The Best Tattoo Guns On The Market - Our 2023 Review Guide

When searching for the best tattoo guns on the market, you must consider several key factors to ensure you make an informed decision that will benefit you as an artist and the work you provide your customers.  Here at Tattify, we prioritize quality and reliability, performance and durability, and we keep an eye on industry trends to ensure we are hooking you up with the best tattoo machines your money can buy.

Quick glance at the best tattoo guns on the market in 2023:

Related:

• Best Tattoo Pen Machine
• Best Tattoo Power Supply
• Best Tattoo Ink
• Best Tattoo Kit

Best Tattoo Guns Reviewed

DragonHawk S4 Wireless Tattoo Pen - Our Pick!

Amazon 

The Dragonhawk S4 Wireless Tattoo Pen is an incredible top choice for tattoo artists due to its exceptional features and performance. Its wireless design provides artists with unparalleled freedom of movement, eliminating the hassle of cords and allowing for more flexibility during tattooing sessions. The pen's lightweight and ergonomic design ensures comfort and reduced hand fatigue, making it suitable for extended use for those large pieces on your clients. If you’re looking for the lightest tattoo gun, this just might be it.

The Dragonhawk S4 offers precise control and versatility. With adjustable needle depth and customizable speed settings, it has no issue pushing out intricate details or lasting you through some intense shading. In addition, this tattoo pen boasts a powerful motor, delivering consistent and smooth performance. Its long-lasting battery life ensures uninterrupted tattooing sessions without the need for frequent recharging.

Pros

• Wireless convenience
• Ergonomic design
• Lightweight tattoo gun
• Customized speed settings
• Long-lasting battery life
• Efficient motor

Cons

• More expensive tattoo pen option

DragonHawk X3 Rotary Tattoo Machine Gun - Best Rotary Tattoo Gun

Amazon 

The Dragonhawk X3 tattoo machine incorporates specially designed dual springs, resulting in a smoother operation at a lower frequency compared to other rotary tattoo machines by Dragonhawk. The custom coreless motor enhances torque while requiring less voltage during tattooing.

This machine is compatible with both standard cartridges (which requires an additional cartridge tattoo grip) and traditional tattoo needles. This machine operates more smoothly and quietly than most rotary tattoo guns, even at lower voltages, without experiencing any stalling issues. Tattoo artists sing its praises as one of the best rotary tattoo guns, saying, “Great machine, runs consistently … definitely a workhorse.”

Pros

• Smooth operation
• Low noise level
• Excellent ergonomics
• Requires less voltage during a tattooing session
• Takes cartridges or needles

Cons

• Requires an oil slide and lubricant
• The vibration of the machine can bother some people

HAWINK Wireless Tattoo Rotary Pen - Most Durable Tattoo Gun

Amazon 

The HAWINK Wireless Rotary Pen stands out as one of the best rotary pens for tattoo artists. Its wireless design boasts freedom, precise control, and immense versatility. The pen's lightweight construction ensures prolonged use without causing hand fatigue.

The HAWINK Rotary Pen is described as being a “good, hard-hitting machine,” and it’s a solid and efficient machine. The battery life on this machine will allow you to get out multiple hours of work done on a client before you need to make a switch.

Pros

• Wireless convenience
• Impressive rotary motor
• Smooth and hard-hitting machine
• Extreme durability

Cons

• Large pen design is a bit challenging for smaller hands

Cheyenne Hawk Pen - Best Tattoo Pen

Amazon 

Cheyenne has numerous tattoo guns in their line, but the Hawk pen came out on top for us. Tattooing with this gun, which has an ergonomic pen design, is a unique experience. It moves over the skin smoothly and with minimal vibration, allowing for a more comfortable tattooing session for both the artist and the client.

Ideal for sharp lines or dot work but adaptable for shading and thick details, this small gun packs a powerful punch, but with a low vibration and smooth roll across the skin. While it has a rotating jack for ease-of-use, you can even use cord-free adapters with this pen which is excellent for smaller sessions that need careful attention.

Inna Marculescu, a tattoo apprentice at Dark Umoya Studio in Paris, France, loves tattoo pens like the Hawk because it allows her to easily focus and master her delicate line work.

Pros

• Strong power
• Soft handling
• Ergonomic, easy-to-use design
• Great for a variety of line work, shading, or filling
• Can be cordless
• Delicate on skin

Cons

• Expensive
• Pen design is sometimes not comfortable for long sessions

DragonHawk Compass Coil Tattoo Machine - Best Budget Tattoo Gun

Amazon 

If the price of this tattoo gun doesn’t blow you away, then the features will.   The DragonHawk Compass is one of the best coil tattoo guns on the market in its price point; the coils provide the current when the machine is powered, which gives this tool more force than rotary machines.   While this makes the guns more prone to needing maintenance, it also allows for long-lasting and expert tattooing. In addition, the Compass product line of DragonHawk is known for it’s professional quality.

