200 Most Amazing Chest Tattoos (Designs w/ Meanings)

If there is one thing a lot of women like about men, it’s a muscled chest. It does not only improve their overall look but also makes a woman think they are protected. Apart from the muscles, some chest tattoos do not hurt. In fact, there are a lot of women who like men with chest tattoos or any tattoo in any part of their body.

While tattoos have gained negativity around the turn of the century, society is getting more lenient and open about it. But for those who want to get a tattoo without too much exposure, the chest is indeed a great place.

Chest tattoos tend to be more popular among men. Women also get tattoos on this certain area but because of their breasts, the area where getting a tattoo is limited unlike to that of men.

Chest Tattoos and the Their Symbolism

The whole body is important. But the chest is considered as one of the most essential given that it is close to the heart. It is said that getting chest tattoos mean you are showing your dedication. Getting a body ink on this certain place is also rather painful. Going through the process is indeed a show of extreme dedication, especially when it’s a big piece.

Symbolism is a great factor that helps tattoo enthusiasts choose the design. Each design can have a deeper meaning; something inspirational and close to the wearer. Apart from that, being able to improve your physical looks is also important.

Since the chest is an area close to the heart, many choose a design close to them. For example, a portrait of their loved ones or an organization they are running. Some choose a design that represents their culture. Most go for a design that represent them as a person or their story.

Perfect for Employees and Students

As mentioned above, people view tattoos as taboo for decades especially when it became a symbol of prisoners and gangs. However, the positive view on tattoos are going back now. Still, there are those who are not open about tattoos and see these as something negative. This is especially true in workplaces and in schools.

Many workplaces do not allow tattoos. If you are looking for a job and you have a tattoo, you might find it hard to get a job. This is especially true when you have an exposed tattoo. The same goes with schools, even when you are on the legal age of getting one. That is why many tend to get their tattoos on areas that they can easily hide.

The chest is one of those perfect places. You can wear your uniform and it will likely hide your tattoo. It is kind of tricky when you have a bigger tattoo – one that spreads on your chest to your shoulders. If you have a stricter school and work environment, it is best to be more considerate about your tattoo.

Chest Tattoos – Placement and Size

The chest area, especially among men, is wide. You can get almost any kind of design you want. But in order to highlight the tattoo, you have to find the right placement. Depending on your design, you can have your chest tattoo near your shoulders, close to your heart, close to your shoulders, or near your stomach.

If you are going for a portrait of your loved one, putting it on the upper part near your heart is a popular choice. Longer design such as quotes would look amazing from shoulder to shoulder.

Larger designs are likely to cover the entire upper chest. So, it is better when you extend it to your shoulders or to your sleeves.

There are also smaller tattoos. While these are significantly larger than what you can put on your hands and wrists, they are still smaller than most chest tattoos. You can place it somewhere where the design can be fully seen.

Tribal Tattoos

Tribal tattoos remain one of the most sought-after designs when it comes to body art. It goes way back. In fact, it is in sync with the birth of body art.

Tribal tattoos were often done by tribes around the world – each one with a distinct style than others. They are used to denote which tribe a person belonged to. It also helps say what their status are. For example, a chieftain will have a specific tattoo on a certain part of the body. In some tribes, the more tattoos mean the higher the status in the society.

It has also been used as means of protection for many tribes. They believe that tattooing their deities or animals conjure their spirit. It helps protect them from any danger, especially when you’re a warrior back then.

Nowadays, tribal tattoos are either as a means of representing your tribe’s culture. However, everyone can now get a tribal tattoo and often, they are for show.

The most common design are geometric patterns; bold lines, dots, shapes, and swirls. Nonetheless some turn elements, especially animals and plants, into tribal styles. These often denote a closeness to nature.

Popular Designs to Inspire your Next Ink

While designs are more often personalized, some were inspired by common designs. Here are some of the most popular types of themes and subjects that could help you decide on yours:

• Quotes – Quotes are very popular as a tattoo designs. They are rather versatile and unique as there are millions of quotes out there that you can choose. For chest tattoos, a quote can be as simple as you want and usually placed near the shoulders. Or, you can make it a larger tattoo with a background and with more elements. Quotes have different meanings depending on which quote you chose.
• Owl – Bird tattoos are also a common choice for chest tattoos. The owl is perhaps one of the most popular. You can either have it whole, with its wings extending to your shoulders. Or you can fill your entire chest with its eyes. An owl is often used to represent intelligence and knowledge.
• Eagle – Apart from the owl, the eagle is a top choice. As the owl, you can have it with its wings’ spread or perhaps holding a snake on its claws. This subject is often used to represent strength, power, and nobility.
• Map of the world – This design is perfect for travelers and those who love adventure. You can get a map of the world on your chest, maybe close to your heart. Some even choose a specific state, country or continent as tattoo design. Usually, these are places close to their heart.
• Mechanical – 3D tattoos are getting mainstream these days especially when the technique has been mastered by more and more tattoo artists. One of the top designs often make the wearer look like a cyborg. They do this by “exposing” the insides where gears are present rather than internal organs.

Animals as Tattoo Designs

Getting a tattoo of an animal back in the days are said to conjure the spirit of the animal. It helps them survive in the woods while they are hunting. Nowadays, a tattoo of an animal is used to represent the wearer. The characteristics of the animal is believed to be close to the wearer’s personality.

