108 Chest Tattoos For Men: Small, Half & Unique Pieces To Get Inspired

The best chest tattoo design ideas out there for anyone looking to level up their ink.

108 Chest Tattoos For Men: Small, Half & Unique Pieces To Get Inspired

Image; DMARGE/Popsugar

Whether you wear tank tops or V-neck shirts, chest art pieces can make you look cooler than you really are and you’re bound to turn the heads of many many ladies.

Does a chest tattoo hurt?

Having some muscle or fat in your chest can help reduce the pain somewhat, but it is certainly one of the more painful areas for tattoos. It will test your mettle, but with every breath, you will emerge on the other side, not just with a beautiful tattoo, but with a story to tell.

How much does a chest tattoo cost?

The cost of a chest tattoo can range from approximately $200 to $1,500 or more. To get an accurate quote for your specific chest tattoo design, consult directly with the tattoo artist. They can provide you with a personalized estimate based on your desired tattoo and their expertise.

But the design must be chosen carefully for chest tattoos for men to look good and timeless. So, if you want to showcase your new piece in that cool V-neck shirt, then you must go for a special model. You can either pick a tattoo for the simple fact that it’s beautiful or you can choose something more meaningful to get tattooed in this spot. But if you’re out of ideas, we’re here to help.

Wing Chest Tattoos

Wing Chest Tattoo

Perhaps one of the most popular chest tattoos for men is the wing tattoo. Due to the shape and size of the area, you can settle for either small or large wings. Besides, you can choose angel wings, bat wings, and anything in between, depending on what you like and want to represent. 

Heart Chest Tattoos

Heart Chest Tattoo

Hearts fit the chest area very nicely, whether you go for a simple, cartoon-style heart, or an anatomical piece. Anatomically correct designs can be cool for making a statement and 3D pieces can even look like they’re getting out of your chest. However, no matter the type of heart you choose, it’s a great way to send a message of friendship and love. 

Compass Chest Tattoos

Compass Chest Tattoo

Compass chest tattoos have been extremely popular among sailors and navy officers. Today, they are still a staple for this category of people, but they also make great tattoos for people who love the sea. Compass tattoos can be placed in the middle of your chest or on one side. 

Tribal Chest Tattoos

Tribal Chest Tattoo

In the past, tribal tattoos were used to represent one’s tribal identity, as well as their wealth or social status. Today, they may not serve the same purpose anymore, yet they are still one of the most popular chest tattoo ideas for men. Tribal chest tattoos will look amazing, no matter how large they are or what patterns you settle for. 

Geometric Chest Tattoos

Geometric Chest Tattoo

Geometric tattoos have become quite common lately and the chest is a great area for such a piece of art. Geometric tattoos can be simple, or they can create a certain design, such as an animal, a flower, or any other design you like. You can add them on one side of the chest, the whole torso, or the middle of your chest.

Flower Chest Tattoos

Flower Chest Tattoo

While women are more likely to choose flower tattoos, men can also pull them off. Roses make popular designs, but you can also go for other flowers, especially if you want the tattoo to symbolize something specific. To make the tattoo manlier, you can mix flowers with other elements such as guns or skulls. 

Small Chest Tattoos

Small Chest Tattoo

Although the chest area is an ideal canvas that many artists will love to work on, covering the entire surface is not an option for everyone. A small tattoo can be a cover up chest tattoo. It can also grab people’s attention, and it may be better at representing something special to you.

Name Chest Tattoos

Name Chest Tattoo

The chest is a great area for name tattoos. If you truly love someone in your life and want their name inked on you forever, the chest provides an ideal surface for that. You can have the name tattooed in your heart area to make it feel more special. 

3D Chest Tattoos

3D Chest Tattoo

3D chest tattoos create a cool effect on your skin, making the drawing come to life. Only select artists can pull it off, so something like this should be researched carefully. While the tattoos are spectacular, it takes a long time to finish a piece like this, so make sure you’re ready for the process.

Roman Numerals Chest Tattoos

Roman Numerals Chest Tattoo

With Roman numerals, you can represent important dates for you. What’s so great about this particular type of design is that it can work amazingly with other tattoos if you decide to add more designs to your body. On top of that, you’ll have a meaningful piece that you’ll carry for the rest of your life.