This two-pack package allows you to switch machines for lining and for shading, offering very precise intensities for your artistry needs.  Tattoo artists singe the praises of the Compass coil machine, saying, “...Boy, was I surprised. These things came out of the box almost perfectly tuned. [...] I did a little touch-up work on a piece on my leg, and I was amazed. These are actually going in my cart as backups. I would recommend these for an apprentice or even as budget backups.” This coil tattoo gun might just be the best budget tattoo gun you can find. 

Pros

• Very durable
• Amazing vintage design
• Smooth machine
• Intense ink distribution
• A coil gun for both shading and lining
• Tuned out of the box
• Extremely cheap

Cons

• Can be loud
• May need frequent maintenance
• Can feel heavy to some users

Inkjecta Flite Nano Ultra Lite - Lightest Tattoo Gun

Amazon 

The Inkjecta Flite Nano Ultra Lite might be the lightest tattoo gun on the market right now. This is obviously a plus for long sessions and wrist comfort, but may be a con for artists who like a little weight to help them better determine what pressure to exude on their client’s skin.

This gun has a full carbon fiber body and needle bar, which means it will last you a very long time with very little maintenance needed. It can be adjusted depending on the needle being used, and runs with a smooth application of ink. It’s also extremely quiet as it uses a custom nanotechnology motor.

Pros

• Extremely light
• Carbon fiber design
• Little maintenance required
• Adjustable for all needles
• Quiet and ergonomic
• Custom motor

Cons

• Quite expensive
• Only compatible with a select few needle cartridges
• Requires lubrication

Our Pick - FK Irons Spektra Halo 2 Crossover

Though one of the more expensive options on our best tattoo gun list, we feel the Spektra Halo 2 Crossover is worth every penny for a variety of reasons.

• The aluminum design makes it light, comfortable, and easy-to-use, while also making it easy to clean.
• The Spektra Halo 2 is made in a way that allows artists to quickly and easily switch between cartridge setups and needle operation.
• It operates with various stroke options meaning it can be used for a variety of tattooing needs, from line work to shading. This is an extremely versatile machine.
• The motor has some of the best performance on the market. It uses a Swiss MAXON motor which has optimal performance capabilities, and is created to last longer overall.
• It requires very little maintenance over time and usage.
• It has a needle clip and a stabilizer system which ensures that the needle self-stabilizes, thus eliminating the need for rubber bands or grommets.
• It has an impressive grip handling which is praised by both apprentice tattooers and professionals alike, and any grips on the market can be used with this gun.

FK Irons is known for creating high-quality tattoo machines and the Spektra Halo 2 definitely takes the cake, handling all your usage needs while being durable and comfortable.

What We Consider When Selecting The Best Tattoo Guns

Buying a tattoo gun is an investment, and you want to make sure that you are choosing equipment that checks a lot of boxes. Here are a few factors we consider when building our list of the best tattoo guns on the market.

Build Quality

When we speak of build quality, we consider everything from the material used to create the gun, the hardware, and the durability of the system.

We want a tattoo gun that will make it through long five hour sessions with just as much power and efficiency as a 30 minute tattoo. We also like guns that are made of lightweight and durable material that make it comfortable to hold and powerful enough for the toughest applications, while also being easy to take apart and clean, and simple enough to adjust for maintenance or upgrades.

It’s also important that tattoo guns are built with a comfortable weight balance, so the ergonomics of the guns were extremely important to us.

Variety of Machines

We know that people have a preference when it comes to rotary or coil machines, so we made sure to give you access to our favorites with similar variety. When considering which is best for your needs, it’s helpful to note:

• The weight between coil and rotary machines differs, with coil machines being significantly heavier.
• Rotary machines are known to be quieter than coil machines.
• Rotary machines are more versatile and can be adjusted for tattooing needs, while coil machines are created to specialize in lines or shading - not both. To some artists, this makes coil machines more precise and efficient.
• The motion differs between the two machines, and some people find coil machines more painful due to the hammer-like motion they produce.
• The maintenance and upgrade of coil machines are far simpler than that of rotary machines.
• Coil machines are more highly favored by professional artists.

Price

No matter where you are on your tattoo journey and how much you have to invest into your venture, we have an item for you on the list that is within your budget and doesn’t compromise the quality of your tattooing.

While we had a preference for one of the more expensive options, this is because we know it will last for many years of our professional work, so it’s worth the investment. When selecting for yourself, be sure to consider replacement or maintenance costs over time.

Versatility

We love machines that allow for quick changing of cartridges or adjusting for needling needs without stress or complication. We also like guns that allow for versatility all in the same machine. While this sometimes cannot be achieved with coil equipment, we have a few favorites that will help you get a lot of work done with just one gun. This is especially valuable for beginners who need a multifaceted tool.

Our Final Thoughts

Finding the best gun for you and your tattooing needs is a matter of trial and error. You won’t know what works more comfortably and efficiently for your style of tattooing until you have the chance to work with the machine on skin. It may help to request an apprenticeship in shops that have a multitude of equipment available at your disposal, which allow you to find the tattoo gun that you love best for your long-term professional tattooing.