The Ultimate Guide to Tattoo Needles (2025)

Tattoo needles are one of the more complex pieces of equipment in a tattoo artist's toolkit. It might not seem like it at first glance, but there are lots of different features and variations that can influence the effect the needle produces. So, having a good understanding of needles can help you choose the best option to suit your specific needs.

We’ve created this helpful blog to give you an in-depth explanation of tattoo needles and everything you need to know about them, including the taper length, needle count, configuration, diameter or gauge, and how to set them up.

What Is A Tattoo Needle?

As simple as it sounds, a tattoo needle is a group of several smaller needles that have been soldered together in a specific configuration and attached to a needle bar.

The way these needles are grouped and shaped determines their use—whether it's for outlining, shading, or creating intricate details.

What To Consider When Choosing Tattoo Needles?

There are several factors to consider before choosing a tattoo needle, including:

  • Taper length: This refers to the tip of the needle to where it starts to taper off or start to slant which can determine how sharp the needle is. The sharpness can impact the suitability of the needle for different techniques.
  • Configuration: The grouping or shape of the individual needles, such as round liner, round shader, curved magnum or stacked magnum.
  • Diameter: The thickness of the individual needles.

While each needle is designed for a specific purpose, artists often experiment to find what works best for their unique style.

Understanding Taper Lengths

The taper refers to the length from the needle's tip to where it starts to taper sideways. Taper lengths can impact sharpness, ink flow, and how the skin reacts to the needle.

  • Short Taper (1.5 mm): Creates thick lines and is ideal for bold shading. The short taper needles often hold more pigment, making them a good choice for packing colour.
  • Medium Taper (2 mm): Offers a balance between boldness and precision. Used for packing colour or creating clean, medium-thickness lines.
  • Long Taper (2.5 mm): Ideal for delicate shading, fine lines, and smooth color transitions. It holds less pigment, allowing for gradual colour building and less skin trauma.

It's important to note that taper lengths can vary between brands, with some labeling them as LT (Long Taper), MT (Medium Taper), or ST (Short Taper) or ST, LT and Double Long Taper. As such, a 2 mm taper length could refer to long taper or medium taper depending on the specific brand.

The Ultimate Guide to Tattoo Needles (1)
The Ultimate Guide to Tattoo Needles (2)

Tattoo Needle Configurations

The configuration describes how individual needles are grouped and their purpose. Whilst there are a range of different needle configurations, we have covered the most commonly used below.

Round Liner (RL): The individual needles on a round liner configuration are grouped in a circle shape to a fine point. The fine point shape of a round liner means the ink flow is more concentrated making them perfect for creating precise lines, dot work, and stipple effects.

Round Shader (RS): The individual needles are grouped similarly to a RL without coming to a fine point. These needles create more of a flat shape meaning the ink is dispersed more than liners making them perfect for shading and blending.

Magnum (M): There are different variations of magnum tattoo needles each designed for a specific purpose.

In Curved/ Soft Edge Magnum configurations, the needles are grouped together in a straight line but rounded at the top. The curved shape allows the needle to move more easily with the natural curve of the skin offering a more comfortable experience for the customer and smoother shading.

A Weaved Magnum configuration is where the individual needles are stacked on top of each other but with space in the middle for them to slightly overlap. The looser grouping makes them better for packing colour in larger areas due to an increased ink flow.

Stacked Magnum configurations are similar in that the individual needles are stacked on top of each other but they have a tighter grouping than Weaved and more controlled ink flow, making them better for more detailed shading and packing in smaller areas.

Flat: The individual needles are arranged in a straight line. A flat configuration is perfect for geometric designs and bolder shading.

The configurations might be tight or super tight which refers to how much space is between the individual needles. This can affect the ink flow and what they’re used to achieve when tattooing so it’s important to consider the final result when deciding which configuration to use.

