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Tattoo needles cartridges size & Usage Complete Guide

Tattoo needles cartridges size & Usage Complete Guide

by albert yang 23 Jan 2025

tattoo needles cartridges size & Usage Complete Guide

Whether you are new to tattooing or a professional tattoo artist, the vast selection of different tattoo needle sets, diameters, tapers and needle counts can be a headache.

This article will help you understand the meaning and use of all sizes of tattoo needles and in turn help you make the most informed decision when buying a tattoo needle.

What are tattoo needles?

A tattoo needle is a crucial tool used to tattoo. Most of the tattoo needle cartridges used for general shadowing are blunt tips, too sharp tips tend to scratch the skin and cause more damage to the skin, blunt tips go on very well.

Flat generally used in trimming and trimming the sharp corners, as well as very small graphics, large areas of colouring is not commonly used.

M2 has a denser tip and therefore has a shallower penetration into the skin, making it suitable for shadowing.

The specific use of the tattoo needles will be described in detail in the following content, combined with “A Quick Guide To Tattoo Needles” to understand the tattoo needle will be more comprehensive.

Tattoo needle configuration

When you’re just starting out on your tattoo needle shopping, it can seem a little overwhelming with all the different options available. Don’t worry about that! After reading the following you will quickly get to grips with all the tattoo needles The models and the corresponding use cases

All of these options fall into one of the six basic groups of tattoo needles. Round Liners, Round Shaders, Round Magnum, Weaved Magnum, Flat. We describe each type in more detail below.

tattoo needle cartridges configuration

Round liner Needles

Round lining needles are round and dense and are indicated by RL. The number of stitches divided is the thickness needed to differentiate when lining.

  • Features: High line saturation, good for color packing. 
  • Use range: mostly used for lining and shading in small areas. Dot work. All lining work, including bold and complex. Scripts and lettering. Japanese,traditional tattoo.

Round Shader Needles

RS is a round shader needle, according to the habits of different tattoo artists, there are also someone who choose RS as the old school lining options.

  • Features: The round shader is very similar to the round liner tattoo cartridges, except that the pins are not placed as close together.
  • Use range: Commonly used for some line work, basic coloring packcing and filling.

Hollow Round liner/Round liner Tight Needles

CNC has developed two new classifications of RL needles, HRL and RLT, based on the needs of tattooists, making it easier for tattoo artists to work with more precise lines work.

Round Magnum Needles

Round Magnum is similar to the weaved magnum, the difference with M1 needles is that RM is arranged in a straight row, and the top of curved magnum needles are”fan-shaped arrangement”. The edge of the needle runs more smoothly along the skin and the ink is better dispersed, resulting in more consistent lines. RM is also less damaging to the skin and helps achieve soft shadows.

  • Features: Excellent for light and dark gradient tattoo work, shading uniformity.
  • Use range: Mainly used in black and gray. All types of shading and color packing, color fidelity.

Weaved Magnum Needles

The M1 is a cross-shaped row of needles and is the most versatile, with the widest range of coloring packing applications. Weaved Magnum needles can hold and deliver large amounts of ink, making them perfect for large area packing coloring.

  • Features: Excellent for light and dark gradient tattoo work, shading uniformity.
  • Use range: Commonly used in black and gray. All types of shades and color packing, traditional and neo-traditional.

Flat Needles

Flat is used to repair the edges and sharp corners of the tattoo work, or small tattoo mostly.

Small area color packing commonly used needle type for 4F 5F 6F 7F. Due to the low hardness and easy deformation of flat needles, which is less commonly used at present.

Guide to the size and use chart of tattoo needles

Tattoo Needle Diameters Guide

Tattoo cartridge needles are available in different sizes and diameters for different tattoo purposes. The following three sizes are the most commonly used tattoo cartridges.

  • #08 Guage(0.25mm)BUGPIN

They are often referred to as bugpins and have a slower flow of ink, so they are suitable for intricate detailing.

  • #10 Guage (0.30mm)DoubleZero

Doublezero is very popular among tattoo artists and it tends to be the middle ground. It provides a steady flow, but does not restrict and slow down the flow as much as a bugpin does. 

  • #12 gauge (0.35mm)Standard
    A 12 guage called standard , but they have a faster ink flow rate, which means they are suitable for shading and coloring over larger areas.

There are some other gauges under these specifications, #6 is 0.20 mm. #14 is 0.40mm, and #16 is 0.45 mm. All of these have specific uses.

In order to quickly grasp the usage corresponding to the needle size, you can learn from the table below.

NEEDLE GROUPING GAUGE DIAMETER CONFIGURATION USAGE
Round Liner #08(0.25mm)
BUGPIN
1RL,3RL,5RL.7RL,
9RL,11RL,14RL,18RL
All lining work
Dot work.
#10(0.30mm)
DoubleZero
#12(0.35mm)
Standard
Rounder Shader #10(0.30mm)
DoubleZero
1RS,3RS,5RS.7RS,
9RS,11RS,14RS
All lining work
Dot work.
#12(0.35mm)
Standard
Round Magnum #10(0.30mm)
DoubleZero
7RM,9RM,11RM,13RM,15RM,
17RM,19RM,21RM,23RM,25RM,27RM,
All types of shading. color packing
Color fidelity. Black and gray.
#12(0.35mm)
Standard
Weaved Magnum #10(0.30mm)
DoubleZero
7M1,9M1,11M1,13M1,15M1,
17M1,19M1,21M1,23M1,25M1
All types of shading, color packing
Color fidelity. Black and gray.
#12(0.35mm)
Standard

Tattoo needle cartridges buying guide you must know

The above understanding of the size and use of tattoo needle cartridges will help us in the purchase of tattoo needles to choose.

Do I still need to sterilize my tattoo needle cartridges after purchase?

