Voted Best Tattoo Shop in Fort Wayne 2014–2025
Fort Wayne Tattoo Shops
Two Studios
Fort Wayne tattoo shops, two ways: Clinton St and Glenbrook Square
If you are comparing Fort Wayne tattoo shops, start with the fact that Grade A is really two shops under one name. Both studios share the same standards, the same sterilization process, and a combined team of 20+ tattoo artists, but each has its own feel. Here is how they differ, so you can pick the one that suits your plans.
Our flagship at 3615 N Clinton St has been open since 1999. It sits north of downtown near E State Blvd, with free parking right out front, and it is the only Fort Wayne location that offers every service we have, including laser tattoo removal. See directions and details on the Clinton St studio page.
Our Glenbrook Square studio opened in 2010 inside the mall on the north side, near Coldwater Rd and Coliseum Blvd. It handles tattoos and body piercing, and it is an easy stop while you shop. Visit the Glenbrook studio page for the suite number and phone. Since both locations sit on the north side, many people pick based on which drive is easier or whether they need laser work.
What to Look For
How to choose a tattoo shop in Fort Wayne
A good tattoo shop in Fort Wayne should be happy to answer questions before you ever sit in the chair. Before you commit to any of the Fort Wayne tattoo shops on your list, run through this checklist. It works at any studio, ours included:
- Cleanliness you can see: single-use needles and supplies, plus hospital-grade autoclave sterilization for anything reused.
- Real portfolios: healed and fresh work from the actual artists, not stock images.
- A free consultation where the artist talks through size, placement and price before you commit.
- Clear ID rules: in Indiana you must be 18 with a valid government photo ID to get tattooed.
- Honest pricing: a quote based on your design, not a number pulled from a website.
- Original art: a shop that redraws your idea instead of copying another artist’s custom piece.
Walk-Ins & Hours
Walk-ins and hours at our Fort Wayne tattoo studios
Not all Fort Wayne tattoo shops welcome walk-ins, but both of ours do whenever an artist is free. Smaller pieces are the best fit for a same-day visit, while bigger custom work goes smoother with a booked appointment. Learn how it works on our walk-in tattoos page.
Hours are the same at both locations: Monday through Thursday 10 AM to 8 PM, Friday and Saturday 10 AM to 10 PM, and Sunday noon to 6 PM. Late weekend hours make it easier to fit a session around work or school, and Sunday afternoons are open too, which not every studio offers.
Why Grade A
Why locals keep choosing Grade A over other Fort Wayne tattoo shops
Readers of the Fort Wayne Newspapers voted Grade A the Best Tattoo Shop in Fort Wayne every year from 2014 through 2025. Twelve straight years of that award came from local readers choosing among all the Fort Wayne tattoo shops in town. You can read what clients say on our reviews page.
Longevity matters in this business. A studio that has been tattooing since 1999 has seen trends come and go, and our artists cover realism, black and grey, traditional, neo-traditional, blackwork, fine line, color, anime, lettering and portraits. If you need to fix an older piece, we also do cover-ups and reworks.
Safety is where Fort Wayne tattoo shops should never cut corners. Our studios exceed health department requirements, and every needle is opened fresh for your session.
Pricing
What tattoos cost at Fort Wayne tattoo shops like ours
Prices at Fort Wayne tattoo shops vary, and we do not post ours online because no two tattoos take the same time. Size, detail and placement all change the cost, so your artist gives you a real number at the free consult. Some appointments need a non-refundable deposit, and that deposit goes toward your final price. If a shop quotes a big custom piece before seeing your idea, that is worth a second question.
Near You
Searching “tattoo shops near me” around Fort Wayne?
When you type “tattoo shops near me” from New Haven, Huntertown, Auburn, Columbia City, Huntington or Decatur, Fort Wayne tattoo shops are usually the closest results. We also see clients from northwest Ohio, including Defiance and Van Wert. With one studio on the north side of town and another in Glenbrook Square, at least one of our Fort Wayne tattoo shops is usually a short drive away. When you are ready, book a free consultation or just stop in.
Why Grade A
Why choose Grade A Tattoos?
The tattoo shop Fort Wayne has voted the best for twelve straight years.
Voted Best Tattoo Shop
Fort Wayne Reader’s Choice winner every year since 2014. Twelve years running, and still raising the bar.
Tattooing since 1999
More than 25 years of tattoos and piercings in Indiana, now with three studios serving Fort Wayne and beyond.
Hospital-grade safety
Single-use needles and supplies, autoclave sterilization and implant-grade jewelry at every station.
Every style covered
Realism, black & grey, traditional, blackwork, fine line, color, lettering and cover-ups by artists with their own portfolios.
Walk-ins 7 days a week
Open every day including Sunday afternoons. Piercings take about 30 minutes, no appointment needed.
Free consultations
Talk through your idea, placement and price with an artist before you commit. No pressure.
Visit us
Fort Wayne studios.
