Best Tattoo Machines and Kits for Beginners

If you’ve decided to pursue a career as a tattoo artist, there are certain mistakes you need to avoid making. The first one is calling your equipment a “kit.”

In the title, we called them kits for beginners, but in reality, there is no such thing. A tattoo artist has a set of equipment, not a kit. The reason we have written “kit” is that when those who are new to the game are looking for what they’ll need, they’ll often use the term “kit.”

If you’re serious about becoming a tattoo artist, it will be essential to have the right setup. Before you rush out to buy anything, speak with your mentor first. You don’t want to be wasting your money on buying a cheap product that is of no use.

Chances are you won’t need any equipment to begin with when you’re just learning. No matter how eager you are, don’t buy anything until you need it. Otherwise, you’ll end up with the wrong tools that are likely to be quite costly.

Ultimately, you should take the advice of your mentor on what to buy, but here are some of the best machines for beginners.

Grinder Tattoo Kit by Pirate Face Tattoo—Best Overall

The Grinder tattoo kit is an excellent kit that’s designed for both beginners and professionals. The kit includes four tattoo machines that are made from durable stainless steel. The tattoo machines have been specifically for both lining and shading, giving you the versatility you need. They are also lightweight and easy to use.

The ink included in the kit is made by Radiant colors in the USA, and these are high-quality inks that are suitable for any style or size of tattoo. The ink is made with a pure uncut homogenized pigment that gives you a solid, vibrant, long-lasting color.

Users like everything about this kit, especially the tattoo machines included. Below are just some of the comments we found online:

“I was a bit hesitant to order this kit for my son (he’s apprenticing under me), but was pleasantly surprised with it. The machines are quality built, and with a little bit of tuning, they hum like a swarm of happy bees.”

“I purchased this Grinder kit for a nephew who needed something to get started with and was really impressed by the quality and quantity of stuff you get for the money in this kit. These machines are GREAT to get started with. We’ve had no problems with them and they are more powerful than I had expected – true 10 coil machines. Out of the box, you need to tune these machines, but once you’ve done that they are good to go.”

Specifications

Tattoo Guns: 4 x 10 wrap coil tattoo machines.

Power Supply: Yes.

Ink: 7 Radiant colors tattoo ink.

Needles: 50 sterile needles – Liner and shaders, mixed size.

Suitable for: Beginner, apprentice, and professional

The kit is a great all-round kit that includes everything that you need when starting your career as a tattoo artist. It includes sterile needles, grips, disposable stainless steel tips, and lots more. 

The kit comes with its own power supply that can run on any standard voltage current and a foot-pedal that works efficiently with your machine. This all comes in its own carry case, which is ideal if you’re a tattoo artist on the go. The tattoo kit comes with a 6-month warranty on the power supply and the tattoo machines.

Pros

• Great all round kit that gives you everything you need in one place.
• Includes an instructional book and DVD for beginners.
• Four Tattoo machines made from durable steel and have a resilient copper coil core.
• Good value for money, with many high-quality components included.
• Six months warranty on power supply and tattoo machines.

Cons

• Some users reported that the power supply is unreliable.
• The tattoo machine can be quite noisy with some users saying that it sounds like a hive of bees.

STIGMA Complete Tattoo Kit Pro—Best Value

This tattoo kit gives you great value for money and comes with a rotary tattoo machine that’s perfect for both linework and shading. It’s a powerful tattoo machine with a 10W motor and is easy to control. 

The tattoo machine is made from CNC machined aircraft aluminum for a strong, durable frame that will perform well and look like new for a long time. The unique slider technology within the tattoo machine offers a smooth needle movement and the tattoo machine is lightweight and is comfortable to use.

Included in the kit, you will get five high-quality tattoo inks in popular colors. However, it’s advised that you only use these inks for practicing your tattoo skills. You should invest in professional inks to complete your tattoos on human skin to make sure that the tattoo ink lasts as long as it should and that the colors don’t fade. 

The STIGMA tattoo kit is a great value-for-money starter kit, and tattoo artists are enjoying using it. You can see some of the comments we found below:

“I don’t write many reviews, but thought I’d go out of my way to say the following: This is my first machine and I can’t really believe I got all of this for around $50. Really no needle-play at desired speeds. Works excellent and I’ve had zero issues thus far. I’ll report back if anything fails or malfunctions.”

