Liner Needles - Liner Needles

What Are Liner Needles?

Liner needles are round liner tattoo needles designed specifically for drawing clean lines and creating precise outlines in tattoo work. The defining characteristic is the tight circular grouping, individual needles soldered into a compact arrangement that delivers ink to a concentrated point.

Round liners deliver a sharp, consistent line because the tight grouping keeps all needle tips as close together as possible at the point of contact. The higher the solder point, the tighter the grouping, and the tighter the grouping, the crisper the line.

The bladder membrane inside each cartridge acts as the needle's return spring, it pulls the needle bar back after each stroke for consistent recoil from the first cartridge to the 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.

Eikon's liner cartridges include an internal Stabilisation System in every round liner configuration, a feature that keeps the needle travelling straight and true and reduces chatter through the stroke. Not every cartridge brand includes this in their liner range.

Choosing the Right Liner Needles for Your Work

Fine-line work and intricate details call for smaller groupings (1RL–5RL) in 0.25mm (bugpin) — the combination of low count and thin diameter creates the smallest possible delivery point. 0.25mm is Eikon's top-selling liner diameter, used across fine-line, realism, and portrait work.

Bold outlines and traditional work benefit from larger groupings (7RL–14RL) in 0.30mm or 0.35mm — the wider needle and higher count deposit more ink per pass across a broader line, which means fewer passes on heavy outlines and faster coverage.

Long Taper is the right call for most liner work, the longer, sharper point enters skin with less resistance per strike, which gives artists consistent, controlled feel through different skin textures and across long sessions.

Beyond count and diameter, the configuration type itself changes what the needle does. Straight Round Liners (SRL) use a lower solder point for a bolder line at the same count. Hollow Round Liners (HRL) remove the centre needle to deliver maximum ink with less trauma. Artists who want a bolder line without stepping up in count should try SRL before reaching for a larger RL.

Round Liner Configurations: From Fine Lines to Bold Outlines

1RL and tight groupings (3RL–5RL) for fine-line work, script, and detailed botanical designs — the smaller the count, the more controlled the delivery point. Single-needle work gives the artist maximum precision with the thinnest possible line.

Medium groupings (7RL–9RL) for standard outline work across most tattoo styles — versatile enough for portrait outlines, illustrative work, and everyday lining. The 7RL sits at the geometric efficiency peak for circular needle packing, which is why it is one of the most common everyday liner configurations.

Larger groupings (11RL–14RL) for bold traditional outlines and tribal designs that require heavy lines, the higher count covers more width per pass, which means faster coverage on outlines that need to read at distance.

The RL progression extends further with SRL (Straight Round Liner) and HRL (Hollow Round Liner), both deliver a bolder, more ink-forward result at the same count as a standard RL. SRL uses a lower solder point; HRL removes the centre needle entirely. Both are available in Eikon's house brand range and are unique to Eikon's liner lineup in the shop.

Understanding Needle Diameter and Taper for Liner Work

Bugpin (0.25mm) creates the finest lines, not a specialty diameter but Eikon's top-selling liner option. The thinner needle profile produces a smaller puncture per pass, which translates to finer lines and less trauma at the same configuration count.

Standard diameter (0.35mm) delivers bolder lines with more ink per pass, preferred for traditional outlines and anywhere line weight needs to read clearly. The wider needle delivers noticeably more ink saturation per pass compared to 0.25mm at the same count.

Count and diameter interact; a 3RL in 0.25mm produces a finer line than a 5RL in 0.35mm. Artists who work both dimensions have a wider effective range of line weights without changing configuration type. When in doubt, adjust diameter before adjusting count.

Long Taper is the default for liner work across all brands in Eikon's range. The gradual taper point reduces skin resistance per strike and gives artists the clean, consistent feel expected from precise outline work.

Liner Needle Terminology and Specifications

Round liners are abbreviated as RL, with the number indicating needle count (3RL = 3-needle round liner, 7RL = 7-needle round liner). SRL = Straight Round Liner (lower solder point, bolder line). HRL = Hollow Round Liner (centre needle removed, maximum ink delivery). All three grouping types are available in Eikon's house brand range.

Eikon cartridges use a colour-coded label system to identify needle diameter, a feature unique to Eikon's house brand in the shop. Purple = 0.25mm, Blue = 0.30mm, Red = 0.35mm. The colour travels from the box to the cartridge base, so diameter is identifiable by sight even on a crowded station.

Taper describes the length of the sharpened point on each needle; the longer the taper, the finer and sharper the entry into the skin. Long Taper is standard for liner work. Taper does not affect ink capacity or flow; that is a function of tip housing geometry.

Quality liner cartridges include clear tips for needle visibility, a bladder membrane for consistent recoil and machine protection, and stabilisation features that keep the needle grouping straight and true through the stroke.

Liner Needle Brands and Machine Compatibility at Eikon

Eikon Cartridges — house brand, most competitively priced ($27.95–33.95 CAD/box of 20). Full RL/SRL/HRL liner progression. Internal Stabilisation System in every liner. Colour-coded by diameter. 13+ configurations per liner type, all Long Taper.

Kwadron — 50+ configurations across three diameters. Round liners only. Medical-grade plastic tips extend needle sharpness through longer sessions. $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. $32.20–40.60 CAD/box of 20.

TEX Cartridges — 316H steel, precision-honed tips, biodegradable packs. Among the most affordable in the shop($28.99–36.99 CAD/box of 20). Canadian brand.

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

Cartridge needles are compatible with all pen-style rotary machines. If a cartridge feels loose in the grip, check machine tolerances before assuming a cartridge defect, grip fit is the most common cause. Eikon's Buy More Save More program (10% off on 5+ boxes) applies across Eikon Cartridges, Hydra Needles, and Griffin Tubes.

All liner supplies ship same-day across Canada when ordered before 3pm ET. Quantity discounts start at 5 boxes. Artists looking for magnum or curved magnum configurations for shading work can find those in separate collections alongside pigments, grips, and tubes.