Of the body parts that people get tattoos on, the forearm is probably the most popular.
It’s very visible. When you talk, shake hands, or work—your forearms aren’t getting out of the way. This makes it very easy for you and the people around you to notice the work of art you constantly walk around with.
In this article, I’ve compiled 55 amazing forearm tattoo designs that you can choose from. And, if you happen to like the style of a certain piece, you can go check out the artist’s online portfolio. I made sure to credit each artist if I could find their names.
But first, let’s talk about why you should be getting a forearm tattoo in the first place.
55 Meaningful Forearm Tattoo Designs (for Men & Women)
Since the forearm is one of the most eye-catching parts of the body (losing only to the face and neck) in terms of where you can get a tattoo, it’s one of the greatest canvases that you can use to tell the world who you are and what you believe in.
Tattoos are a different experience for everyone who gets one. People have different reasons for getting the tattoos they get. Some just get theirs for kicks, and some go back and forth, anxiously, trying to get the perfect tattoo—and that’s okay!
That’s the best part of getting a tattoo. You can do whatever the hell you want—it’s your body—it’s your call.
And that’s why I’ve compiled these tattoo designs—so you can get your voice heard without saying a word.
Check them out.
Check out this adorable tattoo a client got of their mom’s name, by Tat Man Smush (@_smush on Instagram)
One very badass danger noodle, by Jeri Dobson (@jeridobsontattoos_ on Instagram)
Yes, this is technically an elbow tattoo, but it’s close enough. Sick, though, right? Artist unknown.
Ride the waves with this sick Maori sleeve, artist unknown.
Put on your nastiest Haka face! Artist unknown.
The colors on this one are breathtaking, by Juan David Rendón
In their tongue, he is ‘Dovahkiin’—Dragonborn! by Ganesh Acharya
A tattoo of a head of a marble statue on your forearm—trippy, artist unknown.
I didn’t think my breath could be even more taken, by Nicola Nik.
Pretty slick take on biomechanical, by Guy Aitchison.
The lineart on this piece is so clean! by @neocorticalhoney on Instagram.
This sleeve makes me feel a good kind of weird, artist unknown.
Psychedelic vibes all over, by David SZ.
Beautify your forearm with this lovely piece by Fotose tatuagens
Ornate and decorative pieces – 1, by Charly Saconi
Ornate and decorative pieces – 2, by Charly Saconi
Ornate and decorative pieces – 3, by Charly Saconi
Creative geometric tattoo by Noam Yona
Sick neotraditional tattoo by Alex Gotza
A charming landscape tattoo for Earth day, by Eva Krbdk
Another hyper-realistic landscape tattoo, by Jefree Naderali
A stylish ornamental tattoo, artist unknown.
Amazing surrealist take on the grim reaper, by Thomas Bennington (@badluckveteran on Instagram)
Check out more of Tom’s work if you’re into surrealism, by Thomas Bennington (@badluckveteran on Instagram)
Sak Yant Thai Temple tattoo on Angelina Jolie’s forearm herself by Tony Clark
Powerful geometric motif, by Ben Volt.
Perfect execution on a simple design, by Ben Volt.
My personal favorite from Ben’s portfolio, by Ben Volt.
Decorative wrist/forearm motif, by Zelina Reissinger.
Simple and elegant, by Zelina Reissinger.
An elegant take on the sun, by Zelina Reissinger.
Decorative geometric dotwork – 1, by Taras Shtanko.
Decorative geometric dotwork – 2, by Taras Shtanko.
Ornamental piece, by Taras Shtanko.
Oriental by Jaime Tud
Owl, artist unknown.
Small but detail-heavy, by Alessandro Capozzi.
Hyper-realistic dotwork by Thomas Bennington (@badluckveteran on Instagram)
by Thomas Bennington (@badluckveteran on Instagram)
Amazing as usual! by Thomas Bennington (@badluckveteran on Instagram)
Realistic blackwork tattoo of Korean band Hyukoh, by Thomas Bennington (@badluckveteran on Instagram)
Exceptionally fierce black panther, by Daniel Snoeks (@lepapillon_tattoo on Instagram).
by Daniel Snoeks (@lepapillon_tattoo on Instagram).
by Daniel Snoeks (@lepapillon_tattoo on Instagram).
by Daniel Snoeks (@lepapillon_tattoo on Instagram).
by Daniel Snoeks (@lepapillon_tattoo on Instagram).
by Matt Roe (@mattroetattoo on Instagram).
by Matt Roe (@mattroetattoo on Instagram).
