How to Choose the Right Tattoo Needle Type for Your Work

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned tattoo artist, selecting the right tattoo needle is essential for achieving clean lines, smooth shading, and consistent color packing. But with so many needle types and configurations available, how do you choose the one that fits your tattooing style?

In this guide, we’ll break down the basics of tattoo needle types, configurations, and use cases — so you can confidently pick the right tools for your next masterpiece.

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🧷 1. Understanding Tattoo Needle Numbers

Tattoo needles are usually labeled with a code such as 1207RL, which can be broken down as follows:

• 12 – Needle diameter (commonly 0.30mm)

• 07 – Number of needles tips in the group

• RL – Needle configuration/type (Round Liner in this case)

Here are the most common diameters:

• 08 (0.25mm) – Very fine, suitable for detailed lines

• 10 (0.30mm) – Medium precision

• 12 (0.35mm) – Common for bold lines and packing

• Bugpin (0.20mm / 0.25mm) – Super fine for realism and soft shading

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✒️ 2. Needle Configurations and Their Uses

1. RL (Round Liner)

• Configuration: Tight group of needles in a circular shape

• Use: Sharp, clean lines and detailed work

• Popular for: Linework, outlines, geometric tattoos

👉 Try: Wormhole 1205RL for crisp small-line tattoos.

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2. RS (Round Shader)

• Configuration: Loosely grouped round shape

• Use: Softer lines and small shading areas

• Popular for: Color blending, soft shading around edges

👉 Recommended: 1207RS – ideal for soft shading in small areas.

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3. M1 (Magnum Shader / Standard Magnum)

• Configuration: Two rows of needles stacked like a comb

• Use: Smooth shading, color packing in large areas

• Popular for: Black & gray realism, traditional shading

👉 Suggested: 1215M1 – great for fast, even shading.

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4. RM (Curved Magnum / Soft Edge Magnum)

• Configuration: Same as M1, but curved along the edge

• Use: Soft gradient transitions, better skin flow

• Popular for: Color realism, portraits, soft color blending

👉 Artist favorite: 1213RM – for smoother curves and blends.

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🔁 3. Disposable Cartridges vs. Traditional Needles

• Cartridge Needles: Easy to switch during sessions, more hygienic, compatible with rotary tattoo pens.

• Traditional Needles (on bar): Used with coil machines, cost-effective, still preferred by many artists.

👉 Explore our Wormhole Pro precision cartridge needle line for effortless swapping and consistent performance.

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💡 4. Tips for Choosing the Right Needle

• Match needle configuration to your tattoo style (e.g., realism vs. traditional).

• Consider needle diameter and count based on the detail and area size.

• Use Bugpin needles for soft shading and portraits.

• Always buy from trusted sources to ensure hygiene and quality.

Needle Type & Use Reference Table

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Needle Type	Use Case	Popular Size
RL	Lining	1205RL
RS	Soft shading	1207RS
M1	Packing	1215M1
RM	Smooth gradients	1213RM

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What’s the best tattoo needle for lining?

The best tattoo needles for lining are Round Liners (RL). They are tightly grouped in a circular formation, designed to produce crisp, clean lines. For fine detail, try a 1203RL; for bolder outlines, a 1207RL or 1209RL is ideal.
👉 Explore Wormhole Liner Needles → Shop RL Needles

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2. Can I use the same needle for shading and color?

While it’s possible to use the same type (like Magnum shaders) for both shading and color packing, most professionals choose specific needle configurations:

• Use M1 (Magnum) for heavy color saturation

• Use RM (Curved Magnum) for smoother shading transitions
  👉 Find versatile shaders here → Shop M1 & RM Needles

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3. Are cartridge needles better than traditional ones?

Cartridge needles offer convenience, hygiene, and easy switching — especially with rotary or wireless tattoo pens. They’re beginner-friendly and perfect for fast-paced sessions.
Traditional bar needles still appeal to coil machine users and old-school artists.
👉 See the full range → Explore Wormhole Pro Cartridge Needles

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🛒 Ready to Upgrade Your Setup?

Wormhole Tattoo offers professional-grade cartridge needles designed for precision, safety, and smooth flow — no matter your style.

👉 Browse all configurations now:
🔗 Wormhole Tattoo Needle Collection →

 

👉 Shop Tattoo Needles Now →

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Related articles:

• Tattoo Cartridge Needles vs. Traditional Needles – What’s the Difference?

• Tattoo Needle Depth and Stroke – Why It Matters

  
  

Tattoo Tips: What You Need To Know Before Getting A Tattoo

Thinking about getting a tattoo? To help you make the right decision and potentially save you from unnecessary trouble, we came up with this article about what you need to know before tattooing.

