"How much will this cost?" is the question we hear most often at the studio, and it is a fair one — tattoo pricing varies more than almost any other service you will book while traveling. This guide explains how pricing actually works at Anand's Tattoo in Lakeside, Pokhara, and what factors push a quote higher or lower.
How Tattoo Pricing Works in Pokhara
Most studios, ours included, price custom work based on size, placement, detail level, and time rather than a flat per-inch rate. A small, simple line piece and a large color mandala in the same physical space can take wildly different amounts of time, so an accurate quote almost always requires a quick look at your reference image or a short in-person consultation.
We do not publish a one-size price list because it would be misleading. Two forearm tattoos can sit at opposite ends of the scale depending on whether they are a simple flash design or a full custom sleeve. What we can do is explain the levers, then give you a clear number once we have seen the idea.
Factors That Affect Your Tattoo's Price
Size and Placement
Larger pieces obviously cost more, but placement matters too. Ribs, hands, and joints take longer to work on carefully than flat areas like the outer forearm or shoulder, which can affect both price and how many sessions the piece needs. If this is your first tattoo in Pokhara, starting on a flatter area is often more comfortable and more predictable to quote.
Style: Color vs Blackwork
Bold color pieces generally require more layering and healing time between passes than pure blackwork or fine-line designs. If you are choosing between the two, our guide to color versus blackwork tattoos explains how each style affects both the final look and the total time — and therefore cost — of the piece.
Himalayan and spiritual designs with layered color, golds, and deity portraits usually sit toward the higher end because they need multiple saturating passes. High-contrast blackwork can still be a long sitting if the shading is dense — it is the detail, not just the ink color, that drives the quote.
Detail Level and Session Count
Intricate work like deity portraits, stippled shading, or a full sleeve is priced across multiple sessions rather than a single sitting. Our custom sleeve tattoo guide breaks down how session counts typically scale for larger, multi-part pieces so you can budget realistically before starting.
Artist Experience
Pricing also reflects the artist's specialty and experience. Master Ananda and Master Bibek bring more than two decades and a strong specialization in color/spiritual and blackwork/realism work respectively, which is factored into quotes for the more demanding custom pieces each of them takes on. You are paying for drawing, pacing, and work that still looks right years later — not just time in the chair.
Walk-In Pricing vs Custom Consultation Pricing
Simple flash pieces from our walk-in menu are typically quoted on the spot with no consultation needed. Larger custom designs go through a short planning conversation first so the price reflects the actual artwork rather than a rough guess. Our walk-in guide to visiting the Lakeside studio explains exactly what to expect for same-day bookings and when it is worth scheduling a consultation instead.
Piercing Pricing
If you are combining a tattoo appointment with a piercing, note that piercing is priced separately and depends on the jewelry and placement chosen. See our page on tattoo and piercing services under one roof for more on what is included and how the two services are typically booked together.
Budgeting for Aftercare
A tattoo's real cost does not end when you leave the chair. Nepal's climate calls for specific aftercare products and habits to protect color saturation and prevent infection, which we cover in detail in our tattoo aftercare guide for Nepal's climate. Factoring in a small aftercare budget — moisturizer, sun protection, and loose clothing — protects the investment you just made.
Cover-ups and faded reworks follow the same pricing logic, with extra time for assessing old ink. If that is your project, start with our cover-up and touch-up guide and then ask us for a quote from photos.
Get an Accurate Quote
The only way to get a truly accurate price is to show us your idea. Browse our gallery for similar pieces to reference, then contact Anands Tattoo with your concept, rough size, and preferred placement, and we will give you a clear, honest quote before any work begins. Call +977 9846036018 or WhatsApp from Lakeside — walk-ins are welcome when the chair is free.
