Round Liner Needles - Round Liner Needles

What Are Round Liner Needles?

Round liner needles are individual needles soldered into a tight circular arrangement, creating a concentrated delivery point that puts ink exactly where you intend. The tighter the grouping, the crisper the line, and the higher the solder point, the tighter the grouping.

The bladder membrane inside each cartridge acts as the needle's return spring, pulling the needle bar back after each stroke for consistent recoil from first use to last. The sealed design also keeps ink and blood from reaching the machine motor, which meets sealed-system requirements where your local health board mandates them.

The stabilisation bar design in quality liner cartridges keeps the needle grouping travelling straight and true through the stroke — reducing wobble and chatter for consistent line quality. Eikon's internal Stabilisation System is built into every liner in their house brand range. 

Round liners are available from 1RL (single needle, maximum precision) through 14RL (bold outlines, maximum coverage), with tighter groupings producing finer, more controlled lines and higher counts producing bolder, wider coverage.

What Are Round Liner Needles Used For?

Creating crisp, precise outlines that define the structure and boundaries of tattoo designs, from ultra-fine single-needle work to bold traditional outlines that need to read at distance.

Executing intricate detail work including lettering, geometric patterns, botanical elements, and delicate linework where maximum control and minimal skin trauma per pass matter most.

Producing consistent line weight throughout long sessions. Smaller configurations (1RL–5RL) for fine details and script; larger groupings (7RL–14RL) for bolder outlines. The right count depends on the line weight needed, not a universal recommendation.

Artists who need a bolder line without stepping up in count can use Straight Round Liners (SRL); the lower solder point delivers more ink per pass at the same configuration number. For maximum ink delivery with less skin trauma, Hollow Round Liners (HRL) remove the centre needle entirely. Both are available in Eikon's house brand range.

Round Liner vs. Round Shader Needles: Understanding the Difference

Round liners use tight needle groupings, needles held close together at the tip, which concentrates ink delivery to a precise point. Round shaders use looser groupings that spread the needles further apart, depositing ink over a broader area per pass. The soldering height is what controls this: higher solder for liners, lower for shaders.

The outcome: round liners produce sharp, defined lines with a controlled, concentrated deposit. Round shaders produce a softer, broader fill, suited for shading small areas and soft colour blending, not clean outlines.

Both use Long Taper in Eikon's range. The taper distinction is less relevant than the grouping tightness when choosing between liner and shader; it is the needle arrangement, not the taper, that drives the functional difference.

The practical decision: if you are drawing a line, reach for a round liner. If you are filling a small area or blending colour, reach for a round shader. Most artists keep both on station and choose by the job.

Choosing the Right Round Liner Needle: Diameter, Taper, and Configuration

Needle diameter determines line fineness across the same count. 0.25mm (Purple, bugpin) for ultra-fine lines, Eikon's top-selling liner diameter, used across fine-line, realism, and portrait work. 0.30mm (Blue) for versatile general linework. 0.35mm (Red) for bold traditional outlines and anywhere maximum ink weight is needed.

Long Taper is standard for all round liner work, and standard across all liner configurations Eikon carries. The longer point reduces resistance per strike, which means a cleaner puncture and less chatter through different skin textures. The feel: the needle enters smoothly without the skin pushing back.

Configuration size affects line weight and control: 1RL–3RL for fine detail and lettering, where every needle placement counts; 5RL–7RL for general outlines across most styles; 9RL–14RL for bold traditional lines where coverage speed matters. Count and diameter both determine line weight; adjusting one while keeping the other constant gives you a new line weight without changing configuration type.

Beyond standard RL: SRL uses a lower solder point for more ink delivery per pass, bolder line at the same count. HRL removes the centre needle for maximum ink delivery with less trauma. For artists who find standard RL requires too many passes on bold outlines, SRL or HRL is the right next step before jumping to a higher count.

Round Liner Cartridge Brands at Eikon

Eikon Cartridges — house brand, most competitively priced in the shop ($27.95–33.95 CAD/box of 20). The only brand in the shop with RL, SRL, and HRL. Internal Stabilisation System in every liner. These tattoo cartridges feature colour-coded bases: Purple (0.25mm), Blue (0.30mm), Red (0.35mm). 13+ configurations per liner type, all Long Taper. 

Kwadron — 50+ configurations across 0.25mm, 0.30mm, and 0.35mm. Round liners only (no SRL or HRL). Medical-grade plastic tips extend needle sharpness through extended sessions. E.O. Gas Sterilised. $32.09–72.75 CAD/box of 20. Cheyenne Safety Cartridges — Premium Round Liners with super-long taper grind and shortest soldering length for the tightest possible grouping. Patented safety membrane. Round liners only. $32.20–40.60 CAD/box of 20. Also a machine brand Eikon carries.

TEX Cartridges — 316H steel (higher durability than standard 316L), precision-honed tips, biodegradable packaging. Among the most affordable in the shop ($28.99–36.99 CAD/box of 20). Canadian brand by Deadly North.

Lotus Needles — exclusive Canadian distribution through Eikon. Medium Taper Liners and Ultra Small 0.20mm (#06 gauge) Liners available. Bar needle liner configurations with Griffin Tubes for traditional setups. $35.95–50.00 CAD/box of 20. 

Clear tip housings are standard across cartridge liner brands in the shop; you can monitor needle extension and confirm cleaning between colours without guesswork. One-piece moulded tips mean nothing loosens mid-session during wiping. The sealed bladder membrane provides consistent recoil and meets sealed-system requirements where your local health board mandates them.

Working With Round Liner Cartridges

Cartridge round liners are compatible with all pen-style rotary machines. Stock multiple diameters and counts to handle different line requirements in a single session without having to match a single cartridge to every job.

Monitor ink flow and needle extension through the clear tip throughout a session. If a cartridge starts requiring extra pressure to deposit cleanly, that is the signal to change, not a set time limit.

If a cartridge feels loose in the grip or pops off during use, check the grip and machine tolerances first. Grip fit is the most common cause of cartridge instability, not the cartridge itself.

Purchase in appropriate pack quantities for your session volume. Eikon's Buy More Save More program, 10% off on 5+ boxes, applies across Eikon Cartridges, Hydra Needles, and Griffin Tubes. Shop the full range of professional tattoo supplies for Canadian artists.