Tattoo price calculator
How much does a tattoo cost in Bulgaria? Prices 2026
It depends on size, placement and style. Below are the average prices in Bulgaria, plus a free calculator that works out yours in seconds — no registration, and no need to message anyone to find out whether you can afford it.
Average tattoo prices in Bulgaria
These are the starting ranges by size, before placement and style are taken into account. Real prices vary with the artist, the studio and how detailed the design is.
| Size | Price |
|---|---|
| Up to 5 cm | €60 – €140 |
| 5–10 cm | €110 – €240 |
| 10–20 cm | €200 – €440 |
| 20–35 cm | €380 – €780 |
| Large project | from €770 |
Calculator: work out the price of your tattoo
Estimated price
€90 – €260
What determines the price of a tattoo
- Size
- The biggest single factor. Price follows the time a tattoo takes, and a larger design simply takes longer — past a certain size it stops being one session at all.
- Style
- Realism and portraits are the most expensive, because they need the most skill and the slowest, most careful work. Minimalist line work sits at the other end of the scale.
- Placement on the body
- Ribs, stomach and neck are slower to tattoo than an arm or a leg — the surface is harder to work on and the session is more demanding for both of you.
- The artist's experience
- A sought-after artist with a long waiting list charges more than someone starting out, for the same design. This is the part no calculator can predict, and the reason an estimate is always a range.
- Colour
- Colour needs more passes over the same area and so more time in the chair, but many artists in Bulgaria do not charge separately for it. Covering an old tattoo is the exception and does cost noticeably more.
Prices by city
Prices in Sofia tend to sit at the upper end of the ranges above, and smaller towns at the lower end. The gap is smaller than you would expect, though — how experienced and how booked an artist is matters more than which city they work in.
Prices by style
Style changes the price because it changes how long the work takes. These are the surcharges the calculator applies, relative to a straightforward piece of the same size:
- Realism +45%
- Portrait +45%
- Japanese +25%
- Watercolor +20%
- Geometric +20%
- Blackwork +15%
- Neo-Traditional +15%
- Gaming +15%
- Tribal +10%
- Anime +10%
- Traditional +5%
- Manga +5%
- Unspecified/Otherbaseline
- Minimalist -5%
How much does a tattoo cost per hour?
Most artists in Bulgaria price by the session rather than by the hour. Where an hourly rate is quoted it is usually between €50 and €100, which is what a full day of work comes to in the table above. Ask for a session price rather than an hourly one — it is the number you will actually pay.
Deposit and booking — what to expect
Most artists ask for a deposit when you book, and it comes off the final price rather than being an extra charge. On TattooBook every artist sets their own deposit, and you see the amount before you send a request — not after. If you do not turn up and have not warned them, expect to lose it.
Frequently asked questions about tattoo prices
How much does a small tattoo cost?
A small tattoo up to 5 cm usually costs between €60 and €140. Very small designs often come out at the studio's minimum price rather than at a price worked out from their size.
How much does a lettering tattoo cost?
Lettering is among the cheapest tattoos there is — from around €60 for a few words. The price depends far more on size and placement than on the font: a large script across the ribs costs as much as a mid-sized drawing.
Why is there a minimum price?
Because preparing for a session takes the same time and materials however small the tattoo is. A sterile needle, ink, covers and setting up the station cost the artist the same for a two-centimetre design as for a twenty-centimetre one.
Is a colour tattoo more expensive?
It can be, but not always. Colour needs more passes and so more time in the chair, though many artists in Bulgaria charge no separate surcharge for it — which is why the calculator here only marks the choice instead of raising the price.
Do you tip a tattoo artist?
It is not expected, but it is common and appreciated. Around 10–20% of the session price is usual if you are happy with the result, and on long projects most people tip at the end of each session rather than all at once.
How much does covering an old tattoo cost?
Usually around 60% more than the same tattoo on clean skin. The new design has to be bigger, darker and more saturated to hide the old ink, and the artist is working around someone else's lines instead of starting from a blank surface.
How much does a sleeve or a large project cost?
Sleeves start at around €770 and run over several sessions. That is why they are quoted from a starting price rather than as a range — the final figure depends on how many sessions the design needs, which the artist can only judge once they have seen it.
How accurate is this estimate?
It is an orientation, not a quote. The range comes from typical market prices for the size, placement and style you picked, and the same tattoo costs different amounts with different artists. The final price is set by the artist once they have seen your idea.