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Best Tattoo Shops in Minneapolis, MN

Our Recommended Top 16

We did the research for you!

  • Licensing
  • User Reviews
  • Mystery Shopping Calls

Our goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored Minneapolis Tattoo Shops on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.

94Reviewed

62Curated

16Top Picks

Learn about our selection process.

Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

9158 Old Cedar Avenue South, Bloomington, MN 55425

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.8 (271)
Facebook
5.0 (112)
Yelp
4.5 (8)

Why choose this provider?

Located in Bloomington near the Mall of America, Ocean Blue Tattoo is a loft-style art studio and a custom tattoo shop that services clients in the greater Minneapolis metro. The shop acts as a showcase for the many works of art and murals that adorn the walls of the studio, while also serving as the home to Daniel Natural's watercolor tattoos. It also offers a wide range of tattoo styles in addition to watercolor tattoos, such as 3D, realistic, illustrative, geometric, and dot-work tattoos.

  • Watercolor Tattoos
  • Anime Tattoo
  • Dot work

Minneapolis, MN

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Need help contacting a Tattoo Shop in Minneapolis? Call our Concierge team at 848-Book-Pro (848-266-5776 from 6 am - 4 pm PT | Mon - Fri). They are standing by to help you get the service you need.

Minneapolis, MN 55405

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
5.0 (25)

Why choose this provider?

Guns N Needles Tattoo, based in Uptown Minneapolis, is an artist-owned and operated tattoo studio. Roger Kane, nicknamed "Uncle Rog," founded the studio with his colleague Brian "Jinx" Siegel in 2009. The studio is dedicated to complete customer satisfaction and is exceptionally clean and professional yet, relaxed and comfortable. The shop uses industry leading aftercare solutions and was featured as one of the Best Tattoo Parlors by City Pages in 2016.

  • Watercolor Tattoos
  • Body Art
  • Traditional Tattoos

Minneapolis, MN 55408

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Facebook
5.0 (40)
Google
4.9 (37)
Yelp
5.0 (3)

Why choose this provider?

Art With a Point Custom Tattoo Studio is based in Minneapolis. The studio was founded in 2001 by Awen Briem, a Master Tattooist with over 25 years of experience. Matt Reiners apprenticed with Awen; with a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design he works in a variety of styles including Traditional Tattoo and Asian tattoo art. Awen focuses on large pieces based on sacred geometry, Celtic art and themes inspired by the natural world. Both are members of the Alliance of Professional Tattooists, and employ leading edge health (and COVID) protocols. We celebrate the diversity of our clientele and strive to help each client feel comfortable, respected and welcome.

  • Watercolor Tattoos
  • Body Art
  • Traditional Tattoos

4109 East Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN 55406

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
4.0 (85)

Why choose this provider?

Jessi Lawson is a Minneapolis-based artist who specializes in painting and tattooing. In her work as a tattoist, she uses vivid colors, often portraying surreal, fantastic worlds with imagery borrowed from nature. Ms. Lawson received a BFA from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Before she became a freelance tattooist and painter in Minneapolis, she worked for several years as a tattooist in Las Vegas, apprenticing under Ryan Mueller.

  • Body Art

1815 Radio Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
4.0 (29)

Why choose this provider?

Rose Of No Man's Land is a tattoo and body piercing studio that serves clients in Minneapolis. Its tattoo artists, including Josh Edwards and Marx Barry, cover various tattoo styles, such as traditional, realism, watercolor, new school, and neo-traditional. For body piercings, Ryan Malone and Hannah Lee perform ear, nose, and eyebrow piercings. To reduce the risk of infection and allergic reactions, the studio uses jewelry made of stainless steel, implant-grade titanium, and solid gold or platinum.

  • Body Art

8260 Commonwealth Drive, Eden Prairie, MN 55344

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
4.2 (30)
Facebook
4.8 (2)

Why choose this provider?

Canvas Tattoo Studio provides Minneapolis body modification enthusiasts with body piercing and custom tattooing services. From its Prior Lake and Eden Prairie locations, it provides a friendly, clean, and welcoming environment for experienced clients as well as people getting inked for the first time. The studio works with traditional. new school, and tribal designs, as well as black and gray or full-color tattoos. It has a couple of body piercers that can handle dermal anchors, surface piercings, and genital piercings.

