30 Tiger Tattoos That Will Have You Craving Stripes

Tiger tattoos are perennial favorites that people have been requesting from artists for centuries. It should come as no surprise considering that tigers hold such symbolic weight. In literature and art, the big cats symbolize courage, loyalty, bravery, and strength. That makes them so appealing as a way to express an inner determination to achieve one’s goals. Tiger tattoos come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and styles. From traditional to new possibilities, tiger tattoos are anything but basic. From more stylized designs that echo the subject matter in classical art to new interpretations that really change the game, there are so many different types of tiger tattoos to consider.

If you are thinking about getting a tiger tattoo, you have come to the right place for inspiration. We have rounded up dozens of ideas to help you find the right sort of design that fully expresses the idea you would like to convey with your ink. Now, you always want to look at photos of tattoos for inspiration as a jumping point for you to share with your artist the tattoo you would like to achieve. Never rip off an existing design. You need a tattoo that shares your unique point of view. Now, scroll through these astonishing tiger tattoos for inspiration for your very own!

One Big Deal

Now, we understand that most folks who are considering a tiger tattoo are not looking for a full sleeve. But, we wanted to kick off this list with a design that really wows. Take a look at all of the detail held in this design. Each piece of fur looks so textured and real. A photorealistic tattoo is no easy feat but when done by the right artist, you cannot beat it.

Sleeping Beauty

How adorable is this napping tiger cub? The tattoo is so simple with tiny markings that help bring a minimal amount of texture to the design. A nice botanical element never hurts any tattoo design so feel to incorporate flowers and other elements from nature to bring the design to life.

Tiger Cub and Flowers

See? Flowers make everything better! Even though the face of this tiger is partially obscured, there is no denying its beauty. We find a lovely balance here between the features of the tiger’s face and the details of the floral elements. If you would like to sweeten the deal, add some flowers for good measure.

Watercolor

Watercolor tattoos are a huge trend today. People love the expressive nature of these designs that mimic painting. Due to the pattern of a tiger’s coat, watercolor designs really work well to accentuate the patterning and shapes that the stripes create.

Classic

You do not need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to your tiger tattoo. If you have a passion for traditional tattoos, you can go with an old-school design that celebrates the history of tattoo design. Bold, thick lines, simple shapes, and vibrant colors are general hallmarks of timeless tattoo design.

Eyes

We are not sure who started the tiger eyes on the forearm trend, but it is a very popular scheme these days. There is no denying the evocative nature of a design like this one. With a tiger tattoo similar to this one, you will be in good company but it’s an excellent idea that we saw time and time again.

Rainbow

If you are not afraid of a little color, we urge you to go wild with it. As you can see, taking a risk with your tiger tattoo can truly pay off. Swirls of rainbow color ignite this design with an energy unlike any other tattoo on this list.

Butterfly

Why do a standard tiger tattoo when you can also have a butterfly? You are getting the best of both worlds with a design like this one. We find the face of a tiger echoed in the shape of butterfly wings. This is one of the most inspired designs to make the list.

The Lone Eye

We get a hint of the watercolor effect here with swirls of color that culminate with the blue eye of a tiger in the center. By isolating one element of a tiger, you can still get your point across but with a clear sense of style and sophistication.

Bert Grimm-Inspired Tiger Tattoo

Bert Grimm was an influential tattoo artist in the company of contemporaries like Ed Hardy and Sailor Jerry. This old-school tiger tattoo is based on one of his designs. If you are interested in classic tattoos, consider learning about some artists from the past to inform your design for today.

Up In Smoke

How mesmerizing is this tiger tattoo? We love the smokey elements that help make this design look dreamy and ethereal. Work with a talented artist who can help make your vision a reality no matter how offbeat your idea might sound.

On the Prowl

We find a colorful half-sleeve design here that sings with contrasting oranges and greens. By choosing colors opposite the color wheel from one another, you can make for a more impactful design that really pops.

Cat and Sheep

Here’s a whimsical and childlike tattoo that finds a very cute tiger riding an equally cute sheep. If you are kawaii-obsessed, a design in a similar fashion could be the right fit for you.

