Explore the 5 Best Tattoo Shops in Canberra for Custom Skin Art You Won’t Regret!
Getting inked is a highly personal decision, and finding the right artist is just as important as the design itself. Aside from getting quality artwork, you also want a safe environment. So, booking with the best tattoo shops in Canberra is a must.
The good thing is that the local scene is packed with talented professionals who specialise in everything from fine-line minimalism to vibrant realism.
To help you find the right place to get inked, I’ve put together this guide. Read on so you can navigate the options with the top local studios that prioritise client comfort and collaborative custom designs to bring your ideas to life!
How much does a tattoo cost in Canberra?
When getting a tattoo in Canberra, small designs usually cost around a $150 minimum, while larger custom pieces run on an hourly basis.
| Service Type | Average Rate |
| Shop Minimum (Small/Simple Designs) | $150 |
| Hourly Rate (Larger/Complex Pieces) | $150 – $300 per hour |
1. Celebrity Ink Belconnen
Website: celebrityink.com
Address: Shop 309 Benjamin Way, Belconnen
Contact: 02 9784 2497 / [email protected]
Hours: Monday to Thursday 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM; Friday 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Saturday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Sunday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
When you walk into Celebrity Ink Belconnen, the immediate focus is their “Celebrity Treatment” promise, offering an exceptionally premium and hygienic environment.
Every artist on staff is an award-winning member of their Elite Team, so you’re sure that your custom design is handled by top-tier talent who prioritise bringing your personal story to life.
During my own session here, I opted for a VIP room upgrade. Impressively, this included unlimited snacks and my own streaming setup to keep me relaxed while the artist worked.
Also, paying for a larger piece is surprisingly manageable since they offer Afterpay, letting you budget the typical hourly rate without needing a massive lump sum upfront.
Another point of convenience is that the studio sits conveniently inside Westfield Belconnen, giving you easy access and plentiful parking.
The only catch is their strict corporate cancellation policy, meaning you lose your deposit entirely if you change plans with less than 24 hours’ notice.
From the moment I booked online until the tattoo was complete, the experience was awesome. The girls at the door were awesome, always smiling and very friendly. From the consultation appointment to the date of the tattoo, the experience was excellent. Sat with the artist (JMIKE) for a couple of hours to get the final design and the tattoo appointment was excellent. Would definitely go again
- Colin Copeland Google Review
The staff at Celebrity ink Belconnen are amazing. They were so friendly and knowledgeable. They recommended the most amazing artist for the style of tattoo I wanted.
Jed is an amazing artist. He is meticulous and goes above and beyond to create beautiful tattoos. I absolutely love my two cat tattoos that he has done for me. Highly recommend.
- Mimmy 01 Google Review
2. Tattoo Power
Website: https://www.tattoopower.com.au/
Address: 35 Brookes Street, Mitchell
Contact: 0478 790 141 / [email protected]
Hours: Monday to Friday 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Stepping away from appointment-only spaces, Tattoo Power stands out as Canberra’s longest-running studio and actively welcomes spontaneous walk-in clients.
Their large team of diverse artists can tackle a massive variety of styles, from delicate watercolour designs to traditional tribal pieces.
They also maintain an incredibly high standard for health and safety, operating as a facility fully approved by the ACT Health Department.
While their shop minimum sits at the standard $150, their strict non-refundable booking deposit can be frustrating if your schedule changes frequently.
It’s also worth noting that they host many guest artists and experience higher staff turnover. Locking down the same person for a multi-year sleeve project might prove difficult.
If you ever need old ink faded before getting a cover-up here, you might first want to consult specialised tattoo removal Clinics to prep your canvas.
Great place, friendly people, made me feel welcome as soon as I walked in.
Matt D did some great work, in spite of my vague instructions. I was visiting from interstate and this crew was recommended to me as I in turn heartfully recommend them too.
- Duane Cox Google Review
I freaking love how comfortable and relaxed Matt made me feel! he got me through a tattoo that was so incredibly painful and didn’t make it feel rushed at all, he made sure i was okay and talked me through it! He did an incredible job for a moving target , also loved the receptionist, awesome lady! loved the vibes all around, will definitely be returning
- Kami Miller Google Review
3. Two 9 Tattoo Pty Ltd
Website: two9tattoo.com
Address: 111 Anthony Rolfe Avenue, Gungahlin
Contact: 0421 973 019
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Organisation is a major priority at Two 9 Tattoo. Here, a dedicated shop manager named Jess oversees the entire booking process to match your design idea with the perfect specialist.
