How much does a Sak Yant Cost in Thailand?

How much for a Traditional Thai Tattoo in Thailand?

What is the Price of a Sak Yant in Thailand?

The price of Sak Yant Tattoos in Thailand varies depending on Geographic Location, Size of the Design, Experience and Fame of the Master or Ajarn

The Cheapest Traditional Thai Tattoos are in rural or Northern areas such as Chiang Mai. At Sak Yant Chiang Mai for example designs start at $60 to $200 dollars (2000-6000 Baht) for the most common designs; depending on the Sak Yant Design, Size and Complexity.
In the Islands, Phuket or Krabi the same Sak Yant Tattoo cost from a Sak Yant Master will generally range from $120-400 (4000-13,000 Baht)
In Bangkok the same Sak Yant Tattoo cost from a Sak Yant Master will generally range from $100-400 (3300-13,000)
Famous Ajarns (Like Ajarn Kanpai) might start at $2300 and up)

Table of Contents

The 2 Components of How Much a Sak Yant Tattoo Costs

There are two aspects that count towards the Sak Yant tattoo price in Thailand. The two components to paying for a Sak Yant Tattoo are the ‘Offering’ the ‘Donation’. Both are separate and essential and sometimes people confuse them to be the same thing or even worse only make an offering and think they can receive a Sak Yant for 60 cents.

The Offering

The Offering is made to the Sak Yant Master or Temple Monk to show respect for the Temple and Master. This usually consists of some flowers, cigarettes and costs around 20-100 Baht.

The Donation

This is what you offer to the Sak Yant Master for their skill and time for the particular Sak Yant design you are requesting. This ranges from a few hundred to thousands of baht depending on who is doing it and what design is choosen

Why are the costs for a Sak Yant Tattoo Different around Thailand?

1) How the Location Changes the Cost of a Sak Yant in Thailand:

The different price of a Sak Yant around Thailand is mostly to do with the cost of living in the area the Ajarns operate from. In popular Tourist areas, people are first exposed to the general lower costs in Thailand and the first exposure to Tattoo prices is favorably compared to their home country. It is not until they travel outside of popular tourist destinations do they find out the prices of Sak Yants can be half what an Ajarn needs to charge with the higher cost of living.

2) How the Ajarn Reputation Changes the Cost of a Sak Yant in Thailand:

The more well known a Sak Yant Ajarn is, the busier they become and naturally with an excess of demand, the prices increase. Ajarns from larger cities with more tourism have greater exposure to celebrity clients, You-tubers and media exposure. Ajarn Noo who became famous preforming Sak Yants for Angelina Jolie charges almost 50 times more than other Sak Yant Masters. More Famous Masters like Ajarn Neng, cater especially to Bloggers who have to pay additional costs for the interview and even when just getting the Tattoo, there is a 1500 baht charge for English translation.

Why Some Sak Yants Are More Expensive than Others?

3) How the Size and Time Required charges the Price of the Sak Yant Tattoo

Naturally if a design is larger and more complex – it is going to cost more. When you receive a Traditional Thai Tattoo, you are paying not only for the Tattoo itself, you are paying for the Ajarns knowledge, skill and the years of training it has taken them to qualify within the Lineage Structure of Sak Yants. As the Master is tattooing the design they are reciting prayers, Larger designs that are more complex and require more focus from the Ajarn will cost more than simpler and smaller designs, even when the same amount of time is required when booking.

4) How Tourist Misinformation Creates Unrealistic Expectations for the Price of a Sak Yan:

Many people make the mistake of thinking that Sak Yants are done by a donation they individually feel is a fair exchange. The problem is Saks Yants have never been Free – this tit-bit of advice is among many Sak Yant Myths and Misinformation; that have derived from (albeit well meaning) Bloggers, not having sufficient knowledge about Sak Yants and filling the gaps with their own Spiritual desires and expectations.

Prices of Bamboo Tattoos at Sak Yant Chiang Mai

At Sak Yant Chiang Mai we use the set pricing approach, which depends on the size, complexity and time involved. We feel this approach is the most fair, as you get to work out how much your Sak Yant tattoo costs before arriving for your appointment. We do not use pricing sliding scales or double pricing for Tourists.

