Tattoo Placement Ideas to Get a Better Understanding of What Looks Best Where on the Body

Tattoo placement is one of the most difficult parts of conceiving your new ink. The biggest factor is going to be the size. Larger tattoos lend themselves better to the torso and legs, while you will want smaller pieces on the arms or hands to show off all the tiny details. But there are plenty of other factors to consider as well. You must decide whether you want the design to be highly visible or easily hidden. Further, the style of tattoo you’re getting can dictate the best spot for it. For instance, fine-line tattoos hold up better on areas with less traffic. Meaning the hands, wrists, feet, and ankles are not the best place for one.

With so much to consider, you might be feeling stuck. We’re here to help. We have curated a list of tattoos with ideal placements for you to get a better understanding before pulling the trigger. When in doubt, consult a tattoo artist you trust, but you will also be wise to look at some examples to inform your decision. Take a look to discover ideal tattoo placement ideas.

Forearm Tattoos

Did this tattoo take your breath away? The softest lines paired with soft colors bring this dreamy tattoo to life. The baby blue square acting as a frame was a brilliant design choice that proves that thinking outside the box is always a great idea. Forearm tattoo placement is the most popular today. Small to medium-sized designs are best here, and long and narrow ones are especially great.

Forearm Tattoos Part II

Long and narrow is not the only way to go. A great shape for forearm tattoo placement is an upside-down triangle. A shape that starts wide near the bend in the arm and tapers at the wrist will be a winning look.

Upper Arm

This chrysanthemum tattoo exhibits masterful tattoo placement at the upper arm. The swirling petals of the flower really accentuate the natural shape of the upper arm all the way over the shoulder. Just riveting! If you don’t want the tattoo creeping onto the shoulder, consider the upside-down triangle shape again, as it really mimics the arm’s natural shape.

Upper Arm Part II

We find an ocean scene inside a heart shape that is framed by waves. Gentle grey tones keep this design looking mellow and romantic. Another great reason to go for the upper arm tattoo placement is that the tattoo can easily be concealed under a sleeve.

Chest Tattoo Placement

These cornflower collarbone tattoos were inspired by a floral design on vintage plates. Chest tattoo placement offers tons of flexibility. Big or small will work here. Wider designs that sweep across the chest are gorgeous and dramatic.

Chest Part II

Here’s a chest tattoo for women sitting slightly lower on the sternum. Does anyone else have tattoo envy at this moment? We find a moon shape in the center radiating amazing designs to the outer part of the chest. A good shape rule of thumb is the upside-down triangle (you’re going to get tired of us saying it). The chest tappers from the shoulders’ width to the chest’s middle.

Imagine this tattoo without the radiating lines and instead with just the circular face portion. Central placement in the chest is also very pleasing.

On the Back

Wow! Say “hello,” to one of our favorite back tattoos for men ever. We find a pair of falcons tattooed in stunning detail. The scene offers so much movement, action, and beauty. The back is pretty much a big, blank canvas where anything goes. This is also true for subject matter that you might want to hide, as only the people you are most intimate with will see a tattoo on the back.

Down the Spine

The above tattoo looks like ink in water or smoke rising. It’s a gorgeous tattoo that we think many would also love. If you’re not looking to get a tattoo that covers your entire back, a smart tattoo placement is up the spine. Take advantage of all of that length to make your statement.

Hand Tattoo Placement

A huge tattoo trend today is to get little, dainty tattoos on the hands and fingers. As we mentioned in the intro, fine-line tattoos are not good for high-traffic areas. Tattoos on the hands and wrists will fade faster than elsewhere. So, go big and bold like this for your design.

Thick Lines for the Hands and Wrists

We find cupid sleeping for this very simple tattoo with a very thick line. It adds a cool graphic quality to the design. Bold, thick lines are going to be your friends for your hands. Take a look at those little dots on the fingers near the nails. Those will be practically invisible within a year. The skin on your hands is constantly regenerating.

Tattoos on the inside of the hands don’t stand a chance. They generally last several months or less before they begin to fade from existence.

Thigh Tattoo Placement

Thighs are among the absolute best places to get a tattoo for various reasons. First, they can easily be hidden, which is an important factor for many. Second, they are meaty parts of the body that you can tattoo on the side, front, or inner part with less pain than other areas. Third, as we just hinted, your placement can be on any area of the thigh or cover it entirely.

