Purple Butterfly Tattoo Ideas

Butterfly tattoos represent life and the freedom to live your life with independence and flair. Each tattoo has its a persona of its own.

Purple butterfly tattoos display a uniquely beautiful insect within a range of tattoo styles and applications.

The depth and range of designs and placements breath a sense of individualism and character only seen in live butterflies, with the most visible purple butterfly being the Purple Emperor.

Other collectors opt to use more generic depictions or a variation of the elegant monarch butterfly, adding the color purple as a design element rather than strictly copying a butterfly found in nature.

The following gallery of purple butterfly tattoos showcase a tremendous amount of versatility and innovation within the popular butterfly topic that you’ll be able to incorporate into a future design of your own.

1. 3D Tattoo Ideas

A forearm realistic purple butterfly tattoo — Source: @aa8tattoos via Instagram

Tattoo of a butterfly with purple wings and detailed patterns on light skin — Source: @akashicink via Instagram

A purple butterfly tattoo on a woman's back, near the shoulder — Source: @destinationink82 via Instagram

Purple butterfly tattoo on a person's shoulder, wings spread — Source: @diaoshane via Instagram

A purple and black butterfly tattoo on a shoulder — Source: @jazzy_tattoos via Instagram

Tattoo of a black and purple butterfly with white spots — Source: @jess_schneider72 via Instagram

Tattoo of a colorful butterfly on a person's forearm, with blue, pink, and purple wings — Source: @malavida.tattoo via Instagram

Tattoo of a purple butterfly with the text "I will remember for you" on forearm — Source: @mikeomundson123 via Instagram

2. Purple Butterfly Tattoos for the Ankle

Foot tattoo of two purple butterflies with black outlines and a swirling purple trail — Source: @keimacabre via Instagram

Purple butterfly tattoo on a lower leg above the ankle — Source: @krispatay via Instagram

Tattoo of a purple and black butterfly on an ankle — Source: @uncle_el13 via Instagram

Tattoo of a purple butterfly with white spots on an ankle — Source: @underworldtattoo via Instagram

3. Back Tattoos featuring Purple Butterflies

A tattoo of a butterfly above a rose on a woman's upper back — Source: @clock_work_tattoo via Instagram

A purple butterfly tattoo on the back of a neck — Source: @heim__tattoo via Instagram

Back tattoo of a pink and black butterfly on a woman's shoulder — Source: @jessnewtontattoo via Instagram

Purple and black butterfly tattoo on a left shoulder — Source: @g_gravestattoos via Instagram

Tattoo of a purple butterfly on a woman's back — Source: @kevinstiles51 via Instagram

A vibrant purple butterfly tattoo on an upper back — Source: @nikki.b.tattoo via Instagram

Lower back tattoo of two purple butterflies and a lotus flower — Source: @underworldtattoo via Instagram

Back tattoo of a purple rose with two butterflies, and the words "Until we meet again" and "Dad" — Source: @wiltered_rose_13 via Instagram

4. Forearm Tattoo Ideas

A forearm tattoo with a colorful butterfly, hearts, and swirling patterns — Source: @arthurbcole via Instagram

A realistic, purple butterfly tattoo on a forearm — Source: @caboretattoo via Instagram

Tattoo of a butterfly with purple wings and a purple awareness ribbon on a forearm — Source: @ink_insurgency via Instagram

Forearm tattoo featuring three colorful butterflies with a vibrant blue and pink watercolor design — Source: @inkscapetattoo via Instagram

Two matching butterfly and purple rose tattoos on forearms — Source: @jimmy.vonlemon.1 via Instagram

A tattoo of a black footprint with a purple butterfly on an inner forearm — Source: @jimwagnertattoos via Instagram

A purple and black butterfly tattoo on an inner forearm — Source: @mello_vybez via Instagram

A forearm with a purple and black butterfly tattoo with white spots — Source: @nadz_tattoo via Instagram

Tattoo of a flower with a purple butterfly in the center and the word "Mum" above it — Source: @samantha_walker_456 via Instagram

5. Monarch Butterflies in Purple Ink

A colorful purple butterfly tattoo on a woman's ribcage — Source: @anthemsbodyarts via Instagram

Tattoo of two purple butterflies on a person's upper chest, near the shoulder — Source: @coco.tattoos via Instagram

A colorful butterfly tattoo on an upper arm with pink and purple wings — Source: @meaghan.rhea_ via Instagram

Tattoo of a purple butterfly with white accents on a forearm — Source: @nannysonlinedemos via Instagram

