1 Most tattoo artists charge an hourly rate that varies from about $75 to $150 an hour, according to Bill Johnson, executive office director of the Alliance of Professional Tattooists..2  The length of time it takes to do a tattoo can vary from one to many hours, depending on the size and complexity of the design. And some artists will charge extra for custom designs, but it is more common to ask for a deposit of about $50. 2  If you are unhappy with your tattoo, having it altered or tattooed over might cost hundreds of dollars and removal is even more expensive-up to $10,000 in some cases.