28 Octopus Tattoo Ideas

Octopus tattoos have become increasingly popular through the years and today, they are one of the most requested designs. There’s plenty to love about the marine creatures. They are mysterious, beautiful, and they can contort themselves into just about any shape. All of these qualities make them excellent subject matter for tattoos. From moody black and grey designs to rainbow-bright ones, there are so many directions you can take your octopus tattoo in.

We wanted to get a better understanding of the possibilities and the limitations of octopus tattoos so we turned to social media to discover which designs were popular and garnered plenty of likes. We’ll share the trending tattoos of today as well as some very unique and special designs that stood out from the pack. If you’re considering a tattoo of an octopus, look at the designs below for some bright ideas.

Find Your Ink Inspiration With These Octopus Tattoos!

Black and Grey

Let’s kick things off with a tattoo that is all about black and grey. Clean and thick lines help bring this creature to life while a subtle grey shading gives the tentacles depth.

A Mean One

The person who shared this image described this octopus tattoo as “angry.” You know, why not? We found a lot fierce octopi tattoos and you’ll see a few more examples before this list ends.

Fine Lines

Take a look at all the fine lines used to compose this handsome design. Decorative elements have been added for visual interest and we think they really paid off. We don’t know why this octopus is tangled up in a bike gear, but we’ll take it.

Kawaii Sticker

Here’s a sticker tattoo which is an emerging tattoo trend today. We love the kawaii, cute look this design possesses. You don’t have to go big and menacing with your octopus tattoo. It’s okay to keep things dainty.

Red and Blue

Those red and blue inks really pop next to one another. This modest-sized octopus tattoo looks totally electric and you’d be wise to use this color combination for a tattoo that makes a statement.

Full Color

You can turn the color all the way up as well for a whimsical look that you will surely receive compliments on.

Psychadelic Octopus Tattoo

Here is one of the most interesting designs we encountered. Think outside the box and work with an artist with a point of view for a one-of-a-kind design that no one else can claim. What a wild one!

Octopus in Space

Many people are convinced that octopi are actually alien beings. This octopus tattoo plays on that theme by showcasing our friend wearing a space helmet. Look closely and you can see the reflection of a jellyfish in the helmet’s visor.

Cute Octo-Baby

We’ve included a few of these kawaii (Japanese culture of cuteness) octopus tattoos because we just find them irresistable. They are so playful and charming and this one has some fun orange and blue inks.

Pretty and Purple

This monochromatic, purple octopus tattoo looks so vivid and attractive. This placement is excellent but a word of warning, the closer the tattoo gets to the armpit, the more that baby is going to hurt.

The Fighter

Wow! This is an absolute masterpiece. We find an octopus with a human skull in its grasp as well as a harpoon. We get real, bad boy, hunter vibes from this stunning design.

Feeling Blue

Take a look at the blending and shading of the blue inks in this design. It seems to mirror the ocean. Contrasting orange and blue look fantastic next to one another.

Bottled Up

Here’s one of our favorite octopus tattoos on this list. It seems to tell a story and we love tattoos that come with a narrative.

Neo-Traditional Style

Hallmarks of neo-traditional tattooing include thick lines, simple shapes, and a limited number of colors. The style borrows from traditional designs while offering a fresh twist.

Stylized

We find a rather trippy, black octopus tattoo here complete with a sort of sixties, lava lamp, design inside. Get weird with your octopus tattoo and you won’t regret it!

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Oc-tea-pus

Here’s a rather punny octopus tattoo that’s inviting you to tea time. We told you being weird pays off. You’ll never see another tattoo like this, we guarantee it.

Clean, Black Lines

This understated design works well thanks to the simple line-work that is pretty uniform in its thickness. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel, just request a design from a skilled artist and you’ll walk away with something handsome like this design.

Sushi

Now, we understand that most people getting octopus tattoos love them and do not necessarily want to consume them. However, we did see a few plays on sushi tattoos that we thought were intriguing. If you’re not taking things too seriously, it could be a good option for you.

Haunting

This is the first octopus tattoo with flowers on this list, but it won’t be the last. The subtle shading and sharp lines make this one most haunting and beautiful. White ink has been used as a highlight which produces a glowing effect.

Minimal Octopus Tattoo

For the minimalists out there, less will always be more. This octopus tattoo isn’t breaking new ground but it is small and cute and could be the perfect type of design for you.

Drama

Where are the grown goth kids at? This very dark tattoo marries octopus and spider in a pretty fascinating way. For a bold statement, request that your artist applies that black ink liberally and you’ll have some real drama.

Umbrella Octopus

Here’s another one of the cute octopus tattoos that we fell in love with. It’s an orange umbrella octopus and it is everything.

Traditional Blackwork

This octopus tattoo done in black is a pretty traditional take. if you like old-school tattooing, request something similar.

Cosmic and Cool

Planets, stars, and more help bring this octopus tattoo to life. Is this tattoo hinting at that alien connection or simply an inspired design?

Japanese-Inspired

Japanese tattooing or Irezumi is very popular today with artists around the world trying to replicate the signature style. If you like the cool, graphic qualities of it, consider this style for your octopus tattoo.

Watercolor Octopus Tattoo

Watercolor tattoos are a huge trend today with many folks attracted to the splashy effect. We’re treated to all the colors of the rainbow in the above example. What a dream!

Delicate

In this modestly-sized design, the artist has managed to pack in tons of detail. We’d venture to classify it as a micro tattoo but you might beg to differ. This is one of our favorite tattoos on this list.

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Flanked with Flowers

As promised, here’s another octopus tattoo with flowers, and there are a bunch of them! We love the marriage of land and sea elements here. It’s such a beautiful and sophisticated design.

There you have it! What did you think of these octopus tattoo ideas? We hope you found some designs worth considering that will inspire your very own octo-ink. There is no shortage of love for the marine creature and that means that there are so many ways for you to express your admiration for them. Happy tattooing!