“Excellent tattoo kit, the machine is resistant, I have worked daily with it and it has not lost power, I recommend this machine.”

Specifications

Tattoo Guns: 1 Rotary machine.

Power Supply: Yes.

Ink: 5 Colored inks – Advised for practice only.

Needles: 5 needles.

Suitable for: Beginner, intermediate, and professional.

This tattoo kit is great value for money, and as well as a great tattoo machine, it gives you 20 pieces of equipment that can all be carried in their own branded carry case. 

The needles on the rotary tattoo machine give you smooth delicate lines that are full of color or great shading. It performs well with a good finish and minimal damage to your skin. The tattoo kit comes with a one-year warranty on the rotary machine and the power supply, giving you peace of mind when choosing this kit. 

Pros

• Great value for money.
• High quality rotary tattoo machine included for both linework and shading.
• Durable tattoo machine frame made from CNC machined aircraft aluminum.
• The machine is quieter than other brands when working. 
• One year warranty on the rotary machine and power supply.

Cons

• An instruction booklet needed to set up the machine.
• Need to purchase professional ink before tattooing for real.

Solong Tattoo Complete Tattoo Kit 4—Best for Vegans

The Solong tattoo kit gives you everything you need to start your career as a tattoo artist. It includes four, ten wrap coil tattoo machines that allow you to complete linework and shading, as well as color packing. 

It also gives you a great choice of color tattoo inks with 54 different shades to try, plus one bottle of true black tattoo ink. The tattoo inks are vegan friendly, and micro-dispersed to make them much easier to use. They are also sterilized by gamma rays, so are reliable to use. 

The tattoo machines are handmade from carbon steel and are designed for both lines and shading, giving you great results. They are lightweight and come in four different colors to easily distinguish between them. 

You will get a digital power supply included in your tattoo kit with a foot pedal and clip cord to give you a strong and stable power supply. 

The kit comes in its own carry case for easy transportation.

Tattoo artists like this kit and the tattoo machines included. You can see some of their comments below:

“Excellent product for the price. All machines run well once tuned and theres a great variety of everything to get you started tattooing.”

“Got this for my boyfriend to try with tattoos, he’s a great artist and this was a great deal for him to try.”

Specifications

Tattoo Guns: 4 x 10 wrap coil tattoo machines.

Power Supply: Yes.

Ink: 54 colored inks – Vegan friendly.

Needles: 50 sterile needles – Liner and shaders, mixed size.

Suitable for: Beginner, intermediate, and professional.

The inks in this starter kit don’t contain any animal products or harmful substances, so they are ideal for vegans. They also heal faster with less scabbing, which means that the skin will retain more of the pigment and the color won’t fade quickly.

The tattoo machines are relatively easy to set up. However, if you do have any issues, you can check out the online guide for further details. This guide also gives you a free tattoo teaching video and a number of tattoo designs. 

Pros

• Suitable for vegan tattooists as the inks don’t contain any animal products.
• Offers a great choice of ink color options.
• Handmade machines from durable carbon steel.
• The LCD power supply allows you to keep tabs on the amount of power remaining.

Cons

• The ink has been known to dry easily.
• Some users reported the power supply can be unreliable.

Dragonhawk Complete Tattoo Kit 4—Best Design

This tattoo kit is well designed, and the four coil tattoo machines look amazing, with different colors and designs for each one. The kit offers you everything you need to start tattooing. 

In the tattoo kit, you get ten bottles of Immortal inks that are made in the USA. These inks are vibrant in color and are formulated for consistency, going in easily, and resisting fading. They’re also vegan friendly and don’t contain any animal products.

Dragonhawk is a reputable brand when it comes to tattoo supplies, and this shows in the Dragonhawk complete tattoo starter kit. It has all the accessories that are needed to complete the perfect tattoo, and these all fit into the lockable travel case to be easily transported.

Users like everything about this tattoo kit and the tattoo machines included in it. You can see some of their comments below:

“This was my first time laying hands on a tattoo machine. With some practice both on myself and on the synthetic skins, I was able to give 2 successful tattoos. I can say that this kit will provide everything a novice tattoo artist will need to gain confidence in handling the machine and procedures. Great price, too.”

“Great for tattoos. I do tats on the side, and having 4 guns for different types of work is awesome.”

