25 Monumental Mountain Tattoo Ideas

Mountain tattoos are extremely popular today because people cherish nature’s splendor. These designs come in various shapes and sizes, ranging from dainty to extra large. Further, there are so many styles to consider for your mountain tattoo, which can complicate things as you are trying to land on the right fit for you. Have no fear! We’re here to help!

We have rounded up dozens of mountain tattoos that run the gamut from minimalist to maximalist and everything in between. This means you will find plenty of options that should appeal to you. You can borrow an idea from a single design or combine multiple ones for something truly singular and all your own. Discover the best type of mountain tattoo for you below.

Simple Yet Elegant

Clean, bold, black lines for the win! This modest mountain tattoo is made ultra stylish thanks to the adherence to black ink that fills the round sun shape that contrasts next to those jagged peaks.

Framed

A great rule of thumb for any tattoo is to come up with some form of border for it. It helps define the design and offers way more visual interest. For mountain tattoos, diamonds and triangles are popular for obvious reasons, but a circle is also nice.

Peaks in a Circle

The artist who completed this design struck the perfect balance by offering blank space above with the intricate details of the mountain below. You could absolutely do something similar to achieve this clean look.

For the Lovers of Travel

We’ve got the mountains and the beach in these remarkable tattoos. They have this mesmerizing, cartoonish quality to them that we love. For your mountain tattoo, thinking outside the box often results in stellar designs.

Floating Like Magic

Wow! This mountain tattoo imagines the giant floating in the air with a river turning into a waterfall. It’s giving fantasy vibes echoed in the three objects hanging over the mountain. Is this a planet with more than one moon?

Minimalism

In general, there are two modes to explore for your mountain tattoo. Do you want it to appear more realistic and graphic, or is something understated the way to go? You get to decide. As you can see, both have their virtues.

Seeing Stars

Feast your eyes on the extra-crispy lines that form the mountains and three stars above them. Restraint is an excellent quality for any artist to have, and this mountain tattoo is the perfect example of taking things just far enough.

Tell Your Story Your Way

We find another minimalist take with this mountain design with basic flower shapes in the foreground. With minimal black ink used, this tattoo manages to beautifully tell its story.

Traditional Landscapes

More traditional landscapes like those found in photography and painting are popular among mountain tattoos today. We find a delightfully detailed example above with a lake in the foreground reflecting the imagery.

Don’t Forget Those Dainty Details

If you love the mountains, chances are that you are also a wildlife fan. Don’t forget to include your favorite animals along with your mountains to help warm the scene up.

Approaching Realism

Similar to the landscape example we shared with you, this mountain tattoo has got an excellent perspective that takes the eye on a journey down the river and into the peaks of those mountains. Bravo!

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Chasing Waterfalls

We’re back to a flatter-looking mountain tattoo here with this one that looks like a slice has been cut through the landscape. Fine lines have been employed to give a rocky texture.

Explosive

There’s a lot to unpack in this mountain tattoo that utilizes geometric motifs that radiate from the central mountain. Random shapes, characters, and forms from nature encircle the main peak. It’s sensational.

Style Is Everything

Find yourself a tattoo artist with a point of view, and you can walk away with a work that’s unlike any before. The objects have been boiled down to recognizable shapes but are filled with interesting textures and shading techniques. What a wonder!

Mixing and Matching

If you’re stuck trying to decide between two kinds of tattoos, you can find a compromise and get them both, as this person has done. They wanted both a flower and mountain tattoo; we think it’s a winning combo.

Go Big or Go Home

Consider placement on the chest or back for some real coverage for larger mountain tattoos. Diamond shapes echo the shapes of the mountains and anchor the piece to the center of the back. This one is all about symmetry and balance but embracing chaos is also fun.

Realness In Black and Grey

Another option for large mountain tattoos is to do a half or full sleeve. This one has the most thrilling natural scene tattooed with immaculate detail.

