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Custom Tattoo Design Studios in Chicago, IL

54 of the 209 tattoo shops we list in Chicago have custom design work. Map search doesn't separate shops that only tattoo pre-made flash sheets from shops that build a one-of-a-kind piece around your idea — that distinction isn't a searchable field, it's buried in a portfolio you have to dig for. Every shop listed here has custom design work confirmed from its own website or portfolio, not guessed from star ratings.

Animal Farm Tattoo Walk-ins welcomeCustom design

2455 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647-4342

🕒 12-8pm daily

+17732672200 Website Directions

Archer Avenue Tattoo and Body Piercing PiercingCustom designAppointment only

4440 S Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60632-2846

🕒 12-8pm daily

+17738903903 Website Directions

Barak Studios: Custom Tattoos and Atelier Custom designAppointment only

751 N May St, Chicago, IL 60642-5854

+13129700114 Website Directions

Bella Rose Tattoo Custom designCover-ups

3811 N Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60618-3413

Website Directions

Black Atlas Studios PiercingCustom design

3527 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60609

(773) 940-1627 Website Directions

Brown Brothers Tattoo Walk-ins welcomeCustom design

912 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60622-4402

🕒 12-8pm daily

+17732529575 Website Directions

Cas x Ket Custom designCover-ups

167 N Racine Ave, Chicago, IL 60607-1600

Website Directions

Chicago Ink Tattoo & Body Piercing 2 Walk-ins welcomePiercingCustom designCover-ups

3318 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60641-4001

+17089672650 Website Directions

Chicago Ink Tattoo & Permanent Makeup Walk-ins welcomePiercingCustom designCover-ups

5415 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60641-2530

+17737779663 Website Directions

Chicago Inked Studios PiercingCustom designCover-ups

5360 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60651

(773) 417-4436 Website Directions

Chicago Realism Tattoos Custom designAppointment only

7040 W Higgins Ave, Chicago, IL 60656-1977

🕒 10-6pm Mon-Sat

+17739930338 Website Directions

Cleopatra Ink Tattoo & Piercing Chicago Studio Walk-ins welcomePiercingCustom designCover-upsAppointment only

2124 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647-4066

🕒 Mon, Wed-Sun 10am-8pm (closed Tue)