Specifications

Tattoo Guns: 4 x coil tattoo machines.

Power Supply: Yes.

Ink: 10 colored Immortal inks – Vegan friendly.

Needles: 50 sterile needles – Liner and shaders, mixed size.

Suitable for: Beginner, intermediate, and professional.

This tattoo kit comes with four coil tattoo machines that are all designed differently to allow you to find the one you want easily. They come in bright colors that certainly look the part.

The tattoo machines allow you to complete all styles of tattooing as they include a  conventional liner, power liner, soft shader, and a color packer machine.

Pros

• Four tattoo machines included, each with a different color and design.
• Each tattoo machine is checked by hand before being sold.
• 10 bottles of Immortal ink included – great colors and suitable for vegans.
• Large travel case allows you to carry the kit around with you.

Cons

• Some users reported that the grips were not tightening correctly.
•  Reports of the power supply being unreliable.

Wormhole Complete Tattoo Kit for Beginners—Best Included Elements

This tattoo kit is ideal for beginners, starting out in the world of tattooing, and it comes with two coil tattoo machines, one for linework and one for shading. The voltage can be easily adjusted from 5.5V-8V, to make it suitable for the liner or shader. 

The frames of the machines are durable and are made from magnesium alloy and iron. This metal is then given a special treatment to give it a great aesthetic look as well as being strong and resistant to scratches. 

The Wormhole complete tattoo kit comes with a power supply with a stainless steel foot pedal for easy access. 

Users like the fact that they have everything they need in one kit. You can see some of their comments below:

“I was able to perform beautiful work with just the equipment in the box and some practice skins I bought. It comes with two guns. One for lines and one for shading. Awesome little package.”

“Great gift idea for beginners. My nephew just opened his first tattoo shop out of his home. purchased this for him to get him started.”

Specifications

Tattoo Guns: 2 x 8 wrap coil tattoo machines.

Power Supply: Yes.

Ink: 10 colored 5ml inks.

Needles: 30 sterile needles – Liner and shaders, mixed size.

Suitable for: Beginner and intermediate.

The tattoo kit comes with everything you need to get started. It has ten different colors of ink, along with black ink to allow you to practice your designs completely. It also comes with needles, tubes, and aluminum grips, as well as all accessories needed to complete excellent tattoos.

Pros

• Great kit for beginners.
• Durable, easy to use tattoo machines.
• Power supply gives strong reliable power.
• Offers value for money. 

Cons

• The foot pedal could be better quality.
• No carry case included.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Tattoo Machine

If you want to be a successful tattoo artist, it’s important that you have the right equipment to do the job. As you’ve already discovered, the most important part of your setup is your machine.

This is what will take your design or your customers’ design from paper to reality. You don’t want the reality to be a disappointment, so you need to make sure that you choose the right one for you.

What may be right for one tattooist is not necessarily the same for another. Consider you yourself as the tattooist and what your needs are. You may be a seasoned tattooist but have never been sure what you should look for. Or, if you’re an apprentice looking to build your setup, here are some great tips that will help you.

Material

If you’re starting out on a tattooing career, then your machine will see a lot of use. It’s important that you consider what material your machine is made of when looking to buy a new one.

You don’t want to risk the machine shattering or breaking when you’re in the middle of a masterpiece. Most of the reputable manufacturers make them from iron, brass, or other durable metal.

If you choose a cheap and flimsy machine, you’ll be putting your customers at risk. If the machine malfunctions, you could injure them. Something like this happening would ruin your reputation as a tattoo artist. In the tattooing world, reputation is a big thing.

Buy a machine that’s sturdy and fills you with confidence each time you begin a work of art.

Shape and Size

Your mentor may have used a certain type of machine for years and may highly recommend it. Just because it’s right for them doesn’t mean it will be right for you.

Once you’ve decided what you want your machine to be made of, you next need to decide on the shape and size. As a tattooist, you’ll be holding it for hours on end and most likely, or hopefully, you’ll be holding it every day.

It needs to sit comfortably in your hand, so you need to try different ones out. Think about if it’s the right size and how it feels when you hold it. Also, consider the weight. Over time, a heavy machine can start to feel a lot heavier.

Another thing to consider is how flexible it will allow you to be when you’re holding it. Chances are you’ll be in some awkward positions at times when inking. Consider if it will still feel comfortable when you are working in those unnatural positions as well.