  • Body Art

4109 East Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN 55406

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
4.0 (87)
Facebook
5.0 (2)

Why choose this provider?

Leviticus Tattoo Piercing is a tattoo parlor in the Longfellow neighborhood, creating tattoos exactly to customers' specifications. Before the artist begins inking, he or she presents the client with a hand-drawn sample for approval or revision. Additional services include tattoo removal and body piercing. The environment at Leviticus Tattoo Piercing, which includes a Japanese Koi pond, has been carefully designed to make customers feel at ease.

  • Body Art
  • Piercings

314 West 38th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55409

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Facebook
5.0 (49)
Google
5.0 (40)

Why choose this provider?

Wanderlust Tattoo is a private tattoo studio catering to customers in Minneapolis. It is owned and independently operated by tattoo artist Will Kamas, who has 15 years of experience in the industry. He specializes in black and grey tattoo styles and large pieces that reflect designs like mandalas, nature scenes, animals, geometric, floral, and nautical themes. As a sole business owner, he can give his full attention to his clients through individual sessions and accommodates appointments during his travels.

  • Traditional Tattoos

2211 Lyndale Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55405

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.5 (253)
Yelp
4.5 (19)

Why choose this provider?

With six female tattoo artists on its staff, Minneapolis Tattoo Shop is an especially good choice for women seeking a comfortable environment. In addition to creating body art at its brick-and-mortar studio location, Minneapolis Tattoo Shop sells an array of sweatshirts, tees, hats, and patches through its website. Notably, in 2015, Minneapolis Tattoo Shop was featured in the City Pages "Best of the Twin Cities" list.

  • Body Art
  • Piercings

525 Central Avenue Northeast, Minneapolis, MN 55413

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (51)
Facebook
5.0 (14)

Why choose this provider?

Timeless Tattoo is an industrial-themed tattoo parlor located in the Northeastern neighborhood of Minneapolis. The location has a clean and inviting look of steel, wood, and concrete so that getting tattooed there feels comfortable. Its team of tattoo artists has 20 years of combined experience in the field. It is able to ink retro designs, such as Lisa Frank and groovy retro patterns. It can also design small, Japanese-inspired, neo-traditional, full-colored, and black and grey tattoos.

  • Body Art

5001 University Avenue Northeast, Columbia Heights, MN 55421

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Adam Chiodo Ink Tailor provides a broad range of tattoo services to clients in Minneapolis. Owner and artist Adam has been creating tattoos and paintings for over a decade. He uses a unique approach when tattooing customers. Adam specializes in realism, black and gray, portraits, wildlife, dark art, and surrealism. Some of his works have been published in books, magazines, and numerous social media outlets across the globe. In addition, Adam sells his original paintings, some of which are made by oil on canvas.

  • Body Art

919 West Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN 55408

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
3.5 (25)
Facebook
5.0 (7)

Why choose this provider?

Tattoo artist David Dettloff opened Ink Lab in October 1995. Mr. Detloff, a veteran of the profession, has since then amassed a team of award-winning tattoo artists and body piercing specialists from across the world. The shop is clean and completely drug-free, and it adheres to cleanliness standards put forth by the Minneapolis Department of Environmental Health. The shop has won multiple "Best Tattoo Shop" and "Best Body Piercing" awards from the local publication City Pages.

  • Body Art

923 Mainstreet, Hopkins, MN 55343

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Dragonland Tattoo is a tattoo shop that services individuals from Minneapolis and the surrounding areas. The business provides custom tattoos with a wide range of styles and designs, such as neo-traditional, traditional, nature, surreal, animated, animals, high contrast, and black and grey. The shop was founded in 1994 by Shahn Anderson, a professional artist who has more than 25 years of tattooing experience. Dragonland Tattoo won the Best Tattooist award from the National Tattoo Association.

  • Body Art

3753 Cedar Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55407

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
5.0 (24)

Why choose this provider?

Established in 2013, Jackalope Tattoo is a non-binary and Asian-owned tattoo shop in Minneapolis. The shop prides itself on being inclusive of all genders, ethnicities, and lifestyles, employing female, non-binary, and queer-identifying artists. It specializes in gender-affirming tattoo designs, 3d nipple tattoos, micro-blading, and fine line work. The shop's artists also do scar cover-up work using artwork, not camouflage. Some of them have had their works featured in the Huffington Post, the Minneapolis SunTimes, and City Page.