Side Thigh Tattoo Placement

We love tattoo designs inspired by architecture and graphic elements. This sort of Egyptian-meets- Art Deco design is a real stunner. It sits on the outer portion of the thigh, which has become one of the most popular areas for women. It’s sexy and playful here. We know we sound like a broken record, but a design that starts wide at the top and tapers inward at the bottom will always slay.

Front and Center

Here’s one of the most delicate thigh tattoos ever. The artist has largely abandoned black outlines and chosen the colors of the subject matter instead. Take note of the shape, folks! If you’re going on the front of the thigh, another good placement is just above the knee if you want a more horizontal shape.

Knee Tattoo Placement

Knee tattoos are unique designs and a favorite among tattoo lovers with multiple tattoos. Placement can be, as pictured above, a design that covers the kneecap. Of course, a design in a similarly round shape is going to fit well on this spot.

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Framing the Kneecap

Another popular knee tattoo placement is a frame that goes around the kneecap. It could be a chain of daisies, an actual chain, etc.

Cupping the Cap

These cute little below-the-knee bangers are a great option for those who do not want something over their kneecap. You can’t go wrong with flowers! This can be replicated above the knee as well.

Calf Tattoo Placement

Tattoos on the forearms and the calves are largely interchangeable. Because of the similar shape, designs that are longer and stretch the length are great options. In the above examples, We see some fine lines and plenty of detail. Calves are the perfect place for this, as tattoos generally fade more slowly than other areas.

Ankle Tattoo Placement

People certainly love getting fine-line tattoos around the ankles to look like anklets. These will look good for a time, but because socks, shoes, boots, etc., rub up against the area, they will fade quickly. For more staying power, choose designs with thick, bold lines.

Foot Tattoo Placement

As with hands, wrists, and ankles, feet tattoos also have a tendency to fade. As for the bottom of your foot, forget about it. A tattoo placement under your foot will be gone in a couple of months. Again, go with bolder designs if you want to avoid a touch-up in the near future.

On Tiny Tattoo Placement

Micro tattoos are a huge trend today; those, along with small tattoos, are the easiest to place. When in doubt, think small. They can go anywhere on the body and are appropriate for those high-traffic areas we discussed if the lines are bold enough.

On ‘Job Stopper’ Tattoos

Tattoos have gone so mainstream today that most people aren’t offended by tattoos on the face, hands, or neck. In tattoo parlance, tattoos in these areas are called “job stoppers.” This was due to the notion that a person with something like a face tattoo would be unemployable. Micro tattoos work extraordinarily well on the back of the neck and the face.

Face Tattoo Placement

Tattoos on the face can fade faster than other areas depending on the types of beauty products you use. Peels, harsh cleansers, and some masks will all cause a tattoo to fade. Go bold with it for it to last as long as possible.

On another note, black ink will stand up much better over time than any other color. Red looks absolutely fantastic, but it has a tendency to fade more quickly.

Neck Tattoo Placement Continued

For the neck, you can go on the back, as discussed, but side and frontal placements are also available. If you want to go on the side, we highly recommend having the design sweep down from behind the ear. It is such an elegant shape the compliments the contours of the body.

Frontal Neck Placement

A good rule of thumb when it comes to tattoos placed directly in the center of a body part is to have it radiate out like this. Frontal neck tattoo placement is far less common than on the side. A round or upside-down triangle shape is best if you’re considering a tattoo here.

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Break the Rules

Now, the tattoo placement ideas we have shared with you are all conventional wisdom for tattooing. However, rules are made to be broken! Sometimes the most unconventional shapes and designs work out the best. The most important advice we offer is to find an artist you trust who can help guide you. They will tell you what will look awesome and what will warp over time.

Now, go be fearless with your ideas and get a consultation from a respected artist with a good portfolio. We sincerely hope these tattoo placement ideas have helped you better understand what works well. Happy tattooing!

If you want even more ink inspiration, we’ve got some cool neo-traditional tattoos to share with you. It’s one of the most popular styles today, and we hope these designs speak your language!

Learn More About Neo-Traditional Tattooing By Looking at the Examples Below.

Lucky Fish

We find many elements from traditional tattooing harnessed here along with radical color that’s been blended in a more contemporary style. Also notable is the use of black ink to create dimension and texture in the background of the design.

Rose and Snake

What a showstopper! We find a snake wrapped around a glorious rose in this energetic design. Notice how there is a black outline around every shape in this design? That’s a hallmark of traditional and neo-traditional tattoos.

