How Painful Are Tattoos? A Body Part Pain Chart and Tips

Most people find getting a tattoo painful, but how much it hurts depends a lot on where it goes. Bony, thin-skinned spots like the ribs, armpits and feet are widely reported as the worst, while padded areas like the outer thigh, forearm and shoulder are easier. In a study of 1,092 people, the average peak pain during tattooing was 4.35 out of 10.

Tattoo Pain Chart by Body Part

We found no study that measures pain spot by spot and ranks it. The chart below combines two medically reviewed health sites, Healthline and Medical News Today (MNT), on which areas hurt more and which hurt less. MNT notes that these claims are based on personal experience rather than scientific evidence. (Sources: Healthline, Tattoo Pain Chart (updated Dec 2024); Medical News Today, Do tattoos hurt? (updated Feb 2023))

Rows are grouped from most to least painful: areas both sites call painful, areas one site calls painful, then the less painful areas. The order within each group means nothing.

Body part	Pain level	Listed by
Ribs	High	Both sites
Armpits	High	Both sites
Spine	High	Both sites
Head and neck	High	Both sites
Hands and fingers	High	Both sites
Knees	High	Both sites
Shins and ankles	High	Both sites
Feet and toes	High	Both sites
Groin	High	Both sites
Face	High	MNT
Nipples/areola	High	Healthline
Inner biceps	High	Healthline
Elbows	High	Healthline
Wrists	High	Healthline
Stomach	High	Healthline
Inner thighs	High	Healthline
Outer thighs	Lower	Both sites
Forearms	Lower	Both sites
Shoulders	Lower	Both sites
Back	Lower	Both sites
Outer upper arms	Lower	Healthline
Calves	Lower	Healthline

Healthline describes pain in the painful areas as "high to severe" and in the others as "low to moderate". It lists the chest among the less painful areas, but its own body diagram colors the center of the chest (around the breastbone) as very painful. MNT lists the buttocks as less painful, while Healthline's diagram colors them as painful. Because the sources disagree, we left both out of the chart. You can see the diagrams on Healthline's tattoo pain chart page.

The most painful places to get a tattoo

According to Healthline, it hurts more where there are many nerve endings, where bone sits close under the skin with little fat, and where the skin is very thin. Bony areas usually hurt a lot, and tattooing over bone can bring a vibrating sensation. (Source: Healthline)

MNT gives similar reasons: a dense supply of nerve endings, a major nerve running through the area, or thin skin with little fat. (Source: Medical News Today)

Want to see how people wear tattoos in these spots? Browse designs by placement:

The least painful places to get a tattoo

Healthline says pain tends to be lower on areas padded with some fat, with tight skin, few nerve endings and little bone close to the surface. MNT says areas with more muscle and fat can help reduce the painful sensations. (Sources: Healthline; Medical News Today)

If you're nervous about your first tattoo, one of these spots is a sensible place to start.

Do women feel more tattoo pain than men?

Healthline draws separate charts for male and female bodies, but its text doesn't explain any difference between them. (Source: Healthline)

In a Polish study, men and women reported about the same pain during tattooing. Right after the session, women reported slightly more pain: 2.15 vs 1.76 out of 10 on average. (Source: Witkoś and Hartman-Petrycka, "Gender Differences in Subjective Pain Perception during and after Tattooing" (2020))

MNT notes growing evidence that females are more sensitive to pain in general, but says studies on tattoo pain specifically are lacking. (Source: Medical News Today)

How Much Does a Tattoo Hurt? What a Study Found

Researchers in Poland surveyed 1,092 people (863 women and 229 men) in 2019–2020. Asked to rate their maximum pain from 0 (no pain) to 10 (the worst pain they had ever felt), they gave an average of 4.35 during tattooing. (Source: Witkoś and Hartman-Petrycka (2020))

Measure	Average (0–10)
During (all)	4.35
During (men)	4.48
During (women)	4.31
Right after (all)	2.07

The factors linked to more pain were the length of the session, bleeding and stress before tattooing. The longer the session, the more it hurt. (Source: Witkoś and Hartman-Petrycka (2020))

The study grouped placements into arms, torso, legs and neck and found no statistically significant difference in pain intensity between them. Pain that spread to the surrounding area was more common on the arms. It did not compare individual spots such as ribs or feet. (Source: same)

What Does Tattoo Pain Feel Like?

Healthline describes five common sensations. (Source: Healthline)

Sensation	What it's like	When it shows up
Dull ache	A low ache in the background	Once the session gets going
Vibrating	A buzz you feel in the bone	Over bone
Burning	Something hot pressed on skin	Same spot worked for long
Scratching	A cat dragging its claws	Shading with many needles
Sharp, stinging	Many tiny bee stings	Lines and fine detail

The dull ache comes from your body's response: when the needle first hits your skin, you start producing stress hormones like adrenaline, which numb the pain. Talking or listening to music helps you stay in that phase. MNT also mentions burning or stinging while the ink goes in. (Sources: Healthline; Medical News Today)

Lining vs shading: which hurts more?

Outlines and fine details are usually done with one or a few needles, which tends to cause a sharp, stinging pain. Shading uses several needles at once, which tends to feel like scratching. (Source: Healthline) MNT says some people report that the outline hurts more than the color shading, though experiences vary. (Source: Medical News Today)

Size matters too. Large, detailed pieces need longer sessions, and longer sessions are more painful. (Source: Healthline, Do Tattoos Hurt? (2019))

Does Tebori Hurt More Than Machine Tattooing?

