“The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of a low price is forgotten” – Benjamin Franklin

How Much Do Tattoos Cost?

Pricing a tattoo boils down to how much time you will spend in the chair. Our artist’s try to average a certain dollar amount per hour. Therefore the number of hours the tattoo will take will translate into the price. This time frame always involves some guess work, as the artist cannot predict unforeseen issues, such as skin that may reject holding ink more than normal, or a clients inability to take the discomfort of tattooing and needing to break often. Bringing reference artwork is a big help to the artist. Sometimes bringing the idea in a clients head to life is more difficult than it sounds. Reference art gives us a starting point to design your tattoo. If you cannot find any art it is not a problem, we have tons of designs on the walls, and the internet is always ready and willing to help out!

Many customers like to “price shop” tattoos. At 717 we are really not interested in hearing about what another shop has quoted you, or how much your buddy that tattoos in his basement charges. We are not in the business of price matching, as we feel our product is well worth the price we offer. We try to discourage against price haggling. If you are not comfortable with the price, we will not be offended. If you have a budget you are trying to work inside, please let us know what it is before you ask for a price. We will do our best to work with you. If we cannot come to an agreement, no harm done. There are many talented artists in Central PA, and hopefully you can find one that will suit your needs.

Pricing tattoos online or over the phone is extremely difficult, especially when it comes to coverups and reworks. If a tattoo artist is quick to price your tattoo online or on the phone without meeting with you or seeing the artwork, you may want to reconsider patronizing that shop. Our goal is to take your idea to a new height, one you may not have imagined. If we priced your tattoo without seeing you or the art, how would we be able to embellish or enrich your design? We prefer to have a consultation, and work out a price that you will understand and find fair.

The most important idea to consider when looking for the right tattoo, is the age old adage, “you get what you pay for”. Please take a look at our portfolios, we feel that the work speaks for itself. What price can you put on a tattoo that will last the rest of your life, one that you will cherish and enjoy for years to come?

Request a Consultation

We get a ton of questions about pricing, so we decided to dedicate a page to our website to try and help people get a consultation for their tattoo through our website.   Please understand that stopping in the shop and meeting with your artist is often required in order for us to quote a price.  All of our artists price their own work, so in order to get a price quote, you will need to get in contact with your preferred artist directly. If you have no artist preference, please stop in at your earliest convenience and speak with whomever is free to help. Your tattoo price will be determined by many factors, some of which include size, placement, detail, saturation, and whether you will need to have the art customized. Our artist’s schedules are available on our Tattoo Portfolio page. You can call or email the artists directly at (ArtistName)@717tattoo.com.   If you would like to use our Request Form below, please be sure to fill in as much information as possible.  Submissions without all the proper information entered can not be properly processed.

All appointments require a $50 deposit, so if you are ready to book with your artist, please stop in or call.  We can take deposits over the phone or you can leave your deposit here in our store

Request and Submit

Please Note: The more information you give us, the better we will be able to adequately estimate your price. Please keep in mind this form is designed to start the consultation process and get you an estimated price for your tattoo.  This is NOT the fastest way to get an appointment.  Please stop in for an appointment, as we do require a deposit.  Allow up to a week for a response.