Tiger Time

This tiger tattoo seems to be about the passage of time as we see the phases of the moon, a dial-like object seeming to turn in a clockwise motion, and a tiger that appears to be moving forwards. Take a close look and you will see the words “fearless, faith, and family” tattooed to the left of the tiger.

A Friend

How gorgeous is this mysterious tiger tattoo that seems to find a tiger tamer with her friend? Again, we find some lovely botanical elements employed here to bring balance and atmosphere to this design. The tattoo captures the harmony of the jungle.

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Neo-Traditional

Neo-traditional tattooing combines classic motifs with newer innovations to offer a design that feels both old and current. This one brings the fire with plenty of orange and red ink colors that seem to vibrate with life.

Isolated Eyes

By framing your tiger tattoo like this, you help anchor it and bring definition. At times, a part is better than the sum and we find that to be the case with these glorious tiger eyes. There is so much detail packed inside that modestly-sized rectangle.

Tigger

Any Tigger fans out there? For your tiger tattoo, consider revisiting illustrations from your childhood for a nostalgic tattoo that holds even more meaning for you. The fine, clean lines of this Tigger tattoo are just so sharp.

Frame It

Here’s another framed tiger tattoo. We seem to find a jungle pouring out of it with botanicals and wildlife escaping out onto the skin around it. We find big contrast between the blues and greens against the orange of our cat friend and the red sun.

Domestic Cat Meets Tiger

What? We find a domesticated cat’s head on a tiger’s body for one of the weirdest and most singular tiger tattoos on this list. We don’t know why this happened but we’re not mad about it.

Tiger King

Here’s a very delicate and detailed tiger tattoo that’s significantly smaller than the previous one. If you are considering a modest size like this, you are in luck because placement for a tattoo this size can go just about anywhere. We love the crown on this queen of a feline.

The Cutie

It’s okay to get a really cute tiger tattoo if that’s what you want. A cheerful character like this one works well and looks just as good coming at you as it does going away.

Flower Print

Here’s one of the most original tiger tattoos that finds a floral print instead of the usual stripes. Going against the grain and trying ideas that are not standard can yield amazing results. Think of other interesting patterns that might look cool instead of stripes and go in that direction.

Vivid Color

What a stunner! In this tiger tattoo, we find something rather unusual for these types of designs in that we are getting a side view of the tiger. It looks fantastic and fierce even though there is a bit of blood on those fangs!

Red Ink for the Win

If you are not married to the idea of black and grey ink, red is always a smart choice. For whatever reason, red stands out in a way that black cannot. Even for 2D rather flat design like this, red truly pops.

A Curious Scene

That being said about red ink, black and grey designs have their virtues as well. In this very inspired scene, we find an eye in place of a sun with rays that pour down over a couple of birds and a tiger that looks like it is about to pounce. It’s immaculate, mysterious, and a real winner.

Fun Flash

Flash is a term for pre-drawn designs that act as a sort of portfolio for tattoo artists. It shows off their unique style even with the most basic designs. This tiger tattoo looks so wonderfully weird and singular. Always take a moment to look through your artist’s flash to see the designs that they have already imagined. It’s a great way to find out if you two are a good fit. And, you just might find a tattoo you love.

Maltese Tiger

Some people consider blue tigers a myth but there might be a rare breed of tiger with cool-colored grey fur out there. They are also called Maltese tigers and they are indigenous to China. Whether or not they are real, we thought this cool cat was worth your time.

One Handsome Devil

Here’s another tiger tattoo that features flowers. Take a look at all of the tiny lines used to give this design a uniquely hairy effect. The flowers look impressionistic here giving the overall tattoo a dreamlike quality.

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Express Yourself

We leave you with the weirdest tiger tattoo we came across while researching these types of designs. We’ve got a lemon-lime tiger coming through a cartoonish mouth. We shared this one with you to encourage you to really lean into the more unique ideas you may have. Almost anything can be brought to life in tattoo form so remember, the sky is the limit.

Now you have some truly remarkable tiger tattoos to inspire your own ink. Tigers are some of the natural world’s most beautiful creatures so it only makes sense that the big cats would inspire many tattoos. Tiger tattoos are easily some of the most requested designs for tattoo artists today and we hope you got a good sense of the possibilities with our list of ideas. If you liked these tiger tattoos, keep reading for even more ink inspiration.

