The 8 best tattoo shops in Charlotte

A tattoo is permanent and the shop matters as much as the artist. The studios below were chosen on three things: the depth of the review record, whether clients name individual artists by name years later, and whether the shop handles a nervous first timer as carefully as a returning regular. Every one holds a public rating of 4.8 or better, most across hundreds or thousands of reviews. Almost all of them close at the start of the week, which is worth planning around.

1. Seventh Sin Tattoo Company

A perfect rating across nearly 1,400 reviews, the strongest record of any studio in the city. Cover ups are a particular strength and artists design them with the client instead of presenting a finished sketch. The facility is clean, the front desk offers refreshments, and artists check placement with you before any needle work begins. Tivis Phillips, Chris, Mandi and Matt all get named.

Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Monday

Address: 3401 The Plaza, Charlotte, NC 28205

Why it made the list

• The best rating and volume combination here.
• Cover up specialists.
• Calm with first timers.
• Short daily hours, so book ahead.

Directory listing: Seventh Sin Tattoo Company

2. Canvas Tattoo & Art Gallery

More than 2,300 reviews at 4.9, in NoDa, and the studio most Charlotte people name first. Walk ins browse the flash books at their own pace and get the same courtesy as booked clients. Cover ups other artists declined get taken on here, and the range of styles across the roster means most ideas find someone suited to them. Pandora and Soldier are the names that recur.

Hours: Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday noon to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday noon to 10 p.m.; closed Monday and Tuesday

Address: 3012 N Davidson St, Charlotte, NC 28205

Why it made the list

• The best known studio in the city.
• Takes cover ups others refused.
• Flash books to browse.
• Late hours Friday and Saturday.

Directory listing: Canvas Tattoo & Art Gallery

3. Black Cloud Tattoo and Piercing

More than 2,600 reviews, the deepest record here, with piercing alongside tattooing. Booking starts with a text of your idea and a reply the same day carrying pricing and an available artist, which beats every other studio on this list for speed. Richard handles fine line and handwriting reproduction, which matters when the piece is somebody’s actual handwriting.

Hours: Monday to Thursday noon to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday noon to 9 p.m.; Sunday noon to 7 p.m.

Address: 2814 The Plaza, Charlotte, NC 28205

Why it made the list

• Open seven days, which is rare here.
• Text your idea and get a quote back.
• Piercing under the same roof.
• Handwriting and fine line work.

Directory listing: Black Cloud Tattoo and Piercing

4. Big Top Tattoo

A perfect rating and genuine walk ins, which almost no studio at this level offers. Clients drive an hour and a half for specific artists. Fine line is the house strength, with four hour sessions on a single forearm piece, and the artists will build a concept from nothing more than a rough idea. Kay, Li, Slim and Maria are the names.

Hours: Monday to Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday noon to 5 p.m.

Address: 3700 Latrobe Dr, Suite 202, Charlotte, NC 28211

Why it made the list

• Walk ins genuinely welcome.
• Open seven days.
• Fine line specialists.
• Clients travel for the artists.

Directory listing: Big Top Tattoo

5. Ghost Studios: Tattoos + Piercing

On South Boulevard, 4.9 rated, and built for long form work: clients book two sessions of eight or nine hours for a single piece. Several artists work in different styles under one roof, and people who hand over full design control describe results better than they had imagined. Clean, organized and good looking enough that a long session is bearable.

Hours: Monday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday to Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Address: 3216 South Blvd, Suite 204, Charlotte, NC 28209

Why it made the list

• Built for large multi session pieces.
• Several distinct styles on the roster.
• Flexible on pricing for big work.
• Open seven days.

Directory listing: Ghost Studios: Tattoos + Piercing

6. Made To Last Tattoo

The Uptown studio, on North Poplar in Fourth Ward, and the one set up to handle a group. Six people getting matching work in a single session is a normal booking, which nowhere else here can absorb. The space is among the better looking studios in the city, and staff have walked clients to their cars when the street outside felt unsafe.

Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday

Address: 129 N Poplar St, Charlotte, NC 28202

Why it made the list

• Handles groups of six.
• The Uptown option.
• Piercing available too.
• A genuinely beautiful room.

Directory listing: Made To Last Tattoo

7. All My Heart Tattoo Studio

On West Tremont in South End, and the gentlest room on this list. The studio is the studio people recommend to a nervous friend. Artists are thorough about placement and design and take real time talking a first timer through what will happen. Clean, modern and spacious, with whimsical design work as a house strength and pricing clients call reasonable.

Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday

Address: 214 W Tremont Ave, Suite 100, Charlotte, NC 28203

Why it made the list

• The best choice for a first tattoo.
• Natalie and Graham Beech are requested by name.
• Fine line strength.
• Reasonable pricing.

Directory listing: All My Heart Tattoo Studio

8. Tattoo Me Charlotte

On South Tryon, with a relaxed atmosphere clients notice walking in and artists who visibly enjoy working together. Line and detail work are the strengths people mention, and first timers describe two sessions that both felt comfortable. The studio shares a building with a busy restaurant, which makes parking the one genuine drawback.

Hours: Tuesday to Saturday noon to 7 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday

Address: 1440 S Tryon St, Suite 106, Charlotte, NC 28203

Why it made the list

• JP is requested by name repeatedly.
• A relaxed room for a nervous client.
• Strong line and detail work.
• Parking is the weak point.

Directory listing: Tattoo Me Charlotte

Before you book

Look at healed work, not fresh photographs. Everything looks sharp on the day, and the test of an artist is what the piece looks like a year later. Ask the studio for healed shots in the style you want.

Pick the artist, not the shop. Every studio here has several artists working in different styles, and a great shop with the wrong artist for your idea produces a worse result than a good artist elsewhere. Look through individual portfolios instead of the shop feed.

Expect a deposit, and ask what happens to it if you reschedule. Ask about aftercare before you sit down instead of at the end, and tell the artist if you have not eaten. If a studio deserves a place here, tell us.