How Much Does It Cost to Get Your Ears Pierced? (Price Guide)

Getting your ears pierced can cost very little or quite a bit more, depending on where you go and what you put in the hole. The biggest split is between mall stores that sell a jewelry kit and professional studios that charge a service fee plus jewelry.

The numbers below come from several studio price lists, Claire's published kit prices, and Booksy, checked Oct 11, 2026. They represent a few shops, so your local prices may differ.

At a piercing studio, you pay for the piercer's service first. The fee for a standard earlobe piercing is listed below.

Some studios price per ear and others by single or pair, so check which one a quote refers to. A pair costs more than a single, though not always double.

The service fee usually does not include the jewelry. Studios that quote a starting total include a basic pair of earrings.

A starting total is a floor, not a promise. If you want a different metal or a gemstone, the price goes up.

Claire's takes a different approach. It says the piercing is free when you buy a starter kit, so the kit is your cost.

Medical-grade stainless steel is the lowest-priced kit. Gold and diamond kits cost more. Because the piercing fee is waived, comparing Claire's with a studio means comparing the kit with the studio's service fee plus jewelry.

• Where you go. Studio, tattoo shop, and mall chain price differently.
• Single or pair, and whether the price is per ear.
• Jewelry material. Steel, gold, and diamond cost different amounts.
• Needle or gun. Many professional piercers use a needle, and a shop's method may affect the price. Ask which one they use.
• City and local cost of living.
• Tips, which are customary at studios and not included in the quote.

Choose the lowest-priced material to start with and upgrade later, once the piercing has healed. Ask whether the quote is per ear. Compare a studio's total with a kit price rather than the service fee alone. Cheaper does not always mean better, so look at how the shop handles sterile equipment and what jewelry they use.

Follow your piercer's aftercare instructions. Signs of infection, such as ongoing swelling, heat, or discharge, are a reason to see a doctor.

Quotes are not all built the same way. Ask what is covered.

• The service: the piercer's time and the procedure.
• Starter earrings: sometimes included in a starting total, sometimes extra.
• Aftercare supplies: some shops include them and others sell them.
• Not included: tips and sales tax.

A per-ear price is not the same as a price for a pair, so confirm which one you are quoted.

• Piercing studios: the service and jewelry are usually priced separately, with more choice of metals and styles. A studio can usually walk you through the process.
• Tattoo shops with a piercer: similar to studios.
• Mall stores such as Claire's: sell a kit with the piercing included.
• Some medical offices and pediatric practices offer ear piercing. Prices and policies vary, so call to ask.

Look at the shop's cleanliness and ask about sterile equipment. Read reviews, and think about whether the piercer is comfortable working with the age of the person getting pierced. Policies for minors, including consent rules, vary by shop.

If you are booking for a child, call the shop first. Ask about age requirements, consent, and how the piercing is done. A calm, patient piercer helps. Follow the shop's aftercare instructions, and talk to a doctor if you have health questions about your child.

• Is the price per ear or for a pair?
• Does it include earrings, and what material are they?
• How much does it cost to switch to a different earring later?
• What aftercare do you recommend, and is the supply included?
• How is the equipment sterilized?

• Start with a basic metal and upgrade later.
• Ask for the total, not just the service fee.
• Compare a studio's full price with a kit price.
• Check for a package price for a pair.

Cheap is not worth it if the shop's practices are poor, so look past the price tag.

Aftercare is part of the cost to plan for. Some shops include a cleaning solution, and others do not. Ask what they suggest and whether it costs extra.