Fork Tattoo Ideas Celebrating Food and Dining

While knives may be the quintessential symbol of culinary pursuits, the fork is no less important. Fork tattoo ideas are a growing niche design for collectors looking for a chef/cooking tattoo that’s a little bit different.

Fork tattoos come in a few different styles but are usually simple, elegant designs that more often than not utilize black and gray elements. 

While the most simple look like your typical kitchen cutlery, others may incorporate fancy filigree, use a carving fork, or incorporate different imagery as part of the subject.

Others still prefer to use their fork tattoo as the basis for neo-traditional or humorous design styles, heavy on satire or irony

Check out this cool collection of the 15 top fork tattoo ideas that you might use as inspiration for your own design.

1. Colorful Tattoo Ideas

2. Culinary Tattoo Art

3. Classic Black and Gray Tattoo Ideas

4. Simple Tattoo Ideas

What do fork tattoos symbolize?

Fork tattoos traditionally symbolize a link to cooking and food. They are popular designs for collectors who work in hospitality or are involved in the process of cooking.

Subjects looking to create an antique or luxurious feeling in their choice of fork tattoo may use elegant filigree cutlery in their body art

While not as popular as knife tattoos, fork tattoo designs are a growing niche design concept that may also be incorporated with other elements to create humor, irony, and satire.

What style of fork tattoos are popular?

Fork tattoos are popular as simple design types, even the color pieces tend towards a simple central image. Most forks are either ‘antique’ style filigree or simple cutlery you can find in a drawer anywhere.

As far as application styles go, classically black and gray approaches with an emphasis on quality shading and linework are most popular, while neo-traditional pieces that incorporate humor and abstract concepts are also cool ways to bring body art to life.

Where should I place my fork tattoo?

The overwhelming majority of fork tattoos are placed on the inner forearm. Not only is it a complementary shape for a long narrow design, but it’s also within the sightlines of the subject.

A fork is a tool meant to be used by hands, so many collectors (many of whom come from the hospitality industry) will get a piece done on the arms, and hand tattoos are now more common as well (especially for those who work in kitchens).

How much do fork tattoos cost?

A simple black and gray fork tattoo are likely to take only 1-2 hours, even if there are shading and color highlights. This would cost in the vicinity of $150-200 for the work of an experienced artist.

For slightly more detailed pieces such as complex single needle or vivid neo-traditional pieces, the artwork may cost around $200 per hour to complete, or more for specialists in a particular style.

Always have a good idea of what the price is when you make a deposit or sit in the chair, and allow at least 15% of your total budget as a tip.