How long does a small tattoo take?
Plan for an hour or two in the studio for something palm-sized, even if the tattooing itself is twenty minutes. The rest is the stencil, the placement, and getting it right before anything starts.
Where the time goes
The needle time is rarely the biggest number on this list.
Setting up and the health form · ten to fifteen minutes.
Stencil, placement and looking at it in a mirror · fifteen to thirty. This is the part worth not rushing.
The tattooing · often the shortest part of the appointment.
Wrapping and aftercare · ten minutes, and you should not leave without it.
What makes a small tattoo take longer
Fine detail at small scale is slower than bold work at large scale, because there is no room for error. Very fine line work, tiny lettering and anything with shading in a small area all take longer than they look.
Colour takes longer than black. Placement over a joint or on the ribs takes longer, because you both need breaks.
The drawing is not in that time
Your design is drawn before you arrive, and for custom work that is often longer than the tattooing. It is part of what you are paying for and it is why we ask for the idea in advance rather than on the day.
Related frequently asked questions
How long does a sleeve tattoo take?
Several full-day sittings spread over months, not one long appointment. A half sleeve is commonly two to four days of work, a full sleeve four to eight, with three to four weeks between sittings so each section heals before the next begins.
Read the full answer › What does a tattoo cost?
We do not quote before we have seen the idea · size, placement and detail move the figure too much to guess at. The consultation is free, the deposit amounts are published, and the final price is agreed with your artist in person before any work starts.
Read the full answer › Do you take walk-ins?
Yes. We can usually fit someone in, though it is never a promise · it depends on the day. You can walk in with your own idea too, not just something off the flash board. What decides it is whether the piece fits the time an artist has left.
Still want to ask somebody? That is what the first conversation is for.
- Written and checked by
THRONE , a tattoo studio in Northampton.
Last checked 28 August 2026 .