Not necessarily. Tebori is the traditional Japanese method of tattooing by hand with needles fixed to a rod. Ryugen, a tebori artist interviewed by CNN, said hand-poking is "way less painful" than a machine, and one of his clients agreed. The client added that tebori takes longer and therefore costs more. (Source: CNN, Jan 2019)

Pain still varies from person to person and by placement. For more on tebori, horimono and irezumi, see our guide to irezumi vs tattoo.

How to Make Your Tattoo Hurt Less

Here is what research and medically reviewed guides suggest you can do before and during your appointment.

1. Pick a less painful spot and start small. Smaller tattoos often take less time and therefore cause less pain. (Source: Medical News Today)
2. Sleep well and eat beforehand. Your body handles pain better after a good night's rest, and low blood sugar increases pain sensitivity. (Source: Healthline, Do Tattoos Hurt?)
3. Skip alcohol for 24 hours and stay hydrated. Alcohol heightens pain sensitivity and thins your blood. Healthline also suggests limiting caffeine. (Sources: Healthline, Do Tattoos Hurt?; Healthline, Tattoo Pain Chart)
4. Don't take painkillers on your own. Healthline advises against aspirin or ibuprofen for 24 hours before your session. If you take medication for a health condition, talk to your doctor before stopping it. (Source: Healthline, Do Tattoos Hurt?)
5. Stay calm and distracted. Stress before tattooing is linked to more pain. Breathe slowly and bring headphones or chat with your artist. (Sources: Witkoś and Hartman-Petrycka (2020); Healthline)
6. Ask for breaks. Tell your artist if the pain gets too much. A good artist will let you take breaks. (Source: Healthline, Do Tattoos Hurt?)

In the Polish study, people who took painkillers before tattooing actually reported more pain. The authors suggest that people with a low pain threshold may be the ones who take them. (Source: Witkoś and Hartman-Petrycka (2020))

The best place to settle placement and size is a consultation with your artist. It's also worth checking typical prices by size before you book.

Should you use numbing cream?

Be careful. In March 2024, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned consumers to avoid certain over-the-counter pain relief products marketed for use around cosmetic procedures such as tattooing, including products labeled with more lidocaine than is permitted in over-the-counter products. The FDA advises not using OTC pain relief products with more than 4% lidocaine on your skin. Applied over large areas, or on irritated or broken skin, they can be absorbed into the body and cause serious injury such as irregular heartbeat, seizures and breathing difficulties. The FDA also advises against wrapping treated skin in plastic wrap. (Source: FDA, Mar 26, 2024)

In Japan, EMLA Cream (lidocaine and prilocaine) is a prescription-only medicine. Its approved uses are pain relief for skin laser treatment and needle injections, not tattooing. (Source: PMDA, EMLA Cream package insert (Japanese))

If you plan to bring medicine into Japan for personal use, check the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's rules first. Quantities above set limits need an import confirmation before you travel. (Source: MHLW, Information for those who are bringing medicines for personal use into Japan)

Healthline suggests discussing numbing creams with your artist. Talk to a doctor as well rather than buying and applying a product on your own. (Source: Healthline)

How Long Does a Tattoo Hurt Afterwards?

Soreness fades over the following weeks. Healthline gives this rough timeline. (Source: Healthline, Do Tattoos Hurt?)

Time after	What to expect
Days 1–6	Sore and swollen, like a bruise or sunburn
Days 7–14	Less sore, more itchy
Days 15–30	Much less painful and itchy

MNT says swelling can last up to a week and the pain should ease after about a week. (Source: Medical News Today)

Pain that keeps getting worse, fever, or bumps with pus can be signs of infection. Cleveland Clinic advises seeking medical treatment right away if you notice signs of an infection. (Source: Cleveland Clinic, Tattoo Infection)

While it heals, follow your artist's aftercare instructions. Our tattoo aftercare guide covers the details.

Once healed, sun protection helps the color last. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says UV light can fade some tattoo inks and recommends a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen of SPF 30 or more on your tattoo when you're in the sun. (Source: AAD, Caring for tattooed skin)

These are the tattoo care products we feature. While your tattoo is healing, your artist's instructions come first.

* Some links include affiliate advertisements (PR).

FAQ

What is the most painful place to get a tattoo?

Healthline and Medical News Today both list the ribs, armpits, spine, head and neck, hands and fingers, knees, shins and ankles, feet and toes, and groin as painful. No study has ranked which one is the single worst.

Where does a tattoo hurt the least?

Both sites list the outer thighs, forearms, shoulders and back as less painful. These areas have more fat and muscle.

Is tattoo pain different for women and men?

No study has compared men and women spot by spot. In a study of 1,092 people, pain during tattooing was about the same for both, and women reported slightly more pain right after.

What does a tattoo feel like?

Common descriptions include a cat dragging its claws across your skin, many tiny bee stings, something hot pressed against the skin, and a vibration over bone. Lines tend to sting, and shading tends to scratch.

Does tebori hurt more than a machine tattoo?

Not necessarily. A Japanese tebori artist told CNN it is "way less painful" than a machine. Pain depends heavily on placement and the person.

Do small tattoos hurt?

Yes, but less. Small tattoos often take less time, so they usually cause less pain. A small piece on a less painful spot is a good first tattoo.

Can numbing cream make a tattoo painless?

Use caution. The FDA advises against over-the-counter numbing products with more than 4% lidocaine and has warned that some products used for tattoos can cause serious side effects. In Japan, EMLA Cream is prescription-only and not approved for tattooing. Talk to your artist and a doctor before using any.

The Bottom Line

Tattoos hurt most over bone and thin skin, and least where there is more fat and muscle. These rankings are based on experience, though. In one study, session length, bleeding and stress were linked to pain more clearly than broad body area.

For a first tattoo, choose a less painful spot and a small design, and talk through placement and size with your artist at the consultation.

This article is based on publicly available information as of October 2026.