61 small tattoo ideas that'll give you endless ink-spo
Flowers, hearts, cowboy boots - you name it, the small tattoo inspiration is here
Looking for small tattoo inspiration? From fine line designs perfect for wrists and fingers to cute and quirky symbols ideal for adorning your ankle or even behind your ear, there's no end to the versatility a small inking offers thanks to its diminutive size. There's little wonder why they've become a firm fixture in many artists' studios, plus amassed a number of celebrity fans.
Small tattoos check out practically, too – like the fact they're significantly cheaper than larger tattoos, and much easier to hide should you want or need to. So, whether this is your first inking or you're adding to your ever-growing collection to create a cluster of small tattoos that rivals any sleeve or large-scale design, we've rounded up some of the best tattoo ideas for you.
From nature-inspired illustrations to minimalist line art and meaningful words, scroll on to find the best small tattoo for you...
Initial and cursive text
If it's text you want, we love the idea of getting a thick initial for a loved one or opting for an important word in a delicate, cursive font.
Butterflies
A teeny, tiny butterfly or two will work pretty much anywhere on the body.
Four leaf clover
Invite a little good fortune into your life with this lucky charm.
Dotted design
Hailey Bieber's iconic hand tattoo consists of a celestial design made up of tiny dots, dashes and lines adorning her fingers. She also has a tiny cursive ‘B’.
Cowboy boots
Obsessed with the cowboy boot trend as much as we are? This western-inspired tat idea is just as cool as the vintage boots themselves.
Eye with tear drop
Dainty finger tattoos are becoming more and more popular. From Hailey Bieber's classy line-and-dot work to Miley's edgier symbols, there are many designs to choose from.
Marmite
You'll either love or hate this small tattoo idea!
Bunny rabbit
Did you know that a rabbit can symbolise wealth and rebirth, as well as signifying growth? Not to mention it looks pretty darn cute, too.
Star signs and birth year
Both of these ideas get a big yes from us. Your birth year and/or star sign in classic characters or script will forever be personal to you.
Planet
Zoe Kravitz has quite a collection of small ideas, but our favourite of her inkings might just be the planet positioned above her clavicle.
Hand poked script
This hand poked style is so cool, plus, it lends itself perfectly to a small tattoo. We're into the sentiment of this one.
Heart sticker
Right behind the ear is a great semi-hidden spot for a small tattoo. A simple framed heart looks gorgeous here.
Crescent moon
An outline of a crescent moon is subtle and simple positioned on your shoulder.
Dove
A symbol of peace, hope and love. How sweet is this animated dove tattoo?
Heart on fire
We're big fans of the heart and fire combo - two regular emojis on our rotation, FYI - and the fun placing of this tat.
Clown
Okay, how cute is this teeny tiny, quirky clown?!
Anatomical heart
Conventional love hearts not your thing? Try the anatomical version instead. We're big into the red ink.
Framed portrait
We're totally inspired by these portrait tattoos. The framed outline works so well at making a small image stand out.
Initial
Selena Gomez has the letter ‘G’ inked behind her ear in honour of her half-sister, Gracie.
Sophie Leen is the Bookings Editor for Cosmopolitan UK and Women's Health UK. She specialises in creating fashion and shopping content across both digital and print platforms, as well as producing all of our fashion editorial photoshoots, which have included our digital cover with Olly Alexander and our curve influencer’s letter to the high street story. Sophie also looks after our Try Before You Train franchise where our team have tested and reviewed over 100 gymwear items.
Alexandria Dale is the Digital Fashion Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. Covering everything from the celebrity style moments worth knowing about to the latest fashion news, there’s nothing she loves more than finding a high street dupe of a must-have designer item. As well as discovering new brands, she’s passionate about sustainable fashion and establishing the trends that are actually worth investing in. Having worked in fashion journalism for six years, she has experience at both digital and print publications including Glamour and Ok!
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