★★★★★
4.7
(252)
ⓘ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 Wallingford location (403 NE 45th St), home to its own resident roster of tattoo artists working in Japanese irezumi, traditional, realism, and neo-traditional styles.
Also at: Slave to the Needle Ballard
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: 🌊 Japanese (38)🖼️ Realism (12)⚓ Old School (10)🌹 Neo-Traditional (7)ⓘ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: 🐉 Mythology & Folklore (23)🔱 Symbols & Objects (17)🌿 Nature & Plants (15)🐾 Animals (13)🧍 People (13)ⓘ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 Wallingford
- What styles does Slave to the Needle Wallingford specialize in?
- Slave to the Needle Wallingford specializes in Japanese, Neo-Traditional, Old School, New School and Realism.
- How many tattoo artists work at Slave to the Needle Wallingford?
- Slave to the Needle Wallingford has 9 tattoo artists on their team, with 70 published, tagged photos in the catalog.
- How do I book with Slave to the Needle Wallingford?
- Slave to the Needle Wallingford — message us on Instagram to book.
- What does Slave to the Needle Wallingford charge?
- See the Estimated Price Range above for tiers by size. This is confirmed by the studio.
- Where is Slave to the Needle Wallingford located?
- Slave to the Needle Wallingford is located at 403 NE 45th Street. View on Google Maps →
- What is Slave to the Needle Wallingford’s rating?
- Slave to the Needle Wallingford has a 4.7★ rating from 252 reviews.
- What happens to my deposit if I reschedule, cancel or I’m late?
- Slave to the Needle Wallingford 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 +1 206-545-3685 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 Wallingford 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 →
