30 Easy Tattoo Ideas and Designs to Try

Many people want unfussy, easy tattoos that are neither too big nor overly complicated. They strike a goldilocks-like balance between style and form. Easy tattoo ideas can come from a variety of places. You can turn to nature, to wildlife, to architecture, or go completely abstract. No matter where inspiration flows from, there is a concise and straightforward way to express yourself and get your point across. Just work with a tattoo artist with a point of view to help you realize your measured design.

To give you some ink inspiration, we’ve rounded up over two dozen easy tattoo designs to help you get a better idea of the possibilities and the limitations of these types of tattoos. We’ll also share with you a couple of different tattoo methods for easy tattoos so you have a better understanding of how you should get your tattoo. Now, let’s talk effortless design!

Get Inspired By These Easy Tattoo Ideas That Get Right to the Point.

Some Love

Let’s kick off the list with a little bit of love. Two very minimal hands hover over a floating heart. It’s a great easy tattoo idea that can be adapted for your needs. YOu could easily replace the heart with another object that holds meaning for you.

Zesty

Who does not love citrus? A cute lemon, lime, or orange could be the solution for your easy tattoo idea search. Go with black for something unobtrusive but go with another color for a more lively design.

Mountain and Sun

A few lines and a golden circle are all it takes to create this understated mountain scene. If you know you want a design that features a landscape, try to find the easiest route to get there. Your artist should be able to realize something special for you.

Bun, Hun

How cute is this bunny’s fluffy tail? We are all about it! Pick an animal, any animal will do for your easy tattoo. This might be the first animal but it won’t be the last on the list!

Wine Time

Where are the wine-lovers at? If you love to indulge in a glass of that dead grape juice, you should most definitely get an easy tattoo that celebrates it. A glass or a wine glass will do but both look charming together here.

Stick-And-Poke Heart

Wear your heart on your sleeve with a simple heart tattoo like this one. Many of the easy tattoos on this list were applied using the stick-and-poke method. It’s done without a tattoo gun, with a single needle for extra-fine lines, and is great for any simple design. Consider that option in addition to more popular tattooing styles.

Micro Stars

Micro tattoos are super small tattoos and they are extremely popular today. For small simple designs like these stars, you can expect very little commitment as far as time and money go.

Daisy

Floral designs are extremely popular among tattoos, as they should be. This straightforward, easy tattoo gets the point across without much fanfare.

Take Flight

How gorgeous are these little butterfly tattoos? Get fluttery and sweet with something equally as sophisticated and simple.

Beautiful Botanicals

Making a bold statement is not that hard to do with an easy tattoo. In fact, “less is more” really is a good adage when it comes to tattoos.

Snap

Here’s another hand-poked design that’s just a broken bone. Thanks to the movement lines we find some action here.

Swirling

A collection of dots are all it takes to create an evocative yet easy tattoo. This swirling look really is exciting without a whole lot of elements piecing it together.

Triangles

Pick a shape. Any shape! For easy tattoo ideas, consider a basic shape. The boldness of your choice will really pay off. We’ve got more like this in store for you.

Single-Line Faces

Single-line tattoos are a huge trend today. It’s easy to see why. They are elegant and romantic and can tell a story with just one line of ink.

Tulip Time

Here’s another adorable flower. This time, we find it with a more abstract look, appealing to the senses in a similar way that the single-line tattoo did.

Little Paws

Do you want to celebrate your little fur baby? Consider easy tattoos like paws or a nose and whiskers.

Kitty Universe

Pet tattoos are just so special. They pay tribute to the ones we love and treat as a member of the family.

Easy Tattoo Lizard

We’re not the biggest fans of creepy crawlies but we did like the boldness of this lizard tattoo which is composed of just a simple outline. Think of other critters that would work well with this treatment for your easy tattoo.

Slice of Life

Do you have a zest for life? Consider getting a fruity tattoo that embraces your love of fruit and nature.

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Skull

We did not stumble across a ton of easy tattoos of skulls but it’s possible. We find one here that’s composed of just a few shapes.

Furry Friend

We can’t get enough of the pet tattoos, so here’s another. How cute is this minimalist dog?

Swimming

Here’s a tattoo that comes off rather bluntly. It’s just a fish. Nothing more, nothing less.

Family Portrait

Believe it or not, you can consider portraits for easy tattoos. You will just need to find the right artist who can help you realize it in a unique way as this artist has done.

Thorny

A simple thorn works well as “filler” for a tattoo sleeve or on its own. Bold, black lines are all it takes to bring a design like this to life.

Bold

We’re back to some basic shapes again. Like the triangles before, these circles really make a statement without saying anything at all.

Take Flight

Do you love seeing birds in flight? A little scene like this one might be the perfect option for you. It covers a lot of area without covering much at all.

Humble Houseplant

Who loves their snake plants? This person, clearly. Dedicate some space for your most beloved houseplant and you’ll wake away with a tattoo you cherish forever.

