Each tattoo consumes single-use supplies — needles, ink caps, gloves, tubes, barrier film. Summing quantities times unit costs gives the per-session supply cost to fold into pricing.
The example
Needles, caps, gloves, film.
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Item | Value |
| 2 | Σ qty × cost | $12.60 |
| 3 | of $450 price | → ~2.8% |
The formula
The formula:
How it works
How it works:
- List each disposable with its per-session quantity and unit cost.
- SUMPRODUCT totals the supply cost in one cell.
- Express as a % of price to track supply efficiency.
- Bigger pieces use more supplies — scale by session length if needed.
Supplies are a small but real cut of every tattoo — cost them once and reuse. Build a standard per-session disposable list (needles, caps, gloves, tubes, film, green soap) with unit costs and SUMPRODUCT gives the supply cost instantly. It’s usually a few percent of price, but for a high-volume shop it adds up, and the same list doubles as a restocking checklist so the booth is never short mid-session.
Try it: interactive demo
Supply cost and tattoo price.
Variations
Supply % of price
Cost ÷ price:
Monthly supply spend
× sessions:
Margin after supplies
Price − supplies:
Pitfalls & errors
Single-use. Count disposables used per session, not bulk packs.
Unit cost. Cost per item used, not per box.
Zero price. Supply % on $0 gives #DIV/0!.
Practice workbook
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate supply cost per tattoo in Excel?
How do I budget monthly supplies?
What counts as a supply?
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