Full Chest Tattoos

Full Chest Tattoo

Filling up your whole chest with some beautiful art can completely transform the way your body looks – in a good way. Not only does this give you the chance of having a large and complex piece on your skin, but it will also offer you the confidence to stay shirtless more often. 

Wolf Chest Tattoos

Wolf Chest Tattoo

Everyone knows that wolves are ferocious, but also powerful and loyal to their pack. Wolf tattoos are for men who value strength, leadership, and loyalty above all. What better way to show this if not by getting a wolf inked on your chest? 

Lion Chest Tattoos

Lion Chest Tattoo

Similar to wolves, lions are among the most popular designs for chest tattoos, and for a good reason. The lion is renowned as the King of the Jungle, and the animal is strong and brave, with a bite that can kill prey in an instant. Because lions are also so easy to recognize, they can be represented in various artistic styles. 

Tiger Chest Tattoos

Tiger Chest Tattoo

Tigers are symbols of strength and power. They make great chest pieces, whether you go for something for the middle of the area or cover the entire chest with a tiger design. You can opt for a black-and-white scheme or go for a colorful tattoo, and it will still look majestic. 

Half Chest Tattoos

Half Chest Tattoo

You don’t have to cover your whole chest with a tattoo. If you want a piece of art in this area, there’s also the option of having half of the chest covered only. There are various designs that would work for this type of tattoo and the good thing is that you can always add more elements to fill up the entire chest area if you want to. 

Viking Chest Tattoos

Viking Chest Tattoo

Whether you respect god Odin or you are simply drawn to Vikings, a Viking tattoo will certainly stand out in a good way. There’s no shortage of tattoo ideas in this case – you can represent Viking warriors fighting, Odin, the Yggdrasil tree of life, and other elements. 

Japanese Chest Tattoos

Japanese Chest Tattoo

Nobody can deny the fact that Japanese tattoos are true works of art. They are unique in the world of tattoos due to their special elements and vivid colors, and they look just like paintings. Both colorful and black-and-white options can look powerful, and you can add any elements you want. You just need to make sure you find the right artist to make your tattoo stand out. 

Family Chest Tattoos

Family Chest Tattoo

A strong, confident man who loves his family is not afraid to be open about it. This tattoo idea is great for these types of men. You can get the word “Family” inked on your chest or get the names or portraits of your loved ones in this body area. 

Skull Chest Tattoos

Skull Chest Tattoo

Skulls symbolize many things depending on the person getting the tattoo. It can be a way to show how tough you are, but also something that symbolizes mortality and death, or the ability to overcome difficulties. It doesn’t matter if you want to send a strong message or if you just like skulls – the chest is a great spot for these tattoos.

Line Art Chest Tattoos

Line Art Chest Tattoo

Classic and refined men will appreciate line art tattoos. This type of design can create bold shapes across your skin, and the best part about it is that it has plenty of details, making it truly magnificent on your chest. 

Owl Chest Tattoos

Owl Chest Tattoo

Owls are symbols of wisdom and knowledge. For this reason, owl tattoos allow you to show your appreciation for these values. You can choose to have an owl tattoo for design purposes, to send a message, or simply because you’re a Harry Potter fan – anything works.

Quote Chest Tattoos

Quote Chest Tattoo

Quote tattoos are some of the best chest tattoos for men because the chest area offers a large surface that can fit any quote. If you want to have a longer quote written on your body, the chest makes it possible to pick special fonts and a larger text. 

Eagle Chest Tattoos

Eagle Chest Tattoo

With an eagle tattoo, you can show off how strong you are as a man. This tattoo design can show that you strive for high achievements and that you never back away from a challenge. Moreover, if you spread the eagle’s wings across the torso, you will create a very cool effect. 

Snake Chest Tattoos

Snake Chest Tattoo

Snakes are great elements for any tattoo style, and they can also embrace any body area very nicely. The snake eating itself is one of the most common ideas as it symbolizes the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. However, you can also mix snake tattoos with flowers, skulls, or other elements for a badass design. 