I appreciate how their large collective of resident artists avoids the generalist approach. You get someone who genuinely excels in your chosen style, whether that is fine-line or heavy blackwork.
When I contacted Jess to arrange a consultation for a friend, the vetting process felt incredibly professional and reassuring.
Additionally, their private studio environment in Gungahlin provides ample street parking right out front, which removes a lot of stress during long sessions.
Be prepared to save up your hourly rate budget, though, as their high demand often translates into long waitlists before you can secure a chair.
They’re also closed on Sundays and Mondays, making it tough to squeeze in a visit if you work standard hours.
After 5 day sessions (all with Lucas) I’ve finished my arm sleeve and couldn’t be happier with results. The whole experience of working through different designs and bringing them to life was so easy, I never felt rushed into getting something I wasn’t 100% sure on either. We took a multiple images as references to create something unique and 1 of 1 which was exactly what I had hoped for. The shop as a whole is incredibly clean and the vibe with all the artists in there is awesome
- Dylan Booth Google Review
Kaitlyn has done the large majority of my tattoos, and she’s always been awesome. I wholeheartedly recommend her and the studio. The environment is chill and friendly, and I cannot express enough how talented and thorough Kaitlyn is. Many times I’ve given her a couple images and a rough idea, and she gives me a design better than I was imagining. Book in with Kaitlyn esp if you like blackwork!!!!
- Hayden Deng Google Review
4. The Nook
Website: https://www.thenooktattoocanberra.com.au/
Address: 25 Yallourn Street, Fyshwick
Contact: [email protected] / [email protected]
Hours: Monday to Sunday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (By Appointment Only)
For those who find bustling street shops intimidating, The Nook provides a private, serene atmosphere designed specifically to help clients relax.
Operating on an artist-focused bed-rent system, the space hosts only two professionals at any given time, fostering an incredibly intimate and low-pressure environment.
They have carved out a strong local identity by specialising heavily in delicate fine-line work and detailed botanical designs.
Just note that budgeting for a session here means planning for their standard hourly rate, as they do not offer spontaneous walk-in services for quick flash pieces.
Their limited roster means you’ll need to look elsewhere if you want American Traditional or heavy blackwork styles, so booking ahead is essential.
Still, the free on-street parking and quiet environment make it a highly appealing spot for custom ink.
Rachel Josephine was amazing 🤩 She was friendly and professional. Rachel created my design from inspo pics and poorly drawn example. Her design options were fantastic and she spent time focusing on the details of size and placement. Rachel was thorough in her aftercare information and even took the time for me to come back on the same day when I had problems with the second skin (unknown allergy). I would 100% recommend Rachel every day of the week. On a side note, she has a lovely quirky style of decor and beautiful plants 🪴
- Katie McCarthy Google Review
First tattoo and Rachel made it a breeze. I felt inspired in her studio and every step she made me feel safe and at ease. A very talented artist whose love for nature shines through. I’m super happy with the design that she improved from my original (I requested she take liberties and add her own spin)! Lovely experience, thanks Rachel 😊 💖
- Lauren Google Review
5. Deep Image Tattooing
Website: https://deepimagetattooing.com.au/
Address: 47 Monaro Street, Queanbeyan
Contact: 0432 516 447 / [email protected]
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Heading just outside the immediate territory lines, Deep Image Tattooing pairs a modern atmosphere with decades of proven veteran experience.
This team thrives on collaborative custom designs, readily sketching out exactly what you envision rather than relying on pre-made stencils.
Lead artist Mikey brings 14 years of industry knowledge and multiple awards to the table, ensuring highly technical execution across a massive range of styles.
While the quality is undeniably high, you’ll need to budget accordingly because their shop minimum starts at $200, which is slightly steeper than the local average for tiny pieces.
They also enforce a strict rescheduling policy that requires 48 hours of notice to avoid forfeiting your deposit.
Furthermore, their location in Queanbeyan, New South Wales, might be a slight inconvenience for clients determined to stay strictly within Canberra borders.
The best Tattoo studio in Canberra/Queanbeyan. I have received multiple tattoos from Samiiee, who has had incredible leadership from Mikey. The studio is clean, private, welcoming, and has so many cool flash sheets that are so inspiring on the walls. They are kind, caring, and offer professional advice and service. Cannot recommend more! Go and support this amazing business 🤍
- Kate Sergi Google Review
I requested 3 fine line tattoos by Mikey. Him and Sammy were easy to communicate with. The studio was clean. He was so quick, professional, talented and reasonably priced. I love my tattoos. They are healing so nicely.
- Rach H Google Review