About 18 Minutes East of Carmel
Tattoo Shop Near Carmel, Indiana.
Castleton Square
About 18 minutes
About 9 miles
96th St / 82nd St east
Getting Here
Heading east to our tattoo shop near Carmel
Grade A does not have a Carmel location, so the closest tattoo shop near Carmel that carries our name is our Castleton Square studio in northeast Indianapolis. From most of Carmel it is about 9 miles and roughly 18 minutes, heading east on 96th St and then 82nd St until you reach the mall at 6020 E 82nd St.
It is a cross-town drive rather than a highway run, which many Carmel drivers prefer. Once you arrive, mall parking is free, and the studio is inside Castleton Square, so weather never decides whether you keep your appointment. Check your map app before you leave, since the best way onto 96th St depends on which part of Carmel you start from.
Consult First
Start with a free consult at this tattoo shop near Carmel
Plenty of people from Carmel come to us with a half-formed idea and a few saved photos. That is a perfect starting point. At a free consultation the artist looks at your references, suggests size and placement, and gives you a price based on the actual design. We never quote tattoo prices online because two pieces that sound alike can take very different amounts of time. A consult is also the easiest way to judge whether our tattoo shop near Carmel feels right before you spend a dollar.
You are welcome to bring your own artwork. The artist will redraw it into an original design, and we will not copy another artist’s custom tattoo. Want a feel for the work first? Scroll through the tattoo gallery before you visit.
Why Grade A
Why Carmel tattoo clients make the trip to Castleton
Grade A has been tattooing since 1999, starting with one shop on Clinton St in Fort Wayne. Today there are three studios, and the Fort Wayne shops have been voted Best Tattoo Shop in Fort Wayne in the Fort Wayne Newspapers Reader’s Choice Awards every year from 2014 to 2025. Castleton, which opened in 2023, brings that same approach to the Indianapolis area.
That history matters when you are weighing every tattoo shop near Carmel. A shop that stays open for decades has to keep earning repeat clients, and the habits that got us here (clean rooms, original art, and straight talk on price) apply at every studio. Our studios exceed health department requirements, and we are glad to walk you through the process before you commit to anything.
Ear Piercing
Carmel piercing appointments and realistic healing times
With two piercers on the team, piercing is a big share of what happens at this tattoo shop near Carmel. Ear work is especially popular, and we would rather you know the healing timeline before you choose a spot. These are the ranges from our own menu:
- Lobes: about 6–8 weeks.
- Helix and tragus: about 3–6 months.
- Conch and daith: about 6–9 months.
- Industrial: about 6–12 months.
Small Team
What a small studio means for your Carmel tattoo
Castleton runs with one tattoo artist and two piercers. For Carmel clients, that has a practical upside: you deal with the same few people from consult to final session. The trade-off is that tattoo time fills up, so if you have a larger custom piece in mind, reserving a slot on our booking page is smarter than hoping for an open chair.
Piercings are a different story. Most take about 30 minutes, starter jewelry is included, and walk-ins are welcome when a piercer is free. Look over the options on our ear piercing page so you know what you want when you sit down. A quick call to (317) 537-2549 tells you how long the wait is.
Every visit follows the same safety routine you would expect from any serious tattoo shop near Carmel: single-use needles, hospital-grade autoclave sterilization, and implant-grade jewelry.
Honest Answers
Laser removal, hours, and nearby towns
If you are looking for a tattoo shop near Carmel that also removes tattoos, we cannot offer that at Castleton. Laser removal happens only at our Clinton St studio in Fort Wayne, the flagship that has been open since 1999. The laser removal page explains sessions, spacing and the free consult.
Castleton is open Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 8 PM and Sunday from 12 to 6 PM. Carmel is on the west side of Hamilton County, and the same drive east serves Westfield and Zionsville too. Full directions and studio details are on our Indianapolis location page.
Why Grade A
Why choose Grade A Tattoos?
Fort Wayne’s most awarded tattoo shop, now in Indianapolis at Castleton Square.
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 Indianapolis.
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
From Carmel studio.
Grade A doesn’t have a shop in Carmel; our nearest studio is about 18 minutes away with free parking.
Grade A Tattoos — Castleton Square
6020 E 82nd St, Indianapolis, IN 46250
Inside Castleton Square Mall on E 82nd St near the I-69/I-465 interchange on the northeast side of Indianapolis.
Mon–Thu 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Fri–Sat 11:00 AM – 8:00 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 Hamilton County.
Clients drive in from all over central Indiana, including:
Questions
Frequently asked questions.
Does Grade A have a studio in Carmel, Indiana?
No. Our closest studio to Carmel is inside Castleton Square in northeast Indianapolis.
How long is the drive from Carmel to your tattoo shop?
About 18 minutes for most of Carmel, covering roughly 9 miles.
Which roads go from Carmel to Castleton Square?
Head east on 96th St, then 82nd St, to 6020 E 82nd St in Indianapolis.
Is a tattoo shop near Carmel open on Sundays?
Our Castleton studio is open Sunday from 12 to 6 PM, and Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 8 PM.
What does a tattoo cost for someone from Carmel?
Pricing depends on size, detail, placement and time. Your artist gives you a price at a free consultation, since we do not quote online.
Is the consultation really free?
Yes. Tattoo consultations are free, and you can ask about size, placement and price with no obligation.
What age do you have to be to get tattooed near Carmel?
You must be at least 18 and show a valid government photo ID. That is Indiana law.
Can my teenager from Carmel get an ear piercing?
Teens who are 16 or 17 can be pierced with a parent or legal guardian present who brings matching ID. Some placements carry extra restrictions.
How long does a helix piercing take to heal?
Helix and tragus piercings usually take about 3–6 months to heal.
How long does a conch or daith piercing take to heal?
Plan on roughly 6–9 months for conch and daith piercings.
Is solid gold jewelry available for Carmel piercing clients?
Yes. We carry 14k and 18k solid gold along with implant-grade titanium and surgical steel. Premium upgrades cost extra.
Do I need an appointment for a piercing near Carmel?
No. Piercing walk-ins are welcome when a piercer is free, and most piercings take about 30 minutes.
Should I book ahead for a big tattoo?
Yes. Castleton has one tattoo artist, so booking ahead is the best way to hold time for a larger custom piece.
Can I bring a drawing I made?
Absolutely. The artist will redraw it so the finished tattoo is an original design.
Does the tattoo shop near Carmel remove tattoos?
No. Laser tattoo removal is only available at our Clinton St studio in Fort Wayne.
Is there a fee to hold my appointment?
Some appointments require a non-refundable deposit that is applied to the final cost.
How do you sterilize equipment?
Needles and supplies are single-use, and anything reused goes through hospital-grade autoclave sterilization.
Where do I park when visiting from Carmel?
Castleton Square has free mall parking, and the studio is inside the mall.
How should I clean a new piercing?
Use sterile saline 2–3 times a day, and stop by any time for a complimentary jewelry check.
What should I bring to my Carmel-area tattoo appointment?
A valid photo ID, your reference images, and comfortable clothing. Eat beforehand and skip alcohol for 24 hours.
Keep exploring
Related pages.
Ready when you are.
Walk in today or book a free consultation. Call Castleton Square at (317) 537-2549.