Legal status of tattooing in the United States facts for kids

Tattoos are special designs made on your skin with ink. They are usually permanent. In the United States, there isn't one big law for the whole country about how old you need to be to get a tattoo.

When someone turns 18 in the U.S., they are legally considered an adult. Many states say you must be 18 to get a tattoo. But some states let younger people get tattoos if their parents say it's okay. This is called parental consent.

Tattoo artists, who are the people who do tattoos, can also make their own rules. They might choose to only tattoo people over a certain age. This helps them avoid problems or lawsuits. Most artists will let a parent or guardian give permission in person. They might ask for written permission too. Some artists might even refuse to tattoo anyone under a certain age, even with parental consent. They might also limit where they will tattoo a minor, like avoiding sensitive body parts.

Tattoo Laws in Different States

Each state in the U.S. has its own rules about tattoos. It's important to know the law in your state. Here is a quick look at some state laws.

States Where You Must Be 18

In these states, you generally need to be 18 years old to get a tattoo.

• Alaska
• California
• Georgia
• Iowa
• Maine (You also need an ID)
• New Hampshire
• New York
• North Carolina
• Oklahoma
• Rhode Island
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Washington
• Wisconsin

States Where Parental Consent is Needed for Minors

In these states, if you are under 18, you can sometimes get a tattoo with your parent's permission.

• Alabama (Minors need parental permission)
• Arizona (If a minor, a guardian must be present)
• Arkansas (Minors need parental consent)
• Connecticut (Minors need parent consent)
• Delaware (Minors need parent consent)
• Florida (Minors need parent consent)
• Hawaii (Minors need parent consent)
• Idaho (Minors need parent consent)
• Illinois (Minors need parent consent)
• Indiana (Minors need parent consent and the parent must be present)
• Kansas (Minors need parent consent and the parent must attend)
• Kentucky (Minors need parent consent)
• Louisiana (Minors need parent consent)
• Maryland (Minors need parent consent)
• New Jersey (Minors need parent consent)
• North Dakota (Minors need parent consent)
• Ohio (Minors need parent consent)
• Pennsylvania (Minors need parent consent)
• Vermont (Minors need parent consent)
• Virginia (Minors need a parent present)

States with No Minimum Age (Artist's Choice)

• Colorado (There is no minimum age set by law. However, each tattoo artist can choose to refuse service to anyone.)