Tattoo Cover-Up Size Multiplier Calculator
Calculate cover-up tattoo size by original tattoo dimensions.
Get realistic size multiplier and design complexity needed to fully hide an existing tattoo.
Tattoo Cover-Up Size Multiplier
Covering an existing tattoo requires a larger, darker, more complex design to hide the underlying ink. Industry rules of thumb:
Standard cover-up size multipliers:
| Original Tattoo Condition | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| Light, faded, small (10+ years old) | 1.3-1.8× area |
| Medium age, partially faded (5-10 years) | 1.5-2.5× area |
| Dark, recent, solid (under 5 years) | 2.0-3.0× area |
| Tribal / heavy black ink | 2.5-4.0× area |
| Already a cover-up (failed) | 3.0-5.0× area |
Why bigger?
- Cover the entire original: even visible edges
- Negative space rule: incorporate the original into a larger design
- Color depth: original ink shows through unless new ink is darker
- Camouflage: lines and shading distract from any bleed-through
Color limitations:
| Original Color | Best Cover Colors |
|---|---|
| Black solid | Dark colors only, black, dark green, deep red, navy |
| Red / pink | Black, deep purple, brown, dark blue |
| Blue / green | Black, deep red, dark brown |
| Yellow / orange | Most colors work, yellow is least dominant |
| Multi-color | Black is the safe answer |
Cover-up complexity rules:
- More detail and shading is needed to distract the eye
- Bold linework with dense fill works better than fine work
- Realism is generally not advisable, too easy to see through
- Floral, animal, or abstract designs hide well
- Chinese / Japanese script characters rarely work as cover-ups
Pre-cover-up options to consider FIRST:
- Laser fading (3-6 sessions, $100-300 each), reduces ink density 50-80%
- Saline / glycolic acid removal: risky, scarring potential
- Salabrasion: old method, scarring almost certain
- Surgical excision: for small tattoos, leaves a scar
A faded original cuts your cover-up size requirement IN HALF. Many top cover-up artists require 4-6 laser sessions before they’ll attempt a cover-up.
Cost considerations:
- Cover-up tattoo: 2-3× the price of an original tattoo at the same size
- More sessions needed (often 3-5 vs 1-2)
- Pre-laser sessions: $100-300 × 4-6 sessions = $400-1,800 added
- Some artists charge a “cover-up consultation” fee ($50-150)
Realistic timeline:
- Pre-laser fading: 4-12 months (sessions 6-8 weeks apart)
- Healing between sessions: 4-6 weeks
- Cover-up tattoo work: 2-5 sessions over 3-6 months
- Total cover-up project: 8-18 months
When NOT to cover up:
- Original is very dark and very fresh (under 1 year): wait for fade
- Original involves names you might want to remove cleanly (laser instead)
- Skin in problematic location (face, neck visible): small visible bleed-through is permanent
Pro tip: bring 3 design ideas: A skilled cover-up artist will pick the design that best hides YOUR original. Don’t be married to a single design — flexibility wins better cover-ups.
How we build and check this calculator
This calculator runs entirely in your browser, so the numbers you enter stay on your device. The math behind it is written by hand and tested against worked examples and standard references before the page goes live.
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