These Lion Tattoos Symbolize Strength & Loyalty!

Meow!

Lion tattoos with flowers are extremely popular as they marry beauty and majesty. In this black and grey example, we find a true stunner.

Style to Spare

Here’s a very stylized and original lion tattoo with a rose. We’re very much into the shapes that have been created to add texture and contour to the lion’s face.

Lion King

As you might imagine, lions with crowns are popular choices for tattoos. Here’s a modest-sized one with a completely dazzling crown.

Feline & Florals

Ask you can see, people really love pairing their florals with big cats. We love these pink, blue, and purple flowers that bring out the blue in the lion’s eyes.

Lion Lady

Here’s a unique design that finds a lion and a lady sharing a face. It’s an intriguing and mysterious design that we imagine a lot of folks will be attracted to.

A Diamond

Here’s a cool way to frame your lion tattoo, with geometric, diamond shapes. The clean lines add so much to the typical lion design.

With Ornamentation

We find a lion truly decorated to the nines with beautiful ornamentation. Simple black lines with a white ink highlight bring so much to this design.

Watercolor Cat

Watercolor tattoos are all the rage right now. We find a brilliantly colorful example in this vibrant tattoo that looks as if it’s been painted on.

Lion Love

In this meditative piece, we find two lions in a kitty embrace. It’s romantic and magnetic. What a dream of a tattoo.

A Big Deal

Believe it or not, we came across several huge lion tattoos that span the entirety of the back. Here’s one with some lovely leaves floating around.

Can’t Wait to Be King

People really cherish their Disney tattoos. It should come as no surprise that there is no shortage of lion tattoos inspired by characters like Simba from The Lion King.

Ferocious

A king of a different kind! Here’s an example of one of the many lion tattoos that include crowns. If you want a tattoo that says “be a king,” something similar would be fitting.

An Impression

Wow! Here’s a lion’s face swirling in a pool of gorgeous color. Water color tattoos meet lions in the most evocative ways.

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Thrilling

Red and black ink look so phenomenal when paired together. If you would like to take a black ink tattoo to the next level, consider adding some red features to make it pop.

For the Leo

Astrology tattoos are so popular today. If you’re a Leo, consider celebrating your sign with a lion tattoo paired with a constellation like this.

The Fam

We found a number of mamas sporting lion tattoos that celebrate their Pride. Lions work beautifully as symbols of family loyalty.

On the Inside

Here’s a statue tattoo that looks like it’s from antiquity. What’s new is the lion that appears to be escaping from inside. It’s a very original idea and a great way to visualize inner strength.

Cosmic Kitty

While not an astrology tattoo, we do find a lion with stars once more in this intergalactic lion tattoo. Blue, purple, and pink prove a beautiful pool for this cat to be swimming in.

In Shapes

Geometric tattoos are so fun because they play with composition in a refreshing way. How great does this angular lion look? We saw a lot of lion faces done in this fashion but we found the profile-look to be very refreshing.

Pretty as a Portrait

Wow! This tattoo will take your breath away! Go ahead and celebrate the fierce lioness with a meditative portrait like this one.

The Colors

Here’s yet another watercolor tattoo of a lion. It’s packed with a vibrant energy that feels emotional and very special.

Mind the Mandala

Mandala-inspired tattoos are a huge trend right now. We did not expect to see one that incorporates a lion but we think it turned out very nice!

Macabre

Here’s a lion tattoo that might leave you feeling a touch uneasy. We find the beast with his teeth wrapped around a skull. Yikes!

Sketched

Another trend that often gets lumped in with watercolor tattoos is sketch tattoos that look more like doodles and drawings than a classic tattoo. Take a look at all of those lines that give movement to the design.

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A Stunner

We leave you with this handsome lion with haunting blue peepers. This tattoo feels totally inspired and original. Work with a tattoo artist with a point of view for something equally as cool.

There you go! We hope these lion tattoos inspire you to invest in your own fierce ink. Lions are endlessly inspiring for a variety of reasons. They symbolize strength, loyalty, and celebrate family. Whatever your reason for getting a big cat tattoo, know that you’ll be in good company as these designs are wildly popular.