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• 07/12/2025 Does a tattoo hurt?
one of the most frequently asked tattoo questions : does a tattoo hurt?
The reason why people often hesitate to get a tattoo is often because of the pain. How will it feel? Wouldn't it hurt less in another place? Is there anything I can do to reduce that pain? To answer all these troubled questions, in this Inksane blog we like to give some useful tips and tricks.
You're not the only one wondering this, almost everyone googles this before their first tattoo. The truth? Yes, you feel it well, but it's usually less intense than people expect.
At Inksane, we work with hundreds of clients every week, and we see clear patterns: some areas are sensitive, others almost painless. In this article, we explain what to expect, by body part, with tips to keep you comfortable.
Does a tattoo hurt?
Yes, a tattoo can be painful, but the intensity depends on location, skin type, stress level, tattoo style and most importantly, how long your tattoo session lasts! Fine line tattoos are often less painful because they are done with thin needle technique. Color realism tattoos are more painful because more time is spent on the same ‘square cm’. Oldschool line work is deeper and more brutal and can be more painful. etc etc...
Where does a tattoo hurt the most?
Yes, getting a tattoo hurts. If only it were so easy... Several needles go in and out of the skin very quickly in order to get the ink into your skin as much as possible. This can be quite a painful process, but afterwards you can enjoy your beautiful tattoo for the rest of your life. You can get tattoos in almost any place you can think of. But which places hurt the most? In general, places where there are a lot of nerve endings coming together are going to hurt more.
On this image you can find some popular tattoo places where we explain whether they are doable or just dire.
THE MOST PAINFUL PLACES TO GET A TATTOO
Pain is something that everyone is going to experience differently. For some, a little prick at the doctor's office is nothing to worry about, while for others it is a very stressful and painful situation. Just like that prick, a tattoo experience can go very different from person to person. Therefore, the pain of a tattoo depends on your pain threshold. In general, there are some places that are known to hurt. Usually places where one will really tattoo on the bone really hurt. Some examples are your feet, knees and elbow. Below we discuss some of the pain points that can feel snappy when tattooing. Always keep in mind that pain is personal and mainly depends on the duration of your tattoo session. 5 minutes on your knee is less painful than 3h on your knee.
Is a tattoo over bone really more painful than on a fleshy spot?
How long does the pain last?
90% of tattoo pain ends as soon as your artist removes his needle from your skin.
Afterwards, you must clean it thoroughly. This can still be sensitive if you have already had a long session (e.g. 6h). Your artist uses wet wipes with soothing products (soft soap for example).
After your tattoo is wrapped (with transparent foil or compresses/pads or ‘second skin’) you will only have a glowing sensation that is not perceived as painful.
Especially make sure during healing that your clothing does not stick in your wound, as taking this out again can trigger some pain.
The video below was shot just after a painful knee session, we have since changed our minds again and some easier sessions have gone through 😉
Can you numb a tattoo?
In theory you can, but it depends on your artist himself if he wants to use this. Most of the time, no.
Because, first of all, your artist is not a doctor and therefore cannot fully predict the risks. Also, numbing ointment makes your blood draw away from the numbed piece of skin, so the background color is not true (your skin will be whiter than normal during the session). Some artists also find that your skin is then weaker, less strong. With this, the risk of overworking the skin is more real.
Lastly, if you apply a numbing ointment, your skin is saturated with ointment, so your blueprint/stencil will wash away faster during your session, which can be very amusing for your artist.
Some common spots highlighted:
Tattoo on the elbow
Contrary to what you might think, this place is not that painful. In the elbow there are not so many nerve endings which ensures that a tattoo in this place does not hurt super much. Some then say back that the pain is really unbearable. On the elbow itself, many experience rather a weird feeling because you feel your bone vibrating. Placing a tattoo on the elbow is not that simple. It is a body part that moves a lot, and that requires some creativity in terms of design choice.
Your artist will not put a detailed piece over your elbow, because that spot fades faster. So it will be more likely to be ‘filler,’ and that's just a little faster.
Upper arm tattoo
For many, the upper arm hurts the least. Your experience with an upper arm tattoo also depends on the length of the session. Someone getting a small tattoo will not feel much pain after 15 minutes compared to a half sleeve. The skin on your upper arm is very strong so the pain of a tattoo here is fairly tolerable for most people.
Ideal place to street! Note, do not put a small tattoo in the middle of your upper arm, it looks less beautiful there, and potentially gets in the way if you would like a (half) sleeve later.