The detail on this one is crazy, by Matt Roe (@mattroetattoo on Instagram).
Artist unknown.
Artist unknown.
That’s one handsome foo dog, by Howard Sears (@howardstattoos on Instagram).
by Franky Yang (@newtattoo_franky on Instagram).
by Franky Yang (@newtattoo_franky on Instagram).
by Franky Yang (@newtattoo_franky on Instagram).
What to Know Before Getting a Forearm Tattoo
There are few things which you should know before getting a forearm tattoo scroll down.
Why get a Forearm Tattoo?
Before walking into the tattoo shop, it’s important to know what you’re dealing with. Though the forearm is one of the more popular places people get tattoos on, it still has its downsides.
Let’s talk about some of the more common pros and cons mentioned by tattoo experts.
Pros
- It is very easy to heal
Since the forearm doesn’t naturally come into contact with other parts of your body (unlike the inner bicep which always touches the ribs), healing doesn’t take very long.
- It doesn’t take very long
Since the forearm has less space to work with (compared to the likes of your chest or thighs), forearm tattoos usually don’t take very long to make. Larger tattoos for the chest or the back usually take multiple sessions, but that isn’t the case for forearm tattoos. This makes it ideal if you want to get a tattoo quick.
- It is one of the most visible parts of the body
Unless you wear long sleeves all the time, getting a tattoo on your forearm ensures that it’s always seen. If the tattoo you’re getting is something that means a lot to you and you take pride in showing it off, get it on your forearm!
- It’ll hug the natural form of your forearm
Since a lot of forearm tattoos are pretty big and wrap around your forearm, it creates a kind of outlining effect that highlights the attractive form of your forearm.
- It doesn’t get affected much by weight change
Unlike the other parts of the body (especially the torso), the meat on the forearm is generally pretty lean. This means that if you lose or gain a few hundred pounds, your tattoo should still maintain its original appearance.
Cons
- It’s hard to hide.
Let’s start with the obvious. If the nature of your work requires you to hide tattoos, you’re going to have a pretty rough time hiding one that’s on your forearm. Depending on how low on your forearm the tattoo is, it still gets pretty hard to hide even with long sleeves.
It’s one of the most visible areas to get a tattoo. So if you don’t want to spend your weekdays wearing long sleeves all the time, perhaps you should think of somewhere else to place your tattoo.
- It can be hard for it look right.
Since the forearm isn’t a flat surface (especially farther down), it can be hard to have it look right unless your design is inherently small.
Does a Forearm Tattoo Hurt?
In terms of pain, you might be wondering how the forearm fares compared to other parts of your body.
The forearm is actually pretty far down the list of body parts that hurt the most when being tattooed. It’s got a hefty bit of fat and muscle which provides enough padding between the needle and the nerves.
But as you get farther from the elbow and move more towards the wrist, you’ll notice the fat and muscle gets noticeably thinner. Obviously, this means it’ll hurt more, but not by much. This helpful infographic by Healthline should help you gauge the pain level associated with each body part.
If you can’t shake off your anxiety, try asking your tattoo artist if they can apply some numbing cream to the tattoo area. Some patients have very low pain thresholds, so your tattoo artist should understand your situation.
Just keep in mind that numbing cream can make tattoo sessions disastrously unproductive. The oily residue tends to mess up the artist’s stencils and just prolongs the session. So if you don’t have any conditions that prevent you from getting a tattoo without pre-numbing, it’s best if you tough it out.
The tattooing process naturally comes with a bit of pain. Think of it as part of the experience—an initiation. In a way, you have to earn the confidence that your tattoo gives you.
The feeling after you walk out of the tattoo shop is one of the greatest feelings in the world. It’ll still hurt, but the rush you get from getting a well-made, customized tattoo is worth it.
Caring for Your Forearm Tattoo
Along with the pain, you’ll experience during your tattooing session, your tattoo will also be at risk of infection if not properly cared for. To help manage the hazards that come with the first few weeks of tattooing, check out this guide I made on tattoo aftercare.
Getting Your Forearm Tattoo
The forearm is the perfect place to get your message out in the open, a place where everyone will see who you are without you needing to utter a word. It’s your canvas to paint on.
So never forget that your body is yours. You are free to do anything you want to it. It doesn’t matter if you want to keep it totally clean, get a hidden tattoo here and there, or get a full-blown sleeve.
What matters is that you get to say what you need to say.
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