Hour four
The same spot reads two points higher late in a long sitting. Endurance falls off a cliff around three hours.
25 placements · scored by people who sat through them
Where does
it hurt worst?
Tap any spot on the chart for an honest read — how the needle feels there, how long you'll last in the chair, and what your artist wishes you knew first.
The scale — pick a level
ribcage 9 — the benchmark for bad outer thigh 2 — start here sternum 8 — two sittings, not one knuckles fade, plan the touch-up eat before you sit ribcage 9 — the benchmark for bad outer thigh 2 — start here sternum 8 — two sittings, not one knuckles fade, plan the touch-up eat before you sit
front view · tap a number
The figure changes so you can see the placement on a body like yours — the scores are the same for both.
9 out of ten
Hall of pain
Ribcage
The benchmark for bad. Skin over bone over lung — every breath moves the canvas and the sensation has nowhere to go.
Sensation Searing, breathless
Sitting time 45–90 min
Heals in 3 weeks
Artist
Everything about ribcage tattoo pain →Eat properly beforehand and expect to tap out earlier than planned. Ribs are a two-session job.
Line vs shade
Lining is a clean cut you can breathe through. Packed black is a sustained burn that outlasts it.
Sleep & food
Under-slept and unfed is the biggest self-inflicted penalty on this page. Eat first. Skip the hangover.
Mileage
Your tenth tattoo scores lower than your first. You learn how to sit, how to breathe, when to shut up.
Print · pin · bring it in
The whole chart,
one sheet.
Front and back, all 25 placements, ranked and scored — built for the shop wall. The printable sheet is in production; the full chart above is live and free to use now.
Estimates, not advice. Every figure on this page is computed from published reference values and standard measures, so your own inputs, equipment and conditions will move it. Nothing here is professional advice — talk to a qualified professional before acting on it.