What a hand-poked tattoo costs depends on three things: size, the amount of detail, and the placement on the body. Every tattoo is handmade and designed custom, so a fixed price list doesn't really exist. What we can do is explain honestly how a price comes together.
What shapes the price?
- Size: a design of a few centimetres takes a very different amount of time than a full forearm piece.
- Detail: fine lines, dotwork shading and small lettering demand precision — and therefore time.
- Placement: on curved or sensitive spots, a needle works slower and more carefully.
Because hand-poke is placed point by point, most of the time goes into the poking itself. A small tattoo easily takes an hour; larger pieces are sometimes spread over several sessions.
Base rate and estimates
Most Dutch studios work with a base rate that covers the fixed costs: sterile needles and ink, hygiene supplies, the design, and the time reserved for you. From there, the price grows with size and detail. Want a concrete estimate? Send a sketch or a short description of your idea and you'll get an honest quote up front — no surprises afterwards.
Why cheap is rarely good
You wear a tattoo for the rest of your life. A strikingly low price means something was cut: hygiene, materials, experience or time. A carefully poked tattoo heals well, fades evenly and stays sharp — which makes it the cheapest tattoo there is, in the end.
Curious what your idea would cost? Request a free estimate via the Handpoked Nederland contact page — Silas is happy to think along about size and placement.