Subscribe to our newsletters to get stories like this delivered directly to your inbox.

Best Places to Get Ear Piercings in NYC

1. Rowan – Upper East Side, Williamsburg and Boerum Hill, Brooklyn

Rowan is the perfect blend of clean, sanitary, and cool. All piercings at Rowan are performed by licensed nurses. Rowan offers needle piercings and piercings by a special hand-pressurized device that is fully controlled by the nurses. Rowan pierces babies over the age of 2 months. In select locations, Rowan can perform cartilage piercings on children 12 years and older; check your local location. For minors under 18, a parent or guardian is required to be present for the piercing. Rowan does not ask for the child’s ID, but a parent or guardian’s ID is required. A complimentary aftercare appointment ensures everything is healing as it should.

2. Mejuri – Flatiron, Soho, and Williamsburg, Brooklyn

This beautiful jewelry store specializes in the “stacked” look with multiple piercings. The minimum age is 13 and clients can get up to four piercings in a single appointment. When you arrive, the team helps you choose from its curated selection of 14k gold or titanium studs. An expert piercer guides you through the process, ensuring comfort every step of the way, while helping you create your dream stack with styling help. Parents and children need a valid ID—passport, birth certificate, or school ID is acceptable—and a waiver is required.

3. STUDS – Multiple Manhattan Locations

Kids ages 13+ can get pierced at STUDS, which offers "Earscape" services with custom piercings styled for each client's anatomy and personal preferences. Single-use, sterilized needles are the only option for piercing at STUDS, which offers flat-back piercing jewelry made with medical-grade materials. Appointments are recommended.

4. Maria Tash – Soho

I’ve taken my daughter to Maria Tash twice—once for a regular lobe piercing at 8 years old and once for a helix piercing at 14. Both experiences were excellent. The piercers made her feel comfortable and confident. All piercings are performed with single-use sterile needles, not piercing guns. The jewelry is very high-end. Like many other places on our, list you'll pay for the cost of the jewelry and the cost of piercing separately. This place is pricey but worth it, and your child will leave feeling awesome. Earlobe piercing can be done for kids as young as 5. Maria Tash offers a variety of body piercings in addition to ear piercings. Parent and child must have ID.

5. Wildlike – Soho

Wildlike is the perfect marriage between a luxury jewelry store and the edginess of tattoo and piercing culture. When you enter the intimate studios, you'll find a safe, sterile environment filled with thoughtful experts in piercing, jewelry, and styling. Children must be 5 or older for lobe piercings. Wildlike pierces cartilage on minors as young as 13 and nostrils/septums and navels of minors starting at 15. Minors ages 5-9 require a consultation appointment before getting pierced. Come prepared with your ID, an original birth certificate for your child, and a signed consent form.

6. American Girl Doll – Midtown

Do you have an American Girl Doll aficionado? Call in the grandparents for this treat! Schedule some side-by-side pampering. Doll-and-me services such as hair styling, manis, and even ear piercing are offered at the on-site salon. Yes, your child and their American Girl Doll can get their ears pierced together. This service is offered for guests ages 6+ and you can choose between titanium, 14k white, or yellow gold studs. For dolls, piercings are available for 18-inch and Wellie Wishers dolls.

7. Milk & Cookies Kid Spa – Kips Bay

Kids of both genders love Milk & Cookies Kids Spa. Indulge in dessert-inspired spa treatments that will have your hands, hair, skin, and feet feeling delicious. Milk & Cookies offers unisex spa and salon services and birthday parties tailored to both boys and girls. Even moms and dads can enjoy the sweet treat experience with their kids. In the “Hands on Lab,” kids can mix up their own bath goodies at the create-your-own station. In addition to the pampering, you can get FREE ear piercing with the purchase of earrings. The staff here are experts!

8. Ahimsa – Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn

Ahimsa is a beautiful, private studio in a retail space on Smith Street in Brooklyn. Ear lobe piercings are available to children ages 5+. Cartilage, nostril, septum, and navel piercings are available to clients ages 16+. All other piercings require you to be over the age of 18. Minors looking to be pierced at the studio must complete a release form with their parent or legal guardian and be accompanied by that person to their appointment. Ahimsa requires ID from both the parent and the child. The staff is warm and the experience is great. Afterward, hit The Chocolate Room on Court Street for a sweet treat!

9. The End is Near – Park Slope, Brooklyn

The End is Near is a warm, welcoming, studio that offers custom, professional piercing services. It carries beautiful, unique jewelry. Ear lobe piercings are available to children ages 5-13. The End is Near knows children need extra care and comfort in preparing for their appointment. It tries to provide a calm sense of well-being for children. It schedules a post-piercing checkup to ensure proper healing. ID is required from both parent and child.

10. Claire’s – Multiple Locations

This accessory chain is known for being the place where many of us got our ears pierced as kids. Its highly trained specialists provide a touch-free piercing experience utilizing single-use sterile cartridges and require no needles. These are sometimes referred to as “piercing guns.” Claire’s pierces infants through adults, but check your local location for services and potential restrictions. There are many options to choose from for your jewelry, from studs to cartoon characters. Claire’s is well-known for its FREE piercing services; you'll pay just for the jewelry. Nose piercing is available at some studios.

11. Pediatrician or Medical Ear Piercing – Multiple Locations

This may seem obvious, but check with your pediatrician. It might offer piercing services or be able to recommend a location for medical ear piercing.