28 Simple Tattoos for the Low-Key Ink Lover

Small square tattoo on arm of girl laying down in pink shirt — Getty Images

Tattoos can come in any size and design you can imagine, and sometimes, it’s the smallest that makes the biggest impact. With only a few lines or in only a few inches, these designs can elicit the same feeling that an overly detailed or large one does. If you know you want your next tattoo to be small and minimal but still need some inspiration, keep scrolling to see 28 of our favorites.

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No-Lines Tattoo

To keep a multicolor tattoo feeling light and minimal, opt for lighter hues and thin lines—if any. Stick to curved shapes and lines to make the tattoo feel even daintier.

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Vibrant Tattoo

Minimal doesn’t have to mean only black ink. Try incorporating as many shapes and colors as you want, but omit any outlines to keep it minimal.

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Zodiac Sign Tattoo

Astrology Tattoos Aries Symbol — @zephyrinkco

Zodiac signs are a popular choice for small, minimal tattoos, as the symbols translate well to a smaller size. Here, the Aries symbol only takes seemingly one line to draw and pops despite its size because of the placement.

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Outline-Only Tattoo

Crescent Moon Tattoos Red Ink — @west4tattoo

The ultimate way to keep a tattoo minimal is to go for an outline-only design. Choose a simple image, like a crescent moon, and keep the inside full of negative space for a statement-making but basic design.

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Unique Script Tattoo

While a script font is always a good idea for a minimal tattoo, you can take it one step further with a font that highlights featured letters and keeps the others small and basic. This design also uses extra lines in the lettering to give it a more minimal feel.

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Consistent Tattoo

Minimal designs can use thicker lines without overwhelming the tattoo; the trick is to keep everything the same. If there are any variations in the design, it could lead to a less minimal feel.

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Singular Finger Tattoo

Simple Tattoos Singular Finger — @zourblupokes

Minimal finger tattoos make a big impact when they’re either on every finger or just one. This abstract design features outline-only elements and dot detailing, and since it’s placed on just one finger, it’s bold despite the size.

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Connected Font Tattoo

For minimal word tattoos, go for a font that connects each letter for a more cohesive and smooth look. Curved lines in the font also make the tattoo feel more delicate and minimal.

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Thicker-Lined Tattoo

Minimal phrases or word tattoos don’t have to use thin lines to achieve the desired look. This tattoo uses thicker lines, but the delicate font keeps it feeling light.

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Detailed Tattoo

Simple Tattoos Detailed — @saturns.mooooooon

Minimal doesn’t mean boring; your design can have a few elements while remaining simple. This tattoo idea combines overlapping elements, line detailing, and filled-in spaces while managing to stay minimal.

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Word Tattoo

Word or phrase tattoos make for great minimal tattoos because they don’t require much detail. Choose an easy-to-read font with small, subtle detailing to keep it feeling simple and minimal.

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Additional Curves Tattoo

When opting for a design with negative space, don’t feel like you have to stick to simple outlines. Add some detailing, like these additional curves, to add more visual interest.

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Finger Dots Tattoo

Finger tattoos are always small due to the size of the placement area; however, they’re not always minimal. For a statement-making but minimal finger tat idea, try placing a few dots on each finger.

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Hand-Drawn Tattoo

A minimal tattoo doesn’t always have to feel chic or sophisticated. This sun design has a more whimsical, hand-drawn vibe that's further enhanced by its simplicity.

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Geometric Tattoo

Simple Tattoos Geometric — @piotruspan_tattoo

Truly minimal tattoos break designs down to their most basic shapes. This tattoo features a geometric design that could be any number of things—or even nothing.

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Whimsical Heart Tattoo

Simple Tattoos Whimsical Heart — @universalcaladorcalaferrera

While heart tattoos are a simple enough design for minimal tattoos, you don’t have to stick to the traditional image. This ink plays with the bottom of the shape to make it more whimsical.

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Small Ear Tattoo

Simple Tattoos Small Ear — @jmunztattoos

Behind the ear is a great placement idea for a small, simple tattoo. It makes a major impact regardless of the design’s simplicity but can also easily be hidden when desired.

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Saturn Tattoo

For a truly minimal tattoo, choose a design that looks good in its simplest parts. This finger tattoo of Saturn contains only two elements, yet it fully gets the design across.

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Filled-In Tattoo

Simple Tattoos Filled In — @tinytattoos_feathertouch

Though outline-only tattoos make for good minimal designs, you can opt for the inverse instead to achieve the same effect. These birds are filled in, but they still feel minimal, thanks to the lack of detail.

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Wrist Tattoo

The wrist is a great placement choice for small, simple tattoos because the design will make a statement no matter what. The wrist has the stereotype of being a dainty, delicate part of the body, but getting inked in that area contrasts with that idea.

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Single-Line Tattoo

For a unique take on the minimal design, go for a tattoo that appears to be created from one single line. While the line itself isn’t thin, the tattoo achieves the small feeling from its seeming connectedness.

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Exclamation Points Tattoo

If a singular design is a bit too bare-bones for you, add some detail to your tattoo without losing the minimal feel by duplicating a design. This ink features three exclamation marks, which still feels simple but more intricate than a single punctuation mark.

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Shell Tattoo

While minimal tattoos sound like they have to exclude detailing, you can still achieve the look with extra design additions. This shell design uses light shading and dot detailing to achieve the details of the shell, but the thin lines keep it feeling minimal.

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Angular Tattoo

Try playing up the contrast in your tattoo by choosing angular lines that stand out against your body’s natural curves. Despite this contrast, this lightning bolt tattoo manages to feel full of movement thanks to the ankle’s natural semi-straight lines.

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Thin Lettering Tattoo

Simple Tattoos Thin Lettering — @paradelatattoo

If you want a word or phrase to feel instantly minimal, opt for thin line lettering and a cursive font. These elements will also play up the daintiness of the design.

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Sun, Moon, & Stars Tattoo

A simple tattoo doesn’t have to mean a single one. You can add additional elements to a minimal tattoo without overwhelming the design, and if you opt for smaller shapes, you can keep the designs feeling dainty.

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Abstract Tattoo

Abstract designs make for great minimal designs, as they tend to be basic elements to begin with. Try adding visual interest through loops and other spacing and detailing.

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Three Hearts Tattoo

Minimal designs don’t have to be symmetrical or so simple that there’s no variety. This heart design adds detailing by filling in one heart but leaving the rest empty.

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