Breathtaking Back Tattoo Ideas for Your Next Ink

The back is an ideal location for epic custom tattoo masterpieces.

Whether it’s a full back Japanese tattoo design, backless gown friendly flower tattoo, or intricately detailed angel wings, the back is territory begging for a bigger picture.

Possible back and spine tattoo schemes can include mythical scenes or dramatic iconography, such as the Asian dragon, mandala, and geometric tattoo designs.

Others may prefer to use the back as a blank page for minimalist tattoo, utilizing black ink lettering, or creating something more subtle on the shoulder blade.

The following collection of 50 amazing back tattoos will provide almost endless inspiration for your small or large tattoo idea. Take these images to your tattoo parlor or artist and start work on bringing these stunning tattoo concepts to life.

1. Intricate patterns

The body is a canvas for ink brilliance and the back marks the largest easel for a tattoo artist‘s work.

The entire surface area of the back helps bring life to a creation containing a story that is dying to be told to the masses, however smaller tattoo ideas and body art can work just the same.

Back designs express feelings through colorful tattoo imagery, or take a subtle, minimalist tattoo look into the past of a body that has seen better times.

2. Japanese Tattoo Art for the Back

For the seeker of sensational back ink, Japanese tattoo is a bold statement. It imparts power and prestige to the man or woman who masters the traditional ink style and makes it their own.

The rich detail and vibrant colors will accentuate the killer design elements, and the painstaking, precise needle work from the tattoo artist.

The back is a bold canvas and will take to the intense drama that inspires vivid imagery in the Japanese tradition. This is a distinctive tattoo for the ink adventurer ready to make their permanent, indelible mark.

3. Tribal

Tribal tattoo is most often connected with rites of passage or a significant transformation.

Modern designs feature all kinds of unique styles and can often be applied to non-members of the cultural society.

The shoulders, arms, and sides are the most popular areas on the body for tribal tattoos, but back tattoos are often the most impressive.

The designs are made to accent or emphasize the shapes of the athletic body, while telling the story of the owner in a large tattoo.

There are also different themes the wearer can choose for their tribal tattoo art, from specific tribal gods and animal totems, all the way to lucky charms and personal achievements.

4. Tree

Traditionally, a tree tattoo symbolizes knowledge, growth and wisdom.

Other representation of the tree in body art includes: nourishment, immortality, fertility, and freedom.

Many tree tattoos – particularly popular in Celtic tattoo culture – incorporate the tree of life onto the skin, often demonstrated by circular tree artwork with branches and roots intertwined.

5. Geometric

The back is a dramatic landscape in which to show off only the most stunning tattoo art (admittedly some collectors prefer a small tattoo or set). From the neck and shoulder tattoo or body art heading down the spine to a lower back tattoo, there is truly no greater canvas for your artist to work with.

For the geometric design that requires a greater space, the back is where tattoo masterpieces are brought to life.

Colorful geometric back tattoos include red and black lines circling the wearer’s shoulders and overlapping between the shoulder blades, brightly pigmented hexagons with intricate interior linework, as well as plant, bird tattoo and animal life.

6. Eagle

Protection, power, and masculinity are usually associated with eagle tattoo designs, and a stunning tattoo can be achieved with the bird flying with feather and talon splayed out.

This glorious bird tattoo symbolizes power and dominance, especially the eagle in attack form grasping prey with piercing eyes.

Other enthusiasts prefer to detail the feather tattoo, talons and skull of the eagle, rather than the great bird swooping in flight.

7. Phoenix Tattoo for the Back

A phoenix tattoo is a seductive display bringing out alluring, colorful body art. Much like the more regal peacock tattoo, these fierce, fiery illustrations make great watercolor tattoo and bright color body art.

Back tattoos are a prime location for these fabled birds of fire. The tips of the wings can reach their full expanse across a man or woman‘s shoulder blades.

They phoenix resurrects from the ashes after each time they experience death. They are an ideal tattoo idea for anyone who has successfully remade their life after escaping hardship.

8. Lion

Whether you identify as the king of the jungle or you’re just a true beast at heart, a detailed and robust lion tattoo design evokes power.

The lion is historically relevant and timeless, or maybe you’re a true Leo, loyal and passionate, or a lover of felines large and small.

Whatever your reasons for choosing the majestic lion, know that it is the quintessential symbol of a powerful animal in aeither large or small tattoo form.

As the roar of the lion can resonate up to five miles away, a fully inked colorful tattoo displaying this fantastic creature will surely be noticed on your skin.