  • Watercolor Tattoos
  • Portraits
  • Geometric Tattoos

3092 Lexington Avenue North, Roseville, MN 55113

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Beloved Studios is a tattoo studio in St. Paul with a team of five tattooists creating custom body art for Twin Cities Metro clients. Since its opening in 2006, the independently-owned business has delivered tattoo services with a particular focus on listening to customers. Customers of Beloved Studios can expect the team members to work closely with them to determine that the size, design, location, and other aspects of the tattoo match their specifications.

  • Body Art

Compare our Top Tattoo Shops

NameExpertise RatingAddressPromotionsLearn more
Ocean Blue Tattoo & Art Studio
9158 Old Cedar Avenue South, Bloomington, MN 55425Call for pricing
Guns N Needles Tattoo
Minneapolis, MN 55405
Art With A Point Custom Tattoo Studio
Minneapolis, MN 55408
Jessi Lawson
4109 East Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN 55406
Rose Of No Man's Land
1815 Radio Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125
Canvas Tattoo Studio - Eden Prairie
8260 Commonwealth Drive, Eden Prairie, MN 55344
Leviticus
4109 East Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN 55406
Wanderlust Tattoo
314 West 38th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55409
MPLS Tattoo Shop
2211 Lyndale Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55405
Timeless Tattoo
525 Central Avenue Northeast, Minneapolis, MN 55413
Adam Chiodo Ink Tailor
5001 University Avenue Northeast, Columbia Heights, MN 55421
The Ink Lab
919 West Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN 55408
Dragonland Tattoo
923 Mainstreet, Hopkins, MN 55343
Jackalope Tattoo
3753 Cedar Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55407
Beloved Tattoo And Removal
3092 Lexington Avenue North, Roseville, MN 55113

FAQs

  • Introduction

    A tattoo is body art that leaves permanent designs or pictures on the skin. They're applied via needle by depositing ink onto the second layer of skin. While the first tattoos were applied manually with a single needle that was first saturated in ink, today's tattoos are done by a machine. These machines feature multiple needles that pierce the skin simultaneously, speeding up the process and creating tattoos that are more visually appealing.

    Tattoos are usually done in licensed tattoo shops. These shops adhere to health and cleaning standards and are typically regulated by state and municipal governments. While tattoos are generally safe, there are associated risks, including skin infections. Any person getting a tattoo is legally required to be at least 18 years of age. It's also inadvisable for anyone who isn't in good health to get a tattoo, as the body requires time and energy to heal and prevent infection.

  • What should you know before getting your first tattoo?

    Before getting tattooed, it's important to think about design and placement. A tattoo is a permanent fixture on the body, and it's important not to rush into things. You should also consider the artist's background and take time to look into their portfolio to ensure their style best suits the tattoo you want.

  • What are some examples of tattoo styles?

    There are many types of tattoo styles, and it's important for a person to familiarize themselves with them before they select a design. Styles include:

    • Americana: Bold lines, vivid colors
    • Japanese: Large images that cover the back, arms, and legs
    • Black and Grey: Colorless grayscale designs
    • Stick-n-Poke: Thick, bold, black lines and small designs
    • Blackwork: Bold black lines and larger geometric shapes

  • Is tipping expected & how much to tip on your tattoo?

    While most tattoo artists don't expect tips, it's often appreciated. If you're happy with the work your tattoo artist has done, consider tipping between 15% and 25%. If the tattoo requires multiple sessions, a flat amount per session is appropriate.

  • What are some basic tattoo aftercare tips?

    It's important to follow all aftercare directions provided by the tattoo artist. Usually, artists will advise clients to ensure that tattoos are kept clean and dry. After showering, the tattoo should be gently patted dry and treated with Vaseline or another tattoo aftercare product.

  • What are the best practices for healing a tattoo?

    After removing the dressing, it's important to keep the tattoo clean, dry, and uncovered. Applying Vaseline or another recommended ointment can help to speed up the healing process. As they heal, tattoos can sometimes itch, but it's vital that you don't scratch or pick at it.

  • What are the most and least painful places to get a tattoo?

    Parts of the body that have the most nerve endings are generally the most painful to have tattooed. That includes the head, ears, and face. Places that don't have a lot of fat, such as the fingers, shoulder blades, and feet, are typically more painful. The least painful parts of the body to get tattooed include the outer arm, buttocks, and thighs.