+13125055919 Website Directions

Code of Conduct Tattoo Walk-ins welcomeCustom design

14 E 11th St, Chicago, IL 60605-2303

🕒 Tue-Sat 1-8pm

+13129292073 Website Directions

Crybaby Tattoo Walk-ins welcomeCustom design

1326 W 18th St, Chicago, IL 60608-4270

🕒 Noon-8pm, Sun 12-6

+13123743464 Website Directions

Cyprus Chicago Custom designCover-upsAppointment only

2342 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60647-6599

+17738154438 Website Directions

Dark Heart Chicago PiercingCustom design

3380 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60641-4000

🕒 10-8pm varied

+17739303320 Website Directions

Etched In Skin LLC Custom designCover-ups

8356 S Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL 60652

🕒 1-8pm Tue-Fri, 11-7pm Sat

(773) 582-5650 Website Directions

Evergreen Studios Custom designAppointment only

167 N Racine Ave, Chicago, IL 60607-1600

🕒 Mon-Sun 12pm-8pm

+17732804481 Website Directions

Family Tattoo Walk-ins welcomeCustom design

2125 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60618-2168

🕒 12-8pm daily

+17732816392 Website Directions

Futureteller art Custom designAppointment only

2352 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647-2951

+17737998640 Website Directions

Goodkind Tattoo Walk-ins welcomeCustom design

3056 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago, IL 60618-8319

🕒 12-8pm daily

+17738570609 Website Directions

Hammerhead Tattoo Walk-ins welcomeCustom design

1326 W 18th St, Chicago, IL 60608-4270

🕒 Tue-Sat 1-8pm

+17086826179 Website Directions

Hammerhead Tattoo Walk-ins welcomeCustom design

2521 S Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60608-5911

🕒 Tue-Sat 1-8pm

+13123748187 Website Directions

I Heart Ink PiercingCustom designCover-upsCard accepted

2351 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60647-6817

🕒 12-10pm Mon-Sat

+17732175696 Website Directions

Ink Different Tattoos Custom design

2351 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60647-6817

+19172272842 Website Directions

Ink Therapy Lodge PiercingCustom design

1921 N Harlem Ave, Chicago, IL 60707-3737

+17739011337 Website Directions

Inkdom Tattoo Custom design

805 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607-2326

+13126249959 Website Directions

Inkhart Tattoo Body and Piercing PiercingCustom design

9046 S Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60620-5026

+17732539443 Website Directions

International Tattoo Supply Custom designCard accepted

3024 N Cicero Ave, Chicago, IL 60641-5106

+17736856050 Website Directions

James Wisdom Tattoo Walk-ins welcomeCustom designCover-ups

4211 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60641-0037

+12196668352 Website Directions

Keepsakes Tattoo Studio LLC Custom designCard accepted

3142 E 133rd St, Chicago, IL 60633-1441

+18152162837 Website Directions

Kunce Tattoo Custom designCard accepted

1860 S Blue Island Ave, Chicago, IL 60608-6148

+13122964407 Website Directions

LMNOP Lettering Tattoos Walk-ins welcomeCustom designCard accepted

943 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607-2220

+13122482246 Website Directions

Legacy Tattoo Chicago Custom designAppointment only

2828 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60618-7401

🕒 Tue-Sat 1pm-9pm, Sun 12pm-6pm

+17736979793 Website Directions

Logan Square Tattoo Walk-ins welcomeCustom designCover-upsCard accepted

2352 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647-2951

🕒 Sun 12pm-7pm, Mon 12pm-7pm, Tue 12pm-7pm, Wed 12pm-7pm, Thu 12pm-7pm, Fri 12pm-12am, Sat 12pm-12am

+17738306424 Website Directions

MarioInk Walk-ins welcomeCustom design

1441 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60622-2258

+18478772635 Website Directions

Metamorph Tattoo Studios Walk-ins welcomePiercingCustom design

1456 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622-9225

+17736909566 Website Directions

Mind Crusher Tattoo Custom design

6705 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60626-3210

+15624848165 Website Directions

Native Soul Tattoo Custom design

1712 S Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60608-2015

+13122656150 Website Directions

Pintura Studios Walk-ins welcomePiercingCustom design

5633 W 63rd St, Chicago, IL 60638-5513

+12242484094 Directions

Revolution Tattoo Walk-ins welcomeCustom design

2221 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60647-3122

🕒 486-8888 12-8PM

+17734868888 Website Directions

Ritual Aesthetics Walk-ins welcomeCustom design

1724 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60647-5324

Website Directions

Second to None Tattoo Custom design

1133 S Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60612-0109

+13128466573 Website Directions

Shred's Inferno Custom Tattoos Custom designCard accepted

4304 W 63rd St, Chicago, IL 60629-5012

+17735852653 Website Directions

Speakeasy Custom Tattoo Custom design

1935 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60622-1316

+17736451703 Website Directions

Studs PiercingCustom designCard accepted

1165 N State St, Chicago, IL 60610-2722

+17736943738 Website Directions

Tattoo Avenue Walk-ins welcomeCustom designCard accepted

5122 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60625-2502

🕒 Tue-Sat 12pm-7pm

+17739427414 Website Directions

Tattoo Factory Walk-ins welcomePiercingCustom design

4441 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60640-5659

🕒 Open from 10:00AM

+17739894077 Website Directions

Tattoo Union PiercingCustom designCard accepted

2238 S Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60616-1912

+13128106598 Website Directions

Tattoos By Dawn Grace Custom designCover-ups

4113 N Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60618

(312) 273-2289 Website Directions

Tatu Tattoo Walk-ins welcomePiercingCustom design

1754 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60622-2147

+17737728288 Website Directions

The Pain is Free Tattoo Custom design

3225 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60618-1203

🕒 12pm-11pm, 7 days a week

+17739938109 Website Directions

West Loop Tattoo Collective Custom designAppointment only

1023 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607-2913

+13122488905 Website Directions

Bring reference images, not just a description. Real custom work usually goes through at least one revision round before the appointment, and most shops charge a separate design fee or deposit that's applied to the final tattoo cost — expect that upfront, not as a surprise at checkout.

Also in Chicago

More in Chicago and Illinois

Custom Tattoo Design Studios near Chicago

Good to know

How much does a custom tattoo design cost?
Many shops charge a flat design fee (often $50-150) or a deposit that's later credited toward the tattoo price, on top of the hourly or per-piece rate for the tattoo itself. Large custom pieces like sleeves or back pieces are usually billed hourly rather than as one flat price.

How long does it take to get a custom tattoo designed?
Simple custom pieces can be sketched and approved within a few days to a week, but in-demand artists who focus on original work are sometimes booked weeks out just for the design consultation. Ask about current wait times when you book, since it varies a lot from shop to shop.