Black and grey full back tattoo of a woman's face with a rose and a rayed sun

Back Tattoos in Mesa, AZ: How a Back Piece Gets Planned

A back tattoo gives you the biggest single canvas on the body, and at our Mesa shop almost every back piece is custom work built over several sessions; it starts with a free consult, where the artist looks at your actual back and gives you a realistic session count before anything is booked.

Here is how a back piece comes together at Tagz Tattoo.

  • Written by the crew at Tagz Tattoo, Mesa AZ
  • Back pieces

Why the back suits big work

The back is wide and fairly flat, and the spine gives you a center line to hang a design on, so wings or a figure standing on the spine will balance left and right; it also stays covered under a work shirt.

Black and grey archangel holding a sword with its wings spread across both shoulder blades

The catch is you never see it yourself without a mirror, so the layout conversation at the consult carries more weight than it would on a forearm, where you can hold the stencil up and look.

Upper back, spine, or the whole thing

Not every back tattoo is a full back. These are the three layouts people usually weigh up:

  • An upper back piece across the shoulder blades. Wings live here, and so do big words across the top of the shoulders.
  • A spine piece, usually a line of script or a narrow design running down the center. Fine line spine work sits here too.
  • A full back, top of the shoulders down to the waist, planned in stages.

A lot of people start with the upper back and add to it later. That works fine if you tell the artist on day one, because the first piece then gets placed where the rest can grow out of it.

Red orchids and black butterflies on either side of a line of script running down the spine

Script down the spine with flowers spreading out to either side, like the orchid piece above, is a spine piece that spreads well past the spine. Color and black and grey both work on a back, it comes down to the look you want.

Black and grey realism across a whole back

Black and grey realism is our specialty, and it suits a back well. Smooth grey shading reads cleanly across a big area, and a face or a statue can go big enough that the detail holds up as it ages, which gets harder when realism is shrunk down.

The full back at the top of this post and the one below are both built that way, one large scene with lettering or smaller elements worked into it.

Full black and grey back tattoo with large lettering over a bridge and shoreline scene, photographed in the shop

Because the design has to fit your build and where you might add sleeves later, back pieces are drawn for you. You can read how that works on our custom tattoo page.

Sessions, deposits and cost

Plan on several visits. Big work here gets built across sessions, usually outline first and then shading over follow-ups, and your artist gives you the count at the consult once the design is set.

Hourly work here starts around $125 and the shop minimum is $150, but a back piece is quoted as its own project, so you get the real number for your design at the consult. A deposit holds your first date and comes off your total. For bigger work we offer financing on a soft credit pull, so it does not touch your score.

Getting through a long sitting

You spend most of a back session lying face down, sometimes for hours, so eat a real meal first and wear a shirt that comes off easily. We have several rooms and one we call The Big Room, which is set up so a long session is not crammed into a corner.

Expect to sleep on your stomach for a while, and since you cannot reach the middle of your own back to wash it, line someone up to help. Keep it out of the Mesa sun while it heals, and our aftercare guide for the Mesa heat covers the rest.

Getting a back tattoo in the East Valley

We are at 2735 E Main St, Suite 9 in Mesa, on East Main at Lindsay Road. Hours are noon to 6 on Sundays, noon to 8 Monday through Thursday, and noon to 10 on Fridays and Saturdays. People come in from Gilbert, Chandler, Tempe and Scottsdale for larger work, and you need to be 18 or over with a valid photo ID.

Back tattoo questions we hear every week

Does a back tattoo hurt?
The meat of the upper back is manageable for most people; the spine, the shoulder blades and the lower ribs toward the sides sit closer to bone and usually hurt more. A big back piece is split into sessions, so you never sit through the whole thing at once.
How many sessions does a full back tattoo take?
It depends on size and detail: a full back is several sittings, usually outline first and then shading and detail over follow-ups with healing time between. Your artist gives you an estimate at the free consult once the design is set.
How much does a back tattoo cost at Tagz?
Hourly work starts around $125 and the shop minimum is $150, but a back piece is quoted as its own project. You get the real number for your design at a free consult, the deposit comes off your total, and financing is available for bigger work.
Can I start with the upper back and add more later?
Yes, and plenty of people do. Tell your artist the long-term plan at the start so the first piece is placed where the rest can grow out of it.
How do I sleep with a new back tattoo?
On your stomach or side for the first stretch, in a clean loose shirt or on clean sheets; keep bags and straps off it, keep it out of the sun, and have someone help you wash the parts you cannot reach.

If a back piece is on your mind, book a free tattoo consultation and bring any reference photos you have.

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Common questions

Can I talk this through with an artist first?
Yes. Consultations are free. Bring your references and we will map the design to your body, talk through placement and flow, and give you a straight answer on what it takes.
How does booking work at Tagz?
Once the direction is set, a separate non-refundable, non-transferable deposit holds your date and comes off your final total.
Can I pay for a bigger piece over time?
Financing is available through Get Tatted Now, Pay Later. Ask when you book and we will walk you through it.
Where are you, and when are you open?
We are at 2735 E Main St #9, Mesa, AZ 85213, open Sunday noon to 6, Monday through Thursday noon to 8, and Friday and Saturday noon to 10. Call or text (480) 670-1037.