Ink on Point: A Comprehensive Tattoo Placement Guide

Where you place your new tattoo is as important as its size and design. A design that looks exceptional on paper might not look as great on certain areas of your body. The natural curves and shapes of each area of your body can reflect the design differently. For example, a stylish hyper-realistic eye tattoo can look incredible on your inner bicep, although the same design might seem smushed and out of place on the side of your neck. The design will warp and distort as you turn and move your neck. 

Tattoos are forever, so you’ll want to spend some time finding the perfect place on your skin. In this guide, we’ll help you figure out how to plan tattoo placement.

Factors to Consider Before Choosing a Tattoo Placement

When deciding where your new art will look best, there are a couple of factors to consider. From pain tolerance to visibility, these factors can help you find the right place for your new ink.

Pain Tolerance

Placement can impact your pain tolerance — an upper arm tattoo is agreeably less painful than a neck or hand tattoo. A detailed tattoo placement pain chart can help you choose a spot that suits your pain tolerance. 

If you have a moderate to high pain threshold or decide to use a numbing product like ELECTRUM Numb Anesthetic Spray, you could consider these painful places to tattoo:

• Armpits
• Rib cage
• Ankles and shins
• Chest
• Elbows and kneecaps
• Neck and spine
• Head and face
• Hands and fingers
• Feet and toes

The least painful places to tattoo include:

• Upper outer thighs
• Forearms
• Outer shoulders
• Outer bicep
• Upper and lower back

Visibility

You’ll also need to consider visibility. Do you want everyone to notice your new ink or are you hoping to keep the art hidden? If your career path suggests you’ll need to cover up your tattoo, consider how placement might impact your future. 

Popular Tattoo Placement Areas

Whether you’re keeping up with the latest trends or avoiding them, common tattoo placements are less about popularity and more about practicality. The more commonly chosen spaces convey body art more easily than the particular areas. 

For example, upper arms are a common choice because a flatter, slightly rounded space is easier to work on and can convey most tattoo designs well. In contrast, armpits and inner lips are intricate spots that can challenge an artist’s skills and limit design options. 

Some of the most popular tattoo placements include:

• Arms: Forearms, wrists and upper arms are trendy spots for anyone who wants to show off their new ink. These areas suit most designs and if you place your new ink well, it could be the start of a full or half sleeve. 
• Back: Shoulder blades, the spine and the lower back are practical areas, especially if you’ll need to hide your ink.
• Chest: Although chests are among the most painful places to tattoo, they are a popular space worth considering. 
• Legs: Upper thighs, calves and ankles are great spaces for ink. Leg tattoos are also pretty easy to hide.

Small vs. Large Tattoos: Placement Considerations

If you plan on getting a large tattoo, your placement options will be more limited. It’s worthwhile to consider working with your artist to choose a space for the expansive piece. Professional artists can customize your idea to follow the contours of your body. Usually, the best spots for large tattoos are the back, chest, outer thighs and upper arms.

You might wonder if you can simply make your tattoo design smaller for more placement options. Shrinking down a detailed design’s size is often not the best decision. Intricate designs should be large enough to convey the details properly. Over time, the lines will blur and blend or expand slightly. So, a highly detailed tiny tattoo can age into an inky blur. 

On the other hand, if your desired design is small and simplistic, you could place it anywhere, although that doesn’t mean you should. A two to four-inch design can look great on your wrist, hand or ankle, but a tiny tattoo might not fit as well on your bare upper arm or chest.

Hidden vs. Visible Tattoos: Impact on Placement Choices

While power pieces on the face, neck, hands and chest are difficult to cover, these placements make a statement. If you’re after a power piece, it’s key to fully understand how your art may shift social perceptions of you. Society may be well on its way to grasping the importance of self-expression and acceptance of all, although face and neck tattoos are still widely considered job stoppers. 

For less of a statement, you could consider conservative tattoo placements. These spots offer a perfect placement for word tattoos and tiny designs that are easy to hide:

• Rib cage
• Thighs
• Hips
• Behind the ear
• Lower chest
• Back

You could also balance visibility and discretion with tattoo placements that can be covered up without much hassle. Upper arm and leg tattoos can be covered with more clothing or be made visible with less clothing. 

Special Considerations for Specific Designs or Styles

The style of your design may also dictate the best placement. Beyond the size and visibility, certain tattoo styles work best in specific spots. 

Geometric, floral, tribal and other pattern designs work well on most areas of the body. The artists can customize them to fit just about anywhere. Even so, some spots, like the neck, arms and legs, are best for pattern designs.

Portrait and realism tattoo designs have a lot of detail and shading. These designs need ample space and flatter areas, so the back, upper arm, forearm and outer thighs are best. Neotraditional tattoos boast exceptional color and bold linework. Depending on the size, this design style works well anywhere. 

Patchwork tattoos are an increasingly popular trend. This style involves a series of different-sized tattoos that ignore any placement order. Word tattoos are also quite popular. The best placement for word tattoos is usually the upper back, spine, forearm and inner bicep.

Unconventional Tattoo Placements: Thinking Outside the Box

While the average tattoo in a popular placement can make a statement, unconventional placements are not for the faint of heart. Beyond being in an unusual place, peculiar placements also tend to be among the more painful areas to tattoo.

Some of the most peculiar tattoo placements include:

• Elbows
• Knees
• Toes
• Inside the ears
• Eyelids

Tattoo Placement Aftercare 

Where you place your new tattoo will impact aftercare. If you decide to tattoo your feet, you’ll have a hard time bathing or showering without getting your feet wet and you might also have a hard time wearing shoes. Back tattoos can also be tricky to heal — applying aftercare products thoroughly on your own can be difficult. 

While your tattoo is healing, you’ll need to use products like ELECTRUM Gold Standard Foaming Wash and Aftercare and Mamba Glide Tattoo Glide Aftercare. So, if you decide to tattoo your back, arrange for a friend or family member to help with tattoo aftercare. 

Consult Your Artist Before Committing to Tattoo Placements

The placement of your tattoo can impact everything from the quality of your design and your pain tolerance to aftercare. Whether you’re after a power piece on your hand, a detailed work of art on your back or elegant, permanent jewelry designs on your fingers, consult with your artists before making a decision. Your artist can help you navigate tattoo placement planning and recommend the best spot for your desired design.

Shop Tattoo Supplies and Aftercare Products From ELECTRUM Tattoo Supply

We have a wide selection of tattoo equipment, supplies and aftercare products for every stage of the tattoo journey. Choose from healing ointments and washes to care for your new tattoo, or review all our quality tattoo supplies. 

For more insights, tips and trends in the world of tattooing, check out our blog.