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Top 43 Coolest Small Tattoo Ideas – [2022 Inspiration Guide]

Top 43 Coolest Small Tattoo Ideas – [2022 Inspiration Guide]

  • Next Luxury / Style, Tattoo Ideas
  • by — Brian Cornwell

Small Tattoos

A prominent, noticeable tattoo is a conversation piece, but a small tattoo is more likely to surprise and endear those already close to you.

When a specific symbol carries a potent personal meaning, keeping it simple and strong is often the best way to go for small but significant tattoos.

Depending on their placement, small tattoos can be secretive or merely coy. A symbol on the hand, face or neck is visible to all and almost never covered, but still retains some subtlety with its miniature size.

A tattoo on the shoulder, chest or lower leg hide at some times and peer out at others, making these locations exemplary middle ground.

Read on for 43 small tattoo designs that will inspire and beguile when researching your next tattoo idea.

See more about - The Top 51 Awesome Small Tattoo Ideas

1. Black and Gray Small Tattoo Ideas

3d Realistic Coolest Small Violin Mens Inner Arm Bicep Tattoo

Old School Traditional Coolest Small Sailing Ship Arm Tattoos For Men

Here is a wonderful example of an American traditional design that uses an expert application to catch the eye instead of bold colors or large size. The line work in this black and gray tattoo is impeccable: the straight lines are perfectly square and the curves in the sails are exact and consistent.

The arcs in the waves are smooth and the shading throughout this tattoo is exceptional. A tattoo this detailed would be impressive if it was on someone’s full chest or back, but the fact that it is small enough to be placed on the forearm and still maintain this level of detail is a testament to the mastery of the artist.

Realistic 3d Motorcycle Guys Coolest Small Inner Forearm Tattoo

This is another spectacular example of the level of detail that can be achieved in these small, black and gray tattoos. Here, the artist uses fine line work and gray wash to perfectly achieve the impression of a pencil sketch of one of the more iconic motorcycles ever produced. This piece is remarkable for the amount of details that the artist incorporates.

The heads, the case, the suspension, the chain and the exhaust, it’s all there; this tattoo is nearly as accurate as a photograph. The gradation in gray scale tones is excellent, allowing all the different components on the bike to be visible while still creating drop shadows below the wheels as well as highlights in the tank and fenders.

Boat Sketched Outline Coolest Guys Small Inner Arm Bicep Tattoos

Coolest Detailed Small Boxer Mens Thigh Tattoo

This is an interesting little piece that uses black and gray shading along with other techniques to create a unique character. The line work on this little guy is bold and precise, creating a strong outline that allows the artist to add details without compromising the overall design.

The use of different patterns—the checked shorts, the stippled hair and the squiggles on the hat—help to create a more interesting design while still maintaining a charming simplicity.

Skeleton Bones Hand Coolest Small Guys Shoulder Tattoo

2. Photo Realistic Small Tattoo Art

Coca Cola Bottle Realistic Mens Coolest Small Outer Forearm Tattoo

Here, the artist takes a photo-realistic approach to capture one of the most iconic images in the world: the ubiquitous Coca-Cola bottle.

This full-color design uses expert gradation to capture all the different tones in the bottle, creating the effect of light filtering through the sugary drink while the use of negative space in the empty portion of the bottle at the top of the tattoo is expert and gives the impression of the thick glass these bottles are known for.

This is a superb design executed by a skilled artist to create a tattoo that looks like you could pick it up off the wearer’s arm and take a drink.

Guys Coolest Small New York City Skyline Lower Leg Tattoo

Lamborgini Logo Mens Coolest Small Leg Tattoo Design

Mens Coolest Small Boxer Ali Underwater Training Tattoo On Inner Forearm

3. Small Tattoo Animal Body Art

Realistic 3d Bald Eagle Mens Coolest Small Wrist Tattoos

Coolest Roaring Tiger Head Mens Small Inner Arm Bicep Tattoos

Coolest Small Big Butcher Inner Forearm Tattoos For Guys

Mens Coolest Owl Head Small Thigh Tattoo

Neo Traditional Wolf Coolest Small Guys Foot Tattoos

Small Coolest Mens Dotwork Geometric Wolf Inner Forearm Tattoo For Guys

4. Interstellar Small Tattoo Ideas

Coolest Small Solar System Mens Upper Chest Tattoo

In this piece, the artist takes a more illustrative approach to create a unique interpretation of the planets in the solar system. While there are aspects of this tattoo that feel loose—the splatters and streaks around some of the planets—this is clearly a deliberate stylistic choice that helps the design stand out from more sterile, scientific tattoos.

The artist’s skill is on display here, not only in the excellent placement and balanced composition but also in the skillful application of the near perfect circles of the planets. This is a great black and gray tattoo that doesn’t rely on large size or vibrant colors to catch the eye.

Geometric Circular Coolest Small Rib Cage Side Tattoos For Guys

This is another celestial-inspired piece that uses an illustrative style to create a one of a kind tattoo. Once again, the artist eschews color for a black and gray scheme that uses precise stipple shading to create variations in tone and density.

This piece is interesting for the way the artist is able to use such simple, almost child-like design elements to create an eye-catching design: almost no gray wash is used, with all the differences in textures and tones coming from dots and lines.

