Best Tattoo Shops In Seattle

“Great traditional shop with tons of flash to choose from. Walked in and got an awesome piece from Lee! Really good vibes all around, can't wait to go back!

Specialties: Traditional tattoos, flash tattoos, custom tattoos, walk ins

Cleanliness: Very clean shop!“

“I've been getting tattooed for over 20 years now & EKT is simply the best. Robyn fixed & finished a sleeve of mine, my hands & now Misha is finishing out my neck by doing my chin.

Their diverse staff serves a very diverse swath of people. It's super accessible for all bodies, as I've seen a client in a powered wheelchair get tattooed here. They also offer unique community events & donate to local charities throughout the year.

All the above, AND the talent runs deep!? Don't sleep on The Kitten. Plus, they have killer snacks & an awesome bathroom.“

““I want it to look good, this is going to be on you forever,” Hep says as he sits and takes a final look at his work. It has been 7+ hours, and I just asked him what was going through his mind.

His response encapsulates his approach, which includes genuine care, thoughtfulness, and creativity - qualities one should look for when searching for an artist (or their first tattoo). This was certainly my first one, and I can attest to the hard work Hep places on his craft.

Additionally, Hep worked on my wife’s first tattoo the day before and for someone who has a low pain threshold, she reported feeling minimal discomfort. Hep made us feel right at home and addressed all our concerns and questions throughout.

There is another review revealing that he assisted a customer (who wasn’t even his) in going to a local CVS for tattoo care (or something like that)…he is definitely the type to do this.

In all, Hep is amazing and worthy of the praise he receives on his work.

***The tattoo can be found in a review below. My wife posted our tattoos :)“

“I've always wanted to get a tattoo of my dogs, but I hesitated for a long time because of three main concerns: (1) the fear of not being able to handle the pain, (2) the worry that my skin might react with allergies or scars, and most importantly, (3) the fear of not finding an artist skilled enough to capture the adorable details of my dogs because tattoos are permanent. While I could research the first two concerns on my own, finding a great tattoo artist required not just research but a bit of luck. After browsing through many portfolios and reviews, I was fortunate enough to come across Ying's Tattoo, and I have to say, I couldn't be happier with my decision. I have two beloved dogs, a 10-year-old Great Pyrenees named Congcong and an 11-year-old Maltipoo named Duoduo. They're healthy and happy, despite their age, and I wanted to carry their image with me forever. After thorough research on social media, I found this incredible artist and decided to book an appointment two months in advance. I traveled from out of state specifically for this session. I wanted a realistic black-and-grey tattoo of both dogs covering the outside of my upper arm. The goal was to capture every detail, making it as lifelike as possible. When I arrived at the studio at 10 am, we immediately began discussing the design. I had a hard time choosing reference photos because I love my dogs so much, so I showed the artist my entire photo album! With great patience and efficiency, the artist asked about my dogs' breeds, personalities, typical expressions, and behaviors. After narrowing down the selection, he quickly created a few potential designs. Once we finalized the design, the artist printed it out to scale, placed it on my arm to adjust the positioning, and then transferred the stencil onto my skin. After a brief break, we began the tattoo process. Over the next 9 hours and 11 minutes, the artist skillfully worked with different needle sizes to create a stunningly detailed portrait of my dogs. The process involved three main steps: first, outlining the basic shapes with medium-thick lines; then, filling in the details with needles of varying thicknesses, from dark to light shades; and finally, adding highlights with white ink for extra depth. The artist's dedication was incredible - he remained focused throughout the entire session. As for the results, they speak for themselves. You can see the individual layers of fur, the fluffiness of Congcong's face, and even the slight glint in his eyes that shows his confident, yet sweet personality. Duoduo's more recent picture shows her serious expression after her dad said, "Duoduo, mom is getting you tattooed, sit nicely for the photo!" The tattoo captures even the tiniest details, like the curl of her fur and the little speck of her nose. When I sent the photos to my hubby, we both felt an overwhelming sense of joy, and cried like babies. I can't express how grateful I am to have found this tattoo artist. It feels like my dogs are now with me forever, and I'm beyond happy with the result! For anyone considering a tattoo here, I'd like to share a few tips: 1. Listen to the artist's advice and make sure you get a good night's sleep and a big meal before your appointment, as it helps with managing the pain. 2. Bring something to distract yourself during the process (like a phone) because it's a long session, and you might get sleepy. 3. Try not to chat with the artist too much during the tattoo; they need to focus on their work. 4. Aftercare is important, especially if you're not from Seattle - follow the instructions closely to avoid needing touch-ups. Pain-wise: black ink hurts less than color ink, with a ratio of about 1:4. As for placement, the outer upper arm hurts less than the inner arm or shoulder, with a pain ratio of about 1:1.5:2. I feel incredibly lucky to have found this amazing artist! I hope Ying's Tattoo continues to grow and thrive because they truly deserve it!“

“Cutest shop for one but MOST IMPORTANTLY, the lightest possible touch of a tattooer I’ve ever experienced. Aleisha brought my vision to light in such a way my husband went back for a similar tattoo a few weeks later. Could not recommend this woman enough!

Cleanliness: So so clean! I was a little worried about the duplicity of a plant/tattoo shop but this group clearly cares when it comes to cleanliness of their store, tattoos, etc.“

“Got the last bit of my chest piece finished yesterday and after the whole experience, I had a great time! The atmosphere is so calm and so chill, everyone in the shop is incredibly nice.
All the artist's spaces are clean while also being decorated to their unique tastes (great to look around at when you're on a table for a few hours, lol)!
Seth was the artist for my piece and he was awesome! He was quick and responsive in every conversation, and willing to work with me and adjust to make sure the whole thing came together in a way I loved. It's been a dream piece for like 7 years, and he did a killer job!!

