Experts Reviews · 2026 Ratings

The Best Tattoo Parlors in Wisconsin

We graded 9 companies on seven things customers actually report: satisfaction, reliability, workmanship, value, momentum, track record and how owners handle complaints.

$158typical jobMedian of the bill customers reported in their Google review (Google asks reviewers for a price range; we use the middle of each range).
0%say the price was fairOf customers who rated the price, the share who chose “Great price” or “Reasonable” rather than “Overpriced”.
4.86★average ratingPlain average of every Google star rating we collected for these companies.
1.8%bad jobs (1–2★, 2 yrs)Share of 1–2★ reviews in the last 24 months — or the 20 newest reviews when the company had fewer than 20 in that time.

From 4,230 Google reviews of 19 top-rated tattoo parlors nationwide; 9 of them in Wisconsin. Updated October 28, 2026.

Find the right company for your job

Pick the job — we re-rank companies by how customers rated that exact job.

Overall ratings

Experts Score 0–100Experts Score (0–100)Absolute quality first: recency-weighted star average (≈54%), share of 1–2★ reviews (≈24%), customers’ price verdicts (≈14%), owner replies to critical reviews (≈7%); minus up to 10 points each for complaints flagged in Google review highlights and for a real slide in recent ratings. Hover a company’s score on its page for the full breakdown. and a letter grade per factor (A = top 20% of tattoo parlors).

#CompanyScoreExperts Score (0–100)Absolute quality first: recency-weighted star average (≈54%), share of 1–2★ reviews (≈24%), customers’ price verdicts (≈14%), owner replies to critical reviews (≈7%); minus up to 10 points each for complaints flagged in Google review highlights and for a real slide in recent ratings. Hover a company’s score on its page for the full breakdown.FactorsFactor grades, in orderSatisfaction (54%): Recency-weighted star average (2-year half-life), shrunk toward the category mean by review volume; the company’s own lifetime average as the prior; absolute: 4.0★ = 0, 5★ = 100.Reliability (24%): How rarely jobs go badly: share of 1–2★ reviews — 60% the last 24 months (or the 20 newest if fewer), 40% all-time; 0% = 100, 15%+ = 0; the category percentile can only raise it.Craft & service (0%): Google review highlights: Quality, Professionalism, Responsiveness, Punctuality — how rarely reviewers flag them as a negative, per review since highlights began; 0% = 100, 5%+ = 0. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in — clean highlights are the norm, not a bonus.Value (14%): Customers’ own price verdicts (Great / Reasonable vs Overpriced) and Value highlights; 65% absolute (all “reasonable” ≈ 80, “great” = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.Momentum (0%): Penalises only a real slide: last-12-month average below lifetime (−0.5★ = 0). Still 4.8★+ over the last year, or steady/improving = 100. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in.Replies to reviews (7%): How often the owner publicly replies to reviews under 5★ (1–4★). Needs 3+ such reviews, otherwise not counted; 65% absolute (80%+ replied = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.One letter per factor score: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39, F = below 20.★Google star rating as shown on Google Maps.Typical billMedian bill customers of this company reported in their reviews (needs 3+ priced reviews).
1Black Thorn TattooKimberly, WIA 98How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 69%99+68.5Reliability 31%96+29.5Experts Score= 98Not enough data for value, replies to reviews; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews.AA––A–5.00$462
2Lucky Cat Tattoo logoLucky Cat TattooKimberly, WIA 98How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 69%99+68.5Reliability 31%96+29.5Experts Score= 98Not enough data for value, replies to reviews; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews.AA––A–5.00$153
3The Hive Aesthetics LLC logoThe Hive Aesthetics LLCKimberly, WIA 98How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 64%99+62.9Reliability 28%99+28Replies to reviews 8%88+7.2Experts Score= 98Not enough data for value; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews.AA––AA4.99$96
4Celestial Piercing- Inside of Big Guns Tattoo logoCelestial Piercing- Inside of Big Guns TattooKimberly, WIB 79How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%81+44.2Reliability 24%90+21.8Value 14%87+12.3Replies to reviews 7%38+2.7Craft & service penalty81−1.9Experts Score= 79Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews.AAAAAD4.81—
5Appleton Tattoo logoAppleton TattooKimberly, WIB 79How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 64%82+52.1Reliability 28%88+24.8Replies to reviews 8%25+2.1Experts Score= 79Not enough data for value; its weight is shared by the others.Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews.AA––AD4.83$167
6WeMeraki logoWeMerakiKimberly, WIB 73How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%75+40.9Reliability 24%80+19.4Value 14%66+9.3Replies to reviews 7%100+7.1Craft & service penalty66−3.4Experts Score= 73Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews.BABBAA4.70$189
7Soul Sketch Ink logoSoul Sketch InkKimberly, WIB 65How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 69%75+51.9Reliability 31%60+18.5Momentum penalty48−5.2Experts Score= 65Not enough data for value, replies to reviews; its weight is shared by the others.Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews.BB––C–4.83$374
8Tattooed Vagabond logoTattooed VagabondKimberly, WIC 40How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 64%53+33.7Reliability 28%22+6.2Replies to reviews 8%19+1.6Momentum penalty86−1.4Experts Score= 40Not enough data for value; its weight is shared by the others.Grade C: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews.CD––AF4.57$173
9Big Guns Tattoo Appleton logoBig Guns Tattoo AppletonKimberly, WID 22How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%36+19.6Reliability 24%14+3.4Value 14%44+6.2Replies to reviews 7%13+0.9Craft & service penalty60−4Momentum penalty58−4.2Experts Score= 22Grade D: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews.DFBCCF4.49$123

