Needle choice affects everything from line crispness to how softly a shade blends. Being able to read a code like 1205 RS or 9RL means picking the right needle first time. This guide explains tattoo needle codes and what each configuration is built for.

How to read a needle code

Cartridge needles usually carry four digits and two letters. Take 1205 RS:

  • First two digits (12): needle diameter. 12 = 0.35 mm, 10 = 0.30 mm, 08 = 0.25 mm. Smaller diameters give finer lines and less trauma.
  • Following digits (05): the needle count — five needles grouped together.
  • Letters (RS): the configuration, meaning how those needles are arranged.

Traditional bar needles use a shorter code: 9RL is a nine-needle round liner.

RL — Round Liner

Needles are soldered in a tight circle. Built for line work. Low counts (1RL, 3RL) suit fine detail and lettering; high counts (9RL, 14RL) lay a bold, saturated outline in a single pass. This is the highest-turnover needle in most traditional studios.

RS — Round Shader

Same circular arrangement, but the needles sit looser. That spacing spreads ink over a wider area, which makes RS the choice for shading small areas, packing colour in tight spaces and building soft transitions.

M1 — Magnum

Needles are arranged in two staggered rows. This is the fastest way to shade and pack colour across larger areas. 7M1, 11M1 and 15M1 are chosen according to the size of the area you are working. A staggered magnum is gentler on skin than a single flat row.

CM — Curved Magnum (Round Magnum)

Same principle as a magnum, but the needle tips are aligned on a slight arc. The curve lets the grouping sit evenly against the skin so the outer needles do not dig in. It gives more control than a straight magnum on soft gradients and portrait work. Product names abbreviate it as CM.

F — Flat

A single straight row of needles. Used for geometric work, hard-edged fills and certain ornamental styles. Less common than magnums, but hard to replace in the styles that call for it.

Which needle for which job?

  • Fine line and lettering: 1RL, 3RL — ideally 0.30 mm or 0.25 mm
  • Bold outlines, traditional: 9RL, 11RL, 14RL
  • Small-area shading: 3RS, 5RS, 7RS
  • Large-area packing and shading: 11M1, 15M1, 17M1
  • Soft blends and portraits: 9CM, 15CM, 23CM

Cartridges or bar needles?

Cartridges change in seconds and arrive sterile with the grip. Bar needles remain the standard for artists running coil machines and cost less per unit. Compare both in our cartridge tattoo needles and traditional bar needles categories.

What should a studio keep in stock?

In a busy studio the three fastest-moving items are usually 3RL, 9RL and 11M1. Stocking those by the box and the rest by the piece keeps costs down and stops you running out on an appointment day. With sterile products, track expiry dates and keep packaging sealed until the moment of use.

Lapis Tattoo Supply ships same-day around Taksim, Istanbul and by courier to every province in Türkiye. Browse the full range in tattoo needles.