Phoenix Chest Tattoos

Phoenix Chest Tattoo

Magical creatures like phoenixes never go unnoticed. These majestic birds can represent the fact that you are not afraid to let go of your old life and get started with a completely new stage. A phoenix can look amazing covering your entire chest, but you can also pick a design that covers only one side of the chest. 

Dagger Chest Tattoos

Dagger Chest tattoo

A dagger chest tattoo can fit the middle of your chest. This design is very common, especially as daggers have so many meanings. This piece can represent bravery, sacrifice, and protection, but also loss, danger, and betrayal. 

Cross Chest Tattoos

Chest Cross Tattoo Source @cassytattoo via Instagram

If you want something just between your pectorals, you can opt for a cross tattoo, particularly if you’re fond of faith and religion. This is a wonderful way to show that you’re a man of God without having to get a large, outstanding piece in this area.

Star Chest Tattoos

Star Chest Tattoo

Star tattoos are some of the pieces that will never lose their charm. This classic design can represent spirituality, truth, or your love for the dark, starry sky. There are many ways you can go with this, such as getting a galaxy across your chest or getting one star on each side of the upper chest. 

Feather Chest Tattoos

Feather Chest Tattoo

Something as simple as a feather can have a deep meaning. Feather tattoos can represent confidence, willpower, courage, freedom, and lightness. On your chest, they can make a statement, and they’re also great if you don’t want to go overboard with the design.  

Ship Chest Tattoos

Ship Chest Tattoo

Ship tattoos are among the most common designs for the chest area. They fall into the sea theme, and if you love everything about the sea, you will definitely appreciate this kind of tattoo. It can also represent your thirst for change and adventure. 

Kaleidoscope Chest Tattoos

Kaleidoscope Chest Tattoo

Mystery and wonder – this is what a kaleidoscope tattoo design can represent. These pieces can be unique if your artist knows how to combine lines and shapes to create an original design. The model can be kept in black ink to emphasize the mystery symbolistic. 

Crown Chest Tattoos

Crown Chest Tattoo

Crowns are worn by kings, but even if you’re not part of the royal family, your attitude can also make you feel and look like a king. Overall, king chest tattoos for men can symbolize a desire for power, but also confidence.

Mechanical Chest Tattoos

Mechanical Chest tattoo

Some men love mechanical designs in every way, and perhaps you are in the same boat. Whether you go for something simpler or a more realistic design, this piece can look terrific on your upper torso. You can even combine this with the heart design we’ve talked about in the beginning for a unique piece of art. 

Dragon Chest Tattoos

Dragon Chest Tattoo

With a dragon tattoo, you can show your wisdom and strength, as well as your love for your heritage or your love for magical creatures. There are numerous ways to have a dragon inked on your chest, whether it’s a small or large design. 

Scorpion Chest Tattoos

Scorpion Chest tattoo

If you’re a Scorpio or you just want to represent your loyalty, sexuality, strength, or ability to protect yourself, a scorpion tattoo will do the trick. Bear in mind that you need to find a good artist for this if you want to make it look as realistic as possible.

Bear Chest Tattoos

Image: @amaroktattoo

A bear tattoo on your chest is a great way to indicate that you’ve felt any connection to bears. Their fierceness, especially when protecting their cubs, is admirable, and a bear tattoo can signify strength and power. You can get just the face of a bear at the sides or a whole bear across.

Raven Chest Tattoo

Image: Reddit (u/Timeillspent)

Ravens are considered otherworldly in several faiths, particularly because they have been depicted in much ancient art as messengers from the spirit world. A raven tattoo across your chest can show your connection to the spiritual, but they also always look really cool, no matter the size.

Diamond Chest Tattoo

Image: Outsons

Diamond tattoos offer you and your artist a chance to be very creative since they can be depicted in many ways. And while diamonds have long been associated with money or affluence, you can also use a diamond chest tattoo to indicate strength, purity, or that you only associate with higher-quality things. 

Final Thoughts

There are many ways to go about your chest tattoo. You can choose to have the entire chest surface covered, or only part of it. Also, you can pick between various cool designs, and we hope our ideas will help you choose a meaningful tattoo model for you.

Check out the most popular tattoo ideas for men.