The honest answer is that a tattoo costs what the artist’s time and skill cost, and the range is wide. Soulraven publishes price ranges by size so you can plan before you message.
Soulraven’s published ranges
| Size | Guide | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Tiny | Under 2 inches | US$70 – $100 |
| Small | 3 – 5 inches | US$100 – $250 |
| Medium | 6 – 9 inches | US$250 – $450 |
| Large | 10 inches and up | US$500 – $4,000 |
Prices are quoted in US dollars, Jamaican dollars are accepted, and the ranges are subject to change. In-studio consultations for custom, large and cover-up work are J$2,000.
What moves the price within a range
- Detail. A realistic portrait takes far longer than a bold symbol the same size.
- Placement. Ribs, hands, necks and other awkward areas are slower and harder to work.
- Colour. Saturated colour needs more passes than black and grey.
- Sessions. Large work and cover-ups are planned across sittings, each quoted in advance.
- Cover-ups. They are bigger and denser than a fresh piece of the same subject, so expect the upper part of the range.
How deposits fit in
Every appointment needs a non-refundable 50% deposit, and it is part of the total, not an extra. The balance is paid on the day. Deposits expire after three months and cannot be moved to another design or person.
Why cheap is expensive
A large share of cover-up work exists because of tattoos that were cheap the first time. Thick blown-out lines, patchy shading and crooked lettering cost more to fix than a good tattoo would have cost from the start, and some cannot be fixed at all. The studio’s own advice to clients is blunt: tattoos are art, and no art is cheap. Budget for the best work you can, and if that means waiting and saving, wait.
Getting a real quote
Send the idea, the size in inches, the placement and whether you want black and grey or colour. Simple pieces can be quoted from that; detailed work is quoted at the consultation once the design is clear. Start your tattoo and you will have a number to plan around.
Keep reading
Getting your first tattoo in Jamaica: what to know
Choosing an artist, what a consultation is for, how deposits work and what the day itself feels like, from a Kingston studio that has walked hundreds of people through their first piece.
Planning a large tattoo or sleeve
Concept, flow, sessions, budget and patience: how a sleeve, back piece or chest piece is actually planned and built over months.
How tattoo cover-ups work
What can and cannot be covered, why cover-ups are bigger and darker than people expect, and how the studio plans one across sessions.
Kingston, Jamaica
Have something in mind?
Let’s talk about it. Tell Soulraven the idea, the placement and the size, and send your references in WhatsApp.