Are you looking to get yourself a brand new or cover-up Arm Tattoo? The arm is one of the most popular places to get a tattoo due to it being easily shown off and concealed.
So, if you’re looking for some fresh inspiration, let’s take a look at some of the best Arm Tattoos from some of the best tattooists from over the internet.
Do Arm Tattoos Hurt
The arm is one of the least painful places to get a tattoo. Locations such as the outer biceps is generally considered one of the least painful places to get tattooed due to their thicker skin and more muscle, which helps buffer the pain from the tattoo needle.
Likewise, the forearm is also a nice place to get tattooed due to its muscle and fat.
However, keep in mind areas such as the inner biceps, elbow, and armpit have thinner skin or are closer to the bone which will lead to increased discomfort.
Best Arm Tattoo Designs
Now that we know a little about Arm Tattoos, let’s take a look at some of the best Tattoo Designs from over the internet.
Dragon Tattoo On Arm
Dragon Tattoos are one of the most popular Tattoo Designs.
These tattoos symbolize themes of wisdom, power, strength, protection, and transformation.
A Dragon Tattoo’s symbolism can also be determined by the color or variant of your Dragon, be it an Asian Dragon, a traditional European Dragon, or a Celtic Dragon Tattoo.
Chimera Tattoo On Arm
This Mythological Tatoo is of a Chimera.
The Chimera in Greek mythology is a fire-breathing creature composed of the parts of multiple animals.
The Greek Chimera is usually depicted as a lion, with the head of a goat arising from its back and a tail that might end with a snake’s head such as the tattoo shown.
Dog On Arm Tattoo
Dog Tattoos don’t only need to be of your cherished family pet.
They can also symbolize themes of loyalty and devotion, as dogs have long been viewed as the epitome of loyalty and unconditional love, protection due to their protective nature, and even guidance and support, as dogs are viewed as spiritual guides in some cultures.
Stańczyk Arm Tattoo
Stańczyk was the most famous Polish court jester employed by three Polish kings: Alexander, Sigismund the Old, and Sigismund Augustus during the 16th century.
Stańczyk has become a cultural icon in Poland and a symbol of the wise fool whose jests and humorous antics were often laced with serious commentary on the social and political issues of his time.
Joutunn Tattoo
Moder is a jötunn and the daughter of the Norse god Loki in the film The Ritual.
In exchange for immortality, the residents of a small Swedish village worship her.
She is an enormous elk-like creature with a human torso in place of her head.
Skull On Arm Tattoo
Skull Tattoos, despite their morbid appearance, offer a lot of positive symbolism.
In many cultures, skulls represent death, the afterlife, or a reminder of mortality.
This can be a way to recognize the fleeting nature of life and the importance of living in the moment.
In countries like Mexico, Skulls can be seen as a celebration of life, used during the Día de Muertos.
Panda Tattoo On Arm
If you love Bear Tattoos, then check out this adorable Panda Tattoo.
Pandas are native to a few mountain ranges in central China, predominantly in Sichuan but also in neighboring Shaanxi and Gansu provinces.
Their habitat includes high-altitude forests rich in bamboo, which is crucial for their diet.
Despite being classified as carnivores, pandas have a diet that is overwhelmingly herbivorous, with bamboo shoots and leaves making up more than 99% of their intake.
Woman Tattoo On Arm
Another type of Bear Tattoo, this time of a woman wearing a bear pelt headpiece.
This Tattoo Design gives off the impression of an Aboriginal woman wearing her headpiece along with some feather earrings and a lovely touch of color for her eyes and ends of the feathers.
Cerberus Tattoo
The Cerberus is a three-headed dog who is the gatekeeper of Hades, the Greek underworld.
Its job is to prevent the dead from escaping and the living from entering without the permission of Hades himself.
One of the most common tales of Cerberus is the tale of Hercules capturing the dog and bringing him to the world of the living as one of his twelve labors.
Flower Vase Tattoo
If you love Flower Tattoos, why not get something like this cute Flower Vase Tattoo Design?
Flowers have a lot of symbolism, depending on which flower you choose to adorn yourself with, and with almost 400,000 species of flowering plants known, there is no shortage of potential symbolism.
Shiva Tattoo
Lord Shiva is one of the principal deities of Hinduism, revered as a member of the holy trinity (Trimurti) alongside Brahma and Vishnu.
While Shiva is known primarily as the “destroyer” within the Trimurti, he is also associated with regeneration and rejuvenation.
Axolotl Tattoo
An Axolotl is a species of salamander from Mexico.
Unlike most amphibians, it is neotenic, meaning it retains its juvenile features throughout its life and remains aquatic without undergoing metamorphosis into a terrestrial form.