Mushrooms From a Shell

Here’s an interesting design that finds some handsome mushroom springing from a shell. There is so much texture produced from hatching and movement lines.

Sacred Heart

Sacred heart tattoos are and have been extremely popular for decades. We find a new interpretation in this design that has a pleasing ombré that brings so much color and life to the design.

Good Luck

Horseshoe tattoos have been popular for a very long time as well. We find an update to the old design with the inclusion of the “sparkle” or “confetti” effect which is simply a bunch of dots used to fill various shapes.

Mum’s the Word

Chrysanthemum designs are well-represented among neo-traditional tattoos today. A cotton candy pink meets baby blue in the petals of this stunner.

Blue Flame, Black Bird

Take a look at this black bird’s plumage and you will see tons of little lines added to give the feathers texture. Despite all of it, the tattoo still reads as flat and 2D which makes the blue element really pop.

A Bouquet

The black nails on the hand holding these flowers contrast beautifully with the orange rose in the foreground. Roses have been tattooed like this for decades.

That’s Hot

Isn’t this lantern tattoo magical? Note the way the color intensity seems to radiate from the flame in the center and fades the further the tattoo moves away from it. It produces a very interesting effect.

Rad Raccoon

Cute characters from nature are a big part of both traditional and neo-traditional tattoos. We find a sweet raccoon holding onto a pinecone here. Notice how green has been applied to the raccoon to make the golden-orange of the pinecone stand out? That’s money.

Eye Heart U

A heart with an eye in it is a classic symbol that’s been tattooed thousands of times. We find it improved here with a heart that’s full of spikes and has dramatic, black shading.

She-Devil

Lady faces are very popular among neo-traditional tattoos. We find a rather sinister one in the above example with a fresh-looking thorn or flame element.

Death Moth

Death’s-head hawkmoths are another popular design these days. When researching tattoos, we encounter tons of these done in a variety of styles. We must say it translates well for neo-traditional tattoos.

Broken Arrow

We find a rather poetic neo-traditional tattoo here that finds a broken arrow wrapped in a ribbon and some beads. What an attractive entry.

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Cowgirl

As we mentioned, lady faces are wildly popular and they have been for a very long time. What’s new in the above design is the shading on the face and its freckles. It’s very close to what you would find among traditional tattoos from decades ago.

The Clucker

Here’s a rather intense-looking rooster in this design which has used some incredibly warm colors that contrast well with the black elements of the design.

Cute Chick

How daring is this little bird on a planchette? Botanical elements are popular additions to any design that sweeten the deal.

Flamingo-Go

This flamingo tattoo looks positively electric in neon color. Pink, orange, and olive green all play well together in this big tattoo.

Pretty as a Peach

Go ahead and get your favorite fruit inked on you! Fruits make excellent neo-traditional tattoo designs because they put focus on shape and texture.

Light Up

A black candle looks mesmerizing with bits of the “wax” picking up some of the warm golden colors that surround it. It makes it look as if the flame is being reflected from it.

Beautifully Batty

What do you think of this neo-traditional bat tattoo? It’s fantastic. We find many elements of traditional tattooing here with a. few surprises for a look that feels both vintage and contemporary.

A True Gent

A gentleman cat? Why not! We think this furry fellow looks rather dapper in his green getup. Despite the whimsical subject matter, this tattoo is very close to the traditional tattooing style.

A Dagger of Love

We find dynamic color throughout this design from the handle to the delicately shaded tip of the dagger. “love dagger” feels like an oxymoron but it totally works for this design.

On-Time

Neo-traditional tattooing is best when it harkens back to classic flash. An hourglass is a popular thing to get tattooed and it’s taken to brand new heights in this design that offers so much visual interest and plenty of imagination.

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Berry Special

We told you fruit is popular among neo-traditional tattoos. These blueberries are the perfect little celebration of the fruit.

Her Father’s Hand

This is a tribute tattoo for her father who was a carpenter. We find a very interesting perspective with a hand seeming to float in front of the tools of the trade. What a sweet, meaningful design.

A Splendid Mystery

In this deceptively simple design, we find all sorts of popular elements married together. A classic rose, a vase, and a sacred heart are all connected in this inspired design that’s been applied to perfection.

Do you have a better sense of the neo-traditional tattoo style? We hope we’ve given you a good idea of the hallmarks of this style and just how astonishing and cool these designs can be. In general, “traditional” is not something most of us are into but for tattoos, it brings the past to life in fresh, new ways. Happy tattooing!