35 Beach Tattoo Ideas

Life’s a beach, right? You might be considering a beach tattoo while you’re on vacation and we think summertime ink is the perfect way to remember a special trip forever! Yes, you should visit a beach tattoo parlor but you should probably wait until the final day(s) of your vacation to get your tattoo!

Tattoos need time to heal and being in direct sunlight underneath a bunch of chemical-filled sunscreens is not ideal! Further, that saltwater is going to sting! So, we urge you to get that beach tattoo but only after you’ve enjoyed your fun in the sun. Now, what are some beach tattoo ideas for you and your friends? We scoured social media to find the latest beach tattoos and trends to share with you. Put on your shades and get ready for a whole lot of shine!

Check Out These Beach Tattoo Ideas for the Best Summer Tattoos!

Sunset in Paradise

By far one of the most popular beach tattoo ideas depicts the setting sun in paradise. We find a dramatic example here with a vibrant orange and palm trees in silhouette.

Beach Buds

Do you take your pets with you on vacation? You’re the real deal if you do! Take a look at these two pups looking out on the water. You can keep a tender memory like this one with your forever.

Simplicity

If you don’t to spend a small fortune or a lot of time getting your beach tattoo, something small and understated like this could prove the perfect option for you!

A Picture Does Not Last Longer

Do you ever return to your beach holiday photographs just to remember all of the warm, good times you’ve had? A picture tattoo like this one (with or without the giant camera) is a handsome choice.

Cutesy

Take a look at this adorable kawaii baby turtle floating in the sea. Imagine your favorite sea creature and choose it for your beach tattoo. If it turns out this cute, you’re in business.

Ride the Wave

Another very, very popular beach tattoo involves a wave. As you can see with this example, it proves to be a design with tons of movement. You can add more color as this person has done by capturing the warm tones of the setting sun.

Eureka!

Did this person manage to pack every color of the rainbow into this stunning tattoo? We are not sure why they chose a lightbulb to be a part of it, but it’s a thrill nevertheless.

Adventurer

Are you a frequent beach guest? Do you live to travel? An adventurous tattoo like this one could be the best option for you. Take a look at all the detail here. What a dream!

Perfect Little Beach Banger

You don’t have reinvent the wheel! A simple, charming palm tree scene like this one with the setting sun is an absolute favorite for beach tattoos today. You’ll see more on this list, some with much more detail. You get to decide what’s best for you.

Where the Mountains Meet the Sea

See? We find more detail in this beach scene which should appeal to many folks. This tattoo makes us jealous of whoever got to see that view.

Try a Triangle

This fabulous tattoo is perfect if you want to remember a family vacation with the whole gang. It’s an example of a watercolor tattoo as the color has been liberally applied to resemble a painting. What a stunner!

Objects

There are some items that are primarily used at the beach that immediately read “vacation.” A beach chair is one such object. Think of other items like sun umbrellas, flip flops, goggles, etc. for a unique and original design.

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Another object to incorporate into your design is sunglasses. Take this brilliant example that reflects a glorious beach scene. Do it up!

Surfcore Tattoos

A popular beach tattoo for surf lovers are designs that express a surf ethos. “Always poor, never bored,” feels like an aspirational mantra for many, no doubt!

It’s All About the Fam.

This beach tattoo of a sea turtle is remarkably different from that cute one we shared with you before. This one is a stylized design that includes the names of children. How sweet is this, mamas?

Dreamy

We find a dreamy design in this very original design. Yes, you will find a beach-y sunset here but it’s part of a collage-like motif that includes botanical items and circular shapes.

Hang Loose

Here’s another “surfcore” tattoo that features a skeleton enjoying some rays on the beach. With the addition of some tropical flowers to help frame the design, you’ve got a winner on your hands (or thigh).

Summer’s Spell

We find a beach tattoo with a potion of paradise. If we could bottle up the feeling of the beach and save it for later, we absolutely would. Wouldn’t you?

RELATED: 30 Hot Summery Tattoos That Celebrate Fun in the Sun

Day & Night

Yin and yang tattoos used to be extremely popular and perhaps they are poised for a comeback. We find two contrasting beach scenes here that offer balance.

Your Best Bed

Disney tattoos are wildly popular today so it’s no surprise that people would incorporate their favorite characters into their beach tattoos. Disney World is in Florida, after all!

Not Too Grim

How fun and subversive is this grim reaper tattoo in a Hawaiian shirt? Perhaps he likes to spend his time off at the beach.

Hula

This evokes Sailor Jerry’s style of classic Americana tattoos. A very basic form of a Hula dances can be seen singing a song in paradise.

Metal!

A fiery sunset looks warm against the grey used for much of this design. We don’t know why there’s a skull floating in a drink but does it even matter?

One Day

If you are someone who wants to be at the beach more than any other place on earth, you might find yourself counting down the days until you can get your toes in the sand again. This beach tattoo is the perfect little memento!

Shells

We expected to see more seashell beach tattoos but we suppose they are not as popular as they once were. We’re still into them and find their natural beauty stunning and mysterious.

Triangles

Tattoos framed by triangles are extremely popular these days. In fact, they are probably one of the biggest tattoo trends of the past five years.

The Sea Is Calling

This is one of the most skillfully executed beach tattoos on this list. Extremely clean lines, bright colors, and a point of view, this tattoo has got it all.

Go Black

On the other side of the beach tattoo spectrum, we find this dramatic black palm tree. It looks so bold and makes a statement.

Simplicity Is Bliss

Here’s another black beach tattoo (with a triangle) that has been completed with just a few lines. If you don’t want a huge commitment, something similar would be a great option for you.

Brothers At the Beach

This very special and intimate tattoo shows two brothers at the beach. This is almost too tender. A very unique and meaningful design like this one will serve you so very well.

Treats

Frozen treats and other foods that are frequently enjoyed at the beach are another favorite option for beach tattoos. How wonderfully weird is this ice cream cone tattoo?

Go Big!

If the beach is your raison d’être, you can get a half sleeve tattoo like this one to show your love of the beach. We would like to highlight the color scheme here that relies on black, blue, and red. What a dream!

Sunshine In a Bottle

We came across another beach tattoo of a bottle and we think it’s also a really fun design. Who would not want to bottle up all that sunshine and warmth to save for later?

Whimsical

Mermaids, pirates, sirens, sea sprites, and sea nymphs all make for imaginative and whimsical beach tattoo designs. How lovely is this mermaid?

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Easy

If you find your time at the beach to be some of the most relaxing and easy-going, you can express that in a tattoo! This minimal, simple, and colorful design is a breath of fresh air. Just looking at it makes us feel more relaxed!

There you go! We hope you enjoyed these 35 beach tattoo ideas and will consider getting some sunshine ink on your body this summer. While you can’t literally take the beach back home with you, you can savor the memory of your time on sandy beaches with beach tattoos like these. Have an excellent summer and remember to reapply that sunscreen!