Tattoo Shops in Iowa City

Going by their own listings, Iowa City tattoo studios emphasize custom work and a welcoming atmosphere. Dark Cloud Tattoos highlights its artist-owned approach to collaboration, while Hot Spot Tattoo & Piercings combines tattoos with piercing services and stresses decades of experience. Velvet Lotus Tattoo, operated by Michelle Balhan with 17 years in the field, focuses on educating clients about quality and longevity. Studios vary in their appointment policies, with October Ink operating as a private studio accepting both appointments and walk-ins when open, while others like Endorphinden Tattoo require advance booking. Cleanliness and safety emerge as common themes across multiple shops.

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

Ranked by the number of Google reviews on each listing. Dark Cloud Tattoos leads with 242 , ahead of Hot Spot Tattoo & Piercings with 169.

1. Dark Cloud Tattoos: 5.0 from 242 Google reviews, Longfellow
2. Hot Spot Tattoo & Piercings: 4.5 from 169 Google reviews, Longfellow
3. Velvet Lotus Tattoo: 5.0 from 159 Google reviews, Miller-Orchard
4. Golden Tattoo & Piercing: 4.8 from 92 Google reviews, Longfellow
5. October Ink: 4.8 from 66 Google reviews, Longfellow
6. Iowa City Tattoo: 4.7 from 64 Google reviews, Miller-Orchard
7. Endorphinden Tattoo: 4.7 from 30 Google reviews, Hoover
8. Swanky Bits Tattoo: 5.0 from 22 Google reviews, Twain

Neighborhoods with two or more studios, from the area named on each Google listing.

Longfellow (4)

Dark Cloud Tattoos, Golden Tattoo & Piercing, Hot Spot Tattoo & Piercings, October Ink

Miller-Orchard (2)

Iowa City Tattoo, Velvet Lotus Tattoo

Twain (2)

Swanky Bits Tattoo, Tattoos by Kelsey

How many tattoo shops are in Iowa City?

Local Tattoo Shops lists 10 open tattoo studios in Iowa City, IA. 9 list a phone number and 8 list a website.

What tattoo styles do Iowa City studios list?

The most listed styles in Iowa City are blackwork (5), fine line (2), realism (2) and traditional (2), counted from each studio's public listing.

Which Iowa City tattoo studios have the highest Google ratings?

Among Iowa City studios with at least 20 Google reviews, Dark Cloud Tattoos (5.0 from 242 Google reviews), Velvet Lotus Tattoo (5.0 from 159 Google reviews) and Swanky Bits Tattoo (5.0 from 22 Google reviews) rate highest. Ratings and review counts come from each shop's public listing.

Which tattoo studios in Iowa City mention walk-ins?

Hot Spot Tattoo & Piercings and October Ink mention walk-ins in their own listing description. Call ahead to confirm the day's availability.