ARTICLES
Tattoo Flash Sale Friday the 13th: How the Deals Work and Whether They're Worth It
Tattoo flash sale Friday the 13th: how the lines and sign-ups work, what the price is once the tip counts, and who it suits. Next date is Nov. 13, 2026.
TL;DR: A tattoo flash sale on Friday the 13th means small, pre-drawn designs, first come first served, often with long lines and a tip rule on top of the headline price. The next one is Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. It suits a small, simple piece you already like. It is a bad fit for custom, large or placement-fussy work. Ask about tip, size limits and cut-off time first.
A line runs down the sidewalk hours before the doors open. Nobody in it is there for a sleeve. They want one small, pre-drawn design, done fast, at a price that makes a regular day look expensive.
That is a tattoo flash sale on Friday the 13th, and it comes around again on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. Some shops run it as a one-day party, some stretch it across the weekend, some skip it. Whether it turns out to be a bargain or a headache depends on the tip rule, the size limits and how long you are willing to stand there.
We read news coverage, student papers and event listings to see what the day looks like and what the price is once the tip is counted. We did not run any shop's sale ourselves, and we could not confirm any shop's November plans from the shop's own page. Prices below are what shops listed in past years.
What is a Friday the 13th flash sale?
It is an event where a shop offers a limited menu of pre-drawn designs at a discount. Flash is art the artist drew ahead of time. On this day you pick from the sheet instead of asking for something new.
A San Francisco student paper, Golden Gate Xpress, describes flash as a preset design that often can't be altered or resized, usually finished in one sitting. Patch says the art is usually themed around the date. The 2023 local flash it listed included ghosts, coffins, skulls, pumpkins and fangs.
The trade is simple. You give up choice. The shop gives you a low price and a fast tattoo.
When is the next one?
Friday the 13th lands on Nov. 13, 2026. By our own calendar check, it is the third this year, after Feb. 13 and March 13. The next is Aug. 13, 2027.
Do not assume it is a single day. A Discover Atlanta listing for one shop shows Nov. 13 through 16, 2026. A FOX 5 Atlanta roundup of June 2025 showed one shop running three days and another two. If Friday's line looks insane, check for a Saturday.
Where did the tradition start?
Most coverage points to Dallas. Oliver Peck and Elm Street Tattoo are credited with the first big 24-hour Friday the 13th event, but the year depends on who you ask.
Golden Gate Xpress and KXAN both say 1996. Peck has said he was one of the first to offer a Friday the 13th flash sale, in 1995, per Patch. Wikipedia's Peck entry also lists 1995 and says he has acknowledged he was not the first to do it. We did not open the interview that line draws on, so treat it as secondhand. CBS Pittsburgh says only that the tradition dates to at least the mid 1990s.
Peck's own explanation for the 13 is that people got it tattooed to ward off bad luck, since bad luck would see the 13 already there and pass by, per Patch. That is his account, not documented history. We found nothing that settles the older folklore.
How do the sales actually run?
Most are walk-in and first come, first served, but many shops add sign-ups, timed slots or paid skip-the-line passes. Check the shop's own post, because the format changes shop to shop.
Past listings showed:
- Walk-in line. CBS Pittsburgh reported dozens of people waiting hours at the shops it visited in October 2023.
- Sign-in sheet. One Las Vegas shop took names from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., doors at noon, per KLAS 8 News Now for Feb. 2026.
- Appointment only. Another Vegas shop listed preset flash by appointment, deposits by Zelle or Venmo.
- Tickets or passes. FOX 5 listed one Atlanta shop selling timed tickets online and another selling a $75 advance pass to skip the line and pick your artist.
- DM queue. In 2020, one San Francisco shop took first-come Instagram messages at midnight and handed out time slots. Golden Gate Xpress says it got about 600 to 700 messages.
Any DM sign-up or deposit is a place to slow down. Read our guide on tattoo scams and fake artist accounts and pay only through the shop's own verified account.
What does it really cost?
Read the fine print. The headline number is often the price before tip, and some shops make the tip mandatory. In the listings we found, the real cost ran from about $20 to $200.
| Where and when | What the listing said | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta, Nov. 13 to 16, 2026 | $13 flash plus a $40 mandatory artist tip (a visitor-site listing; we did not see the shop's own page) | Discover Atlanta |
| Las Vegas area, Feb. 2026 | $13 plus a $7 tip at one shop, $31 at another, $20 to $180 at a chain | KLAS 8 News Now |
| New York City, Feb. and March 2026 | $40 to $60 at one shop, $20 for the first 20 in line; $20 at another | Time Out New York |
| Atlanta area, June 2025 | $20 and $50 designs at one shop, $50 at another | FOX 5 Atlanta |
| Pittsburgh-area shops, Sept. 2024 | $40 up to $200 | Duquesne Duke |
| San Francisco, March 2020 | Typically $100 to $200 | Golden Gate Xpress |
| Tampa, Oct. 2017 | $20 total: $13 tattoo plus mandatory $7 tip | The Oracle (USF) |
Do the math. A $13 flash with a $40 mandatory tip is $53 out the door. A $13 flash with a $7 tip is $20. Both are fair for a small piece, but neither is the number on the poster.