Overall, great experience and I'd love to get more done there—True Love is my go to!“

“Julio was awesome. Did matching tattoos for our wedding. Great service and vibe in this place.“

“After years of thinking about it I finally got a tattoo. After shopping around I found Steven, who said that he could get a tattoo of a typewriter done. He did an excellent job to say the least and people in my life who have seen it have been amazed. If you're in the Seattle area and are looking to get a tattoo, I would highly recommend Electric Vision Tattoo.“

“Jerad Shealey is insanely talented, his work speaks for itself! He took my crazy idea and crafted it into a masterpiece. Oh not to mention he's a pretty rad dude.

Great atmosphere; superb shop; can't recommend them enough!“

“Val has tattooed me a few times and always does a killer job! Highly recommend her and Jeff for traditional tattoos.“

“My husband and I planned a trip to Seattle and wanted to get tattoos while there. I contacted Sasha beforehand and made appointments for us both. We ended up coming to the shop an hour early due to our schedule and Sasha accommodated us since he lives close.
He was friendly, professional and clean! Happy with the work and atmosphere!“

“The best limón y pepino Agua Fresca I've ever had. Very refreshing. Also, great customer service. I'll definitely be back ?“

“Michelle was so great! I had a pretty set idea on getting a memorial piece for my dog done in a particular style but had multiple inspiration photos I was pulling pieces from. She did an amazing job combining all the things I liked and gave her valuable insight when I wasn’t sure exactly how large I wanted it and what placement. She was able to make me a pink ink that they don’t ordinarily have so I capture my dog’s pink nose. I would certainly recommend Evoluxe and Michelle for your next tattoo!

My sensitive skin had some irritation from the adhesive but I had no pain, itching or dryness, other than some red bumps. Healing process was great!“

“My entire experience at Lilith was amazing! The space is bright, light, clean, full of plants, beautiful art, and everyone is soooooo friendly. I worked with Jude (who actually owns the place) and received so much care and attention to detail. They are professional, friendly, funnily delightful, and an absolute gem of a person; not to mention an insanely talented and (extremely) fast tattoo artist. I would highly recommend anyone, but especially all the women and/or queer folx to come to Lilith for any tattoo needs :)“

“This review is written following a tattoo made by Misa! She let me have as much Japanese candy as I wanted during our session. Professional and considerate, she produced the most incredible tattoo I have on my body. Just look at the photo. Misa, 5 stars, would definitely return for another piece. I have already recommended to friends. Go get your tattoo made at Anchor Tattoo, by Misa or any of the talented artists there.“

“Tash was amazing! They were very thoughtful and and considerate of my needs and well-being throughout the process. Tash took a very personal and meaningful idea, albeit a complicated one, and produced an incredible design that she executed on it in a way that leaves me in awe. The next time I want any tattoo, I will not hesitate to come back. Thank you so much, Tash!“

“Top Hat Tattoo is a gem, offering exceptional quality and artistry. The vibe is both welcoming and creatively charged, making every visit a great experience. Their customer service is outstanding, with a friendly and attentive staff dedicated to turning your vision into reality. Highly recommend for anyone seeking top-notch tattoos and fun flash in a great atmosphere!“

“Soorya was amazing. Very easy to get ahold of and set up dates. Responded very timely. Before starting she made sure I loved the placement. During the actual tattooing she made me feel comfortable about asking for breaks if I needed it. I was nervous but she did a great job of talking and keeping my mind off the bits of pain. The tattoo came out beautiful. She’s very talented and very kind. The vibes of the shop are great I felt very safe, welcomed and comfortable. Definitely would recommend.“

“Came to Seattle Ink and Oil and was first amazed by the vibe of the studio! All around a great experience and great ink and will be coming back to get the rest of my work done.“

“Nina is amazing! I've been getting work done from her since she was at Laughing Buddha! She's very thorough with her work and asks a lot of questions about the smallest detail that makes the biggest differences. I've gotten 3 large pieces done by her. I definitely recommend her! Amazing work, great quality and a lot of different styles of tattooing too.“

“Jacqui is an absolute genius. I went to her with a sixth-baked idea, and she turned out a beautiful, sweet piece of art. I drove up to Seattle from Salem for the two sessions it took to finish my forearm and would (will, almost certainly) do it again gratefully. The studio itself is clean and welcoming, and everyone there is just lovely. I cannot recommend Jacqui's talented work enough!! Thank you for the wonderful treat of that ping of "oh neat that's my skin" i get to have forever <3“

“What a friendly professional place. They made me feel so comfortable.

Requested style: Simple cartilage pierce, helix.“

“Christina is very professional, sweet and friendly. She really made sure my experience was great. She took the time to explain the process and answered all of my questions. I would highly recommend her.“

“Working on a sleeve project with Alex. They are so professional, kind, and their work is truly phenomenal! They really put a lot of thought and intention into their designs, and I honestly couldn't be happier with how this is turning out! Very comfortable environment, very relaxing, and worth checking out for sure.“

“Suzanna is an absolute gem. She designed an amazing piece for me, based on a favorite video game, and totally encapsulated the vibe I was going for. I am not at all an artist and came to her with a bunch of images and was not incredibly articulate about what I wanted but somehow what I got was even better than I had imagined!“