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.
From 4,230 Google reviews of 19 top-rated tattoo parlors nationwide; 9 of them in Wisconsin. Updated October 29, 2026.
Find the right company for your job
Pick the job — we re-rank companies by how customers rated that exact job.
Best tattoo parlors in Wisconsin for old-fashioned tattoos
Clear ✕Not enough reviews tagged “Old-fashioned tattoos” in this city to rank companies yet.
Job match = this company’s ★ on reviews Google tagged “Old-fashioned tattoos” (shrunk toward the category average when there are few), how many such jobs it has done, and its overall Experts Score.
What customers said about old-fashioned tattoos
I've trusted Matt at Lucky Cat Tattoo with virtually every tattoo I've gotten, and he has never failed to impress. I appreciate how easy he is to work with, taking whatever idea I have in mind and creating a beautiful piece of artwork from it. I receive compliments on my sleeve from him very regularly, and would…
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).
| # | Company | ScoreExperts 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). |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Black Thorn TattooKimberly, WI | A 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 |
| 2 | A 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 | |
| 3 |  The Hive Aesthetics LLCKimberly, WI | A 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––AA | 4.99 | $96 |
| 4 |  Celestial Piercing- Inside of Big Guns TattooKimberly, WI | B 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. | AAAAAD | 4.81 | — |
| 5 |  Appleton TattooKimberly, WI | B 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––AD | 4.83 | $167 |
| 6 |  WeMerakiKimberly, WI | B 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. | BABBAA | 4.70 | $189 |
| 7 |  Soul Sketch InkKimberly, WI | B 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 |
| 8 |  Tattooed VagabondKimberly, WI | C 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––AF | 4.57 | $173 |
| 9 |  Big Guns Tattoo AppletonKimberly, WI | D 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. | DFBCCF | 4.49 | $123 |
What jobs cost
What customers paid, from the price Google asks reviewers to report.
| Job | Low25th 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 | $340 | 0% |
| Tattoo design | $74 | $132 | $233 | 0% |
| Fine line tattoos | $132 | $203 | $359 | 0% |
| Color ink tattoos | $144 | $236 | $536 | 0% |
| Piercings | $20 | $60 | $81 | 0% |
| Tattoo cover-ups & reworkings | $183 | $374 | $485 | 0% |
| Ear piercing | $72 | $108 | $132 | 100% |
| Solid black work tattoos | $169 | $236 | $410 | 0% |
| Abstract tattoos | $139 | $224 | $614 | 0% |
| Custom tattoo lettering | $131 | $225 | $360 | 0% |
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.