Monkey Tattoo Ideas Celebrating the Spirit of Mischief and Fun

Monkey tattoo ideas are popular for collectors wanting an animal ink design motif emphasizing fun and mischief.

Monkeys, and in particular the chimpanzee, are popular choices for old-school and cartoon tattooing styles for their fun-loving, hilarious temperament that often spills over into mischief and chaos.

For the more serious-minded tattoo enthusiast, a gorilla or orangutan may be the choice you look for in ink design. Those who are fans of the beautiful creatures in the wild often opt for realistic tattoo choices etched in painstaking detail.

For contemporary body art, neo-traditional concepts – such as imagery associated with the Planet of the Apes films – are a popular choice.

No matter your design choice, monkey tattoo meaning, or application style, the following top 27 monkey tattoo ideas are sure to give you inspiration about choosing the right image to take to your tattoo artist.

1. Cartoon Monkey Tattoo Art

Tattoo of a cartoon monkey astronaut holding a banana and floating in space — Source: @vezetattoo via Instagram

Colorful stylized monkey tattoo featuring bold lines and geometric shapes on skin — Source: @starcrossedtattoo via Instagram

Forearm tattoo of a monkey wearing glasses and a beanie — Source: @al.true via Instagram

A colorful tattoo of a snarling gorilla head on a calf — Source: @jonnydextertattoos via Instagram

2. Realistic Monkey Tattoo Ideas

Realistic tattoo of a baby monkey on an arm — Source: @tyleratd via Instagram

Detailed gorilla face tattoo on a chest, with intricate shading and textured fur — Source: @wolf_tattoo via Instagram

Forearm tattoo of a chimpanzee surrounded by flowers in black and grey ink — Source: @allena.marie via Instagram

Forearm tattoo of a realistic gorilla's face with its hand resting below its chin — Source: @denisnogueiratattoo via Instagram

Tattoo of a gorilla's face on a forearm, featuring yellow, detailed eyes and dark shading — Source: @leanne_brothers via Instagram

3. Cute Monkey Tattoo Art

A colorful monkey tattoo on a forearm — Source: @stavros_tattooer via Instagram

Tattoo of a baby orangutan wearing an AC/DC shirt on a side torso — Source: @dalriadatattoos via Instagram

Tattoo of a lion and a monkey holding hands on an upper arm — Source: @ecstacytat2s via Instagram

4. Monkey Tattoo Ideas for the Forearm

Forearm tattoo of a snarling gorilla with glowing eyes and sharp teeth — Source: @relja_tattoo via Instagram

Forearm tattoo of three wise monkeys: see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil, in black and grey — Source: @sergiotattoos via Instagram

Tattoo of a gorilla face above a portrait of a muscular figure on an arm — Source: @zigermeister via Instagram

5. Neo-Traditional Monkey Tattoo Designs

Tattoo of a monkey holding a peeled banana on skin — Source: @allday_jina via Instagram

A black and grey monkey face tattoo on a bicep — Source: @schuster_tattoo via Instagram

Tattoo of a chimpanzee with war paint on the upper arm — Source: @kodeart via Instagram

Tattoo of an angry, pointing cartoon monkey on the back of a calf — Source: @mu_genn_tattoo via Instagram

Tattoo of a chimpanzee below a skull with an exposed brain, featuring molecular structures — Source: @auseklis_studija via Instagram

6. Simple Monkey Tattoo Ideas

Tattoo of an abstract cartoon monkey face with a shocked expression on skin — Source: @celine.luzia via Instagram

Tattoo of a monkey in a cap smoking a cigar, located on the bicep — Source: @chupacabratatto via Instagram

Black gorilla head tattoo on neck — Source: @yogixiii via Instagram

7. American Traditional Monkey Tattoos

A tattoo of a crouched monkey with a peace sign near its head on someone's forearm — Source: @danm_tattoos via Instagram

Tattoo of a cymbal monkey wearing a fez and balancing on an orange and red striped ball — Source: @mikereedtattoo via Instagram

Circus monkey tattoo on an arm juggling balls while riding a unicycle and wearing a hat — Source: @sammotattoo via Instagram

Tattoo of a colorful monkey sitting on a stylized, Aztec-inspired human head — Source: @sdolz via Instagram

What does a monkey tattoo symbolize?

Monkey tattoo ideas are popular for collectors wanting an animal ink design motif emphasizing fun and mischief.

Conversely, those who are fans of the beautiful creatures in the wild often opt for realistic tattoo choices etched in painstaking detail.

What are some popular monkey tattoo themes?

There are plenty of options to choose from when looking to find the right monkey tattoo theme.

These include:

Fun-loving chimpanzee cartoon designs
Serious gorilla and orangutan tattoos
The three wise monkeys – see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil
New school tattoos referencing the Planet of the Apes films
Photorealistic tattoos mirroring real monkeys

Choosing the right style of monkey tattoo concept often involves matching the sentiment of your piece with the correct style elements to make it work.

Where should I place my monkey tattoo?

Monkey tattoo designs can go practically anywhere if small enough, however portrait and realistic pieces tend towards significant large areas such as the bicep and forearm.

Popular areas for more mischievous monkey tattoos include the inner arm and wrist, shoulder, and contemporary spaces such as the neck, thigh, and lower leg/ankle are also becoming inked more often.

How much do monkey tattoos cost?

A simple color or shaded cartoon monkey tattoo can cost less than $250, even less so for one done with just linework.

A larger, more elaborate design using 3D effects and colors could cost between $500-$1000 depending on the experience of the artist.

The per hour price for a versatile, experienced professional tattooist starts at around $150.

Realism pieces often require a specialist tattoo artist for best results. A sleeve or big portrait style monkey design can cost anywhere north of $1500 and can take at least 8+ hours of work to complete.