All tattoo needles sold at T&T are individually blister packaged and sterilized with EO gas. In the present era, most needle cartridges should be pre-sterilized. You must always check this.
If not, you will need to properly sterilize them yourself using an autoclave prior to performing any tattooing on human skin. Sterilized tattoo cartridges will be marked with an expiration date to indicate when the sterility has expired.

Are the tattoo cartridges done properly?

Always check that the needle cartridges are straight and securely welded to the needle bar. If you don’t notice that the needle you are using is crooked or bent, it can cause significant skin damage.

Sample Image Gallery

AWE SERIES Trial Kit-RL(10 pcs/box)AWE SERIES Trial Kit-RL(10 pcs/box)
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Vendor:T&T Tattoo

AWE SERIES Trial Kit-RL(10 pcs/box)

At T&T, we redefine tattooing excellence with cutting-edge technology and premium materials. Our patented membrane system, featured in both the AWE and MAX series, uses a unique to-and-fro tension design to deliver superior needle stability, consistent precision, and reliable ink backflow prevention—safeguarding your machine....
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AWE SERIES Trial Kit-RL(10 pcs/box)AWE SERIES Trial Kit-RL(10 pcs/box)
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Vendor:T&T Tattoo

AWE SERIES Trial Kit-RL(10 pcs/box)

At T&T, we redefine tattooing excellence with cutting-edge technology and premium materials. Our patented membrane system, featured in both the AWE and MAX series, uses a unique to-and-fro tension design to deliver superior needle stability, consistent precision, and reliable ink backflow prevention—safeguarding your machine....
$13.14
$16.00
$13.14
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AWE SERIES Trial Kit-RL(10 pcs/box)AWE SERIES Trial Kit-RL(10 pcs/box)
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Vendor:T&T Tattoo

AWE SERIES Trial Kit-RL(10 pcs/box)

At T&T, we redefine tattooing excellence with cutting-edge technology and premium materials. Our patented membrane system, featured in both the AWE and MAX series, uses a unique to-and-fro tension design to deliver superior needle stability, consistent precision, and reliable ink backflow prevention—safeguarding your machine....
$13.14
$16.00
$13.14
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AWE SERIES Trial Kit-RL(10 pcs/box)AWE SERIES Trial Kit-RL(10 pcs/box)
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Vendor:T&T Tattoo

AWE SERIES Trial Kit-RL(10 pcs/box)

At T&T, we redefine tattooing excellence with cutting-edge technology and premium materials. Our patented membrane system, featured in both the AWE and MAX series, uses a unique to-and-fro tension design to deliver superior needle stability, consistent precision, and reliable ink backflow prevention—safeguarding your machine....
$13.14
$16.00
$13.14
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T&T Tattoo Needle Cartridges - MAX Long Magnum (M1-L), 10pcsT&T Tattoo Needle Cartridges - MAX Long Magnum (M1-L), 10pcs
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Vendor:T&T Tattoo

T&T Tattoo Needle Cartridges - MAX Long Magnum (M1-L), 10pcs

Improve your tattooing with the MAX Series Round Liner Tattoo Needle Cartridges, featuring our patented membrane for unmatched accuracy and consistency. Each cartridge is made from premium medical-grade plastics, silicon, and stainless steel (304 & 316), ensuring top-tier performance and durability. Enjoy a clean...
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$9.90
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T&T Tattoo Needle Cartridges - MAX Long Magnum (M1-L), 10pcsT&T Tattoo Needle Cartridges - MAX Long Magnum (M1-L), 10pcs
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Vendor:T&T Tattoo

T&T Tattoo Needle Cartridges - MAX Long Magnum (M1-L), 10pcs

Improve your tattooing with the MAX Series Round Liner Tattoo Needle Cartridges, featuring our patented membrane for unmatched accuracy and consistency. Each cartridge is made from premium medical-grade plastics, silicon, and stainless steel (304 & 316), ensuring top-tier performance and durability. Enjoy a clean...
From $10.90
$9.90
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T&T Tattoo Needle Cartridges - MAX Long Magnum (M1-L), 10pcsT&T Tattoo Needle Cartridges - MAX Long Magnum (M1-L), 10pcs
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Vendor:T&T Tattoo

T&T Tattoo Needle Cartridges - MAX Long Magnum (M1-L), 10pcs

Improve your tattooing with the MAX Series Round Liner Tattoo Needle Cartridges, featuring our patented membrane for unmatched accuracy and consistency. Each cartridge is made from premium medical-grade plastics, silicon, and stainless steel (304 & 316), ensuring top-tier performance and durability. Enjoy a clean...
From $10.90
$9.90
From $10.90
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T&T Tattoo Needle Cartridges - MAX Long Magnum (M1-L), 10pcsT&T Tattoo Needle Cartridges - MAX Long Magnum (M1-L), 10pcs
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Vendor:T&T Tattoo

T&T Tattoo Needle Cartridges - MAX Long Magnum (M1-L), 10pcs

Improve your tattooing with the MAX Series Round Liner Tattoo Needle Cartridges, featuring our patented membrane for unmatched accuracy and consistency. Each cartridge is made from premium medical-grade plastics, silicon, and stainless steel (304 & 316), ensuring top-tier performance and durability. Enjoy a clean...
From $10.90
$9.90
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Our Advantage

T&T is a factory-direct brand that integrates product research, development, manufacturing, and sales. Our products feature two exclusive patented technologies: Capillary Reservoir and Patented Membrane, setting us apart from the competition and leading the market in tattoo needles. That’s why our slogan is: "Trust from the first touch.
To ensure tattoo artists can access our premium products at the lowest prices, we’ve chosen a factory-direct sales model, bypassing traditional supplier partnerships. This way, consumers enjoy the maximum price benefits.
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