What is a good tattoo hygiene rating?

On the typical 1–4 scale, 4 is "very good" and is the rating to aim for. It reflects strong hygiene practice and complete record-keeping.

Is the Tattoo Hygiene Rating Scheme mandatory?

No. It is voluntary and only operates in participating council areas. Registration with your council and compliance with byelaws, however, are mandatory.

Where does the THRS operate?

It runs in selected local authority areas. Check with your council's Environmental Health team whether they participate and what their current criteria are.

How is the THRS different from an EHO inspection?

An EHO inspection is about legal compliance; the THRS adds a public, comparable rating. Both assess similar hygiene and record-keeping standards.

The Tattoo Hygiene Rating Scheme (THRS) Explained

Updated June 2026 · 5 min read

The Tattoo Hygiene Rating Scheme (THRS) is a voluntary public rating run by participating UK councils - think of it as the food hygiene rating, but for tattoo studios. A visible, comparable score is a powerful trust signal for clients, which is exactly why it pays to prepare.

What the THRS is

The THRS is a partnership scheme that gives tattoo and piercing studios a public hygiene rating based on an assessment of their practices and records. It is voluntary and operated by participating local authorities, so availability and exact criteria vary by area. Where it runs, a good rating is a genuine marketing asset.

What you are assessed on

Assessments mirror what an EHO looks at, with an emphasis on demonstrable, consistent practice:

Premises cleanliness and infection-control procedures
Sterilisation and single-use equipment practice, with logs
Safe sharps and clinical-waste handling
Client consent, age verification and medical screening records
Practitioner registration and training

How to prepare

The difference between a top rating and a middling one is usually evidence. Keep a daily hygiene log, record every autoclave cycle and test, file your waste consignment notes, and hold complete consent records. If you can produce all of that quickly, you're in great shape.

What are the THRS ratings?

The scheme is voluntary, CIEH-backed, and rates studios on a simple scale - typically 1 to 4:

4 - Very good
3 - Good
2 - Satisfactory
1 - Improvement needed

It was first piloted in Wales (2013) and adopted in England from around 2014, and is run by participating local authorities - so availability and exact criteria vary by area.

How to get a 4-star tattoo hygiene rating

A top rating comes down to demonstrable, consistent practice and the records to prove it: a daily hygiene checklist, every autoclave cycle and spore test logged, waste consignment notes on file, complete consent and medical-history records, and up-to-date practitioner registration/training. If you can produce all of that on the day, you are in 4-star territory.

Why it converts clients

Clients increasingly check ratings and reviews before booking. A public hygiene score they can see makes the decision easy - and a high rating justifies premium pricing. That's why being assessment-ready is worth the effort.

Walk into your THRS assessment prepared

InkReady keeps the hygiene, sterilisation and consent records assessors score you on - and produces a clean pack you can present on the day.

Start free - no card needed

Frequently asked questions

What is a good tattoo hygiene rating?: On the typical 1–4 scale, 4 is "very good" and is the rating to aim for. It reflects strong hygiene practice and complete record-keeping.
Is the Tattoo Hygiene Rating Scheme mandatory?: No. It is voluntary and only operates in participating council areas. Registration with your council and compliance with byelaws, however, are mandatory.
Where does the THRS operate?: It runs in selected local authority areas. Check with your council's Environmental Health team whether they participate and what their current criteria are.
How is the THRS different from an EHO inspection?: An EHO inspection is about legal compliance; the THRS adds a public, comparable rating. Both assess similar hygiene and record-keeping standards.

This guide is general information for UK tattoo studios, not legal advice. Council byelaws and Tattoo Hygiene Rating Scheme criteria vary - always confirm the exact requirements with your local authority's Environmental Health team.