That does sound high if it isn't in color... but 3 inches is also fairly big and may take some time. I would call around and see if you can get a better price.

Three interlocking circles sounds like a pretty simple design, but you want to make sure you have a good tattoo artist or those circles may look more like ovals once applied to the chest. I'm in a large midwestern suburban area and $150 is a fair hourly rate (my DH has several tattoos and a few close friends who are artists). But do your homework and make sure you get someone who does quality work in a clean and professional environment. If the circles are going to be black, it will take some time to do thick solid lines. The price quote of $350 means about 2 hours in the chair. And don't forget to tip.

That seems extremely high to me. My husband has gotten two tattoos that take up his entire inner forearms and each was $350. One is colored and the other is shaded and both have intricate detailing. Yes, the artist he uses admits that he cuts my DH good deals, but $350 for the work you've described seems insane. Shop around, ask to see samples of their work.

Way too high!!!! Esp for a pretty simple design, you should tell him to shop around- I'm positive you can ge a better price than that

I also do not have a tattoo, but my son wanted a tribute tattoo when he turned 18. I took him to a tattoo artist and he also paid $150/ hour. My husband used the Sam artist and paid the same rate. Both designs were beautiful /meticulous. My husband's was in color and my son's was in sepia. There was no difference in price. They paid for his time, not whether he used color or not.

I have eighteen tattoos (all easily hidable except one on my hand which surprisingly, no one ever notices).

I live in a large city, where tattoos are VERY popular. The going rate here for tats is $120 an hour, depending on what cut the shop itself takes from the artist.

I think $350 for a three inch peice on the chest is high. I got a quote on my inner upper arm for $120. It stretches from armpit to elbow though text is generally cheaper, I would ask around. If it's celtic, you really want to check the artist's books and make sure they do that type of work as well.

I have 6 tatts....one which covers my entire right calf and foot. 350 is way to high
for a piece that small. The going rate in my area is 100$ an hour. I would ask how long
they believe that this is going to take. 2 hours seems excessive to me.

That's ridiculous! I have a large, colored piece on my back that I was charged $120 for (gave him $200 including tip), and it took two sittings and a total of 4 hours. Great work, too. Find a different artist/shop!

Pfft. You are PAYING for a tattoo!! Just do what our BM does, she sleeps with the tattoo guy for free ones. She has 16 so far I believe. Who knows what else she got besides the tattoos. A little STD on the side maybe. :O Yuck!!

I have five tattoos, one is very small, not too detailed and was $150, I got the others at a different place, the last one being on my calf, about 6 inches long, very detailed and a lot of color, it was $300, definitely shop around and ask to see their work.

I am sorry, but the fact that a mother is assisting and paying for a tattoo just makes me sick. I know people like their tattoos, but they are just another way of defacing your body...I have been in responsibility of hiring people and will not even consider hiring if I can see a tattoo. Call me old-fashioned, but your body is the only one you have...To treat it this way is wrong. Besides, that artwork you love at 18, is not the same art you love at 50...

Is this something you really want to do for your child?

You get what you pay for but all my tat's are from friends so I got a discount, it really depends from shop to shop artist to artist, but 150$ an hour eh sounds about right if the artist is good and isn't piss ass slow. When my dd turns 18 she's getting a quarter size turtle on her foot (same as mine different color her dad has the same one on his leg) and her dad is doing it.
I see nothing wrong with tasteful tat's but I'm big on putting them where they can be covered for work as some people still frown on them. I love my tat's everyone of them represents something to me, I have 3 more I plan to get my son's earth dragon design (I have an air one my dd designed and drew as she very talented) my phoenix when I graduate, and my star of life when I get my national Paramedic license.