The Real Tattoo Pain Scale: Ranked by Placement

So, you want a tattoo — but you’ve also heard horror stories about ribs, knees, and “that one friend who cried halfway through their ankle piece.” Let’s talk about what really hurts (and what doesn’t) when it comes to tattoo placement.

Pain is subjective, sure — but after years of watching people twitch, laugh, and occasionally question all their life choices, our artists at West Side Tattoo have built a fairly accurate pain scale. Here’s how it breaks down.

1. The Easy Breezy Zone (Low Pain)

Areas: Outer arm, calf, forearm, upper thigh

These are the sweet spots. They’ve got thick skin, plenty of muscle, and not a ton of nerve endings. You’ll feel the vibration and some sting, but honestly — you might be more bothered by the buzzing sound than the needle. Great spots for first-timers.

Pain Level: 2/10Artist quote: “This is where people start saying, ‘Oh, this isn’t that bad!’ Give it a few minutes.”

2. The Medium Burn (Moderate Pain)

Areas: Shoulder blades, upper back, chest (outer areas), shins

Here’s where you start to notice that tattoos aren’t exactly spa treatments. These spots have thinner skin or lie over bone, but they’re still manageable. You’ll grit your teeth occasionally, but you won’t cry. Probably.

Pain Level: 5/10Artist quote: “You’ll start clenching your jaw around the two-hour mark.”

3. The “Why Did I Do This?” Zone (High Pain)

Areas: Ribs, sternum, inner bicep, neck, spine

Welcome to the fire. There’s not much padding between the skin and bone here, and the vibration gets intense. Breathing can make the needle feel like it’s moving with your heartbeat. You’ll live — but you’ll remember this one.

Pain Level: 8/10Artist quote: “Everyone says they’re fine until we hit the ribs.”

4. The Regret Zone (Maximum Pain, Handle with Caution)

Areas: Knees, ankles, hands, fingers, armpits, head

Every artist has watched someone in this category suddenly develop religion. The skin is thin, full of nerve endings, and moves a lot. The design will look awesome — but you’ll earn it.

Pain Level: 10/10Artist quote: “If you can sit through this, you can do anything.”

Bonus: The Sneaky Pain Spots

Areas: Inner thigh, behind the knee, lower back, stomach

These aren’t talked about as much, but they’re surprisingly rough. Think about how sensitive these areas are normally — then imagine them being tattooed for two hours straight.

Pain Level: 7/10Artist quote: “You’ll find muscles you didn’t know you had.”

So What’s the Moral Here?

Pain shouldn’t scare you off — it’s temporary. The artwork lasts forever, and our artists work with you to make it as tolerable (and distraction-filled) as possible.Eat well, hydrate, and don’t show up hungover — half the pain scale is preparation.

If you’re planning your next piece and wondering what it’ll feel like, come talk to us at West Side Tattoo in Colorado Springs. We’ll be honest about the pain, the healing, and everything in between — and make sure the result is worth every wince.