1. Wolves – Wolves are popular among men. Apart from the masculine vibe it gives, it also has a deeper meaning. Wolf tattoos represent strength, loyalty, and dominance.
2. Elephants – Elephants are the biggest animal in land. These designs are popular for both men and women. This elephant tattoo design can be used to represent gentleness, kindness, and inner strength.
3. Horses – Horses are known as one of the most noble and beautiful animals. Indeed, a tattoo of a horse could signify both of those. Designs could vary but it usually shows a galloping horse or one standing on its hind legs.
4. Butterflies – This design works well with women. It’s usual placement is on the sternum, just below the breasts which adds sensuality to the design. As a tattoo, it can be used to represent beauty and transformation.
5. Lions – Lions or the King of the Jungle is the choice for people who are strong and are born leaders. The lions are often seen as majestic creatures: with the strength of their muscles and the agility of felines. Designs usually just include the heads along with its infamous mane. For women, they usually choose the lioness.
6. Deer – The deer is for male while the doe is for women. Depending on its gender, the meaning of a deer tattoo can be different. Deer represent fertility, verility, and sexual prowess. A doe on the other hand means gentleness, motherly love, and kindness.

Popular Tattoo Designs

Apart from tribal and animal designs, here are more choices for tattoo enthusiasts.

• Anchors – Anchors are essential in boats as they help keep the vessel grounded at sea. As a tattoo design, anchors represent faith and even as a dedication to people who kept you safe.
• Telling time – Whether it is a clock or an hourglass, time seems like a popular theme. You can have it close to your heart or in the middle of your chest. Most of the time, there are also additional elements included in the design. These time-telling devices could either mean time is gold or that time is constant.
• Mechanical heart – Apart from gears and looking like a cyborg, a mechanical heart is also a top choice. It’s usually in 3D style so that it has this effect of looking real. Usually, the design includes a heart (anatomical heart) made out of metal parts. It’s complete with torn skin and bleeding.
• The Heart – It does not have to be mechanical. Some actually create a tattoo design of their heart with the arteries and veins. There are arrows coming out of these nerves to indicate blood flowing. The heart often interprets love and innocence. But the anatomical heart can also be for those in the medical field.
• Phoenix – One amazing design shows a phoenix seemingly rising up. The design is extended to the shoulders and sleeves. The phoenix is used to symbolize rebirth and rising from the ashes.

Smaller Chest Tattoo Designs

Since the chest area is wide, people often place the larger designs there. However, smaller chest tattoos are also in, especially for women. Here are some creative small designs for tattoo enthusiasts:

1. Astronomical – You can choose from any of the celestial bodies like the sun or the moon as your design. You can even have both. Doing both actually embodies yin and yang or living with the good and bad things without biases.
2. Puzzle pieces – This would work amazingly well in 3D. You can create a design of two pieces fitting perfectly with each other. You can also do it the minimalist way. Some put their name and the name of their spouses and place it across their heart. This is a sweet dedication to your life partner.
3. Scene in a shape – What best way to make your tattoo appear smaller and more crisp? Try putting the design within a shape. For example, have a scenery of the night sky in a diamond or a triangle. It’s alright to go a little beyond the shape.
4. Compass – The compass is another great choice for those who love to travel. Compasses guide travelers to where they are going. Just like its purpose, a compass tattoo symbolizes guidance.
5. Floral – This theme works better on women. Many choose to create a small bouquet of flowers with different colors. The lighter the color palette, the better. It usually extends a little to the shoulders as well.
6. Skulls – Skulls commonly denote death and fear. But it’s so good for aesthetic value that many still choose to get one. It can also have a positive meaning – the cycle of life and the acceptance of it.
7. Mandalas – This is another design that is popular for ladies. Because of its geometrical patterns and soft but almost hypnotic design, it’s a great aesthetic. It also means wholeness, balance, and eternity. This would be a great sternum tattoo.

Can you go Minimalist?

Since chest tattoos are usually complicated and 3D, some might be asking whether they can go minimalist. Minimalist tattoos have more negative space and are as simple as possible. So, in a wide space like the chest, would your tattoo design drown?

Truth be told, yes you can still go with a minimalist design. However, it has to be bigger than the usual so it won’t get lost in all the space available. For example, you want a minimalist view of skyscrapers. Instead of making it small, you might want to make it enough for your chest to your shoulders. The same goes with a minimalist floral bouquet. You would not want a whole lot of flowers but instead, you can make it bigger and add a few more florals.

Nonetheless, this style would work much better on women given they don’t really have that much space for tattoos.

Instead of a photo-realistic portrait of your loved one, you can make it look like an outline without the features. There are several ways of making bigger tattoos but with minimal details. If you are confused, you can always ask your tattoo artist. They will give you suggestions and sometimes even disagree with your design. To come up with the best tattoo, working with them is essential.

3D Style Tattoos

For men, 3D style tattoos are getting more popular. However, this is a harder tattoo style for both the tattoo enthusiast and the artist.

Your tattoo artist should be a pro in the skills and techniques needed to make the design look alive. They should know where to highlight and shade. They should also have amazing attention to details since even the littlest things are needed to make the tattoo look photo-realistic.

As for the wearer, the chest is a painful area to get a tattoo. With 3D designs, the process is longer. The artist has to go through a certain area again and again. It would likely be twice as painful as getting a normal tattoo.

Still, this does not discourage people to get 3D style chest tattoos. If there is one thing that makes a bad-ass and amazing design, it is making it 3 dimensional.

Aftercare Tips

Chest tattoos are easier to care after than several areas of the body. The only problem is, they are likely to be pressed against the clothes. During the initial weeks of healing, you’d want to cover it with a bandage just to protect it and your clothes from excess ink.

However, make sure that you change it every now and then. Also, keep your wound clean with a fragrant-free and mild soap. It is also important to dab the water and excess ink with dry and clean tissue paper. Scrubbing and scratching the tattoo should be avoided at all costs, seeing that this can cause scarring.

While your tattoo will usually be protected with your clothes, use sunscreen for the moments it is exposed to the sun.