Whether you are newbie to the tattoo industry or a seasoned professional, the large selection of different tattoo needle groupings, diameters, tapers and needle counts can be one hell of a headache to understand. In reality, once it does makes sense, you’ll wonder why you didn’t get it in the first place!
This article will help you make sense of it all and in turn, assist you in making the most informed decision possible when it comes to buying tattoo needles.
We’d also like to quickly mention that we (Barber DTS) go back a long time (click here to see how long) when it comes to tattoo products so you can rest assured the information found here is as accurate and knowledgeable as it’s going to get!
Tattoo Needle Types
When looking at a page of tattoo needles on a website or in a catalogue, it can seem a little overwhelming with all the different options available. No need to worry though! Here’s where the learning begins.
All these options fall into six basic groupings of tattoo needles: Round Liners, Round Shaders, Magnum Shaders, Curved Magnum Shaders, Flat Shaders and Double Stacks. Below we go into more detail on each type.
Round Liner needles
The pins on round liner needles are soldered in a round pattern to produce crisp, clean lining tattoo work. The thickness of the line will depend on the number round liner you choose (e.g. 01 very fine, 14 very thick) as well as the thickness/gauge of each pin (see Tattoo Needle Sizes below). Lining needles, once dipped in your ink, will let only small amounts of ink out to then be worked into the skin. If too much ink was let out, lining would be quite a task!
Commonly Used for: Dot work. All lining work both bold and intricate. Script and lettering. Japanese. Traditional and neo-traditional. Geometric. Tribal. Samoan.
Round Shader needles
Round shaders are very similar to round liners except the pins are not placed as close together. Meaning, for as well as doing thicker lines, they can also be used for colour filling and basic shading.
Commonly Used for: Some line work. Script and lettering. Basic shading and colour filling. Japanese. Traditional and neo-traditional. Geometric. Tribal. Samoan.
Magnum Shader needles
Magnum shaders are the preferred grouping or needle type for pretty much all shading work. Magnums hold and deliver a lot of ink, making them perfect for large areas of colour packing and shading. Less passes are required over an area to work the ink in meaning less trauma to the skin. There are a few different variations of magnum needles. See below.
Commonly Used for: Black and grey. All types of shading and colour packing. Colour realism. Japanese. Traditional and neo-traditional. Tribal. Samoan.
Curved Magnum Shader needles
Curved magnum shaders – also known as soft magnums, soft edge magnums and round magnums – are used in the same way except the pins are arranged so they arch at the centre. Meaning the edges of the needle run along the skin with more conformity, allowing for better dispersal of ink and a more consistent line. It’s also less damaging to the skin and helps with soft shading.
Commonly Used for: Black and grey. All types of shading and colour packing. Colour realism. Japanese. Traditional and neo-traditional. Tribal. Samoan.
Double Stack Magnum Shader needles
Not as current as they maybe once were. The pins on double stack magnums, or double stacks, are packed much more tightly together. This helps for any intricate shading or colour work where you still want it to perform as a magnum with many pins but not as spread out.
Commonly Used for: Shading and colour packing. Black and grey. Colour realism. Japanese. Traditional and neo-traditional. Tribal. Samoan.
Flat Shader Needles
Flat shader needles are pins that are soldered in a straight line on the needle bar. These needles are used for lining because their shape lets them deliver more ink to the skin. This means clearer, darker lines with just one stroke. Larger flat needles can be used for colour fills and shading as they deliver more ink quickly with just one pass. Flat needles are good for intricate shading such as in geometric patterns and some mandala work. Flat shader needles are also common in semi-permanent makeup.
Commonly Used for: Some line work. Small shading and colour packing. Black and grey. Colour realism. Japanese. Traditional and neo-traditional. Tribal. Samoan. Geometric.
Tattoo needle sizes explained
Now you know all about different needle groupings or types, it’s time to look at needle diameters, also known as gauges.
The gauge of a tattoo needle is directly linked to ink flow. The narrower the gauge or diameter, the more controlled and finer the flow of ink is. The gauge is indicated by a number (usually 8, 10 or 12), and diameter by a millimetre measurement. ALTHOUGH THEY MEAN THE SAME THING! Needle manufacturers and tattoo suppliers use both terminologies depending on where the needles are from and being sold to i.e. country/language.
#8 gauge (0.25mm diameter)
One of the smaller needle gauges available (but not the smallest) and sometimes referred to as Bugpins. Used when wanting a slower flow of ink for intricate or detailed work. Some use #8 gauge needles for most of their work simply because they like that they hold more ink at a time (as the pins are more tightly compacted).
#10 Gauge (0.30mm Diameter)
A very common needle size. Also referred to as Double Zeros. Popular with all styles of tattooing and needle groupings as fundamentally they are the middle gauge size (when accepting 8, 10 and 12 as the main three gauges). The ink flow on 0.30mm needles is still a steady, controlled flow but not as restricted and slow as an #8 or 0.25mm.
