★★★★★
4.6
(662)
ⓘVerified Sep 2026 — rating and review count are pulled from this studio's Google Business Profile.
Slave to the Needle is an award-winning Seattle tattoo studio, tattooing since 1995 and voted Best Tattoo & Piercing Studio in the Seattle Weekly readers' poll for over a decade. This is the Ballard location (508 NW 65th St) — piercing services are available here only, alongside a resident roster of tattoo artists working in traditional, Japanese, realism, and illustrative styles.
Also at: Slave to the Needle Wallingford
Speaks: 🇬🇧 English
🚶 Walk-ins welcome
See the studio before you visit
Take a look at our space, tattoo setup, and team to get a feel for the environment where your tattoo will be created.
Specializes in: ⚓ Old School (29)🌊 Japanese (20)🌹 Neo-Traditional (13)🪡 Fine Line (8)🖤 Blackwork (4)💠 Ornamental (3)ⓘBased on recurring characteristics across tattoos in this profile. These are portfolio-derived insights, not self-reported specialties. Narrowed to the styles with real depth behind them — occasional one-off tags are left out so this reflects where the specialization actually is, not everything ever tried once.
Top subject groups: 🌿 Nature & Plants (27)🐾 Animals (25)🔱 Symbols & Objects (13)🐉 Mythology & Folklore (12)🧍 People (9)ⓘBased on the subjects tagged across tattoos in this profile. Narrowed to the subjects with real depth behind them — occasional one-off tags are left out so this reflects what the studio truly tattoos most, not everything ever tried once.
Estimated hourly rate: $200/hour
Estimated Price Range
✅ Verified Sep 2026 — from slavetotheneedle.com
- Small & Simple Small symbols, lettering, or simple line work — roughly 2–10 cm, about 1 hour
- $150–250
- Medium (Typical tattoo) More detailed custom design with shading — roughly 10–20 cm, about 2–3 hours
- $300–550
- Large & Complex Larger, highly detailed piece — roughly 20–30 cm, about 4–8 hours, 1–2 sessions
- $700–1500
- Very Large / Sleeve Half sleeve, back piece, large-scale work — 30+ cm, roughly 10–25+ hours, 3+ sessions
- $1600–3600+
Before you book
- Deposit
- $50 for most pieces, $100 for pieces over two hours; non-refundable
- Deposit off final price
- Yes
- Rescheduling
- Rescheduling with plenty of notice doesn’t affect the deposit
- If you cancel
- Cancelling within 24 h or not showing up forfeits part of the deposit
- Shop minimum
- $150
- Not listed — ask the studio
- Consultation · Late arrival · Design preview · Touch-ups · Typical wait · ID & age
- Safety & hygiene
- Not listed — that doesn’t mean unsafe; ask about licence, single-use needles and sterilisation.
About Slave to the Needle Ballard
- What styles does Slave to the Needle Ballard specialize in?
- Slave to the Needle Ballard specializes in Ornamental, Neo-Traditional, Japanese, Old School, Blackwork and Fine Line.
- How many tattoo artists work at Slave to the Needle Ballard?
- Slave to the Needle Ballard has 9 tattoo artists on their team, with 79 published, tagged photos in the catalog.
- How do I book with Slave to the Needle Ballard?
- Slave to the Needle Ballard — message us on Instagram to book.
- What does Slave to the Needle Ballard charge?
- See the Estimated Price Range above for tiers by size. This is confirmed by the studio.
- Where is Slave to the Needle Ballard located?
- Slave to the Needle Ballard is located at 508 NW 65th Street. View on Google Maps →
- What is Slave to the Needle Ballard’s rating?
- Slave to the Needle Ballard has a 4.6★ rating from 662 reviews.
- What happens to my deposit if I reschedule, cancel or I’m late?
- Slave to the Needle Ballard lists: deposit: $50 for most pieces, $100 for pieces over two hours; non-refundable; deposit comes off the final price; rescheduling: Rescheduling with plenty of notice doesn’t affect the deposit; cancellation: Cancelling within 24 h or not showing up forfeits part of the deposit. Policies can change — call +1 206-789-2618 or message them to confirm before you pay. How deposits usually work →
- Is the consultation free?
- Many studios offer a free consultation, in person or by message; some charge a fee that comes off the tattoo. Ask when you first get in touch. What happens at a consultation →
- When will I see my design, and can I change it?
- It varies: some artists send the design a few days before, many show it on the day and adjust it with you before the stencil goes on. You can always ask for changes before anything touches your skin. Design, flash and revisions →
- Is a touch-up included?
- Many studios touch up small healing gaps for free within a few months; after that, or for sun-faded work, touch-ups are usually paid. Ask before booking. Touch-ups explained →
- Is the studio licensed, and how do they keep things sterile?
- Slave to the Needle Ballard hasn’t listed licence or hygiene details on TatSeek. That doesn’t mean anything is wrong — ask about their licence, single-use needles and sterilisation; a good studio answers happily. What a clean studio looks like →
- Do I need ID? What is the minimum age?
- Expect to show a photo ID proving you are 18 or older. In the US some states allow 16–17-year-olds with a parent’s consent, others don’t allow it at all, and many studios only tattoo adults either way. Age and ID →
- How do I pay, and should I tip?
- Ask whether they take cards or cash only. Where tipping is customary (as in the US), 15–20% is typical; elsewhere it’s optional. Tipping and etiquette →
