Forearm Tattoo Ideas for Men to Explore

The forearm is one of the most popular locations for tattoos on both men and women. This means that there are plenty of folks who are searching for forearm tattoo ideas for men. The most important thing to keep in mind when brainstorming tattoo ideas is to be true to yourself. Try to think of a design that best expresses your unique point of view. This way you will have a tattoo that’s totally original and all your own. By working with a tattoo artist, you can come up with the perfect ink for you.

We wanted to get a better idea of the types of forearm tattoos men are getting today so we took a look at social media to discover the latest and greatest forearm tattoo ideas for men. These designs range from small and understated to big and bold. There’s no right or wrong way to go about your tattoo so feel free to explore placement, sizing, and more as you settle on the best design for you. Let’s get inspired by some very cool tattoos!

Check Out These Awesome Forearm Tattoo Ideas for Men!

Explore

By far, one of the most popular forearm tattoo ideas for men involves a compass. Sometimes with a map as pictured above and other times not, forearm tattoos that attempt to capture a sense of adventure are exceedingly popular.

Be a King

We typically find more Disney tattoos on women than men but we did find this awesome example of a tattoo inspired by The Lion King. If you have a nostalgic tattoo in mind, go ahead and lean into it for a tattoo that is extra meaningful to you.

A Moment

Another popular subject among forearm tattoo ideas for men involves a skull or multiple skulls. Here, we find a skull in a tattoo that’s subject matter seems to be mortality and time.

A Bright Idea

We find a very fresh tattoo that’s styled like and old school one. The shapes in this lighthouse tattoo are simple yet there is no mistake that we find a seaside scene.

Grand Canyon Scene

Here’s an entire half sleeve tattoo that’s captured the deserts of the Grand Canyon. Black and grey is a classic color scheme that you will see a lot of among these forearm tattoo ideas for men.

Portrait Mode

Count portraits as popular among forearm tattoo ideas for men. In this one, we find a woman wearing a wolf’s head. It’s an interesting and evocative design.

Get Spacey

Turning to space for inspiration is always a smart idea. In this example, we find a whimsical UFO scene that’s accessible and fun.

Geometric

While researching forearm tattoo ideas for men, we encountered a ton of wildlife tattoos done in a geometric style that offers a sense of contemporary freshness. If you’re thinking of getting an animal tattoo, consider this style.

Yin & Yang

The person who shared the above image captioned it to explain that the concept of Yin & Yang inspired these contrasting forearm tattoos. It proves a smart concept that looks fantastic and completely original.

Neo-Traditional Style

Traditional tattooing will never go out of style as the designs present classic motifs and shapes that appear timeless and classic. In this fun design, we find grey was the chosen color and it looks very different, in color scheme, from other old-school tattoos.

Beasts

All manner of beast is up for grabs with your forearm tattoo ideas. We find a bear, a wolf, and a jaguar all looking rather menacing in this forearm tattoo. Why have one roaring animal head when you can have three?

Mood Dude

A constant theme we noticed while researching forearm tattoo ideas for men was that many of them are deadly serious in tone. Dudes are not taking their forearm tattoos lightly! In the above example, we find a smoldering skull and bones amid moody black and grey details.

Fine Lines

If you like the idea of fine line tattoos, you should feel free to lean into that idea. This person has created an entire sleeve of Star Wars spacecraft delivered in simple line drawings. The world’s your oyster!

Big Birds

Big portraits of wolves and bears are not the only subject matter you should consider for your forearm tattoo ideas. Big birds like owls are also a popular topic and this one has been worked into a truly dramatic scene.

Pop Culture References

If you love a book, movie, TV show, or video game, consider letting it inspire your tattoo ideas. In the above design, we find some imagery from Lord of the Rings that’s pretty unmistakable.

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Simple Shapes

You don’t have to reinvent the wheel when brainstorming forearm tattoo ideas for men. Stick to familiar shapes and you will discover that simplicity is bliss.

Bold Sentiments

Quotes and other sentiments are often found on forearm tattoos. In this design, we see a Latin phrase made famous by Julius Caeser. Other sayings are welcome on your forearm!

Detailed Weapons

A very detailed tattoo of a sword or dagger could prove a winning design. Pair it with florals like the above tattoo to help bring balance and beauty.

Nautical Themes

Nautical themes are huge among forearm tattoos for men. We find an octopus attacking a lantern in this energetic design. Turn to the sea for inspiration and you won’t live to regret it.

Legendary Figures

If you are inspired by a certain person from the past or present, consider getting a portrait tattoo that celebrates them. We find Marilyn Monroe looking fantastic in this example.

The Stranger the Better

With forearm tattoo ideas for men, the weirder the better. Designs that express a unique point of view and present it in a fantastic way are always going to produce the most memorable designs.

Look to the Heavens

The cosmos are endlessly inspiring. In this tattoo, we find a familiar forest scape that’s been improved by a cosmic scene. This tattoo handsomely marries heaven and earth.

Abstract Visions

Perhaps your forearm tattoo ideas for men are more about the form than anything else. Abstract tattoos are a celebration of the movement in art and they feel almost taboo among so many designs that attempt to recreate the likeness of a thing.

Celebrate Your Passions

Whatever you love the most, you can think of interesting ways of paying tribute to your passion. This music-lover found a way to share their love of music with a skull wearing headphones.

A Half Sleeve

Here’s a great example of a fully thought-out half sleeve tattoo. We find a purple chrysanthemum floating on top of a background of swirling, stormy winds. It’s beautiful and harkens back to traditional Japanese tattooing.

Traditional

Traditional and neo-traditional styles of tattooing will never go out of style. We find very familiar shapes and motifs in this skull, dagger, and snake tattoo. If you like classic tattooing, celebrate with a design like this one.

Commentary

For forearm tattoo ideas for men, you can come up with a cool concept that plays with words to get your point across. This “Remember/Forget” design is a great example of what can happen if you’re clever.

What Gets Your Motor Running?

Do you love cars? How about a sport? Whatever you love thinking about most will make for excellent subject matter for your tattoo.

Honor Family

In this example, we find some truly magical tattoos that have been adapted from old family photos. Find yourself a tattoo artist who is well-versed in photorealistic tattoos and you could end up with a work of art on your arm.

Mandala-Inspired

One of the most popular forearm tattoo ideas for men and women comes in the form of Mandala-inspired designs. Meditative and gorgeous, these sorts of designs will always serve you well.

Bright Ideas

We have seen a ton of large tattoos on this list, but you can go small and still make a big impression. This lighting bolt is rather handsome.

Take Advantage of the Space

On the other hand, you can take up a ton of real estate on your arm with a tattoo that takes advantage of the shape of the arm. Crocodile heads are welcome!

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Bands

We close out this list of forearm tattoo ideas for men with a band design. Tattoo bands used to be extremely popular and we think they’re currently making a comeback. This one has been inspired by Celtic knots and looks fantastic!

There you go! We hope you found some inspiration among these forearm tattoo ideas for men. There’s no right or wrong way to go about your forearm tattoo, just make sure that you’re expressing yourself in the best way possible. Working with an artist to help realize your vision is one of the most rewarding parts of getting a tattoo. Collaborate with a tattoo artist you trust and you will walk away with a tattoo that only you can boast about.