From bold Samoan tribal tattoos to the storytelling techniques of Japanese irezumi, back tattoos have had a longstanding history.
In modern tattooing, back tattoos allow for a large canvas for personal expression. They also offer a variety of placement options.
In this article, we’ll be taking a look at some of the most popular designs and placements for guys’ back tattoos, including:
Back Tattoo Ideas for Men: Picking a Theme
When it comes to getting a large piece of body art, a lot of guys want something that looks cool while still holding personal significance.
This tradition stems back centuries. For example, Japanese tattoos often feature detailed artwork of a famous mythological creatures or characters - a person or motif that the wearer can personally connect with. A popular design might feature a koi fish swimming upstream through adversity.
Whether your tattoo represents a milestone in your life, your personal growth, a theme that’s important to you, or your cultural heritage, consider what tattoo ideas you want to incorporate into your design.
Popular themes include nature scenes, angel wings, tribal patterns (often holding cultural significance), geometric patterns (representing balance and strength), life and death, family crests, and more:
Nature Scenes
If you have a personal connection with a natural landmark, nature scenes are a great way to keep that connection with you.
Animal Tattoos
If your personal identity aligns with the struggle of a lone wolf, the protective fierceness of a lion, the fearless approach a tiger takes to life, or a bird in flight that symbolizes freedom - an animal tattoo might be the right choice.
Angel Wings + Guardian Angel Tattoos
Tattoos with spiritual significance are popular choices for back tattoos because you’re able to keep the design close to the chest (literally) and it’s easy to hide if you choose to keep the design private.
Tribal Patterns
An important part of making a back design aesthetically pleasing is making sure the tattoo features the wearer’s musculature. Tribal patterns are perfect for this, as they are built to flow with the back muscles.
Tribal can also give you a chance to share your personal narrative without being super obvious with the design, since traditional tribal designs use symbols and intricate patterns to represent one’s core values and experiences.
Geometric Patterns
Complex patterns made of simple shapes can make a bold statement and the use of sharp lines and angles can lend a masculine feel to your tattoo design. If you value strength, balance, or the mathematical structure beneath everything in nature a geometric tattoo might be the right choice for you.
Life and Death
A reminder that the human body doesn’t live forever, lots of guys get symbols of life and death tattooed to hold them accountable to living in the moment. A skull tattoo balanced with flowers, butterflies, or even smoke can all represent the transient nature of human life.
Family Crests
Family crests can be deeply personal tattoos that represent your connection to loved ones or ancestors you draw strength from.
Japanese Irezumi
Known for their intricate detail and vibrant colors, Japanese tattoos often take up the entire back and areas on the upper arms, extending all the way down to the backs of the thighs. (This bodysuit style is often called “irezumi.”)
Traditionally, these large scale pieces were applied with the hand-tapping tebori style (and they still are in some places!). This was a slow-moving process that required several sessions over many years. It was believed that the pain endured was what helped a person earn their tattoo.
While most artists use more technologically advanced techniques during the application process, you’ll still see symbols that retain cultural context like cherry blossoms, dragons, koi fish, hanya masks, etc.
Biomechanical
“Biomech” tattoos weave together the human body with mechanical elements. Often, biomech tattoos will make it look like part of your body (like your bones) are made of machine while still being wrapped with organic tissue.
Types of Back Tattoos: Picking Your Placement
Lots of men opt for back tattoos because they are easy to hide, especially in professional settings. If you want to be able to choose when to show off your ink, the back is the perfect tattoo placement.
When it comes to the placement of back tattoos for men, most people will think of a design that covers the entire space from shoulders to hips. However, not all back tattoos take up the entire space of your back. Here’s a look at your different options:Full Back Tattoos
Upper Back Tattoos
Lower Back Tattoos
Spine Tattoos
Upper Spine/Neck Tattoos
Body Suit Tattoos
Shoulder Blade Tattoos
How Much Does a Back Tattoo Hurt?
All tattoos come with pain, and you can expect larger tattoos to hurt more simply because you’ll be spending more time getting tattooed.
When it comes to placement on the back, most people find that lower back tattoos hurt more than those on the upper back (with the exception of right under the shoulder blades, which can be painful).
Additionally, getting tattooed right on the spine will hurt more than areas that have more fat and muscle, and if the design extends up to the neck, that can also be sensitive.
Pro Tip:
If this is your first tattoo, consider trying out a smaller design first. Tattooing causes a lot of trauma to the skin, and it’s important to have the right expectation of what the tattoo process is like before sitting for an 8+ hour piece.
Healing Considerations for Body Art
Keep your new tattoo out of the sun and avoid areas where bacteria or irritants can get into the tattoo - swimming pools, hot tubs, gyms, etc.
Your tattoo artist will give you aftercare recommendations for caring for your tattoo. It will make things easier if you have help applying fragrance-free lotion, since some areas of the back are difficult to reach.
Become a Tattoo Artist With the Artist Accelerator Program
Having a career in tattooing is not only fulfilling, but it’s also the most stable way to make a living as an artist. However, for decades, the process to become a tattoo artist has been notoriously difficult.
The apprenticeship process requires aspiring tattoo artists to work 50-60 hours a week without pay for 2-4 years. That, combined with the toxic culture of abusing apprentices, makes getting into the industry almost impossible for newcomers.
That’s why we created the Artist Accelerator Program. Our online course provides a simple, structured way of learning to tattoo that has been proven to work by over 7500 successful students, with many of them having gone on to open their own shops all around the world.
Inside the program, we’ll take you through every step of the tattooing process in 9 clear, easy-to-follow modules and support you along the way within the Tattooing 101 Mastermind online community.
In the Mastermind group, you’ll collaborate with other students, get answers to your questions, and receive personalized video feedback on your artwork and tattoos from professional tattoo artists. With this friendly community of both new and experienced tattoo artists, you’ll never be stuck again.
When you join the Artist Accelerator Program, you’ll have instant access to the full course and the Mastermind community, as well as our 30-Day Flash Challenge and recorded interviews with tattoo artists from all over the world.
$597
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Try It Risk-Free For 30 Days
If you don't think it's worth this small investment (literally less than one tattoo session) then we're happy to give you all your money back.
$59/MO
Payment Plan
Lifetime access
12 monthly payments
Try It Risk-Free For 30 Days
If you don't think it's worth this small investment (literally less than one tattoo session) then we're happy to give you all your money back.
$597
Lifetime Access
Easy, secure
one-time payment
$59/MO
Payment Plan
Lifetime access
12 monthly payments