We have many people travel from around the country to use Sak Yant Chiang Mai, because they have discovered not only are we the most transparent and actually show our pricing (rather than making you contact us to negotiate) – Sak Yant Chiang Mai consistently offers the lowest prices for the same Sak Yant Tattoo. Our cost for a Sak Yant Tattoo is almost 1/2 what you will pay anywhere else.

The cost of each Sak Yant includes the booking time, help choosing the design, translation services for the Sak Yant Master, guiding you through the Etiquette, explaining the meanings, medical after care and the Sak Yant Rules. Sak Yant Chiang Mai’s booking deposit includes an hour of In-house Service, but does not include the extra costs of a Temple Tour option.

Sak Yant Chiang Mai's Designs and Costs Book

Click Image to Open Design Book

Unlike many Tattoo Shops and Sak Yant providers who will use a double pricing system and not display the cost of their Sak Yant Tattoo’s. At Sak Yant Chiang Mai we are open and transparent about our pricing.

Here you can view our standard Sak Yant Designs and costs catalog, which tells you how long the design will take and how much it will cost using either our In-House or Temple Visit services.

Guide to Donation Pricing for Various Sak Yant Designs

95% of a persons first Sak Yant is one of three Master Yant designs. The Master Yants are considered the most powerful and have a Blessing attached to them that cover most circumstances and situations.

Most Popular Sak Yant Design Prices

The cost of the most popular Sak Yant price including the Magical Blessing are ….. Paed Tidt (8 Direction) 4500 baht, the Hah Taew (5 Line) 3500 baht, The Gao Yord (9 Peaks) 4000

Sak Yant Cost: Designs for 2500-4000 Baht - 1 Hour Design

Prices for these Sak Yants are 3000 baht based on the size and design at our In-House Samnak with a Sak Yant Master Ajarn.

Prices for these Sak Yants are 5500 baht based on the size and design when visiting a Temple with a Monks Blessing

Both the In-House and 3 Hour Temple visit include both the Sak Yant Tattoo itself and the Magical Blessing

Sak Yant Cost: Designs for 3500-5500 Baht - 1 Hour Design

Prices for these Sak Yants costs are 3500-5000 baht based on the size and design at our In-House Samnak with a Sak Yant Master Ajarn.

Prices for these Sak Yant Tattoo cost’s are 6000-7000 baht based on the size and design when visiting a Temple with a Monks Blessing

Both the In-House and 3 Hour Temple visit include both the Sak Yant Tattoo itself and the Magical Blessing

Sak Yant Cost: Designs for 5500-6500Baht - 1 Hour Design

Prices for these Sak Yants are 4500-6500 baht based on the size and design at our In-House Samnak with a Sak Yant Master Ajarn.

Prices for these Sak Yants are 7000-8000 baht based on the size and design when visiting a Temple with a Monks Blessing

Both the In-House and 3 Hour Temple visit include both the Sak Yant Tattoo itself and the Magical Blessing

Sak Yant Cost: Designs for 7000-8500 Baht - 2 Hour Design

Please Note: For these size Sak Yant Tattoo’s – 2 separate In-House slots need to be booked to complete the design

Prices for these Sak Yants are 6500-8000 baht based on the size and design at our In-House Samnak with a Sak Yant Master Ajarn.

Prices for these Sak Yants are 8500-10000 baht based on the size and design when visiting a Temple with a Monks Blessing

Both the In-House and 3 Hour Temple visit include both the Sak Yant Tattoo itself and the Magical Blessing

Full Back Sak Yant Tattoo Designs Cost for Combinations

Combination full back Sak Yants designs are becoming more popular as people wish to obtain all their Sak Yants in a single sitting while they are in Thailand

Please make sure that if you do want to have a multi combination design on your back or chest that you have done your research on the meanings and have a reason to obtain so many Sak Yants in a single sitting.

Our number one principal of at Sak Yant Chiang Mai is to protect the authenticity and reputation of the Sak Yant and the Sak Yant Masters. We will not put the Sak Yant Masters in a position where they might suspect that a guest does not know why they desire certain Sak Yant Designs.

N.B. Tattoo’s are painful. There are no refunds for those who are unable to endure the process to completion