Tattoo Needle Sizes

If you're new to tattooing, it can be difficult to find the right tattoo supply. What is the best ink? Which needles are always safe to use? We're starting a series today to help you make the best decision possible.

Tattoo needles will be used more frequently than any other item. You'll need various groupings and sizes. This guide will walk you through the fundamental needle features and what to look for when purchasing them. Remember, you should never reuse your tattoo needles; instead, use a new needle each time.

Round Tattoo Needles 

Round needles are needles that are soldered in round patterns around a central shaft. Round needles can be used as liners or shaders depending on how close they are together. Round liners are tightly packed (close together), making them ideal for technical work, fine lines, and details. You may also notice loose round liners. Loose round liners are used to create thick, bold outlines similar to those seen on Japanese-style tattoos. Round shaders are ideal for general color filling and basic shading.

Round needles are abbreviated RL (Round Liner) or RS (Round Shader). They are almost always written with their number in front, such as 9RL. The number in front indicates the number of needles used in the configuration; for example, a 9RL has 9 needles placed in a circle configuration, a 7RL has 7, and so on. If you're just starting out, round shaders in sizes 3, 5, 7, and 9 are ideal for shading and filling in small areas.

Round needles use the same size tube as square needles, so a 9RL needle will require a 9R tube. It's pretty simple.

Tattoo Needles that are Flat

Example of a Flat Needle

Flat needles are needles that are soldered to a needle bar in a straight line. Because of their shape, these needles are the most popular for lining because they can deliver more ink to the skin. This results in clearer, darker lines with a single stroke. Color fills can be delivered more quickly with a single pass using larger flat needles.

FL (Flat Liner) or, less frequently, FS (Flat Shader) are the abbreviations for flat needles. These, like round needles, are labeled with the number of pins in front, such as 7FL or 5FS.

Flat needles, like round needles, use their twin-sized tubes, so a 7FL needle will use a 7F tube.

Tattoo Needles Magnum

Magnum needles are the preferred tool for nearly all shading work. The taper on these sets is either the same or greater than the taper on round shaders. Magnums have a lot of ink, making them ideal for covering large areas with color. Because they allow so much ink through, you'll need fewer passes over an area with magnum needles, resulting in less skin damage during multiple passes. There are several types of magnum needles:

Magnum Needles Weaved

Example of a Weaved Magnum Needle

Weaved magnums, like flat needles, are soldered to a flat needle bar on alternating sides of the needle. So one needle would be soldered to the top, another to the bottom, and so on; this allows them to cover a larger area.

Weaved magnums are always labeled M1 with the number of needles. A 5M1 needle configuration would be a weaved magnum needle configuration with 5 needles soldered to a needle bar.

Magnum Needles Stack

Stacked magnums have two rows of needles on either side of the bar, but they are much closer together. Stacked magnums, for example, are labeled M2 with the number of needles beforehand. In other words, 9M2 is a stacked magnum with 9 needles on the bar.

Magnums, both round and curved

Round magnums (also known as curved magnums) are a relatively new type of magnum needle. The tips of round (or rounded, both terms are correct) magnums arch at the center. This rounded edge conforms better to the skin, providing a more consistent line, better ink dispersion, and less skin damage.

If that doesn't make sense, press down on your arm's skin and notice how the pressed area forms an almost round hollow. Round magnums are shaped to fit that shape.

Round magnums are labeled with the number of needles beforehand as RM. A 5RM is a 5 needle magnum with 5 needles to the bar and a rounded point arrangement.