Electric

Hand tattoos are sometimes called “jobstoppers” in tattoo parlance. We think that times have changed enough so that it’s no longer the case but this cute little lightning bolt couldn’t possibly make anyone mad.

The Vase

One of our favorite easy tattoo ideas on this list comes in the form of an elegant vase that reads so personal and artful. We have not seen a ton of color on this list but it can be used and made to look minimal.

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Happy Flower

We leave you with a goofy smiley face flower that hopefully spreads some joy. This easy tattoo is helped by the smiley and any sort of instantly recognizable symbol like it will serve you well.

There you go! Aren’t these easy tattoos simply amazing? We hope you found these easy tattoo ideas to be worth your while and that you’re walking away with some great ideas to take to your local tattoo artist. Less is more and you can prove it with your special tattoo! If you are looking for even more ink inspiration, just keep reading as we have a list of minimalist tattoos to share with you!

Check Out These Mesmerizing Minimalist Tattoo Ideas!

A Cup of Tea

Let’s kick things off with a minimalist tattoo of a cup of tea. No shading, no shadow, no fuss. Simple lines like these keep things crisp and minimal.

Rain or Shine

Less is more with these two minimalist tattoos on the backs of the legs. No colorful ink, just basic shapes are used to create the visual representations of a rainbow and a cloud.

When In Rome

Architectural elements are always welcome in tattoo form. We find a minimalist tattoo of a column with a simple green vine. This looks fresh, right?

Fatherhood

Just a simple line drawing of a father and his child makes for a remarkably emotional minimalist tattoo design. A tattoo artist with a vision can make something feel alive with very little ink.

Dance It Off

We don’t know why this dancer is sliced in half and we don’t care! Simple black lines add movement to this minimalist tattoo design.

The Eye

In one of our favorite minimalist tattoos on the list, we find an eye with a flower tear. This reminds us of pop art or comic book illustration.

Flamingo’s World

This person clearly has a thing for pink flamingos and, honestly, who could blame them? Done with razor-thin lines, this tattoo really pops thanks to the hot pink ink used for the bird.

The Lovers

It’s amazing how we can get an impression of subject matter from just a few simple lines. We find lovers locked in an embrace in this minimalist tattoo that’s light as air.

She Carried the World

Do you ever feel like the weight of the world rests on your back? This minimalist tattoo is just for you!

Tiny Whale

How cute is that little curl that the tattoo artist has fashioned for the whale’s tail? This micro minimalist tattoo packs a big punch in a very small package.

Rainbow

We don’t have many minimalist tattoo designs that feature color on this list which makes this rainbow bar even more striking. Just blocks of color right down the spine certainly dazzle.

Two-Faced

These line-drawing tattoos are a huge trend at the moment. They look elegant and haunting. We love how a single line connects these two faces, adding symbolism and romance.

Swirl

If you’re a hardcore minimalist tattoo fan, this one should appeal to you as it’s a simple swirl. It’s not necessarily meant to be a specific thing and instead is purely visual.

Mod

We struggled with whether to add this particular tattoo to this list as there is more detail here than many of the other minimalist tattoos on this list. However, we found it so refreshing and cool that we had to share it with you. We find three flowers each done in a different style. Which one is your favorite?

Baby Butterfly

Here’s another one of the single-line minimalist tattoos. This very small butterfly is so adorable and understated.

Tortuga

Wildlife and nature are endlessly inspiring and full of unparalleled beauty. We find this exemplified in this very minimalist tattoo of a sea turtle. How charming is this?

The Angles

Two angles and two dots are all the tattoo artist needed to do to create this design and make a statement. We think these finger tattoos would look incredible on any hand.

Head in the Clouds

For a dreamer, we could think of no better minimalist tattoo. A simple face shape in clouds conveys the “head in the clouds” message splendidly.

Black & White

White ink tattoos are a big trend at the moment with more people embracing the uniqueness of these designs. Two basic botanical designs in black and white absolutely shine.

Simple Lines

If you’re really living that minimalist lifestyle, some circles and lines are all you’re going to need. We like this placement in the middle back. What do you think?

The Sun

For this minimalist tattoo, we find a clustering of dots and dashes that manage to look like the rays of the shining sun. Something similar would be a bright idea!

Sprout

Share your love for plants with a leafy minimalist tattoo like this one. Simple flowers would also be a fabulous idea.

Play On

Cool minimalist tattoo designs that feature instruments are few and far in between. Celebrate your love of music and passion for guitar with a similar design.

A Spin

One line is all it took for this tattoo artist to create a tattoo that evokes the shape of a bicycle. We are certain many other objects could be fashioned into a minimalist tattoo in this way.

Gradient

A very thin line with a color gradient does not seem like it should be as appealing as it is. This is one of the most creative and minimal of minimalist tattoos on this list.

Clean

This very, very crisp tattoo seems like it’s related to mathematics. We’re not entirely sure what this symbolizes but we don’t entirely care. It looks fantastic.

