The Best Mini Tattoos Ever Created

And though these designs are small, it doesn’t mean they’re simple. “In fact, for tattoos, it is literally the opposite,” says Strong. “A very small, very simple tattoo is much harder to execute well than most tattoo clients understand. Even the smallest mistake is very obvious when a design is more simple, especially black line work alone.” The tiny designs also require a fair amount of time to execute. For his part, Melas says it can take upwards of three hours for certain designs.

27 Tiny Tattoos to Take to Your Favorite Artist

Delicate Rose

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A rose is a classic design, but this one’s delicate nature and unique placement make it a memorable choice. As with all body art, determining your tastes is the best way to ensure your design is something you want to live with forever. “It’s more important to figure out what you like rather than what the tattoo rules say,” says Strong.

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Words to Live By

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Celebrities are also fans of tiny tattoos—Selena Gomez included. To celebrate and memorialize the release of her third studio album, Rare, Gomez chose to ink her neck with the album’s title.

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Petite Plane

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This plane’s playful nature is furthered by its tiny size. And though the design may seem simple, don’t be fooled. “Just because something is small or simple does not mean it’s ‘easy,’” says Strong of tiny tattoos in general.

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Line Wine

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One of the best parts of a tiny tattoo is the inherent permission to take it all a little less seriously. Though a giant wine glass may seem like overkill, a miniaturized version (complete with tiny heart) reads more sweet than statement. It’s perfect for sommeliers and wine-lovers alike.

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Small Suits

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“If you have very few tattoos, I like them in little tucked-away spots like the back of the wrist or behind the ear,” says Strong. This would-be subtle tattoo gains boldness points for its red hue and unexpected motif, an understated ode to a deck of cards.

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Starry Sky

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Rihanna is no stranger to tattoos. And while she sports some larger designers she also has thrown some smaller scale ink into the mix. The tiny stars at the back of her neck are relatively subtle even when hair is styled into an updo.

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Wispy Willow

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While some tiny tattoos are all about a single-line style, this wispy willow features texture and detailing that finds it somewhere between realistic and fantastical. This design is delicate and dreamy, all without taking up much external real estate. If you’re a nature lover, this tat is for you.

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Little Wings

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Birds can represent so many things: travel, freedom, growth, or just a sweet flight of fancy. This baby bird is minimal, but it’s also detailed enough to demand a closer look. The design is so gorgeous that it may make the perfect matching tattoo for you and your bestie.

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Cutesy Collage

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Why limit yourself to one tiny tattoo when you can have several? “You can embroider your body over time, adding small tattoos to your collection because there is always room to add a micro tattoo into your skin,” says Melas. This colorful collage style highlights the doodle-like nature of a tiny tattoo—and it’s super cute.

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Plants and Planets

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Itsy bitsy planets are a fun way to honor the enormity of space. And adding a teeny-tiny plant near it is a great way to keep yourself grounded. To make the tats further complement each other, you can embellish the moon with plants.

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Itty Bitty Evil Eye

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Ankles are one of Melas’s favorite placements for tiny tattoos. Etched on the back of the ankle, this “super tiny evil eye” offers pretty protection (eyes in the back and all) and a forever sort of accessory. It’s especially cool that you wouldn’t know this is there unless you actively looked for it.

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Baby Bolt

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Lightning bolts represent energy, and getting one tatted on the inside of your arm may give you a jolt every time you look at it. Plus, this placement has less fading potential than, say, putting it on your fingers, While you could certainly get this tiny tattoo filled in, there’s something even more alluring about getting just the outline,

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Butterfly Band

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Tiny tattoos need not stand alone. In fact, they can look just as dainty if you arrange a lot of them in close proximity. A classic around-the-arm band gets a modern twist when built from a flight of tiny butterflies. 

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Slight Starburst

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A tattoo positioned on the top of the finger rather than the side (where the design is destined to rub against digits) means less chance of unwanted fading, along with increased visibility. This incredibly delicate starburst piece makes the case for abstract art and a unique take on the popular twinkle trend.

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Single Shot

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Calling all coffee lovers. With a small, permanent cup, demonstrate your commitment to your daily dose of espresso. A fine-line design and detached elements result in a slightly abstract (and extra artsy) interpretation.

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Sacred Heart

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The sacred heart is an enduring spiritual symbol, and Melas’s interpretation features an anatomically correct iteration. “The single needle is the finest line in the tattoo industry and allows me to put a lot of details in a very small space,” explains Melas. As you can see, the heart itself is wildly detailed—as are the linear dots coming out of it.

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Single Line Symbols

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Why not wear your star sign on your sleeve—or fingers? A quartet of tiny astrological signs shows off personality traits (IYKYK) and instantly elevates your manicure. In case you were wondering, the symbols here are (from left to right and top to bottom) Aries, Capricorn, Taurus, and Libra.

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Mini Jellyfish

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The ethereal aesthetic of a jellyfish lends well to a small design. A tangle of tentacles practically demands a fine line, particularly when positioned along the top of a finger. That said, you can get a little more playful with the shading of the top of the jellyfish.

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The Stones

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This little rock ‘n’ roll homage makes a splashy statement. The Rolling Stones’ logo is silly, subversive, and immediately recognizable. But turned tiny and placed on the inside of the arm, the bit of iconography becomes more personal.

The tattoo here is pretty basic, but you can add a pop of color to personalize it. Consider making the lips red, the teeth white, and the tongue pink.

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Dainty Dragonfly

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This dainty dragonfly communicates a sense of whimsy—quietly, of course. Dragonflies aren’t the smallest of insects but even reimagined at this pared-down size, the spiritual flyer is afforded a wealth of shading and detailing, making it more realistic than expected.

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Soft Shell

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Whether you’re eager to commemorate a coastal vacation or simply a love of the sea, this super small seashell is the perfect example of a teensy tattoo. Though simple, the shell features just enough shading to offer depth, creating a realistic look. The shell here is on the larger side, but this tat would also work if you shrunk it.

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Fragile Flower

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This slip of a bloom is the ultimate example of understated. From the sweetly delicate design to the light touch to the concealable placement, the poppy provides an easy entry point into the world of ink—the perfect first tattoo.

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Lovely Dove