“How much does it actually cost?” – it’s the first question anyone thinking about a tattoo asks. In a lot of places, the answer changes depending on who’s asking: regular or stranger, local or foreigner. That’s exactly what Electric Tattoo set out to fix. Here, tattoo price in Hanoi runs on one formula, applied the same way to everyone, no matter where you’re from.
This guide breaks down exactly how we price a tattoo – hourly, per design, per session – plus what backs up the reputation of one of Hanoi’s most trusted studios.
Why Fair Pricing Matters?
Walk into enough tourist-town shops – tattoo studios included – and you’ll find foreigners quietly paying more than locals for the same work. Sometimes it’s the language gap. Sometimes there’s just no tattoo price list to check against. Either way, it’s a real worry for anyone researching tattoo prices before booking somewhere new.
We do it the other way: one formula, applied the same to every client. Vietnamese or foreign, first tattoo or fiftieth, everyone gets quoted the same way for the same work. That’s not a marketing line — it’s the studio’s founding philosophy: welcoming to every client, uncompromising on every tattoo.
Electric Tattoo’s been in Hanoi since 2011, with internationally recognized work along the way (Best Realistic, Taiwan I Love Tattoo 2018). Same standard, every client, every quote.(More on that: Meet the Studio – About Us page)
How Electric Tattoo Calculate Your Tattoo Price in Hanoi
Three things decide the tattoo price: how detailed the design is, how many hours it actually takes, and who’s tattooing it. Instead of a flat price-per-size list, we start from a base hourly rate and convert it into one of two pricing formats depending on the work. You’ll always know what you’re paying for — an artist’s time and skill — not a number pulled from nowhere.
Base rate by artist level:
| Artist Level | Rate |
|---|---|
| Standard artist | 1,300,000 VND/hour (~$50/hour at current reference rates — actual conversion may vary) |
| Master / Award-winning Artist | 1.5–3x the standard rate, depending on the artist |
Needle-out minimum fee (tattoos under 30 minutes): 1,000,000 VND (~$38). Small tattoo or not, we still prep a full new set of supplies — needles, ink, sterile tools — for every client. That’s why this fee is flat instead of pro-rated by the minute.
From there, we run one of two pricing models:
| Pricing model | Applies to | How it’s calculated |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly | Mini tattoos, or several small tattoos in one visit | Base hourly rate, by artist level (table above) |
| Per-design | Anything beyond mini — one-session pieces to large multi-session projects | Package quote after consultation and design, based on estimated hours, split across sessions if needed (up to ~8 hours each) |
Hourly Pricing – for Mini Tattoos
One small, simple tattoo — or a few minis in one appointment — gets billed by actual working hours: 1,300,000 VND/hour (~50$) for a standard artist, more for Master/Artist tier (see rate table above). Anything under 30 minutes gets the flat 1,000,000 VND (~40$) minimum instead. You pay for time and skill, full stop — nothing tacked on after.
Per-Design Pricing — for Everything Beyond Mini
Bigger or more complex work — whether it wraps in one sitting or needs several sessions, like a sleeve or full back piece — gets a different treatment. We consult, finalize the design, estimate total hours, and hand you a flat package price for the whole tattoo instead of billing hour by hour. Multi-session work can be split into payments across sessions (up to roughly 8 hours each), so you pay in stages, not all at once. You’ll know your tattoo price before the first session starts, whether the piece is small or ambitious.
