Tattoo Shops in California

Going by their own listings, California tattoo studios emphasize custom design work across many styles, from fine line and American traditional to realism and Japanese. Cleanliness and hygiene standards appear frequently in descriptions, with shops like Cleopatra Ink highlighting strict sanitation practices. Piercing services are commonly offered alongside tattoos. Shops like Paradise Tattoo and Gold Coast Tattoo emphasize their established history and community presence, while others stress experienced, skilled artists dedicated to personalized visions.

Summarized from the studios' own listing descriptions and checked against them. Each linked studio's page shows its full description.

The 10 open California studios with the highest Google star ratings, counting only studios with at least 20 reviews. A rating says nothing about style, so check each studio's work before you book.

1. Sideshow Tattoo and Piercing, San Diego, CA: 5.0 from 2,918 Google reviews , listed styles traditional, japanese / irezumi, fine line
2. Paradise tattoo, Santa Cruz, CA: 5.0 from 2,518 Google reviews , listed styles traditional, fine line
3. BEAUTIFIC STUDIOS, Newport Beach, CA: 5.0 from 1,715 Google reviews , listed styles blackwork, realism, fine line
4. Hermosa Ink Collective: Tattoo & Piercing, Hermosa Beach, CA: 5.0 from 1,531 Google reviews , listed styles traditional, blackwork, japanese / irezumi
5. Sailor's Grave Tattoo Gallery, San Diego, CA: 5.0 from 805 Google reviews , listed styles traditional, fine line, cover-up
6. Black Serum Tattoo, San Francisco, CA: 5.0 from 590 Google reviews , listed styles traditional, blackwork, realism
7. Baron Art Tattoo & Piercing Studio, Berkeley, CA: 5.0 from 571 Google reviews
8. Boartooth Tattoo, Los Angeles, CA: 5.0 from 478 Google reviews , listed styles traditional, blackwork, japanese / irezumi
9. Dying Art Tattoo, Modesto, CA: 5.0 from 473 Google reviews , listed styles traditional, neo-traditional, blackwork
10. Art Collector Tattoo, Culver City, CA: 5.0 from 458 Google reviews , listed styles traditional, blackwork, japanese / irezumi

How many California studios name each style on their listing. One studio can list several styles.

• Fine Line: 968 studios
• Cover-Up: 909 studios
• Blackwork: 820 studios
• Lettering: 795 studios
• Realism: 733 studios
• Traditional: 689 studios
• Japanese / Irezumi: 503 studios
• Tribal: 331 studios
• Neo-Traditional: 152 studios
• Watercolor: 47 studios

How many tattoo shops are in California?

Local Tattoo Shops lists 2,640 tattoo studios across 406 cities in California. Pick a city to see its studios.

Which California cities have the most tattoo shops?

The California cities with the most listed studios are Los Angeles (228), San Diego (170), San Francisco (82), Sacramento (78), San Jose (68), Fresno (54). Each city page lists its studios with address and phone.

Which tattoo styles do California studios list most?

Across California, the most listed styles are fine line (968 studios), cover-up (909 studios), blackwork (820 studios), lettering (795 studios), counted from each studio's public listing.

How many California tattoo studios list a website?

1,390 of the 2,637 open California studios listed here link to a website, and 2,313 list a phone number.