#12 Gauge (0.35mm Diameter)
Just like the 0.30mm needles. #12 gauges are highly popular across all needle groupings and tattoo styles. Anyone referring to #12 or 0.35mm needles may also call them Standards. Common in lining and traditional work as they have a faster ink flow. Great for bold lines and colour packing/shading large areas.
Other needle sizes not mentioned above: #6 or 0.20mm, #14 or 0.40 and #16 or 0.45mm! These are quite uncommon now though as they only have very few specific uses.
Tattoo needle counts
This is a simple one! Tattoo needle count basically means the number of pins used to make up the grouping. For example, a 1209RL means a 12 gauge (see above for gauge info), 09 Round Liner Needle. The 09 meaning 9 needle counts (or 9 pins used to make a round grouping). This would look like this:
Another example for you, just so it’s crystal clear.
Tattoo needle size chart and how to match your tips & tubes
We’ve put together this handy chart which will help you match the correct needles with the right size tips, or vice versa. It also indicates what type of work the needle size is used for.
| 0.25mm-Bugpin-Needles | |
| Round Liners | |
| Needle | Tube/Tip |
| 03RL | 03RT or 03VT |
| 04RL | 03RT or 03VT |
| 05RL | 03RT or 03VT |
| 07RL | 05RT or 03VT |
| 08RL | 05RT or 05VT |
| 09RL | 05RT or 05VT |
| 0.25mm-Bugpin-Needles | |
| Round Shaders | |
| Needle | Tube/Tip |
| 3RS | 03RT or 03VT |
| 5RS | 03RT or 03VT |
| 7RS | 03RT or 03VT |
| 9RS | 05RT or 03VT |
| 14RS | 09RT or 07VT |
| 18RS | 09RT or 07VT |
| 0.25mm-Bugpin-Needles | |
| Magnum Shaders | |
| Needle | Tube/Tip |
| 7MG | 05FT |
| 9MG | 05FT or 07FT |
| 11MG | 07FT |
| 13MG | 09FT |
| 15MG | 11FT |
| 17MG | 13FT |
| 21MG | 15FT |
| 23MG | 15FT or 17FT |
| 25MG | 17FT or 19FT |
| 0.25mm-Bugpin-Needles | |
| Curved Magnum Shaders | |
| Needle | Tube/Tip |
| 7CM | 05FT |
| 9CM | 05FT or 07FT |
| 11CM | 07FT |
| 13CM | 09FT |
| 15CM | 11FT |
| 17CM | 13FT |
| 21CM | 15FT |
| 23CM | 15FT or 17FT |
| 25CM | 17FT or 19FT |
| 0.30mm-DoubleZero-Needles | |
| Round Liners | |
| Needle | Tube/Tip |
| 01RL | 03RT/03VT |
| 03RL | 03RT/03VT |
| 04RL | 05RT/05VT |
| 05RL | 05RT/05VT |
| 07RL | 07RT/07VT |
| 08RL | 09RT/09VT |
| 09RL | 09RT/09VT |
| 11RL | 11RT/11VT |
| 13RL | 13RT/13VT |
| 14RL | 14RT/14VT |
| 18RL | 18RT |
| 0.30mm-DoubleZero-Needles | |
| Round Shaders | |
| Needle | Tube/Tip |
| 03RS | 03RT or 03VT |
| 05RS | 05RT or 03VT |
| 07RS | 07RT or 05VT |
| 08RS | 09RT,07VT,09VT |
| 09RS | 09RT,07VT,09VT |
| 11RS | 11RT,09VT,11VT |
| 14RS | 14RT,11VT,14VT |
| 18RS | 18RT |
| 0.30mm-DoubleZero-Needles | |
| Magnum Shaders | |
| Needle | Tube/Tip |
| 05MG | 05FT |
| 07MG | 07FT or 05FT |
| 09MG | 09FT or 07FT |
| 11MG | 11FT or 09FT |
| 13MG | 13FT or 11FT |
| 15MG | 15FT or 13FT |
| 17MG | 17FT or 15FT |
| 19MG | 19FT or 17FT |
| 21MG | 21FT or 19FT |
| 23MG | 23FT or 21FT |
| 25MG | 25FT or 23FT |
| 27MG | 27FT or 25FT |
| 0.30mm-DoubleZero-Needles | |
| Curved Magnum Shaders | |
| Needle | Tube/Tip |
| 05CM | 05FT |
| 07CM | 07FT or 05FT |
| 09CM | 09FT or 07FT |
| 11CM | 11FT or 09FT |
| 13CM | 13FT or 11FT |
| 15CM | 15FT or 13FT |
| 17CM | 17FT or 15FT |
| 19CM | 19FT or 17FT |
| 21CM | 21FT or 19FT |
| 23CM | 23FT or 21FT |
| 25CM | 25FT or 23FT |
| 27CM | 27FT or 25FT |
| 0.35mm-Standard-Needles | |
| Round Liners | |
| Needle | Tube/Tip |
| 01RL | 03RT or 03VT |
| 03RL | 03RT or 03VT |
| 04RL | 05RT or 05VT |
| 05RL | 05RT or 05VT |
| 07RL | 07RT or 07VT |
| 08RL | 09RT or 09VT |
| 09RL | 09RT or 09VT |
| 11RL | 11RT or 11VT |
| 13RL | 13RT or 13VT |
| 14RL | 14RT or 14VT |
| 18RL | 18RT |
| 0.35mm-Standard-Needles | |
| Round Shaders | |
| Needle | Tube/Tip |
| 03RS | 03RT |
| 05RS | 05RT |
| 07RS | 07RT |
| 08RS | 09RT |
| 09RS | 09RT |
| 11RS | 11RT |
| 14RS | 14RT |
| 18RS | 18RT |
