(A Realistic Breakdown From a Color Realism Artist) People ask this question all the time: “How much does a tattoo cost?” So let’s break it down. First: The Big Picture — What You’re Really Paying For You’re paying for time, skill, and precision , and in realism, those three things matter more than anything. My pricing structure is simple: $1200 Day rate: for full-day sessions $200 Hourly rate: when clients can’t sit a full day or for smaller pieces What Affects Tattoo Cost