9. Wolf

A wolf tattoo is a great way to display strength, familial loyalty and devotion. The wolf is a pack animal. For every lone wolf on the prowl, there are ten more who work within their family unit, and this concept makes for compelling body art.

Wolves are fierce, naturally loyal creatures that hunt together and rely on each other for survival. They have a clearly defined family structure with clearly articulated roles and responsibilities.

Some people get their family wolf pack tattoo, a single wolf paw tattoo, or protective image of the snarling, angry wolf, anywhere from the shoulder blade to a lower back tattoo (once derided as the tramp stamp).

For others, a wolf tattoo can be part of dreams and aspirations. They are powerful motifs in Native American tradition, Japanese, or Celtic wolf tattoo and linked closely with the moon.

10. Traditional

When ink enthusiasts think traditional, they think bold, black ink outlines, a vibrant but restrained color palette, and a hardcore feel that is altogether different from styles such as photo realism or watercolor tattoo.

There is a reason this old school style is favored by bikers, sailors, and gypsy wanderers – it isn’t for the meek but for those looking to make a statement – whether it’s a large back piece or small neck tattoo between skull and nape.

The best ideas for a traditional back tattoo will depend heavily on the wearer’s tastes, and whether they want bold black or a traditional colorful tattoo in primary shades. Nearly every tattoo parlor in the states has an artist proficient in American traditional style tattoo.

11. Skull Tattoo for the Back

What a skull tattoo represents can drastically affect the design, especially when placed on an area like the back. You have an incredible canvas to play with, so feel free to go all out by matching it with a butterfly, a beautiful girl, or even at the center of a geometric mandala.

Playing up on the opposites balancing each other out is a popular take on skull tattoo design, for example linking the skull and a flower to represent the duality of life and death.

These skull flower tattoo designs never go out of style, and they always look good as an entire back piece incorporating a range of different elements. 

12. Octopus

Many people get an octopus tattoo to remind themselves that through different situations in life, it’s often best to be flexible and use creativity and intelligence to solve problems.

The octopus’ striking appearance means it’s a mysterious and elusive creature, traits that can serve well in many of life’s instances and associates with intuition.

The octopus acts as a totemic guide for those who need motivation to try new things, stray from their normal paces of life, and to let go from routine and normality occasionally.

13. Jesus

With the popularity of Jesus, Virgin Mary, and cross tattoo ideas, one obvious method of displaying these works of body art are classical styles favored by sculptors, artists, and churches in Italy and Greece.

These tattoos would not be out of place as stone statuary in museums and church sepulchers, or used in Renaissance style paintings by masters such as Da Vinci and Caravaggio.

They feature tremendously flowing curvature and shading (Jesus beards in this style are always amazing), beautiful use of filigree, and superb sense of shape and space.

14. Spine Tattoo Design

Spinal tattoos are increasingly visible tattoo choices. Script tattoos and Chinese letter body art flowing down the spinal column are popular, while realistic tattoos of the spine placed into different areas are also used often, and for a girl they can accentuate a backless gown or dress.

Other popular tattoo choices on the spinal column include traditional tribal spine tattoos, and more contemporary takes on tribal body art.

There has been a massive increase in the use of dark surrealism tattoo art and biomechanical techniques that fuse realistic spine tattoo perspectives with wild use of machinery such as levers, cogs, pistons, and leads.

15. Upper Back

Upper back tattoos are a perfect combination of concealable and flashy when they need to be. The nape and shoulder tattoo can be easily be covered with a shirt, which is ideal for those who can’t show ink at work.

When you get an upper back tattoo, it can be of just about anything that has significant value to you. An upper back tattoo isn’t actually visible by the person bearing it, which can be a plus for those who want a tattoo but don’t want to see it constantly.

16. Owl

Mostly associated with wisdom, patience, and knowledge, the owl is thought to be a magical and enigmatic bird of the night. Owl back tattoos have a rich variety of symbolism which can herald lots of unique possibilities in ink.

Native Americans interupt owls as symbols of protection and sacred knowledge, while other cultures such as ancient Egypt and Hindu see it as a guardian of the underworld.

When men get an owl back tattoo, it’s usually because they regard themselves as being part of a long and important family culture and tradition. Many also get one because they feel they relate to the owl’s traits like its wisdom and quiet presence.

17. Unique Designs

As it becomes more widely accepted by both the average population and business alike, more and more people are getting inked, even with large tattoos for the back.

Among the most popular tattoos are full and upper back tattoos. These tattoos are time consuming and are generally extremely intricate, consisting of an entire scene which includes many elements in one massive design.