These Small Tattoos Are The Perfect Intro To Ink (2024)

Tiny tattoos are a great way to decorate your body without spending a ton of time writhing in pain. And, depending on what you get and where you get it, they can still have as big of an impact as one that takes up a lot of surface area. Don’t believe us? Just take a look at these small tattoo ideas.

From thin lines to artful dots to mini text, these ink ideas will help you bedazzle your body a little bit at a time. Glitter not included.

And really, not recommended. That stuff gets everywhere. Let’s just stick to the ink, okay?

17 Small Tattoo Ideas

1. Moon Cycle Tattoo

It may look like the stages of eating a cookie, but this little cutie represents the waxing and waning of the moon. Obviously – there’s no chocolate chips anywhere.

2. Mountain Range Outline Tattoo

Remember your hiking trip forever by getting a mountain range outlined in ink. Remember the run-in with the bear by the terrifying memory it left in your soul.

3. Small Angel Numbers Tattoo

You won’t have to look out for them on license plates and microwaves when you have it on the back of your hand. Because, typing them into your calculator doesn’t really count.

4. Minimalist Line Art Tattoo

This is what happens when Jack’s painting of a French girl gets interrupted. But we dig it!

5. Butterfly Tattoo

It’s giving transformation; it’s giving change; it’s giving us flashbacks to our elementary school lesson about a monarch’s life cycle.

6. Kitchen Utensils Tattoo

Tell us you’ve watched The Bear too many times, without telling us you’ve watched The Bear too many times. Just please don’t tell us you use these for a hobby outside of the kitchen.

7. Mushroom Ink

Getting this tattoo might not be easier to endure than foraging, but it won’t leave dirt under your nails for the next week.

8. Ice Cream Tattoo

It would be totally acceptable if you screamed for this ice cream. At least it won’t melt the second you step outside.

9. Lightning Bolts Tattoo

Supercharge your feet with this small tattoo idea. And then could you come a little closer? Our phone is about to die.

10. Wavy Line of Text

The best part about this design is that it’s perfect for anyone who could never write on lined paper. Sure, skin is a little different, but the concept still stands.

11. Tiny Heart Tattoo

Wearing your heart on your sleeve is so overrated. Shrink it down and put it on your finger, instead. We love confusing people and creating new idioms. Which often go hand in hand.

12. Your Favorite Coffee Method

There are tons of ways to brew coffee, and some of them are more artistic than others. We love the look of this percolator…even if we just go through the Starbucks drive-through most mornings.

13. Moon and Star Tattoo

This celestial tattoo is out of this world. But don’t worry – it’s still in this universe. Unless Dr. Strange has anything to say about it.

14. Your Zodiac Sign

Sun, Moon, Rising… you can turn any of them into a small tattoo. Just let us know so we can avoid you Geminis.

15. Colorful Ink

Just because it’s small, doesn’t mean it can’t be bold. We love this pop of green because it makes us feel like we’re in nature. Even when we’ve been stuck inside an office for 10 hours.

16. Your Pet

Shrink your furry friend down into a few pixels so you can keep them close wherever you are. Except if it’s the vet. They want nothing to do with that place.

16. Stick Figure Tattoo

We’re sure your tattoo artist can draw some impressive images, but why not make things easy for them with these simple lines? They could use a break after seeing Ben Affleck at their last appointment.

17. Artsy Dotted Tattoo

They say that there’s power in numbers, and all these little dots definitely make a powerful image. But don’t blame us if it causes a constant hissing sound.