The Duquesne Duke notes flash runs significantly cheaper than a typical day at the shop. For regular rates, see how much tattoos cost.
Is it worth it?
Yes if you want something small and simple that you already like on the sheet. No if you need custom work, a big piece, or a specific placement.
Good for:
- A first small tattoo you have been putting off. An artist told The Duquesne Duke that flash days are a low commitment way to get a feel for an artist and a studio.
- Matching tattoos, a one-off symbol, a single small word.
- A shop you already trust.
Bad for:
- Anything custom. Per the same article, designs come from the flash sheet and elaborate ideas should wait for a scheduled appointment.
- Larger pieces. KLAS listed one Vegas shop at 2 to 4 inches and another up to silver dollar size in black and grey.
- Fussy placement. Many listings limited it to arms and legs, and one Vegas shop excluded neck, face and hands.
- Anyone who hates waiting.
How do you judge a flash sheet?
Judge it like any portfolio: are the lines clean, and does the sheet look like the artist's regular work? A cheap price is not a reason to skip your homework.
This part is our read, not a study:
- Linework. Look for consistent line weight and smooth curves. Small designs punish sloppy lines.
- Match to their portfolio. A sheet in the style they tattoo every day beats a rushed event sheet that looks like someone else drew it.
- Size for skin. Very fine detail in a very small tattoo is a gamble. Simple shapes with room between lines are the safer pick.
- Older work. Ask for photos of their tattoos after they have settled in, not only the day they were done.
A 2017 Nylon piece, tips credited to Ruby Croak, suggests a reputable traditional shop that takes walk-ins and does hard line work. Our guide on how to vet a tattoo artist goes deeper.
What should you ask before you go?
Message or call the shop first. The answers decide whether the sale is worth your day.
- Is the tip included or mandatory, and how much? For norms, see how much to tip a tattoo artist.
- What are the size and placement limits?
- How many tattoos per person? The Nylon tips say to ask for one, not several.
- When does the line close? A Tampa shop told The Oracle it usually stopped taking tattoos at 9 p.m. and might close earlier. The Duquesne Duke says some shops close lines near closing time.
- Cash, card or both? Some past listings were cash only.
- Walk-in, sign-up or ticket, and where is it posted?
- Can I see the sheet early? A New York shop on Time Out New York's Feb. 2026 list posted its sheet at noon with no sneak peeks.
How do you get through the day?
Eat first, bring water, carry cash and ID, and show up early. A long wait plus adrenaline is how people end up woozy in the chair.
The Duquesne Duke advises eating beforehand, since fainting is more likely after long waits, adrenaline or drinking. All five studios it spoke with would not tattoo anyone intoxicated. A 2019 contributor post on The Odyssey says to bring ID and expect paperwork.
Speak up about placement. One artist told the Duquesne Duke that artists will re-stencil many times, and that walking away is fine if you do not feel heard. That goes for a $20 day as much as a $200 one.
What about aftercare?
A discounted tattoo heals like any other. Follow your artist's instructions and know the signs that mean a doctor.
Cleveland Clinic lists redness, soreness, swelling, itching, flaking, scabbing and slight oozing as normal. It says to see a doctor for fever, skin that feels hot, foul odor or heavy drainage, pain that gets worse, or redness that keeps spreading. The top skin layer typically heals by about two months, with deeper layers taking longer.
The FDA says infections can come from unsterile equipment and from contaminated ink, even when the artist follows hygienic procedures. We found nothing saying a sale changes that, so vet the shop like any other day. Our tattoo aftercare guide has the day by day detail.
The bottom line
Friday the 13th flash is a real deal when it matches what you want: small, simple, already drawn, from an artist whose work you like. Do the math on the tip, ask about size and placement rules, and expect a wait.
Skip it for custom work, a big piece or fussy placement. Book a regular appointment for those, where the artist has time to draw for you and you are not one of hundreds in the queue. Check each shop's own page for 2026 details, since policies change year to year. To find an artist whose style fits, browse artists by style on Tatulogue.
FAQ
When is the next Friday the 13th?
The next Friday the 13th is Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. By the calendar, the one after that is Aug. 13, 2027. Many shops run flash deals on the date, and some extend them across the weekend.
How much does a Friday the 13th flash tattoo cost?
Listings from past years ran from about $20 total, such as a $13 tattoo plus a $7 tip, up to $100 to $200 at some shops. Prices vary by shop, artist and design. Check the shop's own post for the current price and whether the tip is included.
Do I have to tip on a flash deal?
Some shops make the tip mandatory and list it with the price, such as a $7 tip on a $13 tattoo in a 2017 Tampa listing. Others do not say. Ask before you go so the final price is not a surprise.
Can I get a custom or large tattoo on Friday the 13th?
Usually not. Coverage of past events says designs must come from the shop's flash sheet, placement is often limited to arms and legs, and more elaborate ideas should be saved for a scheduled appointment on another day.
Is a discounted flash tattoo less safe?
We found nothing showing the sale price changes safety, but the same checks apply as on any day. The FDA says infections can come from unsterile equipment and from contaminated ink, even when the artist follows hygienic procedures.