A Celebration of Nature

If you’re after drama, something similar could be perfect for your mountain tattoo. We have a celestial body, an eagle, and a mountain scene each inside of handsome circle frames. Pick our favorite animals to go along with your mountain tattoo and you won’t live to regret it.

Looking Fresh

Due to the placement of this mountain tattoo, it’s tough to get the full picture, but we hope you get the idea. A mountain and a bear are tattooed similarly, with bold and fine lines forming sharp shapes. Meanwhile, a colorful botanical element in the foreground contrasts remarkably well.

Breathtaking

It’s astonishing how much detail some artists can squeeze into a small piece of real estate. We found a photo or hyperrealistic design that truly captivates. There’s just so much to see in this mountain tattoo, from the gentle fade of the night sky to the tiny fire burning in the foreground. A masterpiece!

Painted by the Clouds

We go in the other direction for this mountain tattoo that’s basically abstract. It looks like clouds or smoke, or even watercolor, has been used to create the gentle slopes. This should be rather familiar to you if you’ve ever seen the mountains dressed in fog.

Fabulously Fractured

The sharp, clean lines of the overlapping rectangles contrast exquisitely with the organic shapes they contain. What a fabulous work of art that’s been created for this mountain tattoo.

Traditional But Not a Bit Boring

Bold, thick lines, simple shapes, and vibrant colors are all hallmarks of American traditional tattooing. If you’d like to celebrate the history of the art of tattoos, something that harkens back to older styles could be a great fit for your mountain tattoo design.

The Sky’s the Limit

A warm mountain top contrasts with the cool blue background; both are held inside a circle. The abstract lines forming parallel waves through the sky make this mountain tattoo really pop. It’s mysterious and perfectly beautiful.

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Expressive Color

At times, the simplest applications are the best. Wavy blocks of color seemingly stacked one in front of the other form an electric mountain range. A bit impressionistic and totally creative, this is one of our favorite mountain tattoos on this list.

What did you think of these mountain tattoo ideas? We hope you found plenty to consider. For even more inspiration, we’ve got our favorite sun and moon tattoos to share with you, which are very bright!

Get Inspired by These Sun and Moon Tattoos!

Make It Fine

If you’re in the market for a modest tattoo, consider working with an artist who excels at fine lines. The stick and poke method (by hand and without a gun) was likely used to make this sun and moon tattoo so exceptionally fine.

Opposites Attract

If you don’t want your sun and moon tattoo together, you can pair them in other creative ways. We find two wrists in this example that come together very nicely. Each is outfitted with decorative elements that make them so personal and original.

Share

Among matching tattoos, sun and moon tattoos are hugely popular. We find a matching pair that have some razor-sharp lines. If you’ve got a buddy, consider something similar to share.

In Your Hands

A touch of magic seems to be the subject matter of this sun and moon tattoo. We find the celestial bodies floating above a pair of hands. They cast a spell, don’t they?

Mandala In the Moon

Mandala-inspired tattoo designs are hugely popular today. With this sun and moon we find the familiar shapes filled with Mandala elements which proves a very unique look unlike any other we found while researching these tattoos.

The Cycles

Cycles of the moon cap the top portion of this tattoo with the lower half radiating rays of the sun. It’s an interesting concept that we did not see replicated. If you’d like to celebrate the moon, consider something similar for your sun and moon tattoo.

On Each Shin

The sun and moon tattoos in the above example are located on the shins. Take a look at how the moon is framed in a black and grey area with radiating lines. We love how both “shine” and balance each other out.

Stylish

We find a crescent moon underneath the sun with rays that appear to be shared. The wavy ones contrast with the straight ones to offer balance.

Subtle

In this ornamental design, the shapes of the sun and moon are applied in a decorative manner. You get more of an impression of the two in this tattoo which might appeal to you!

Stone-Faced

We’ll find many more sun and moon tattoos with faces but the rather stern expressions found in this tattoo really stood out. While many of these designs offer whimsy, this one sets a different tone.

With Cats

We can’t resist a cat tattoo and these fur babies look so cute next to the sun and moon found in this design. Take a look at all of the fine lines used to give the animals’ fur texture. If you love cats, you know it’s possible to incorporate them into your own design.