Variety

The next point you need to put thought into is whether or not you’ll be using more than one machine. Some tattooists will use separate machines for shading, lining, and coloring, etc.

This means that you’re not totally reliant on one machine to do all the work. It’ll help make life easier when it comes to tattoos where you’ll be using different techniques. Another thing it will do is help to improve the quality of your tattooing as well.

You could always get a hybrid machine. However, most professionals will steer clear of these and opt for individual machines instead. It’s far better than relying on one machine for everything. You don’t have to worry about changing the settings when changing technique.

Safety and Quality

As a professional tattoo artist, your first thoughts should be the safety of your clients. It’s no good investing in cheap equipment that could end up injuring someone. You also don’t want to produce poor work, as your customer is then stuck with the end result for the rest of their life. Don’t forget that your reputation is always on the line.

Make sure that the machine you choose is the right one for the job. Remember that you’ll be doing many different kinds of ink work. This work will need you to use different techniques. Your equipment needs to be able to achieve all of that and be comfortable to use.

What Are the Main Differences Between Rotary and Coil Tattoo Machines?

Both types of machines are designed to achieve the same end result. They both pierce the skin and introduce ink into the dermis to create a permanent image on the body.

A rotary machine has a cylindrical motor which spins clockwise. On top of this, the needle bar is attached to a nub. As the motor spins, it moves the needle bar backward and forward in a straight line. Using this motion, the needles pierce and retract from the skin. This is done in a series of smooth and constant motions.

Coil machines work differently to this and have a more complicated mechanism. A coil machine works by using electromagnetic currents. These currents create and break circuits over and over again.

When the circuit is created, it moves the needles forward, and when it’s broken it retracts them back.

The coil makes the current when the machine is powered. This charges the coils and they become electromagnets. The electromagnetic force then pulls the armature bar down to the coils. This forces the needles into the skin.

As the armature bar moves down, it takes the spring with it. This action makes it disconnect from the contact screw. The circuit then breaks and retracts the needle from the skin.

The cycle repeats when the armature bar returns to the starting position. A new circuit is then created and the process continues. This then follows with the armature being pulled down and the circuit breaking again. This is how a coil machine gets the repeated action of the needles piercing and retracting from the skin.

A coil machine operates with a hammer-like force. This force drives the needles in and out of the skin, and is more forceful than how a rotary machine works.

The power of a rotary machine is constant, so it moves fluidly—pushing the needles in and out of the skin smoothly. Rotary machine tattoos are gentler on the skin, and they seem to heal quicker, producing less scarring.

Rotary machines are also much quieter. Some people prefer to hear the sound of buzzing when tattooing or getting a tattoo. If you like the noise, you need to opt for the coil machines.

A rotary machine is easier to maintain than coil machines, as it has less moving parts, and both types of machine will have to be set up slightly differently from one-another.

Pros and Cons

Here is a list of some pros and cons of coil and rotary machines. Another aspect to consider is the artist using the machine. The experience they have with tattooing and with each machine could have an impact on the pros and cons too.

Rotary Tattoo Machines

Rotary Pros

• Low maintenance
• Quieter when in use
• Causes less damage to the skin
• Easy to use, even for beginners
• Consistent and fast needle movement
• Good for filling and colorwork
• Works best with small needle groupings

Rotary Cons

• Need to go the full stroke to reach rotary motion
• Not as responsive to skin tension as coil machines
• Adding line depth and shading are generally more difficult
• The fast needle movement makes it easy to make stitched lines by accident
• Doesn’t have as much punch as coil machines, so not good with large needle groupings

Coil Tattoo Machines

Coil Pros

• Smoother and more refined lines
• Great for intricate lines and shading
• Better control
• Easy to change and build your own machine
• Stronger motors give them more punch power (good for higher number needle groupings)

Coil Cons

• Requires more experience or a higher level of skill to use with competence
• Noisier than rotary (although some artists like the noise)
• Can cause more damage to the skin than a rotary machine
• Requires a higher level of maintenance as they have more moving parts

Finally, with all of this information about tattoo machines, you can now evaluate what to look for in a machine.

We’ve pointed out some important aspects that you need to think about. You should consider all of these before making your final decision on which tattoo machines you’ll buy. Make sure you take our advice if you want to earn a good reputation as a tattoo artist.