The Best Tattoo Machine For Beginners [2024 Guide]

Most of the time, rotary machines have a “direct drive,” which means if you go a little too deep into the skin, the machine won’t back off at all. But this Inkjecta uses a semi rigid needle bar, so it’ll bend just a bit and give you that little bit of room for error like a coil machine would.

In our opinion, it’s worth the investment for people looking to go pro.

The Dragonhawk Mast Tour Pen has a direct drive system (like most rotary machines), which means you never have to tune it. You will, however, need to be mindful of your depth control since direct drive systems have no “give” or “bounce” against the skin.

It has a set 3.5mm stroke, so you can still do line work, packing, and shading, even if you aren’t ready to invest in multiple machines.

This pen’s super-simple setup means you don’t need to know much about how tattoo machines work to start using it. You just twist the grip to change the needle depth and use the button at the top of the machine to change voltage.

The Dragonhawk Mast Tour Pen is also the perfect weight: heavy enough that you can pull steady lines and light enough that your hand won’t grow tired while packing ink. 

This machine from EZ Tattoo Supply lets you easily adjust your stroke length; ranging from 2.0 to 4.2. This lets you take on a variety of styles, whether you need to layer soft shades or do linework.

You can also change the needle depth. This is important when learning to “float the needle” for better visibility while tattooing linework.

The heart of the EZ P3 Pro is its precision motor, providing consistent and smooth operation. However, while the motor runs quietly, it is not powerful enough to push thick liners. This makes it a good option for artists looking to specialize in black and gray, but it’s not ideal for artists who are interested in American Traditional or Neo Traditional.

The intuitive controls and straightforward setup of the EZ P3 make it accessible to artists who are new to the craft. The user-friendly interface minimizes the learning curve, making it easier to “plug and play.”

The Bishop Wand tattoo machines are professional-level machines. You can buy any (or all three) of the versions they have. You can rely on them to last longterm due to their high-quality construction.

They have an RCA cord connection, meaning you can use it with an RCA cord and power supply or wireless tattoo batteries.

For the Bishop Wand, you can pick which version works best for you: Liner (5.0mm stroke), Shader (3.5mm stroke), or Packer (4.2mm stroke).

The Liner machine has a very hard hit, giving you plenty of power for thick, bold lines. The Packer is a good middle machine. If you’re going to pick just one tattoo machine from the set, we recommend going with the packer.

The Shader machine can be used to get super smooth shades.

These are some of the top tattoo machines are the market. Many professional artists will buy different tattoo machines so that they have one set up for each job.

Most tattoo machines found in a beginner tattoo kit do not have the option for disposable grips. The Bishop Wands offer that option, which is important for beginner tattoo artists when they make the jump to tattooing real skin, as well as to experienced tattoo artists who don’t want to have to deal with an autoclave.

Yes...and no. Most tattoo artists use 2-3 machines: one for lining, packing, and shading. These different functions usually call for different strokes. While some machines allow you to adjust back and forth, it can take a while, which ends up wasting a lot of time, especially for busy artists. Having multiple machines ready to go with the right stroke for each job makes the tattooing process more seamless.

If you’re very, very new to tattooing, go with one machine. If you fall in love with the craft and know you want to continue, great! That’s the time to purchase another machine and make that investment in your career.

Rotary machine. There are a few different types of tattoo machines, but the main two are rotary and coil machines. Rotary machines are newer, lighter, and quieter. However, because most of them move the needle using a direct drive system instead of having the needle “bounce” off a spring, rotary machines don’t offer much “give.” 

In contrast, the armature bar on a coil machine will flex backward on the spring so it doesn’t hack into the skin. This gives you a small margin of error when you go too deep in the skin. However, coil machines are much heavier and need to be broken down and rebuilt regularly.

If you don’t have other tattoo equipment already, buy the kit. Tattoo kits are a great way to get started if you have no tattooing equipment. You’ll get everything you need to go ahead and try it out, and you don’t have to worry about tracking down additional equipment.

If you want to look at our favorites, check out our vote for The Best Beginner Tattoo Kit.

However, tattoo kits tend to come with pretty cheap materials. We do not recommend using tattoo ink from kits on actual people (even if it says it's safe for human skin). Also, the fake skins are usually too thin to get great practice with. (We recommend using ReelSkin instead if you purchase a kit.)

Glad you asked! We’ve compiled several Tattoo Artist Guides to help you figure out how to pick tattoo needles, which machine stroke you should use, and more!