33 Bold Chest Tattoos for Men

For men, the chest is like a big, blank canvas just waiting for ink. Chest tattoos for men are extremely popular because they accentuate the shape of the area and look sexy and cool. For this reason, tattoos on the chest are some of the most popular among men today. If you’ve already gotten your arms tattooed, the chest is the next logical step but we must warn you that the sternum and collar bone areas are pretty darn painful to get tattooed.

If you’re not scared of a little pain, then you must be determined to get that ink. We wanted to get a better understanding of the chest tattoos for men that are popular today so we turned to social media to find the latest designs and trends. We have curated a list of tattoos that show off the possibilities as well as the limits when it comes to chest tattoos. We discovered some truly remarkable tattoo designs that we feel will inspire your very own tattoo. Check them out!

Get Inspired by These Thrilling Chest Tattoos for Men!

Roar!

Big cats are extremely popular subject matter for chest tattoos for men. If you want to go big and bold, a lion tattoo will suit you well. In this example, we find the cat is ready to attack.

The Stag

We find life and death in this massive chest tattoo in the form of florals and a stag’s head. Any sort of design that radiates from the sternum is extremely popular. That’s why you will see plenty of creatures with wings on this list.

The Phoenix

Red and black inks look terrific when paired together. In one of the most dramatic chest tattoos for men on this list, we find the colors employed to create a phoenix. It’s a beautiful symbol of resilience.

Total Eclipse

For lovers of the cosmos, we came across a number of chest tattoos for men inspired by the heavens. In this one, we find a cloudy sky with a big lunar eclipse happening in the center.

Patterned

Mandala-inspired tattoos are a huge trend at the moment and we found many chest tattoos for men that feature familiar patterns. In this instance, we find the geometric designs forming a “V” shape down the chest. The shape accentuates the natural shape of the body which is a winning scheme.

A Hoot

We told you to expect a few winged creatures on this list and, as promised, here’s an owl with its wings spread, ready to attack. As we just mentioned, this sort of shape mimics the shape of the chest and torso to really make the most of the real estate.

Hannya-Inspired

Hannya masks are used in Japanese Noh theater to represent a female demon. We find a play on that theme in this tattoo that is heavily inspired by Japanese art and irezumi.

Heaven

Big chest tattoos for men can feature an entire scene and that’s what we find in this tattoo that imagines a heavenly encounter. The person who shared the image remarked that it was a “religious” tattoo. We certainly get that impression!

The Ram

All manner of skull is welcome for chest tattoos for men. Here’s a ram with lily flowers. Notice how the artist has applied many small lines and dots to mimic stippling. It offers tons of texture in tattoos.

Hound of Hades

In Greek mythology, Cerberus often referred to as “the hound of Hades,” is a three-headed dog that guards the gates of the Underworld so that the souls of the dead can’t escape. We find a stylish interpretation of Cerberus in this dramatic chest tattoo.

Butterfly

If you prefer something softer, you can still make it bold. Chest tattoos for men that feature black ink are the most popular and it’s because of the definition it offers. This butterfly tattoo looks fantastic in black.

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Cherubs

Small chest tattoos are also very popular and we’ve shown you many big ones on this list. Feast your eyes on these cute little angels that look as if they’re floating in the air.

Woof!

Here’s an intimidating wolf that looks rather menacing. For bold chest tattoos, consider some fierce subject matter.

Tengu Masks

Like Hannya, Tengu masks are used for Noh stage plays and certain Shinto festivals. They are considered demi-gods who protect the mountains. We love this super stylish take that features think lines of ink.

A Whole Mood

There’s a lot to unpack here as this is one of the most intricate chest tattoos for men on this list. We find imagery inspired by statuary from Antiquity as well as more contemporary motifs. Work with a tattoo artist who can share your vision and you could walk away with something equally as breathtaking.

Also Moody

Judging from some of the comments on this tattoo, it appears that it was inspired by the video game Bloodborne. Wherever the inspiration was drawn, this is one of the best chest tattoos for men on this list. It is full of energy and movement with some stunning visuals.

Abstract

Small chest tattoos for men are still great! We find this interesting triangle meeting a circular block of orange ink. The contrast is perfect and this is visually very interesting.

Sad Eyes

Crying eyes, a snake, and a heart are three chest tattoos for men that have landed on this body. The eyes are rather haunting and you would be wise to try something similar.

That Feeling

“Numb,” this chest tattoo reads. Who has ever been there? Tattoos are all about self-expression and you should feel emboldened to get write to the point as this person has done.

“Greek Graffiti”

The artist who shared this image also provided the concept: “Greek Graffiti.” We find a tattoo that looks like a Greek bust that’s been improved by elements that look like they’ve been spraypainted on. It’s a cool old-meets-new concept that really delivers.

Big Bud

Florals are not as popular as you might expect with chest tattoos for men. However, we did find one winning example in this giant rose tattoo. It’s utterly beautiful.

Architectural

We find a shape that references rose window panes in a cathedral here with a face that’s peering out from the black void. This is one truly inspired design.

Birdies

Nature provides endless inspiration in these chest tattoos for men. We find some ink that’s smaller in scale this time that features two exquisitely tattooed birds.

Bat Boy

You too can have a giant bat chest tattoo if your heart so desires. It appears that this is a cover-up tattoo. Just focus on the bat’s right wing. It’s a great effort and a rather bone-chilling design.

Seeing Stars

Big and bold does not necessarily mean the whole chest. These two stars created with super thick lines truly stand out.

Skeletal

We find a chest tattoo that is expressing decay in this design as it looks like we’ve peeled back the skin to discover a rotting corpse underneath. This is one of the wildest chest tattoos for men on this list.

So Many Eyes

Moth tattoos are very popular for the chest and we find one that’s captured some whimsy in the form of eyes in the creature’s wings. This creepy design has been applied with very crisp and neat lines. Bravo!

Red & Black

We’ve said it before and we’ll repeat it, black and red inks look phenomenal together. We found two skeletons dancing in a botanical motif with their arms outstretched to grab a bottle of poison. Offbeat and harkening to etching, this is one of our favorite chest tattoos for men on this list.

Ouija Blastover

In tattoo parlance, a “blastover” is simply a tattoo that covers another but allows the original ink to remain visible. The ouija board imagery has been applied on top of an older heart tattoo and it looks pretty great.

Peekaboo!

If any of the chest tattoos for men on this list are likely to conjure nightmares, it’s probably this one. We find a skull seemingly escaping from this man’s torso. Okay!

Prayed For

For those of faith, chest tattoos offer you an opportunity to express it. These handsome praying hands are understated and very fresh-looking.

Hot & Cold

We find another chest tattoo that utilizes hands to tell its story with these warm and cold hands meeting each other. The artist captioned the image “the touch of love.” It’s definitely an homage to Michelangelo’s “The Creation of Adam.”

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Set Sail

This is an old-school, traditional-style design that you could probably find on a body 100 years ago. Each part of this design is referencing older tattoos with familiar elements like swallows and a rose. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel to get a marvelous chest tattoo.

There you go! We hope you feel inspired by these stunning chest tattoos for men. As you’ve seen there’s no right or wrong way to go about your chest tattoo; just be sure you’re being true to yourself and that your piece expresses your unique point of view. Now, go get some ink!