Tattoo Market in Switzerland - The Boom and the Backlash
Over the past few years, Switzerland has seen a rapid increase in the number of tattoo studios. Especially in cities like Zurich, new tattoo shops are opening every month, with some barely lasting longer than a few seasons. On the surface, it might seem like a healthy, growing market. But behind the scenes, the tattoo market in Switzerland is oversaturated—and unstable.
It’s not just a matter of competition. It’s a deeper problem rooted in business-first thinking, low-quality work, and unsustainable pricing that threatens the future of professional, artist-run studios.
How It Starts: Tattoo Studios Run Like Businesses, Not Studios
The growth of commercial and chain tattoo shops has shifted the industry’s values. These studios are often launched by businessmen or investors, not artists. They see tattooing as a trendy, high-demand service to profit from.
To operate, they need tattooers—and fast. But these shops:
Prioritize volume over quality
Offer low pay and poor conditions
Care more about branding than experience
Naturally, good artists don’t stay long. Many leave after realizing the environment doesn’t support long-term career growth or artistic development.
The Ripple Effect: New Artists, Short-Term Mindsets
When those artists leave, many open their own studios—often without being fully prepared for the business or legal responsibilities. To stay afloat, they bring in more artists from abroad, most of whom:
Are not officially registered in Switzerland
Don’t contribute to taxes or insurance
Fly in for a few weeks, take cash, and disappear
This growing rotation of temporary artists creates no accountability, no consistency, and ultimately lowers the standardof tattooing in the country.
The Real Problem: Price Wars Are Killing Quality
Possibly the most damaging trend is aggressive underpricing. Some artists—whether working in backroom studios or flying in every second month—base their entire strategy on being cheaper than everyone else. We now regularly see:
Swiss tattoo prices cheaper than in Eastern Europe, even though the cost of living here is 5x higher
Day sessions being offered at a fraction of what they cost 10 years ago
Prices so low that it’s impossible to cover basic studio costs, let alone run a professional space
📉 For context:
At quality-focused studios, day session prices have dropped 30–40% over the past decade just due to market pressure.
But the “price-dump” studios? They’re offering rates only 30% of what used to be normal in Switzerland.
💬 Need a breakdown of what influences tattoo prices? Read this post.
Two Types of Clients—and a Divided Market
As the market splits, so do the clients:
Group A: People who look for artists whose work they admire. They value connection, quality, and are willing to invest in something permanent.
Group B: People who make decisions based entirely on price. If someone is offering a full-day session for CHF 250, they book it—without checking the artist, setup, or experience.
And here’s the thing: you can’t blame the clients. They aren’t the problem. The problem is that this environment forces professional studios to compete in an impossible price war—and many simply can’t.
Unsustainable Studios, Artists Leaving Switzerland
The reality? Many professional tattoo studios in Switzerland are struggling. Rent, health insurance, taxes, equipment, and legal obligations don’t disappear just because the market drops its prices. It’s becoming harder to stay open—and many are giving up:
Studios are being sold or quietly shut down
Artists are moving abroad to countries where running a studio is more sustainable
New artists have no one to learn from—because the veterans are leaving
The tattoo industry here is starting to eat itself, and the long-term effect will be fewer quality artists, fewer safe studios, and more unhappy clients.
Why It Still Matters Where You Go
Tattooing isn’t just a service. It’s a craft, a collaboration, and something permanent on your body. When you choose a tattoo studio, you’re not just booking an appointment—you’re trusting someone with your skin, your story, and your safety.
Choosing a legit, professional, artist-run studio means:
The artist is registered, insured, and pays taxes
The workspace is hygienic and meets legal standards
You get a personal connection with someone who actually cares about their work
If something goes wrong, that artist is still there—not on a plane back to another country
💡 Curious what a real booking process looks like? Here’s how it works at our Zurich studio.
Final Thoughts: The Future of Tattooing in Switzerland Is at Risk
Tattooing in Switzerland is becoming a numbers game. The more studios that open, the more the prices drop, and the harder it becomes for artists who actually care to survive.
If you’re thinking of getting a tattoo—take your time. Look at portfolios. Choose a style you love. Meet the artist.Don’t fall for flashy ads or cheap prices that don’t make sense.
This isn’t about gatekeeping the industry—it’s about protecting it, so artists can keep doing what they love, and clients can keep getting tattoos they’re proud of.
➡️ Want a tattoo from someone who actually gives a shit?
Book a consultation at our Zurich studio
Or follow us on Instagram to see our latest work.
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