How much deposit should I charge for a tattoo, and is it refundable?

Tattoo deposits work differently from a service deposit because they are usually covering design time as much as the appointment slot. A flat amount, commonly somewhere between 50 and 150 dollars for smaller pieces and scaled up for larger custom work, is the norm rather than a percentage of the final price.

Nonrefundable is the standard approach if the client cancels with little notice or does not show, since that time was already spent or reserved. Most shops do let the deposit roll forward if the client reschedules with reasonable notice.

Whatever you decide, the number and the refund terms need to be something the client agrees to before booking, not something explained after they ask for their money back.

Turbo Link builds deposit invoices into the booking flow for tattoo shops, so the client pays it as part of scheduling the session rather than a separate step.