What jobs cost

What customers paid, from the price Google asks reviewers to report.

JobLow25th percentile: 1 in 4 customers paid less than this.TypicalMedian of the bill customers reported in their Google review (Google asks reviewers for a price range; we use the middle of each range).High75th percentile: 1 in 4 customers paid more than this.FairOf customers who rated the price, the share who chose “Great price” or “Reasonable” rather than “Overpriced”.
Tattoos$114$183$3400%
Tattoo design$74$132$2330%
Fine line tattoos$132$203$3590%
Color ink tattoos$144$236$5360%
Piercings$20$60$810%
Tattoo cover-ups & reworkings$183$374$4850%
Ear piercing$72$108$132100%
Solid black work tattoos$169$236$4100%
Abstract tattoos$139$224$6140%
Custom tattoo lettering$131$225$3600%

Tattoo Parlors in Wisconsin at a glance

How the 9 tattoo parlors we rated in Wisconsin compare, and what customers praise most.

Experts Score grades

A = score 80+, F = below 20.

  • Grade A333%
  • Grade B444%
  • Grade C111%
  • Grade D111%
  • Grade F00%

Google ratings

Average stars per company.

  • 4.90★ and up333%
  • 4.80–4.89★333%
  • 4.60–4.79★111%
  • Below 4.60★222%

What customers praise

Share of Google review highlights.

  • Quality15530%
  • Professionalism15730%
  • Responsiveness00%
  • Punctuality10520%
  • Value10720%

Was the price fair?

All price verdicts left with reviews.

Not enough data yet.

Price verdicts by year

Share calling it great / reasonable / overpriced.

How we grade

Satisfaction (54%) — Recency-weighted star average (2-year half-life), shrunk toward the category mean by review volume; the company’s own lifetime average as the prior; absolute: 4.0★ = 0, 5★ = 100.

Reliability (24%) — How rarely jobs go badly: share of 1–2★ reviews — 60% the last 24 months (or the 20 newest if fewer), 40% all-time; 0% = 100, 15%+ = 0; the category percentile can only raise it.

Craft & service (penalty, up to −10) — Google review highlights: Quality, Professionalism, Responsiveness, Punctuality — how rarely reviewers flag them as a negative, per review since highlights began; 0% = 100, 5%+ = 0. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in — clean highlights are the norm, not a bonus.

Value (14%) — Customers’ own price verdicts (Great / Reasonable vs Overpriced) and Value highlights; 65% absolute (all “reasonable” ≈ 80, “great” = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.

Momentum (penalty, up to −10) — Penalises only a real slide: last-12-month average below lifetime (−0.5★ = 0). Still 4.8★+ over the last year, or steady/improving = 100. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in.

Replies to reviews (7%) — How often the owner publicly replies to reviews under 5★ (1–4★). Needs 3+ such reviews, otherwise not counted; 65% absolute (80%+ replied = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.

Choose a city to compare vetted tattoo parlors rated 4.5★+ on Google.

Tattoo Parlors by city in Wisconsin