State ranking · Illinois
The 10 best tattoo shops in Illinois
The best tattoo shops in Illinois, ordered by an adjusted Google rating that weighs review counts: shops with 25+ reviews, one listing per address, nobody paid for a place. How the ranking works.
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Crispy Aura Fine Line Tattoos
5.0· 576 reviewsChicago, IL2642 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
Fine LineAftercare ProductsCustom Tattoo DesignsLGBTQ+ Friendly - 02
Sapphire Studios
5.0· 431 reviewsNaperville, IL4s100 Illinois Rte 59 #11, Naperville, IL 60563
Piercing ServicesCustom Tattoo DesignsTattoo RemovalBy Appointment OnlyLGBTQ+ Friendly - 03
Archer Ink Tattoo
5.0· 407 reviewsLockport, IL100 MacGregor Rd, Lockport, IL 60441
American TraditionalFine LineBlack & GreyAftercare ProductsWalk-ins WelcomeCover-Up Tattoos - 04
TATTOO HOUSE
5.0· 303 reviewsAurora, IL4450 Westbrook Dr 2nd floor, Aurora, IL 60504
Fine LineWalk-ins WelcomeCustom Tattoo DesignsLGBTQ+ Friendly - 05
Skinkraft Ink
5.0· 220 reviewsCalumet City, IL1507 Sibley Blvd, Calumet City, IL 60409
Black & GreyRealism / PortraitPiercing ServicesCover-Up TattoosCustom Tattoo DesignsOnline Booking - 06
Eternal Tiger Tattoo
4.9· 899 reviewsLake Villa, IL18960 W Grand Ave, Lake Villa, IL 60046
Walk-ins WelcomePiercing ServicesCustom Tattoo Designs - 07
Sweetheart Ink Tattoo
5.0· 209 reviewsEvanston, IL530 Kedzie St, Evanston, IL 60202
Aftercare ProductsWalk-ins WelcomeCover-Up TattoosCustom Tattoo DesignsOnline BookingLGBTQ+ Friendly - 08
Mind Crusher Tattoo
4.9· 865 reviewsChicago, IL6705 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60626
Script / LetteringFine LineBlack & GreyRealism / PortraitWalk-ins WelcomePiercing Services - 09
Unbreakable Ink
4.9· 468 reviewsRolling Meadows, IL1500 Hicks Rd #300, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
Black & GreyCustom Tattoo DesignsGuest ArtistsOnline BookingBy Appointment Only - 10
Klas Piercing and Tattoo
4.9· 383 reviewsSugar Grove, IL38 Terry Dr #5429, Sugar Grove, IL 60554
Aftercare ProductsWalk-ins WelcomePiercing Services
Method
How the best tattoo shops in Illinois are ranked
Shops are ordered by a Bayesian-adjusted rating: (n × rating + 348 × 4.79) ÷ (n + 348), where n is the shop's Google review count, 348 is the median review count across the directory and 4.79 is the directory-wide mean rating. Only shops with at least 25 reviews qualify; ties go to the shop with more reviews.
In practice, each shop's Google rating is pulled toward the directory average in proportion to how few reviews back it, so a 5.0 from a handful of reviews does not outrank a 4.9 from several hundred. To be listed, a tattoo shop in Illinois must have a city and state and at least 25 Google reviews; a shop with two listings at one address takes one slot. 63 shops in Illinois meet those rules; the top 10 appear here. Ratings shown are raw Google ratings and the score only sets the order. Nobody paid for a place and nothing is hand-picked. The list cannot tell you about artist skill, hygiene or price — visit the shop, look at healed work and ask. Full methodology.
Cities in Illinois
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