Placement matters as much as the design. A tattoo can have great lines and color and still disappoint you because it sits in the wrong spot. A good placement follows the shape of your body, ages well and suits your daily life, including work. A poor one can stretch or bend the design, hurt more than you expected and be hard to cover when you need to.
This guide goes through the main areas of the body and covers pain, styles that fit, healing and how easy each spot is to hide. Pain scores are rough guides on a scale of 1 to 10, since everyone feels pain differently. For a closer look at pain, see our tattoo pain chart. For how big a tattoo should be on each spot, see our tattoo size chart.
Arm, shoulder and chest tattoos
The outer upper arm and shoulder are among the most popular spots. The outside of the upper arm is fairly flat and well padded with muscle, so pain is usually low, around 3-4 out of 10. It works for almost anything, from a small minimalist symbol to a large neo-traditional eagle or a detailed geometric half sleeve. The curve of the shoulder suits round designs like a mandala or a compass.
The inner upper arm is different. The skin is thinner and more sensitive, so it hurts more. It is also easy to hide and feels more private, which some people like.
The forearm is one of the most common choices of all, especially for a first tattoo. It is easy to show and easy to cover with a long sleeve. Our forearm tattoo guide covers it in detail.
Chest tattoos range from small fine line or ornamental pieces on the sternum to full chest pieces across both sides. Pain changes a lot across the chest. The outer chest is moderate, around 4-5 out of 10. Near the sternum and collarbone the skin is thin and sits right over bone, so pain can reach 7-9 out of 10. The chest is broad and fairly flat, which suits symmetrical designs, lettering and large illustrative pieces. If you have breast tissue, the skin there will shift with weight changes and age, so plan the placement with your artist.
Leg, thigh and foot tattoos
The thigh is one of the most underrated spots. It has one of the largest flat areas on the body, so it suits detailed realism, full scenes, portraits and big Japanese-style pieces. Pain on the outer thigh is low, around 2-4 out of 10, and it is easy to cover at work. The front of the thigh is also popular for large illustrative work, since the wide surface leaves room for a lot of detail.
The inner thigh is more sensitive, and the skin there is more likely to loosen over time. Designs in this area should allow for some stretching, which matters most for geometric designs with straight lines.
The calf is a good middle ground. Pain is moderate, around 3-5 out of 10, and the muscle gives good padding. The skin usually holds ink well over the years. Long, vertical designs like snakes and daggers fit the calf, and designs that wrap around it, like flowers or geometric bands, follow its natural curve.
Ankle and foot tattoos are popular for fine line and minimalist designs, but they have real downsides. Pain is high, around 6-8 out of 10, because the skin sits close to bone and nerves. Healing is harder, since the area moves all the time and sits inside shoes for much of the day. Ink also tends to hold poorly, especially on the top of the foot, so touch-ups every few years are common. If you want a tattoo here, choose bolder lines over very fine detail.
Back, rib and stomach tattoos
The back is the largest area you can tattoo, and it suits large pieces better than anywhere else. A full back piece takes many sessions and often dozens of hours, so it is a big commitment. The upper back and shoulder blades are moderate, around 4-5 out of 10. The spine is much more intense, around 7-8 out of 10. Popular back placements include upper back panels, designs that run down the spine, full Japanese back pieces and ornamental work between the shoulder blades. The wide, flat surface gives a design room to spread out.
Ribs are one of the most requested spots and one of the most painful, around 7-9 out of 10. The skin is thin and sits right over bone, and the area moves every time you breathe, which makes it hard for both you and the artist. Vertical script, florals and fine line work look great along the ribs. Shorter sessions of two to three hours work best, and healing can take a little longer because the area is always moving.
Stomach tattoos hurt about as much as many other areas, but the skin there stretches a lot with weight changes and pregnancy. That can bend a design, so fine line and geometric designs are a risky choice on the stomach.
Hand, neck and face tattoos
Hands, neck and face are often called "job stoppers" in the tattoo world. The label matters less than it used to, but many artists still prefer not to tattoo these spots unless you already have a lot of tattoos. There are practical reasons too. Tattoos here fade fast because of sun, rubbing and quick skin renewal, and the shape of these areas makes them harder to tattoo well. Finger tattoos often need a touch-up within a year or two, and lines can break up as you use your hands. See our hand tattoo ideas for designs that hold up better.
Behind the ear is a common first visible spot. It is small, can be hidden with hair and is moderately painful, around 5-6 out of 10. Side and back of neck tattoos are popular for fine line and lettering, and longer hair or a collar can cover some of them. The front of the neck and the throat are among the most painful and most visible spots of all, so they suit people who are sure they want very visible tattoos.
If you are thinking about a face tattoo, talk to several experienced artists and give yourself at least six months to think it over before you decide.
How to choose the right placement for your design
Start with the design, then find the spot. A wide, horizontal design like a landscape needs a wide area such as the outer forearm or upper back. A long, vertical design like a sword or snake fits the spine, calf or forearm. Round designs like mandalas look best on curved areas like the shoulder or knee. Your artist has seen how many designs sit on different parts of the body, so ask for their opinion at the consultation.
Size and placement go together. A design that fits a forearm may look cramped on a wrist, and small fine details can blur on a spot that moves or rubs a lot. Our tattoo size chart shows what fits where. Size also affects the price. On Inkjin, most small designs cost €80-€140 and medium designs €140-€200, and you can check your own idea with the tattoo price estimator. Before you book, you can try designs on your body with AR to test the size and spot.
Think about the long term too. Ask yourself where you want your tattoos to be in five years. A forearm piece might later become part of a half sleeve, and a thigh piece could grow into a full leg sleeve. A good artist can help you plan placements so your tattoos fit together over time. Your lifestyle matters as well. If you play sports or do physical work, think about how movement and rubbing will affect each spot. If your job is conservative, think about what will show in your work clothes.