| 0.35mm-Standard-Needles | |
| Magnum Shaders | |
| Needle | Tube/Tip |
| 05MG | 05FT |
| 07MG | 07FT |
| 09MG | 09FT |
| 11MG | 11FT |
| 13MG | 13FT |
| 15MG | 15FT |
| 17MG | 17FT |
| 19MG | 19FT |
| 21MG | 21FT |
| 23MG | 23FT |
| 25MG | 25FT |
| 27MG | 27FT |
| 0.35mm-Standard-Needles | |
| Curved Magnum Shaders | |
| Needle | Tube/Tip |
| 05CM | 05FT |
| 07CM | 07FT |
| 09CM | 09FT |
| 11CM | 11FT |
| 13CM | 13FT |
| 15CM | 15FT |
| 17CM | 17FT |
| 19CM | 19FT |
| 21CM | 21FT |
| 23CM | 23FT |
| 25CM | 25FT |
| 27CM | 27FT |
| 0.35mm-Standard-Needles | |
| Flat Shaders | |
| Needle | Tube/Tip |
| 04FS | 05FT |
| 05FS | 07FT |
| 06FS | 07FT |
| 07FS | 09FT |
| 09FS | 11FT |
| 13FS | 15FT |
| 15FS | 17FT |
| 0.35mm-Standard-Needles | |
| Double Stack Magnums | |
| Needle | Tube/Tip |
| 05MG2 | 04FT or 05FT |
| 07MG2 | 04FT or 05FT |
| 09MG2 | 05FT |
| 11MG2 | 07FT |
| 13MG2 | 07FT |
| 15MG2 | 09FT |
| 0.25mm-Bugpin-Needles | |
| Double Stack Magnums | |
| Needle | Tube/Tip |
| 05MG2 | 04FT or 05FT |
| 07MG2 | 04FT or 05FT |
| 09MG2 | 04FT or 05FT |
| 11MG2 | 05FT or 07FT |
| 13MG2 | 05FT or 07FT |
| 15MG2 | 07FT or 09FT |
Tattoo Needle buying and what to look out for
Are the needles pre-sterilised?
We can confirm all needles sold at Barber DTS are individually blister packaged and EO Gas sterilised. Most needles this day and age should be pre-sterile. You must always check this. If not, you will need to correctly sterilise them yourself using an Autoclave BEFORE any tattooing on human skin is carried out. Sterilised needles will be marked with expiration dates for when the sterility runs out.
Are the needles well made?
Be sure to check the needles/pins are straight and securely soldered onto the needle bar. Crooked or bent needles can cause major skin damage if you don’t notice you are using one. They will also not hold or disperse the ink correctly and will cause you a complete nightmare.
Will these needles work with my equipment?
Be sure to check the needles you are looking to purchase will match your set up. Make sure you don’t need Tattoo Cartridges rather than tattoo needles. Also make sure you have or buy the correct tubes or tips to match your needle gauge, size and type. For help with this, refer to our needle and tip matching guide above.
Are these tattoo needles right for what I want to do?
You don’t want to buy some 15 magnum needles if you specifically need to carry out some sleek line work. Same applies if you need to fill in some large colour or do some soft shading; you don’t want to end up realising you’ve bought some small round liner needles. Again, be sure to check out our handy guide above which will indicate what type of tattoo work each needle configuration is used for.
In conclusion
As much as this is a tattoo needle guide, and we’ve tried to give you as much of the correct information you’ll need. . . it is just a guide. If you are searching for and finding this tattoo needle guide, you should already have a good level of understanding of tattoo needles and their uses by the route of a tattoo apprenticeship with a professional tattoo artist.
Some tattoo artists may not agree with some information provided above, and rightfully so! Finding the perfect tattoo needle type, size and gauge for you and your style takes time and a lot of trial and error. Some artists will always go to a Bugpin #8 15 Curved Mag needle for their shading work. Others wouldn’t even dream of it! A lot of equipment and supplies within the tattoo world boil down to user preference. From inks and needles to machines and power supplies.
If you’d like further guidance on tattoo needle buying or matching your needle, tips and tubes, please contact our friendly sales team on +44 (0)114 257 6022 or [email protected] alternatively you can also contact us via our Facebook and Instagram channels.