One of the most remarkable traits of the axolotl is its ability to regenerate entire limbs, as well as other body parts like the tail, heart, and even parts of the brain, without scarring.
Japanese Mask Tattoo On Arm
Japanese Mask Tattoos are rising in popularity in the tattooing world.
These masks can have a variety of different meanings depending on which Japanese Mask you choose to ink yourself in.
This symbolism can range from protection, the complexity of human emotions, a connection to the natural world, or mischievousness to name a few.
Cat Tattoo On Arm
Like Dog Tattoo, while Cat Tattoos can be used as memorials for your beloved pets, they also contain a lot of symbolism unrelated to pet tattoos.
This symbolism includes independence, feminine power, protection, balance, harmony and even rebirth and resilience due to the ‘cats have nine lives’ belief.
Camel Tattoo
Camels are often seen as symbols of endurance and resilience, with their ability to withstand challenging conditions, particularly because of their capacity to travel long distances in harsh desert climates without water.
Thanks to their role in historical trade routes like the Silk Road and their ability to navigate vast and forbidding terrains, camels also symbolize journey, exploration, and the discovery of the unknown.
Castle Arm Tattoo
A castle tattoo can symbolize a variety of meanings, often related to strength, protection, and stability.
Castles are traditionally seen as fortresses and seats of power, representing safety and security.
A Castle Tattoo can also be related to the ‘Tower’ tarot card, symbolizing destruction and crisis, awakening and enlightenment, and personal transformation.
Swallow Tattoo On Arm
Swallow Tattoos, not to be mistaken with Sparrow Tattoos are most commonly associated as a Sailor Tattoo.
These tattoos were used by sailors to showcase their sailing experience, being customary for sailors to get a swallow tattoo after successfully navigating 5,000 nautical miles for the first swallow and 10,000 for the second.
Swallow Tattoos also symbolize love and loyalty due to Swallows usually partnering for life.
Samurai Frog Tattoo
For something a little unique, try out something like this super cool Samurai Frog Tattoo.
The Samurai were the ruling class during the Heian period (794-1185) as land-owning warriors tasked with defending their territories and serving the interests of higher aristocracy and the Imperial court.
They followed a code known as the Bushido, which emphasized virtues such as loyalty, honor, obedience, duty, filial piety, and self-sacrifice.
Daruma Tattoo
A Daruma doll is a traditional Japanese talisman that symbolizes perseverance, good luck, and the accomplishment of goals.
Styled after Bodhidharma, the founder of the Zen sect of Buddhism, these dolls are typically red, round, and hollow, with a weighted bottom that allows them to return to an upright position when tilted.
Space Tattoo
For those of you who have dreams of exploring the stars one day, why not try out a Space Tattoo?
This amazing tattoo has slices of space layered on top of each other with an astronaut floating in front of them.
Baphomet Arm Tattoo
The Baphomet, despite its association with devil worship and demons, was actually originally a symbol of balance, the unity and conflict of opposites, freedom of thought, and defiance of traditional norms.
Its association with devil worship is possibly linked with the Knights Templar, who were accused of idolatry and heresy, part of which included worshipping an idol named Baphomet.
Atlus Tattoo
Atlus is one of the Titans from Greek mythology.
After losing the war against the Gods, Zeus condemned Atlas to hold up the sky for eternity, a punishment often mistaken for holding the world.
Atlus was briefly relieved of his duty during one of the tales of Hercules when he took the skies on his shoulders to trick Atlas into retrieving golden apples for one of his twelve labors.
Sword On Arm Tattoo
Sword Tattoos have a range of symbolism, usually centered around strength, courage, and resilience.
They can also symbolize protection, defense, justice, authority, honor, valor, sacrifice, and suffering.
In a spiritual or metaphysical sense, swords can represent the struggle between good and evil or the personal battles one faces within themselves.
Landscape Tattoo On Arm
For something a little different, try out a beautiful landscape tattoo.
This gorgeous tattoo design is of a beautiful mountain range landscape with the sun either rising or setting from behind the mountain peak.
It also contains an oriental boat with beautiful reflection effects and some birds flying overhead.
Raijin Tattoo
Raijin is the thunder god of Japanese myth and one of the most famous and revered gods in the Shinto religion.
Alongside Fujin (check the Instagram for Fujin’s design), the god of wind, Raijin plays a crucial role in the natural elements of the world.
According to myth, Raijin was born from the divine pair Izanami and Izanagi during the creation of Japan.
Blue Monkey Frescoes Inspired Tattoo
This lovely piece is inspired by the ‘Blue Monkey Frescoes,’ the celebrated artwork from the ancient Minoan civilization found on the island of Crete, particularly in the archaeological site of Knossos.
