Tattoos hurt, though perhaps less than you fear: in the largest survey we found, tattooed adults rated the pain at a little over 4 out of 10 while it was happening. What the study linked most strongly to that number was not whether the person was a man or a woman, but how long the session lasted, how much it bled and how stressed the person was going in. We based this page on that study and are clear about what it did not measure, including pain scores by body part.
How much do tattoos hurt? The short answer
Expect real but manageable pain. In a survey of 1,092 people published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, average pain during tattooing was 4.35 on a 0 to 10 scale, and 2.07 afterward. Long sessions, heavy bleeding and high stress were the factors most linked to more pain.
What the study measured
The researchers surveyed 863 women and 229 men online within a month of their tattoo, asking them to rate pain during and after the procedure on a 0 to 10 numerical scale, and to report factors such as the body area, how long the tattoo took, bleeding, stress levels, painkillers taken beforehand and, for women, the phase of their menstrual cycle.
Pain during tattooing
Average pain during tattooing was 4.35 out of 10, and there was no difference between men and women. That is an average, and individual ratings sat on both sides of it.
Pain after tattooing
Pain after the tattoo averaged 2.07. Women reported more pain afterward than men, 2.15 against 1.76, which the authors found was a statistically significant difference.
What makes a tattoo hurt more
The authors concluded that the most important factors increasing pain were time, bleeding and stress.
- Session length. The longer the tattoo took to complete, the more severe the pain, both during and after.
- Bleeding. More bleeding during the tattoo went with more pain.
- Stress. Higher stress before the tattoo went with more pain, during and after. Women in the study more often reported medium or high stress, 40% against 24% of men.
- Painkillers beforehand. The 33 people who took painkillers before their tattoo reported more pain, not less. The authors suggest the people who take them are those with a lower pain threshold to begin with, so this is not evidence that painkillers make tattoos hurt.
The menstrual cycle phase made no significant difference to pain in the women surveyed.
Which body parts hurt most
This is where honest answers get thin. The study recorded which body area was tattooed, but did not publish average pain scores by body area. The one placement finding it reported is about radiating pain, pain spreading beyond the tattooed spot: it was more common with tattoos on the arms than on the legs, 83% against 72%, and than on the torso, 83% against 76%.
Rankings of body parts by tattoo pain, with ribs, feet and spine near the top, rely on artists’ experience, client reports and the reasoning that thin skin over bone with many nerve endings hurts more than padded areas. That reasoning is plausible and matches what many people report, but we could not find a published study that measured pain scores across body parts, so treat any exact ranking as a rule of thumb rather than data.
For two placements people ask about most, our finger tattoos guide and our page on tattooing over scars cover what is and is not known about pain there.
How to make a tattoo hurt less
The study’s main factors, time, bleeding and stress, point to the most useful steps.
- Keep sessions shorter. Since longer sessions went with more pain, split a large piece into several sittings, and start with a smaller tattoo if you are nervous.
- Arrive sober. A studio can turn you away if you seem drunk or high, and Texas writes that into its rules for licensed tattoo studios.
- Bring your stress down. Book a consultation first so you know the artist and the plan, sleep well the night before, and give yourself time so you are not rushing in.
- Eat beforehand and bring water and a snack for a long sitting.
- Ask for breaks and tell your artist how you are doing.
- Ask a pharmacist before taking any painkiller beforehand, and tell your artist about any medicine you take.
Pain after the tattoo
Afterward, the tattoo usually feels sore, and the soreness eases over the following days. The American Academy of Dermatology notes that a new tattoo will feel sore and may ooze clear fluid, and that pain that continues or gets worse instead of subsiding is one of the signs of infection. Our tattoo aftercare guide covers the healing weeks and when to see a doctor.
The verdict on tattoo pain
Tattoos hurt, typically around 4 out of 10 while they are being done and around 2 out of 10 afterward, according to a survey of 1,092 people. Long sessions, bleeding and stress were linked to more pain, while gender made no difference during tattooing. Keep sessions short, arrive calm and sober, and treat any precise body-part pain ranking as a rule of thumb.
FAQ
How bad does getting a tattoo hurt?
For most people, moderately. In a survey of 1,092 tattooed adults, average pain during tattooing was 4.35 out of 10, and 2.07 after. Individual experiences varied widely, and longer sessions were linked to more pain.
Where do tattoos hurt the most?
Tattoo artists and clients commonly report more pain over thin skin and bone, such as ribs, feet and spine, but we could not find a study that measured pain scores by body part. The largest survey we found reported only that radiating pain was more common on the arms than the legs or torso.
Do tattoos hurt more for women?
Not during the tattoo. In the survey of 1,092 people, men and women reported the same pain during tattooing. Women reported slightly more pain afterward, 2.15 against 1.76 out of 10, and more often reported high stress beforehand.
Does a longer tattoo session hurt more?
Yes. Time needed to complete the tattoo was one of the strongest factors linked to pain in the survey, both during and after the session. Splitting large pieces into shorter sittings is the practical response.
Should I take painkillers before a tattoo?
Ask a pharmacist first, and tell your artist about any medicine. In the survey, the few people who took painkillers beforehand reported more pain, which the authors think reflects their lower pain threshold rather than an effect of the medicine.
How long does a tattoo hurt afterward?
Soreness usually eases over the following days as the tattoo starts healing. Pain that keeps going or gets worse instead of settling is one of the AAD’s signs of infection and needs a doctor.
Does tattoo pain get easier with more tattoos?
Many people say so, but the largest study we found did not ask whether a tattoo was someone’s first, so it cannot answer the question. Choosing shorter sessions and arriving calm are the factors with evidence behind them.