Quick reference — tattoo price range by size (across all styles, USD approx.):
| Area (cm²) | Approx. size (cm) | Basic (Simple Linework) | Medium (Basic shading, few colors) | Premium (detailed black & grey realism, gradient shading) | Ultra (full-color realism, high detail) |
| Mini (≤25 cm²) | ~ 5×5 cm | 1tr – 1.7tr ($40–65) | 1.3tr – 1.9tr ($50–75) | 1.9tr – 2.5tr ($75–95) | 2.5tr – 3.5tr ($95–135) |
| Small (25-50 cm²) | ~ 7×7 cm | 1.2tr – 2tr ($45–75) | 1.8tr – 2.8tr ($70–110) | 2.5tr – 3.5tr ($95–135) | 3.5tr – 5tr ($135–190) |
| Medium (50-100 cm²) | ~ 10×10 cm | 2tr – 3.5tr ($75–135) | 2.8tr – 4.5tr ($110–175) | 3.5tr – 6tr ($135–230) | 5tr – 7.5tr ($190–290) |
| Large-medium (100-200 cm²) | ~ 14×14 cm | 3.5tr – 5tr ($135–190) | 4.5tr – 6.5tr ($175–250) | 6tr – 9tr ($230–345) | 7.5tr – 12tr ($290–460) |
| Large (200-400 cm²) | ~ 20×20 cm | 5tr – 7.5tr ($190–290) | 6.5tr – 11tr ($250–425) | 9tr – 14tr ($345–540) | 12tr – 18tr ($460–690) |
| Very Large (400-800 cm²) | ~ 28×28 cm | 7.5tr – 11tr ($290–425) | 11tr – 18tr ($425-690) | 14tr – 24tr ($540–920) | 18tr – 30tr ($690–1150) |
| Full Sleeve(800-1600 cm²) | ~ 28×28 cm đến 35×35 cm | 12tr – 18tr ($460–690) | 18tr – 28tr ($690–1075) | 24tr – 40tr ($920–1540) | 30tr – 60tr ($1150–2300) |
| Full back / Full thigh (≥1600 cm²) | ~ 40×40 cm | 18tr – 30tr ($690–1150) | 28tr – 45tr ($1075–1730) | 40tr – 65tr ($1540–2500) | 60tr – 100tr ($2300–3850) |
Example: a 5–6 hour tattoo runs around 6.5–7.8 million VND (~$250–300). A larger multi-session project, at 7–8 hours per session, runs roughly 9.1–10.4 million VND (~$350–400) per session.
(about $480–560)
Note: These prices are illustrative, based on a standard artist’s rate — not a fixed list for every design. Master or high-skill Artist work runs 1.5–3x higher. Your exact tattoo price gets confirmed after a free consultation, based on your idea, size, placement, complexity, and artist.
Whichever model applies, your tattoo price at Electric Tattoo Hanoi always covers a free consultation, a fully custom design, and a lifetime warranty once healed. None of that gets billed separately.
The Process at Electric Tattoo Hanoi
Mini tattoo or multi-session project, the process runs the same 6 steps every time:
- Consultation — tell us your idea, your story, the style you’re after.
- Design — the artist sketches your custom piece; a few days to about a week for complex work.
- Prep — we walk you through what’s next, check skin condition, set up sterile tools.
- The session — your approved design goes on, exactly as planned.
- Finishing — the fresh tattoo gets cleaned, covered, and sent home with aftercare instructions.
- Follow-up — we check in about a month later, backed by the lifetime warranty.
Full breakdown here: Electric Tattoo’s Procedures
Same transparent process across every pricing model – hourly, per design, or per session – so you agree on price before any needle touches skin. It’s the same process Vietnamese artists, rappers, and KOLs have gone through choosing Electric Tattoo for their own work. Same care, no matter who you are.
FAQ: Tattoo Pricing in Hanoi
Do I need to pay a deposit before getting tattooed? Yes – it holds your appointment and gets deducted from your total. For designs with no custom artwork, expect 500,000–1,000,000 VND (~$20–40). For custom-designed tattoos, it’s 30% of the estimated tattoo price.
Does tattoo placement on the body change the price? No separate fee. Tricky spots (hands, fingers, neck) take more skill and more time – that shows up in the hours billed, not as a hidden surcharge.
Do color tattoos cost extra? No separate “color” tattoo price list. Color and detail affect the hours needed to finish, which affects the final price – but it’s the same base rate as any other tattoo, color or black-and-grey.
What payment methods do you accept? Cash, bank transfer, or card. Card comes with a 1–5% bank processing fee – charged by the bank, not us.
How can foreign clients book besides calling? WhatsApp: (+84) 94 391 3174, email (see the contact page), Instagram @electric.tattoo.vn, or just walk into either studio.
Is there a “tourist tattoo price” for foreigners at Electric Tattoo? No. Same formula, every client, regardless of nationality – one rate card, no separate quote for visitors.
Is it safe to get tattooed in Hanoi as a foreigner? Every session runs on a full sterile setup, prepped fresh per client – mini tattoo or not. Skin and health get checked before any work starts, part of the standard process above.
Book a Free Consultation
No tourist tax, no guessing game. Send us your idea and rough size — we’ll tell you exactly what it costs, upfront. Get a transparent quote right here, or reach us through:
- Studio 1: 18th Floor, B14 Phạm Ngọc Thạch, Đống Đa, Hanoi
- Studio 2: 59C Lý Nam Đế, Hoàn Kiếm, Hanoi (~500m from Old Quarter)
- Opening Hours: 9:30 AM – 9:30 PM, every day
- Hotline/WhatsApp: (+84) 94 391 3174
- Facebook: ElectricTattooStudio
- Instagram: @electric.tattoo.vn