Unlike the baboons in the original artwork, this beautiful piece contains capuchins instead.
Tiger Arm Tattoo
Tiger Tattoos have a lot of symbolism stemming from the Tiger being the apex predator in its territory.
This symbolism includes strength, power, courage, bravery, freedom, independence, and royalty, to name a few.
In Chinese culture the Tiger is associated with the aspect of Yin in the Chinese philosophical concept of Yin-Yang, representing femininity, darkness, passivity, and the earth.
Insect Tattoo
If you love tattoos such as Butterfly Tattoos but are more of a night person, why not get something like this cute nighttime insect tattoo?
This adorable Tattoo Design contains some Moth Tattoos, Firefly Tattoos, and for those with a keen eye, also contains a Studio Ghibli Tattoo in the form of a little dust sprite near the bottom.
Icarus Tattoo
Icarus was the son of the renowned inventor Daedalus, the creator of the Labyrinth on Crete, where King Minos held the Minotaur captive.
After falling out with the King, Daedalus and Icarus were imprisoned in a tower on Crete to prevent Daedalus from spreading knowledge of the Labyrinth.
To escape, Daedalus crafted two sets of wings for himself and Icarus, made from feathers and wax.
Daedalus warned Icarus not to fly too low, as the sea’s dampness could clog his wings, nor too high, as the sun’s heat would melt the wax.
However, Icarus, exhilarated by the experience, flew too close to the sun, and true to his father’s warning, the wax in his wings melted, plummeting Icarus into the sea where he drowned.
An Icarus Tattoo serves as a reminder of the dangers of overestimation of one’s abilities and the consequences of defying limitations.
Chameleon Tattoo
Contrary to popular belief, chameleons usually change color in response to temperature, light, and emotional changes rather than just camouflage.
A chameleon tattoo can represent your ability to adapt and thrive in various circumstances just like how a Chameleon can change its skin color.
Howl’s Moving Castle Tattoo
Howl’s Moving Castle is an acclaimed fantasy novel written by British author Diana Wynne Jones, first published in 1986.
The 2004 Japanese animated film of the same name is loosely based on the 1986 novel.
The film follows Sophie, a young hatmaker who is cursed by the Witch of the Waste, turning her into an old woman.
Seeking to break the curse, she encounters Howl, a mysterious and powerful wizard, and moves into his magical, ambulatory castle.
Fan Tattoo
For a mix of a few different things, why not try out this adorable Fan Tattoo?
This beautiful design contains a fan with some waterlilies as its pattern and this wearer’s sleepy cat towards the bottom.
Water lilies are frequently associated with calm, tranquility, and peace due to their smooth, floating appearance on water surfaces.
Galaxy Girl Tattoo
Another for our Space Tattoo Designs, this time of a Galaxy girl holding a ringed planet similar to Saturn.
This Tattoo Design by the amazing tattooist_sigak has an incredible blending of its vibrant color palette, giving it an ethereal feel.
Turtle Tattoo
Turtles are revered in many cultures for their symbolism and the qualities they represent.
Turtle Tattoos can symbolize protection, stability, and a solid grounding due to their hard shells, but can also represent patience and pace with their connection to stories such as the rabbit and the hare.
Abstract Arm Tattoo
Abstract Tattoos are great for those who value art that speaks to personal interpretation and emotional expression.
They allow the wearers to showcase their unique perspectives and inner thoughts through nontraditional designs.
Bird Tattoo On Arm
Bird Tattoos are great for those who want to carry themes of freedom with them wherever they go.
With approximately 10,000 to 11,000 recognized species of birds in the world, you’re in no shortage of potential Tattoo Designs.
Snake On Arm Tattoo
Despite their often fearsome reputation, thanks to tales such as the Garden of Eden, Snake Tattoos have a lot of positive symbolism.
This includes themes of transformation and rebirth due to how snakes shed their skin, healing and medicine stemming from the ancient Rod of Asclepius, which features a single serpent entwined around a staff and is a traditional symbol of medicine, and also wisdom, and knowledge.
Mandala On Arm Tattoo
Mandala Tattoos are often used as tools in spiritual rituals to aid meditation and symbolize the journey towards enlightenment.
They can represent a personal or spiritual journey or a quest for understanding.
The symmetrical nature of mandalas brings visual harmony and balance, symbolizing the balance one might seek in life.
Conclusion
So ends our journey through the wonderful world of arm tattoos. We hope that with our help, you’ve found the inspiration you’ve been looking for.
But hey, if Arm Tattoos still haven’t inspired you, check out these amazing Ear Tattoo designs, these Chest Tattoo ideas, or our Wrist Tattoo article.
