 15–20% of the total is typical for good work, similar to other personal services.
Preview any design on your body in AR before you book.
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