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Ornamental

In this sun and moon tattoo, we find a more abstract approach. The crescent moon is filled with a botanical-inspired design and the sun has a cute pattern that the rays of sunlight seem to emanate from. It’s wonderful!

Dazzled

Dot work is a tattoo technique and form of shading that is made by thousands of tiny dots. Take a close look at the above tattoo and you will see that those dots have been masterfully applied to shade the sun and moon but also as part of the decorative elements surrounding them.

Experiment with Color

We have seen a lot of black and grey examples so far, but that’s not the only option! Feel free to experiment with color and work with your artist to come up with a scheme that makes sense for your tattoo. An ombré technique blends different colors into gradients that truly stun.

Hot & Cold

In this classic sun and moon tattoo, we find a hot sun and a cool moon. This is a classic look that conjures imagery from children’s picture books.

Go Dark

While color can be grand, sometimes bold and black is the right answer. If you’d like to be bold with your color choice, go with something simple like this that makes a big impact.

Dreamy Watercolor

Watercolor tattoos are a huge trend today. We find the technique applied to the sun and moon tattoo above with splashes of blue and orange. For moms, you might have some names you’d like to add to your design.

Romance

We find the personification of both the moon and sun in this mesmerizing tattoo. It’s a very original design that’s more than enviable.

Light & Dark

Playing with light VS dark proves a wise decision for contrasting tattoos that really pop. The same landscape lit by sunlight and moonlight is an interesting concept among these sun and moon tattoos.

Decorative

Are you a plant lover? Vase tattoos offer you the opportunity to tell your story with the intricate designs on the vessel. A cute little sun and moon make an appearance here but aren’t necessarily the stars of the show.

Micro Moment

If you’re not after a huge tattoo, consider going micro with your design. Often they make more of an impact than larger tattoos. We find a hand holding the sun and moon here. Simple, tidy lines are all it takes.

The Relationship

The person who shared this image captioned it, “the relationship between the sun and moon.” It’s another one of the romantic sun and moon tattoo ideas.

Cheerful

Here’s a handsome, straightforward design that’s not breaking new ground but it’s done so well it feels noteworthy. Tidy lines and subtle shading really make this sun and moon tattoo a standout.

Drama

On the other end of the spectrum, you can go maximalist with your design. There’s so much color applied to this design. It’s also a watercolor tattoo and you will find stars inside the “paint” that’s leached from the center of the moon design.

Yin & Yang

A classic symbol of light and darkness striking balance can be found in yin and yang. These tattoos are exceptional and take the concept to the next level.

A Dream

The cool colors in the clouds and moon are balanced with the warmness of the sun and stars. Take a look inside each shape and you will super-fine lines that offer movement and an added layer of visual interest.

Sparkles

Again, you will not find anything out of the ordinary with this design but we wanted to direct your eyes to the starry objects. Inside each, you will find a collection of rainbow-colored dots. If you’re after some sparkle, consider requesting something similar.

Bold In Black

We’re back to black and grey to celebrate its virtues after seeing several examples with colorful ink. These black and grey sun and moon tattoos are exquisite. Brilliant dot work gives both tattoos tons of visual interest and texture.

Make It Pop with White

Tattoo artists have been experimenting more and more with white ink to highlight designs. The sun and moon tattoo above is breathtaking thanks to all of the masterful line and dot work. But, white ink to highlight the features on the faces of each really adds so much contrast.

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Share Your Message

“Still I Rise,” proves a perfect pairing with a sun and moon tattoo. Perhaps you can think of other sentiments that work well to use for your own tattoo. Ink is all about self-expression and if a quote will help you do just that, add one to your tattoo!

There you go! We hope you found some fresh ideas for your sun and moon tattoo. As you have seen, there are many ways for you to achieve your celestial tattoo. We urge you to work with a tattoo artist with a point of view that you share for the most original and meaningful tattoo. Happy tattooing!