How Old Do You Have to Be to Get a Tattoo?

In the United States you must be 18 in most states. A number of states allow 16 or 17 with a parent or guardian physically present and providing written consent, while several prohibit tattooing minors entirely regardless of what a parent says.

There is no federal law — this is set state by state, so the answer genuinely depends on where you are.

The three US categories:

Can a 14-year-old get a tattoo with parental consent? In practice, essentially no. The states that permit minors to be tattooed generally set the floor at 16, and even where the law is silent, professional studios decline. A handful of states allow younger minors only for specific medical or reconstructive reasons.

What you'll need if you're 16 or 17 in a state that allows it:

• A parent or legal guardian physically present for the whole appointment — a signed note is not enough.
• Photo ID for you, such as a passport or state ID.
• Photo ID for the parent.
• Proof of the relationship — a birth certificate or guardianship papers, since surnames often differ.
• A signed consent form kept on file by the studio.

Studios can and do set stricter rules than the law. Even in a state permitting 16 with consent, many shops simply won't tattoo anyone under 18 — for insurance reasons, liability, or because the artist prefers not to. Some also decline hands, necks and faces on younger clients regardless of consent. Always call ahead rather than turning up.

Around the world:

• United Kingdom — 18, with no exceptions. Tattooing a minor is a criminal offence even with parental consent.
• Canada — set provincially, generally 18, with some provinces allowing 16 with consent.
• Australia — generally 18; some states allow under-18s with parental consent, others prohibit it outright.
• Ireland — 18, no exceptions.
• Germany — no single statutory age; generally 18, with 16–17 possible with parental consent at the studio's discretion.
• France — 18, or with parental authorisation below that.
• Japan — 18, and the industry is regulated quite differently.

Rules change, so check the current position locally rather than relying on a summary.

Piercing is usually different. Most places allow ear and body piercing at younger ages with parental consent than they allow tattooing, and the two are often governed by separate rules. Don't assume one from the other.

Why the age limits exist: a tattoo is permanent, removal is expensive and imperfect, and minors can't legally enter binding contracts or give full informed consent. The laws also exist to protect studios, since tattooing a minor unlawfully can cost an artist their licence and carry criminal penalties.

Using a fake ID to get tattooed is a bad idea for practical as well as legal reasons: the studio can face prosecution, and the artist is likely to refuse and remember you.

If you're under the age limit, the realistic options are to wait, or to use temporary alternatives — henna (avoid "black henna", which contains PPD and can cause severe skin reactions), jagua gel, or high-quality temporary tattoos. Time also has a way of changing which design you'd have chosen, which is much of the reasoning behind the rules in the first place.

One note on scope: questions about tattooing while pregnant or breastfeeding are medical rather than legal, and are worth putting to a doctor or midwife rather than a general reference page.