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Laurels

Best Tattoo Shops in Raleigh
2021

We scored 89 Tattoo Shops in Raleigh, NC and Picked the Top 9

Here are the Picks:

401 Tattoo

Double Deuce Tattoo & Art Gallery

First Class Tattoo

Knightdale Tattoo Co

Mad Ethel’s Tattoo

Oak City Tattoo

Phoenix Tattoo

Red Leaf Tattoo Studio

Warlock's Tattoos

Why These Tattoo Shops?

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

Reviewed Curated Top Picks 89 57 9

Our Selection Criteria:

  • 1. Availability

    Consistently approachable and responsive, so customers never feel ignored.

  • 2. Qualifications

    Building customer confidence with licensing, accreditations, and awards.

  • 3. Reputation

    A history of delighted customers and outstanding service.

  • 4. Experience

    Masters of their craft, based on years of practical experience and education.

  • 5. Professionalism

    Providing service with honesty, reliability, and respect.

Read more about our selection process

401 Tattoo

  • Traditional Tattoos

401 Tattoo Fuquay serves the Varina community with tattoo designs and brings over 45 years of art experience to clients. The licensed shop aims to create unique, custom designs as well as cover-ups and typically works by appointment-only, although walk-ins are welcome. Clients appreciate the feeling of privacy when being tattooed and can choose from two permanent artists as well as a rotating guest tattooer. Piercing services and jewelry are not available.

Click to Call

Fuquay Varina, NC 27526

Website

(919) 301-9311 Website

Reputation:A+

More Info

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.

Online Profiles:

2 (Better)

Average Review Score:

4.4 / 5 (Better)

Total Reviews:

155 (Best)

Score Consistency:

Consistent (Best)

Double Deuce Tattoo & Art Gallery

  • Traditional Tattoos
  • Body Art

Double Deuce Tattoo & Art Gallery is a studio located in Cary that has been providing tattoo services to individuals in the metro, from Raleigh, and from the surrounding areas for 10 years. The studio creates customized designs for clients and provides them with consultation and aftercare products. It also offers piercing services. The owner, Scott Russell, is a tattoo artist and a resident of Raleigh whose passion for art began at a young age. He has since replaced his crayons with the tattoo needle.

Click to Call

937 North Harrison Avenue
Cary, NC 27513

Website Instagram

(919) 481-4445 Website

Reputation:A+

More Info

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.

Online Profiles:

2 (Better)

Average Review Score:

4.6 / 5 (Best)

Total Reviews:

14 (Better)

Score Consistency:

Consistent (Best)

First Class Tattoo

  • Body Art

First Class Tattoo is a tattoo studio that provides tattoo services to individuals in the Raleigh area. The team of tattoo artists specializes in the American traditional style and is knowledgeable in tattoo cover-ups. In addition, it lays out designs and plans in close consultation with the client. Edgar Guardiola, the company owner, is a licensed tattoo artist who established First Class Tattoo in 2019. He values cleanliness and employs a unique skill in each project.

Click to Call

2000 Brentwood Road
Raleigh, NC 27604

Website Instagram

(919) 606-1657 Website

Reputation:A+

More Info

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.

Online Profiles:

3 (Best)

Average Review Score:

4.9 / 5 (Best)

Total Reviews:

89 (Best)

Score Consistency:

Consistent (Best)

Knightdale Tattoo Co

  • Body Art

Knightdale Tattoo is a locally-owned shop located in Raleigh. The studio offers free consultations for its services, which include cover-ups and colored and black-and-gray designs. Co-owner Mack McKnight has over 30 years of experience in tattooing, while co-owner Matthew Babnaw comes with over 14 years of experience as an artist who can give clients any design and style they're looking for. Since its operation, the shop has received around 304 reviews with a 5-star overall rating from customers.

Click to Call

101 Forest Drive
Knightdale, NC 27545

Website

(919) 295-4785 Website

Reputation:A

More Info

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.

