Friday the 13th Tattoos: The History of Tattooing's Luckiest Day

For most people, Friday the 13th is a day of bad luck. In the tattoo world, it is one of the busiest days of the year. Queues form outside studios before dawn, artists work for hours on end, and thousands of people walk away with small, cheap tattoos featuring the number 13. The next one falls on Friday 13 November 2026. Here is where the Friday the 13th tattoos tradition comes from.

Here is how Friday the 13th became a tattoo tradition, what to expect on the day, and how to get the most from a flash event.

Why 13 is lucky in tattoo culture

The number 13 has long been considered unlucky in Western superstition. Tattoo culture, with its roots among sailors and outsiders, turned that on its head. Sailors are said to have tattooed the number 13 on themselves as a charm against bad luck.

Dallas tattoo artist Oliver Peck explained the idea in an interview with VICE: bad luck would see the 13, assume misfortune had already arrived, and pass on by. Owning the "unlucky" number becomes a way to protect yourself. For more on superstitions in tattooing, see our guides to sailor tattoo meanings and good luck tattoos.

How the Friday the 13th tradition started

Peck is widely credited with turning Friday the 13th into a tattoo event. According to VICE, he threw his first big Friday the 13th party in 1995 at the Pair O' Dice shop in Dallas, a 24-hour event inspired by artist Dave Lum's Halloween specials. The idea spread to his studio Elm Street Tattoo, then to shops across Texas, the US and beyond.

It became so popular that shops began opening for 24 hours to meet demand, and some famous events drew huge numbers of customers.

How Friday the 13th flash days work

• Flash sheets. Studios release a sheet of pre-drawn small designs, often featuring the number 13 worked into skulls, spiders, black cats, hearts, daggers and horseshoes.
• Low fixed prices. In the US, designs have traditionally been priced at $13, often with a $7 tip for good luck, making $20. Many shops now charge more to cover costs, and prices outside the US vary.
• First come, first served. Most events are walk-in only, with numbered tickets.
• No custom changes. Flash designs are usually tattooed as drawn, sometimes with a choice of placement or small colour options.

Is it still worth it?

For many people, Friday the 13th events are a fun, affordable way to get a small tattoo and be part of a piece of tattoo culture. Some artists love the atmosphere. Others find the long, intense days exhausting, and some shops have stopped offering very cheap tattoos. It is worth remembering that a small design at a flash price is not the same as a thought-through custom piece.

Tips for a Friday the 13th tattoo

• Check studio social media in advance for flash sheets, prices, times and rules.
• Arrive early and be prepared to wait for hours.
• Eat, drink water, and do not drink alcohol beforehand. See why in alcohol before a tattoo.
• Bring ID. You must be old enough to be tattooed. See the legal age for tattoos.
• Bring cash for the tattoo and the tip, if tipping is customary where you are. See how much to tip a tattoo artist.
• Choose a registered, reputable studio. A cheap tattoo should never mean cutting corners on hygiene. Read tattoo studio red flags.
• Be kind and patient. Artists are working flat out.
• Follow aftercare properly, however small the tattoo. Our healing timeline explains what to expect.

Popular Friday the 13th tattoo designs

• A black cat with 13 on its collar.
• A skull with 13 on its forehead.
• A horseshoe with 13 in the centre.
• A spider with 13 on its back.
• A dagger through a 13.
• A simple "13" in bold traditional lettering.

Love spooky flash? See our Halloween tattoo ideas.

Sources: VICE and KERA News.