Spinal tattoo
This is a tough one. There are mixed opinions about this place. Many say it's a painful spot, while there are others who say it's actually not that bad. When you get your entire back tattooed, there are often people who complain about the spot just before the crease to your armpit. That can hurt quite a bit.
thigh tattoo
This pain is really tolerable for many. With a large design, the pain is also going to move around more often, making it less intense and focused in one place. Many different types of designs can be placed on your thigh.
tattoo on ribs
The ribs are a really tough spot and easily one of the most painful places to get a tattoo. How you experience the pain depends on the size of the design. Smaller designs on the ribs are often more tolerable; it's over in no time, but does hurt. However, if you go for a large realistic design with lots of color, like the Japanese mask above, you're going to be in more pain. The ribs are, however, a suitable spot for larger tattoos that look nice on the relatively flat skin.
shin tattoo
Having a tattoo placed on your shin can feel quite spicy. After asking around, there are many who say it is quite a painful place. The stimulation may well cause your leg to start twitching, or you may also experience small shocks. This is another place that varies from person to person in terms of pain. The person of the tattoo above already had a very high pain threshold.
6 tips to reduce tattoo pain
- Choose a less sensitive body part: The outside of your upper arm is the least painful spot, so ideal to start with. Avoid places with many nerve endings or thin skin, such as ribs or feet, to experience less pain.
- Eat well beforehand - A hearty meal helps keep your blood sugar up, which makes you less dizzy and weak during the session.
- Get enough sleep - Being well rested reduces stress and pain sensitivity.
- Prepare mentally for the pain - By expecting the worst, the pain often feels less intense than you thought. If you come to your session thinking it is not bad, you are often surprised in the negative way.
- Consider a mild painkiller - A mild painkiller (not blood thinners such as aspirin) may help to dampen the pain.
- Anesthetic cream - We do not recommend this quickly, but if you are very nervous, your tattoo artist can inform you of safe options.
Do you want to get a tattoo? Then don't hesitate and fill out our online form in or contact us here.
Our front desk will listen carefully and then match you with the most appropriate artist.
This info is free of charge and without obligation. You are certainly not required to set an appointment.
Still have questions? Feel free to scroll through our FAQs below.
Just a few more questions and answers around pain in tattoos.
We often hear our clients say that you can compare it to a rubber band that you shoot at your skin, but less shifty.
The comparison with an injection or blood draw is not valid, because those give 1 single prick that you are full of nerves waiting for. Tattoo pain is rather constant and therefore takes away the nerves, no surprises.
Abrasions are still the best comparison, in our opinion. But with much less crusting.
- Your mindset! Pay attention to your breathing. If necessary, count your breath (4 counts in, 4 counts out), this makes you calmer and directs your attention away from the pain).
- Anesthetic ointment we do not recommend, as you could read above. Also for the added risks of allergic reactions to such an ointment in an open wound.
- Bring your earbuds so you can listen to music or a movie or an audiobook during your session. This also directs your attention away from the pain.
When you think of needles you think of the injection of e.g. a vaccine, or blood sampling. You can't compare tattoos to these, because a regular injection is a one-time prick (which you nervously wait for) and a tattoo is a constant pain. Piercings, on the other hand, are comparable to needle pricks as you know them.
The outside of your upper arm. This is also best able to withstand a bump in everyday life, so also during a tattoo session.
1 hour of pain in exchange for a beautiful tattoo the rest of your life? We think this is worth it!
1h is symbolic here, of course your tattoo can last longer.
Your ribs are a rather sensitive spot for your first tattoo. But if you already know you can handle the pain, this spot is not a problem.
Moreover, tattoos on ribs are often not that big, and the tattoo is finished quickly. Therefore, the pain does not last long.
Paracetamol (such as Dafalgan or Panadol):
Reduces pain
Verate fever
has no effect on blood clotting
And so because it does not affect blood clotting you may take this before a tattoo session. Rather, the effect on your pain is minimal.
With long sessions, it is possible that you may be left feeling sick because your immune system was lowered for a long time (due to the pain of the session, e.g. 7h).
Sole of foot, palm of hand, ribs.
Those first two, fortunately, you almost never want, as those spot also fade and/or bleed very quickly.
With nearly 100 000 tattoo appointments on our counter, I can say that we find no correlation between a person's build and pain experience. Bulky men can experience as much pain as thin men. It mainly depends on your attitude and mindset.
You could argue that a larger trained man/woman e.g. has a stronger mindset than a petite person, but there is no evidence for that.
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