Tattoo pain chart
Tap a spot on the figure to see how painful a tattoo there usually feels – and why. The stronger the red, the more you’ll feel the needle.
Tap a spot – on the figure or in the list.
All placements, most painful first
Based on common experience, not medical advice. How much it hurts depends on you, how you feel that day and the artist.
Where does a tattoo hurt the most?
Where the skin is thin and bone or many nerves sit right underneath: ribs, foot and ankle, hand, collarbone and neck. Spots with more padding, like the upper arm, thigh or calf, feel much easier to most people. For a first tattoo, one of those is often the more relaxed choice.
How reliable are these ratings?
They are based on common experience – not a measurement and not medical advice. Pain is very personal: sleep, hunger, nerves and the artist’s hand all make a noticeable difference. Use the chart to see which spots tend to be easy and which tend to be tough, not as a prediction for you.
What helps with the pain?
Arrive rested and fed, drink enough water and skip alcohol the day before. Long sessions on sensitive spots can be split into two appointments. Tell your artist when you need a break – that’s normal. Use numbing creams only after talking to the studio, as they can change how the skin takes ink.