A deposit does three things: it holds the date, it pays for the design time if the client disappears, and it filters out people who were never going to show up. A clear policy makes all three work without arguments.
How much to ask
Artists use two common approaches:
- A flat deposit by size. For example $50 for small pieces and $100 for anything booked by the hour. Easy to explain and easy to remember.
- A percentage of the estimate. Often 20 to 30 percent for large pieces. A 6-hour piece estimated at $900 would take a $180 to $270 deposit.
Whatever you choose, the deposit should cover your design time and the cost of an empty chair. For custom work that takes hours to draw, ask for more.
Make it go toward the tattoo
The most common policy, and the easiest one to sell, is that the deposit comes off the final price. "$100 holds your date and comes off the total" sounds like part of the tattoo, not a fee. On a $600 piece, the client pays $100 to book and $500 at the end.
For multi-session pieces, many artists apply the deposit to the last session. That keeps the client coming back to finish.
When it is refundable
Spell out each case:
- The client cancels with enough notice (48 or 72 hours is common): the deposit moves to a new date, usually once
- The client cancels late or does not show: the deposit is kept
- You cancel: the deposit moves to a new date or is refunded, the client's choice
- The design is already drawn: many artists keep the deposit to cover drawing time, even with notice
Most artists make deposits non-refundable but transferable. Say so plainly.
A deposit policy you can adapt
Copy this and change the numbers to yours:
Deposits. A deposit is required to book: $50 for small pieces, $100 for hourly sessions. It comes off the final price of your tattoo.
Rescheduling. Need a new date? Tell us at least 72 hours before your appointment and your deposit moves to the new date, one time.
Late cancellations and no-shows. Cancellations with less than 72 hours of notice, and missed appointments, lose the deposit. A new booking needs a new deposit.
Design. Your design is drawn after the deposit is paid. You will see it at or before your appointment.
Touch-ups. One free touch-up within 8 weeks of your session, if you followed the aftercare instructions.
Keep it short. Long policies do not get read.
How to collect it
Screenshots of cash app transfers are hard to track and easy to dispute. Send the deposit as an invoice with your studio name, the date and the amount, and let the client pay by card. Then, after the session, invoice the balance with the deposit already taken off. You get one list of who paid and who owes. That is how tattoo deposits and invoicing works in InkPilot.
Flash days and touch-ups
For booked flash slots, a small deposit works well, for example $30 to $50 that comes off the $120 flash price. For free touch-ups within your window, most artists do not ask for a deposit from returning clients, but a no-show on a free touch-up can lose the free part next time. Paid touch-ups after the window can follow your normal small-piece rule.
When a client pushes back
Some clients ask why they should pay before the tattoo. Keep the answer short and friendly:
The deposit holds your date, so I turn other people away for you. It also covers drawing your design. It comes off the total, so you are not paying extra.
Most people accept that right away. The ones who will not pay a deposit are often the ones who would not have shown up.
When to ask for it
Right after the consultation, while the client is excited about the design. Send the deposit invoice the same day with a deadline, for example 48 hours, after which the date goes back to the waitlist. A slot without a paid deposit is not booked.
Say it everywhere
Put the policy on your website, in the booking confirmation and in the reminder. Clients who read it once in three places do not argue about it later. It is also the single best tool for reducing tattoo no-shows.
Frequently asked questions
How much should a tattoo deposit be?
Common choices are a flat $50 to $100, or 20 to 30 percent of the estimate for large pieces. It should cover your design time and an empty chair.
Are tattoo deposits refundable?
Most artists make them non-refundable but transferable once with enough notice, often 48 to 72 hours. Write your rule down and show it before the client pays.