Online Profiles:

2 (Better)

Average Review Score:

5 / 5 (Best)

Total Reviews:

3 (Good)

Score Consistency:

Consistent (Best)

Mad Ethel’s Tattoo

  • Traditional Tattoos
  • Body Art

Mad Ethel’s Tattoo started in 2012 and has continuously served clients from Raleigh and surrounding areas since then. The tattoo artists have more than 50 years of combined experience, allowing clients of different body steps and skin types to get their desired tattoo. The studio specializes in custom-only work and also provides piercing services. Mad Ethel’s Tattoo was featured in WRAL News and received the Best of The Triangle Award in 2014 from Triangle Downtowner Magazine.

Click to Call

711 North Person Street
Raleigh, NC 27604

Website

(919) 887-7857 Website

Reputation:A+

More Info

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.

Online Profiles:

1 (Good)

Average Review Score:

4.5 / 5 (Best)

Total Reviews:

49 (Best)

Score Consistency:

Consistent (Best)

Oak City Tattoo

  • Traditional Tattoos
  • Body Art

Oak City Tattoo in Raleigh is a tattoo studio composed of artists tattooing in freehand, full color, black and white, grey, tribal, and traditional American styles. The team believes in working closely with customers to deliver end results that please them. The studio strives to provide clients with an environment that fosters expressiveness and artistry. The artists and founders established the studio as their outlet for creativity and relaxation. They maintain an atmosphere that encourages limitlessness and enjoyment.

Click to Call

3114 Hillsborough Street
Raleigh, NC 27607

Website Instagram

(919) 355-9397 Website

Reputation:A+

More Info

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.

Online Profiles:

2 (Better)

Average Review Score:

4.5 / 5 (Best)

Total Reviews:

32 (Best)

Score Consistency:

Consistent (Best)

Phoenix Tattoo

  • Geometric Tattoos
  • Watercolor Tattoos
  • Neotraditional Tattoos
  • Traditional Tattoos

Phoenix Tattoo Studio is a Raleigh-based tattoo shop that's been operating for 10 years. Owner Lacie Frain has been in the tattooing industry for more than 17 years. The shop's artists specialize in a wide range of styles including portraits, black and gray realism, and Victorian art deco. They also accommodate custom-quality designs. The shop conducts fundraisers for different organizations every month, such as Beyond Fences and SAFEchild. It also offers artwork created by its own artists.

Click to Call

1215 Hillsborough Street
Raleigh, NC 27603

Website Instagram

(919) 849-8246 Website

Reputation:A+

More Info

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.

Online Profiles:

2 (Better)

Average Review Score:

4.9 / 5 (Best)

Total Reviews:

122 (Best)

Score Consistency:

Consistent (Best)

Red Leaf Tattoo Studio

  • Traditional Tattoos
  • Piercings
  • Body Art

Located in Cary, Red Leaf Tattoo Studio offers tattoo work in the Raleigh area. It offers custom tattoos, permanent make-up, and scalp micropigmentation. It has three resident artists who specialize in different styles and techniques. These include black and grey portraiture, full-colored Japanese, and traditional Americana. The portfolios of previous tattoo works and designs done by the studio can be viewed via the website. Red Leaf is open every day of the week except for Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Click to Call

8450 Chapel Hill Road
Cary, NC 27513

Website Instagram

(919) 367-1173 Website

Reputation:A

More Info

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.

Online Profiles:

1 (Good)

Average Review Score:

4.5 / 5 (Best)

Total Reviews:

12 (Better)

Score Consistency:

Consistent (Best)

Professionalism: A+

More Info

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.

Responsiveness: A+

Friendliness: A+

Helpfulness: A+

Detail: A+

Warlock's Tattoos

  • Traditional Tattoos
  • Body Art

With over 10,000 tattoos made, Warlock's Tattoo is the oldest tattoo parlor in Raleigh. The ink studio has won numerous recognitions in different conventions and expos since 1991. They've also archived more than 5,000 tattoo design sheets to help clients choose. Its team crafts colorful masterpieces, black and gray designs, and cover-up tattoos. Facial and body piercings are also offered in the shop. The tattoo artists of Warlock's Tattoo have over 100 years of combined experience.

Click to Call

5535 Western Boulevard
Raleigh, NC 27606

Website

(919) 887-7828 Website

Professionalism: A+

More Info

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.

Responsiveness: A+

Friendliness: A+

Helpfulness: A+

Detail: A+

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