This tattoo pain chart gives a clear guide to the areas that usually hurt most, with the ribs, spine, sternum and back of the knee at the top of the scale. The least painful areas on this guide are the outer upper arm, calf, upper back and outer thigh.
Pain is personal. Two people can have the same area tattooed and describe the experience very differently, so every score in this article should be treated as a general guide.
Tattoo Pain Chart by Body Area
Some parts of the body sit much higher on the scale than others. The scores below give you a quick way to compare the main areas before choosing where you want to be tattooed.
- Head and face: 8 out of 10
- Collarbone: 7 out of 10
- Sternum: 9 out of 10
- Chest: 6 out of 10
- Ribs: 9 out of 10
- Side ribs: 8 out of 10
- Stomach: 6 out of 10
- Hip bone: 8 out of 10
- Outer upper arm: 2 out of 10
- Inner upper arm: 7 out of 10
- Inner elbow: 8 out of 10
- Elbow: 8 out of 10
- Hands and fingers: 8 out of 10
- Back of hand: 8 out of 10
- Outer thigh: 3 out of 10
- Inner thigh: 6 out of 10
- Back of thigh: 4 out of 10
- Knee: 8 out of 10
- Back of knee: 9 out of 10
- Shin: 7 out of 10
- Calf: 3 out of 10
- Feet and ankles: 8 out of 10
- Heel and ankle: 8 out of 10
- Back of neck: 5 out of 10
- Upper back: 3 out of 10
- Shoulder blade: 4 out of 10
- Spine: 9 out of 10
- Lower back: 6 out of 10
- Buttocks: 3 out of 10
The numbers make the differences easy to see, but they are not fixed rules. Your own experience may sit above or below them.
Where Tattoo Pain Is Usually Highest
The ribs, sternum, spine and back of the knee all sit at 9 out of 10 on this guide. They are followed closely by areas such as the head, hands, knees, inner elbow, feet and hip bone.
A high score does not mean the area should be avoided. It simply means you should go into the session knowing that the experience may feel stronger there.
Placement is also only one part of a tattoo. The design still needs to work on the body, and choosing an area only because it appears easier on a pain scale can limit what the artist can create.
For larger work, the tattoo may also move through several different areas. A piece can begin in a lower scoring section and continue into an area that feels very different.
Where Tattoo Pain Is Usually Lowest
The outer upper arm sits at 2 out of 10. The outer thigh, calf, upper back and buttocks sit at 3 out of 10.
The shoulder blade and back of the thigh follow at 4 out of 10. These areas sit much lower on the tattoo pain chart than places such as the ribs, sternum or spine.
That does not make them pain free. It simply means they sit lower on this general scale.
For someone planning a first tattoo, this can be useful information. The final placement should still suit the design, the size and the way you want the tattoo to look.
What Affects Tattoo Pain
The area of the body matters, but it is not the whole story.
Bone close to the skin can make an area feel stronger. Thin skin and areas with more nerves can also feel more intense.
Session length makes a difference as well. Being tattooed for a short period and sitting through a full day session are very different experiences.
Sleep and food also matter. Turning up tired or without eating can make a long day much harder than it needs to be.
The artist’s technique is another part of the experience. Every artist works differently, and the way a tattoo is built can change how the session feels as the hours pass.
This is why pain can never be reduced to one number. The score tells you about the area, but the full experience depends on much more than placement.
Tattoo Pain on Large Realism Pieces
Large realism work is a different type of project from a small tattoo.
Back pieces and sleeves can take several full day sessions. A full black and grey back piece usually takes around 6 to 10 full day sessions, depending on the size and level of detail.
Straight Lines Tattoo is a realism tattoo studio in Loughton, Essex. We work with more than 40 realism tattoo artists from around the world, covering black and grey realism and colour realism.
Our bookings are full day sessions, so larger work is planned as a complete project rather than one appointment.
If you are researching back tattoos for men, the number of sessions is worth understanding from the start. Large work takes time, and the experience of the project is very different from sitting for one smaller piece.
The same applies when looking through tattoo ideas for men. Scale changes everything, from the amount of detail that can be included to the number of sessions needed to complete the work.
How to Prepare for a Long Session
A long tattoo session is easier when you arrive properly prepared.
Sleep well the night before. Eat before your appointment and drink water.
Do not drink alcohol the day before your session. Give yourself the best chance of arriving rested and ready for the day.
During the session, take breaks when you need them. Speak to your artist if you need to stop for a short time.
There is no prize for trying to sit through discomfort without saying anything. A full day is a long time, and clear communication helps the session run properly.
Preparation also continues once the tattoo is finished. Understanding the tattoo healing process and following the correct tattoo aftercare helps you know what to expect after you leave the studio.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does getting a tattoo hurt?
Yes. Tattooing involves some level of pain or discomfort.
How much you feel will depend on the area, the length of the session and your own tolerance. Use the tattoo pain chart as a guide rather than a promise of exactly how your session will feel.
What is the least painful place for a first tattoo?
The outer upper arm is the lowest area on this guide at 2 out of 10.
The outer thigh, calf and upper back are also low at 3 out of 10. Your own experience can still be different.
Does a back tattoo hurt?
Yes, but the back does not have one single pain level.
The upper back sits at 3 out of 10, the shoulder blade at 4, the lower back at 6 and the spine at 9. A large back piece can move through several of these areas during the same project.
Does a rib tattoo hurt the most?
The ribs sit at 9 out of 10 on this guide, which puts them among the highest scoring areas.
The sternum, spine and back of the knee also sit at 9 out of 10. There is no single area that will feel worst for every person.
Can I use numbing cream?
No. Straight Lines Tattoo does not allow numbing cream.
We explain the reasons in a separate article.
Understanding Pain Before You Choose the Placement
Pain matters, but it should not control the whole tattoo.
A tattoo pain chart can help you understand which areas may feel easier or harder, but the placement also needs to suit the design. A strong piece should work with the area of the body it is being created for.
That becomes even more important with realism. Size, placement and detail all work together, and changing one can change the whole design.
If you are planning a realism tattoo, you can book a consultation at our Loughton studio. Bring your ideas and reference images, and we can discuss the project with you in person.