The composition is also outstanding. The use of bold lines to create the diamond-shaped outline as well as the way the planets are stacked on top of each other is a unique way to represent the solar system.

Unique Coolest Small Mens Inner Forearm Circle Tattoo Design

5. Geometric Small Tattoo Designs

Dotwork Geometric Shapes Forearm Coolest Small Tattoos For Men

Geometric Abstract Shapes Coolest Small Tattoo Ideas For Guys On Forearm

Geometric Pattern Floral Mens Coolest Small Outer Forearm Tattoo

Geometric White Ink Night Sky Coolest Small Guys Inner Forearm Tattoo

This tattoo is a great example of how detailed smaller tattoo designs can be. Here, the artist takes a more realistic approach to create the image of a tree, stripped of its foliage and standing in front of the stars in the night sky.

The composition of the background portion is also interesting in the way a rectangular border is used for the starry backdrop, but the branches of the tree are not constrained to these hard lines, creating an interesting effect.

Finally, the use of white ink to create the fine lines and overlapping circles of the tetrahedron, a key design in sacred geometry, is perfectly applied and adds a mystical layer to this highly detailed, small tattoo.

Globe With Quote Guys Coolest Small Inner Forearm Tattoo Ideas

6. Heavy Black Ink Tattoo Art

Radio Tower Coolest Small Guys Inner Forearm Tattoo Ideas

Coolest Small Handprint Watercolor Mens Outer Forearm Tattoo

Geometric Owl With Books Coolest Guys Small Arm Tattoo

Guys Coolest Small Hangman Hand Tattoo Designs

Madrid Made Skyline Coolest Small Mens Thigh Tattoo

Match Head Guys Coolest Small Chest Tattoos

This is an excellent tattoo and a good example of how small designs can still be attractive. This black and gray piece applies expert shading and the informed use of negative space to create a struck match that incorporates realism into an illustrative style.

The saturation of the black in the head of the match is complete, perfectly capturing the sooty look of burnt wood and the choice of using black and gray shading instead of color in the flame is excellent, giving this tattoo the impression of being a black and white photograph of a burning match.

7. Innovative Small Tattoo Ideas

Negative Space Moon With Buildings Coolest Mens Small Leg Tattoos

Greek God Coolest Guys Small Thigh Tattoo Design Ideas

Mens London Coolest Small Rib Cage Side Tattoo

Shaded Realistic Coolest Small Tree Mens Inner Forearm Tattoo

Nature Trees Guys Coolest Small Arm Tattoo Designs

8. Small Tattoos featuring Weapons

Outer Arm Guys Coolest Sword Small Tattoo Ideas

This black and gray piece takes a classic American traditional design and uses unconventional application techniques to help it stand out from other dagger tattoos. Most notable in this tattoo is the use of stipple shading for the entire piece instead of the more traditional black and gray shading techniques used in American traditional designs.

While not everyone appreciates this shading style, the application here is expert and the varying densities of dots add another layer of texture to this tattoo that works well with the negative space in the highlights. The placement on the back of the arm, slicing into the elbow, is also a considered choice that sets this piece apart from similar designs.

Mens Coolest Small Tricep Three Arrows Tattoo Designs

Sword Coolest Small Mens Head Tattoo Designs

Bullet Coolest Mens Small Outer Forearm Tattoo

9. Small Tattoo Skulls

Skull With Mustache And Glasses Coolest Small Guys Leg Tattoo

3d Skull Coolest Small Wrist Tattoo Designs For Men

This is a small, black and gray tattoo that doesn’t sacrifice detail for size and serves a great example of what mini tattoos can look. Here, the artist uses gray wash and stipple shading to perfectly capture the texture of the skull while the shadows are achieved with excellent whip shading.

The limited use of bold line work keeps this piece feeling realistic without letting the details get washed out. The artist uses expert gradation in tones and negative space for highlights to create contrast and increase the definition, helping the details in the eye sockets and teeth to really stand out in delivering an exceptional, small tattoo.

Unique Coolest Skull Mens Small Arm Tattoo Ideas

Skull With Outer Space Sky Coolest Guys Small Side Of Leg Tattoos

Small Tattoo FAQ’s

Where can men get small tattoos?

The beauty of small tattoos is that you can get them just about anywhere. Some men prefer to get these pieces in visible places like on the hands or the neck as a way to incorporate some above the collar ink without getting completely covered. Others choose to place these tattoos in more traditional places like forearms, biceps, legs, and shoulders.

Another advantage of small tattoos is that they can be incorporated into larger designs further down the road to create a cohesive tattoo or take advantage of a looser composition to achieve a collage-like effect. These tattoos can also serve as a small step into the world of tattoos, and more often than not start a lifelong love affair with ink.

Whether on the face or the chest, as stand-alone pieces or part of a larger design, these small tattoos can be used as tributes to the things most important to the wearer and at the same time serve as pleasing visual decorations for their body.

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Brian Cornwell

Writer

Brian Cornwell founded Next Luxury in 2007 as a magazine for modern gentlemen.

Brian Cornwell founded Next Luxury in 2007 as a magazine for modern gentlemen.

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