Walk in or book ahead at our 2 Fort Wayne studios. Free parking at every location.
Grade A Tattoos — Clinton St
3615 N Clinton St, Fort Wayne, IN 46805
Located on N Clinton St, north of downtown Fort Wayne near the intersection with E State Blvd.
Mon–Thu 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Fri–Sat 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Sun 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Grade A Tattoos — Glenbrook Square
4201 Coldwater Rd, Suite B-03, Fort Wayne, IN 46805
Inside Glenbrook Square Mall, near the intersection of Coldwater Rd and Coliseum Blvd on Fort Wayne's north side.
Mon–Thu 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Fri–Sat 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Sun 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
The team
Meet the artists.
Every artist has their own style and portfolio. Pick the one whose work you love, or walk in and we’ll match you.
Recent work
From our gallery.
Real tattoos by the Grade A team.
Areas we serve
Serving greater Fort Wayne.
Clients drive in from all over northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio, including:
Questions
Frequently asked questions.
What are the best Fort Wayne tattoo shops?
Grade A was voted Best Tattoo Shop in Fort Wayne in the Fort Wayne Newspapers Reader’s Choice Awards every year from 2014 to 2025. We have two Fort Wayne studios: N Clinton St and Glenbrook Square.
How many tattoo shops does Grade A have in Fort Wayne?
Two. Our flagship is at 3615 N Clinton St, and our second studio is inside Glenbrook Square mall at 4201 Coldwater Rd, Suite B-03. We also have a third studio in Indianapolis.
Do Fort Wayne tattoo shops take walk-ins?
Ours do. Both Fort Wayne studios welcome walk-ins whenever an artist is available, and smaller tattoos are the best fit for a same-day visit.
How much is a tattoo in Fort Wayne?
It depends on size, detail, placement and how long the piece takes. Your artist gives you pricing at a free consultation, so you know the cost before you commit.
Is there a tattoo shop in Fort Wayne open on Sunday?
Yes. Both our Clinton St and Glenbrook Square studios are open Sunday from noon to 6 PM.
Which Fort Wayne tattoo shop is open late?
Our Fort Wayne studios stay open until 10 PM on Friday and Saturday. Monday through Thursday we close at 8 PM.
What is the difference between the Clinton St and Glenbrook tattoo shops?
Both offer tattoos and body piercing with the same safety standards. Clinton St is our original 1999 studio and the only one that offers laser tattoo removal; Glenbrook sits inside Glenbrook Square mall.
Where is the Glenbrook Square tattoo shop?
Inside Glenbrook Square mall at 4201 Coldwater Rd, Suite B-03, on the north side near Coldwater Rd and Coliseum Blvd. Parking in the mall lot is free.
Is parking free at your Clinton St tattoo shop?
Yes, there is free parking right in front of the studio at 3615 N Clinton St.
How do I know if a Fort Wayne tattoo shop is clean?
Ask how they sterilize equipment and whether needles are single-use. At Grade A, needles and supplies are single-use, tools go through a hospital-grade autoclave, and our studios exceed health department requirements.
How old do you have to be to get tattooed at Fort Wayne tattoo shops?
Indiana law requires you to be 18 with a valid government photo ID. We check ID for every tattoo.
Do Fort Wayne tattoo shops require a deposit?
Some of our appointments do. The deposit is non-refundable and is applied to the final cost of your tattoo.
Can a tattoo shop in Fort Wayne fix or cover an old tattoo?
Yes, we do cover-ups and reworks. For dark or stubborn pieces, a few laser sessions at our Clinton St studio can fade the old ink first so the new design covers better.
Do Fort Wayne tattoo shops offer free consultations?
Grade A does. Tattoo consultations are free, and that is where your artist talks through design, placement and price.
Can I bring my own design to a Fort Wayne tattoo shop?
Absolutely. Bring reference images and your artist will redraw the idea so your tattoo is original. We do not copy another artist’s custom tattoo.
Which Fort Wayne tattoo shop also does piercings?
Both of our Fort Wayne studios offer body piercing alongside tattoos, with implant-grade jewelry included in the piercing price.
Where can I get laser tattoo removal at a Fort Wayne tattoo shop?
Our Clinton St studio is the only Grade A location with laser tattoo removal. Consultations are free and include a cost estimate.
How long has Grade A been a tattoo shop in Fort Wayne?
Since 1999, when our N Clinton St studio opened. Glenbrook Square followed in 2010.
Do you sell gift cards at your Fort Wayne tattoo shops?
Yes. Grade A gift cards make an easy present for someone planning new ink, and you can ask about them at either Fort Wayne studio.
How do I book at one of your Fort Wayne tattoo shops?
Book online, call (260) 485-8258 for Clinton St, or call (260) 471-3100 for Glenbrook Square. You can also walk in during business hours.
Keep exploring
Related pages.
Ready when you are.
Walk in today or book a free consultation. Call Clinton St at (260) 485-8258.