Bold

We’ve shown you many minimalist tattoos that are formed from thin lines. This is the antithesis of those tattoos but it still feels minimal. Something bold like this will definitely make an impact.

Slayed

Many flash tattoos and classic tattoo designs are very minimal in nature. We find three swords shoved through a heart in this clean tattoo.

The Dots

You can have color and still maintain a minimalist look. These sequential dots down the neck look smart and offer a touch of color.

The Kiss

You can’t get more minimalist than three lines. Okay, you can but this is one very basic tattoo that still manages to inform viewers that they are seeing a kiss. It’s both sweet and a touch mysterious.

Keep Scrolling for Even More Minimalist Tattoo Ideas!

Pups

These three, very cute, dogs look great in very fine black lines. There’s nothing out of place or over the top here, just clean and simple designs.

Aries

We are big fans of astrology tattoos and this symbol for Aries is a great one. There’s no need to recreate the wheel with your design. Tried and tested is always a smart move.

One Line, Two Faces

This romantic design relies on the shape a single line makes to create two faces. This feels light, airy, and romantic. We very much love this.

Circled

The circle is an endless figure that represents continuity and foreverness. We love this design that uses overlapping circles to compose a unique and visually interesting design.

Don’t Let Go

This gorgeous friendship tattoo features two expertly tattooed hands with two fingers intertwined. Again, very fine, purposeful lines are used to convey the concept with little fanfare. A very elegant choice.

Cute Cat

Two very basic lines are all the ink it takes to bring the idea of a cat to life. This is instantly recognizable without being in your face.

Torso

This is a machine-free tattoo done in the stick and poke style. Tattoos that are done by hand present their own obstacles, but they lend themselves well to minimalist design.

Sail Away

This super-fresh tattoo design of a sailboat is a breath of fresh air or a warm breeze, even. Using the silhouette of a figure is a great way to eliminate unnecessarily busy designs.

Peace

Here’s a hand with even fewer details than the last example we looked at. If you’re after a simple aesthetic as cool as your own personal style, consider getting a tattoo that isn’t louder than you want it to be.

Garden

These adorable potted plants are a dream. There are just enough details to help you understand the visual you are seeing. How cute!

A Touch of Color

Here, we find one of the only tattoos on the list that incorporates colorful inks into the design. The person clearly wanted the tattoo to convey warmth and you get that from the warm, orange, sun shape.

A Doll

Kewpie doll tattoos are a genre of tattoo on their own. These very basic designs feature cute little baby motifs like this one, which is one of the most popular and basic. Another adorable design here.

RBG

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg or “RBG,” as she’s known, has a large collection of decorative collars that she wears as part of her judicial robe outfit. Here, we’re treated to one such illustration of a collar with the judge’s initials.

Form

This design is open for interpretation, but we see a human form obscured by a small branch. It’s completely wonderful in its mystery.

Don’t Cry

This cry baby design is bold. However, there’s very little to it. We love the way the bottom part of the image has waves to match the hair above it.

Bun

This adorable little bunny is a cutie to look at. We love the simple design. It’s proof that you don’t have to get a photorealistic tattoo of a rabbit to express your admiration for them.

Bird

The wading ibis is an unusual choice. As far as subject matter goes, we’re not seeing tons of ibises tattooed these days. Like the rabbit, this minimalist design gives you everything you need.

A Mood

Here, we find a more conceptual design that incorporates elements of architecture. It’s okay for a design to be both abstract and minimal. We love this one!

Monstera

This very fine line Monstera deliciosa leaf in a bottle is a dazzler. The ankle is a perfect spot for a tattoo and this is the perfect design for it. Bravo!

Daffodil

A delicate daffodil is a gorgeous flower that signals the end of winter and the beginning of Spring. It’s one of the reasons we absolutely love this tattoo. The flower symbolizes nature’s symmetry.

A Treat

Again, we have a soft spot for pet tattoos and this black cat design is a dream. We imagine that’s a jug of milk next to the furry friend.

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Floating

This very fluid figure of a woman seems to float like a cloud. We love this weightless design.

Leaf

We find another pop of color for this tattoo and in the sun. The simple leaves of the palm are transparent which allows for the circle design to shine through. A very thoughtful and handsome design.

The Pale Man?

This may or may not be a reference to the Pale Man from Pan’s Labyrinth. The artist who shared it makes no reference to the film, but it’s what the tattoo immediately made us think of. Either way, this chill, cheery design works well.

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Figs

Each one of these two shapes is composed of a single black line. The centers of the figs are stippled for shading and the pink color allows viewers to understand what they’re seeing a representation of. These are some fun fruits!

There you go! Dozens of minimalist tattoo designs that prove that you can do a lot with just a little ink. We hope you enjoyed these tats and feel inspired to create your own. Minimalist tattoo ideas can come from everyday objects to less concrete concepts. What’s most important is that you conceive of the perfect design for you that gets across your point of view!