1, Are you brave enough?
It doesn’t mean the courage that you won’t be afraid of being against, regret getting a tattoo or worry a tattoo may make it difficult to look for a job.

It is the courage that you believe you can find a good tattoo image for yourself and the right part of your body, and then you won’t hesitate to get a tattoo. Many people stop thinking about getting a tattoo when they take this into consideration. If you are hesitating, you had better not get a tattoo. Or you may be regrettable in the future.

2, You may lose yourself in getting a tattoo. So think twice before you get your first one.
Just like smoking and drinking, tattoos are highly addictive. If you are not ready to face it, then think twice before starting tattooing.

I have many friends who have tattoos on their body. Their tattoos are different styles, Generally, you will like to get more and more tattoos after you get the first one. The process that designing or picking out a nice tattoo, and getting it on the body is so amazing.

3. Someday, you may dislike it.
Many tattoo lovers swear that they will treat their tattoos well forever. You should appreciate it and love it for a long time. But someone may dislike it in the future and wants to get a new one. Maybe you will cherish it more if your tattoo takes more energy and time.

The original design is meaningful. To some degree, it stands for your life and mentality. It can also show the difference in your mentality at a different age. Try to imagine introducing your tattoos to others happily like a child when they ask why you got those tattoos.

4, Tattoos will alter if your body changes.
Tattoos will wrinkle or splitting if you lose or gain much weight. And the beauty of tattoos will also be affected. So you had better not tattoo on fatty parts of your body. For example, you can have tattoos on the ankle, forearm, shin, and back, instead of the belly, thigh or upper arm.

5. You need to know some characteristics of your skin.
Also, you should know whether you have keloid-prone skin or not. If you have, you must tell your artist that in advance and listen to your artist’s advice. It is also important to know something about aftercare for tattoos.

6. Pain
In fact, the pain level is different in different parts. Most parts can tolerate normally, a few areas are slightly irritating. The person who is tattooing for the first time may be particularly nervous and the pain will be more sensitive, so you should be trying to relax, listen to some soothing music, and have a good mental and physical state that is the foundation of your tattoo.
The length of the tattoo also determines the level of pain. Under normal circumstances, people can endure the pain of tattoos for 2 to 5 hours. The longer the time, the stronger the pain.

7. How much will a tattoo cost?
There is no uniform price standard for tattoos. The price of a tattoo largely depends on the location, size, sophistication and design cost, and can range anywhere from $50 to $2000+. Even the same tattoo pattern from different tattoo artists come at different prices.

The mode of payment depends on the artist. Some ask for a fixed price after taking into account the tattoo design while others simply charge per hour. It is up to you to negotiate the mode of payment – not the amount. But you should never ask a tattoo artist for a discount or a bargain. The act is considered disrespectful.
It's not that cheap tattoo artist will definitely destroy your skin. The expensive tattoo artist must work fine. Choose the tattoo artist that suits you best according to the tattoo artist's work and style. After all, tattoos will follow you forever.

8. Are tattoos harmful to my health?
Tattoos are already a relatively mature industry. The tattoo inks used in the tattoo are professional inks that are extracted from vegetable oils and are hygienic and safe. Everything that touches your skin during the tattoo process is also a brand new unopened disposable tattoo supplies!

When tattoo artists come to new needles, make sure that you actually saw the artist pull out a new one from a sealed package.

9. Do Tattoo artists use anesthesia?
Of course no!
If a tattoo artist asks if you need anesthesia, you have to reconsider whether the tattoo artist is reliable. First off, because anesthesia or painkillers can only be administered by a licensed doctor or anesthetist. Even if the tattoo shop somehow had a doctor on staff, this would make the cost of a tattoo increase substantially. And the tattoo shop would have to buy all the monitors, all the administration equipment, oxygen supply, and all the emergency equipment for the one in a million chance that things go wrong. A minimum priced tattoo is usually around $50–100., this would increase the price of the tattoo to at least $300.

In addition, anesthetics can cause the uneven coloration, affecting tattoo effects and recovery, so tattooing without anesthesia is actually a bottom line.
After all, pain is also an integral part of the tattoo.

10. Can I bring a tattoo pattern by myself?
Of course, you can, but don’t steal other tattoo artists’ works. This is very disrespectful to tattoo artists.
When the tattoo artist evaluates the tattoo pattern you bring, you must seriously consider the tattooist’s words. Because the tattoo artist is professional, they will choose the size or position of the tattoo that suits you better. Don’t be afraid to ask artists for their opinion when it comes to the design. They will be more than happy to give input. You can even get a tattoo artist to help you with the design, especially if you want a really personal design.

Reprinted from this blog: https://wormholetattoosupply.com/blogs/news