Diameter: The Gauge of Tattoo Needles

The diameter or needle gauge refers to the thickness of the individual needles, which directly affects how ink is deposited into the skin. It can get a little confusing when trying to understand what your needle gauge is as there are multiple names used to describe it.

  • Precision Tattoo Needles: This is also known as a 12 gauge, 0.35 mm or standard in the tattoo industry. Precision tattoo needles are thicker which means they create bigger holes in the skin and therefore deposit more ink. This makes them ideal for creating thick, bold lines or colour packing a solid colour, such as heavy black work. It’s usually better to use a smaller needle diameter for creating smooth shading, blending or transitions because the larger holes can give a grainier look.
  • Double Zero Tattoo Needles: This is also known as a 10 gauge or 0.30 mm. The mid-range thickness of the needle means it creates smaller holes in the skin making it perfect for creating smooth shading, blending and softer transitions.
  • Bugpin Tattoo Needles: This is also known as an 08 gauge or 0.25 mm. Bugpins are much thinner needles, perfect for intricate and detailed work, soft shading and delicate colour transitions.

Tattoo artists can use the term Bugpin to refer to either a 08 gauge or 10 gauge depending on their preferences. It can also vary depending on the brand. It’s important to be aware of how the meaning of the term can differ when choosing a tattoo needle and if you’re ever unsure you should always triple check.

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What Is Needle Count?

The needle count refers to the number of individual needles in a grouping as indicated in the needle’s labeling.

For example, 3RL means three individual needles are grouped into a Round Liner configuration. A higher needle count, like 15M1C (15 needles in a curved magnum), is used for covering large areas.

Tattoo Needles Comparison

If one element of the tattoo needle changes, it can change the whole effect the needle creates. For example:

12 3RL LT vs. 10 3RL LT

The 12 3RL LT has a larger diameter (0.35 mm), which allows it to deposit more ink into the skin per pass. This makes it ideal for creating bold, crisp lines and heavy outlines, as the ink delivery is more robust and impactful. This needle is better suited for bold designs or tattoos where strong, prominent lines are a priority. However, because of its larger size, it can cause slightly more trauma to the skin.

In contrast, the 10 3RL LT is thinner, with a diameter of 0.30 mm. This smaller size makes it gentler on the skin, resulting in less trauma, which is beneficial for delicate or intricate designs. The thinner diameter also allows for finer, more precise lines, making it ideal for detailed work. However, it deposits less ink per pass, meaning it may require more layering or passes to achieve the desired effect. This needle excels in creating softer transitions and intricate line work, where precision is key.

12 3RS MT vs. 12 3RS ST

The 12 3RS MT has a taper length of approximately 2 mm, making it a versatile option for creating soft shading and smooth transitions. Its moderate pigment delivery allows for more controlled work, especially when blending colours or building gradients. Because it disperses ink more gradually, it is less aggressive on the skin, making it a preferred choice for areas where a soft, natural effect is desired. This needle is particularly useful for gradual shading and blending.

On the other hand, the 12 3RS ST has a shorter taper length of around 1.5 mm. This design results in faster pigment saturation, as the shorter taper allows more ink to flow into the skin with each pass. It is better suited for packing colour into smaller areas or creating denser shading. However, this faster ink delivery can also mean a higher risk of skin trauma if the needle is overworked. The short taper is ideal for artists looking to create bold, defined shading or pack solid colours efficiently.

The comparisons show how the differences in gauge and taper length influence the performance of tattoo needles, affecting ink flow, skin trauma, and the overall outcome of the tattoo. So, selecting the right needle depends on the style, technique, and effect the artist wants to achieve.

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Choosing the Right Needle for Your Technique

Tattoo needles aren’t one-size-fits-all. The right choice depends on your style and the effect you want to achieve. Experimenting with configurations, tapers, and diameters will help you discover what works best for you.

Tattoo needles are more than just tools, they’re an extension of the artist’s creativity. By understanding the different configurations, tapers, and diameters, you can start to perfect your technique.

The Ultimate Guide to Tattoo Needles (2025)
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