Arms are a great location choice for tattoos because basically any design can work no matter the aesthetic, size, or shape. Some parts of the arm are long and narrow while others offer a fair amount of surface area, meaning you can work with the natural shape of your arm when placing your tattoo—or you can just ink it wherever looks best. Another plus of arm tattoos is that they’re easily hidden by a shirt, though whether that’s a short sleeve or long sleeve shirt is up to your placement choice.
Arm tattoos can be collected or planned in advance to create a tattoo sleeve, but you can also stick to one or a few to keep a more minimal look. No matter where you’re thinking about placing your ink or how you want it to look, you’ll definitely find inspiration from these arm and forearm tattoos.
Flower Arm Tattoo
Make a typical flower tattoo even more eye-catching with the addition of a geometric shape. Use a thin outline to keep it feeling light.
Rosemary Tattoo
A few sprigs of delicately drawn herbs on the arms look stunning, especially in an oversized format.
Wildflower Tattoo
Bring a bit of joy to your life with this simple yet artful wildflower tattoo.
Small Heart Arm Tattoo
A small heart tattoo on your inner arm is minimal and almost hidden, making it intimate. It’s definitely a tattoo only for you.
Inline Moon Phases Arm Tattoo
Moon phases look perfectly lined up when placed along the bone. Keep the design small and the shading light for a dainty feel.
Song Lyrics Tattoo
Zoë Kravitz has the lyrics “Mississippi *@!!?*@!” (a censored version of the real title, “Mississippi Goddamn”) by Nina Simone on her upper arm, a song written during the height of the Civil Rights movement. She tells Harper’s Bazaar, “Even if I don’t go out, I have a hard time falling asleep, so I go to bed around 1 A.M. I listen to a lot of jazz when I’m getting ready for bed: Nina Simone and Billie Holiday.”
Stars Arm Tattoo
A small tattoo at the top of your forearm will peek out even under shirts, making it a cheeky choice. Rather than using color, play with the design’s texture.
Lifelike Heart Tattoo
Forego a graphic depiction of a heart and get a realistic rendering—veins, valves, and all. Talk about wearing your heart on your sleeve.
Line Art Flower Arm Tattoo
Line art tattoos look great on arms because they mimic the innate movement. Placing it on the forearm also allows room for the lines to breathe.
Reversible Arm Tattoo
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A tattoo at the base of your forearm by your elbow will pop when you bend your arm. Try going for an optical illusion design that looks good upside down and right-side-up.