Woman's neck with a colorful butterfly tattoo behind their ear — Source: @tatts_by_ant via Instagram

6. Realistic Tattoos

A tattoo of a purple butterfly on a shoulder — Source: @antbenjtattoos via Instagram

A realistic purple butterfly tattoo is inked on a person's foot — Source: @artbyb__ via Instagram

Tattoo of a purple butterfly with "Finally free" written below it — Source: @chopztattoo via Instagram

Woman's back with a purple and black butterfly tattoo close to her right shoulder — Source: @everymothersnightmare via Instagram

A realistic purple butterfly tattoo on a woman's shoulder — Source: @honey.bea_.tattoos via Instagram

A colorful butterfly tattoo on a woman's upper back and shoulder — Source: @jbsmoodboard via Instagram

Tattoo of a purple butterfly and black-and-white daffodils on a forearm — Source: @nava_ink via Instagram

Tattoo of a purple and black butterfly — Source: @paulspatolatattoo via Instagram

7. Purple Butterfly Shoulder Ink

A tattoo of a purple butterfly with the names "Shane" and "Kieran" on a woman's upper arm — Source: @aris_tattoo.crash_ via Instagram

Shoulder tattoo showing a purple butterfly perched on pink cherry blossoms — Source: @geeroetattoo via Instagram

A tattoo of a purple butterfly with black details on an upper back — Source: @liixtwo_tattoo via Instagram

A tattoo of a purple butterfly and two lotus flowers on a shoulder — Source: @mrsmummypennyuk via Instagram
Source: @whiskeyandinktattoo via Instagram

Two colorful butterfly tattoos on a woman's shoulder and collarbone area — Source: @roykwancw via Instagram

Woman with a butterfly tattoo on her upper arm and a floral tattoo on her lower arm — Source: @wuyao_tattoo via Instagram

Purple and black butterfly tattoo on a shoulder — Source: @zindyink via Instagram

8. Small and Simple Tattoos

Small purple butterfly tattoo on the finger — Source: @doodle_ling via Instagram

Two colorful butterfly tattoos on an upper shoulder — Source: @filosajesus via Instagram

Small colorful butterfly tattoo on the back of the hand — Source: @handmodelfairy via Instagram

9. Wrist Tattoo Ideas

A tattoo of a purple butterfly sitting on a branch on a wrist — Source: @absolutetattoo785 via Instagram

Two purple butterflies tattooed on a wrist — Source: @bad_ombre_ via Instagram

A purple butterfly tattoo on a person's wrist with initials on its wings — Source: @johnboystattoos via Instagram

A purple and black butterfly tattoo on a wrist — Source: @kel.connors via Instagram

Tattooed arm with "I love you to the moon and back" and a purple butterfly with stars and moon — Source: @mastermindstattoo via Instagram

FAQs

What does a butterfly tattoo symbolize?

People who wear butterfly tattoos are usually seekers of independence and liberty. A butterfly tattoo also symbolizes balance after transformation.

Butterflies are delicate and fragile creatures representing not only physical beauty but spiritual beauty as well.

Combinations of significant images with the butterfly – such as a flower, animal, or even a 3D image – on a tattoo allow the creativity of the artist to be highlighted.

The images of butterflies radiate a feeling of happiness, joy, and peace.

Where should I place my purple butterfly tattoo?

The most popular places for butterfly tattoos are on the chest, neck, lower back or shoulder, although they also are popular for visible tattoos due to their beauty and positive associations.

You may want to personalize your purple butterfly tattoo in some way that uniquely represents you. This way you can make sure it does not resemble another tattoo on someone else.

Your own butterfly tattoo can be combined with other elements of nature, such as your favorite flowers, a rainbow, or animals and other insects.

You may add symbols that uniquely bring out your personality, such as your zodiac sign, initials, or favorite musical symbols.

What does a purple butterfly tattoo mean?

A purple butterfly could mean a few different things from a symbolic perspective, although the Purple Emperor butterfly is a cool realistic design style.

The color purple is often linked to royalty and prestige, so purple butterflies can be associated with success and achievement.

They are also a great tattoo choice for those looking for vivid butterfly body art that pops off the skin in a 3D style.

How much does a butterfly tattoo cost?

Many butterfly tattoos are small to medium in size – less than 4 inches in diameter – so should take 2-3 hours depending on the technical details.

With prices averaging out to around $150-$200 per hour for experienced professionals $300-400 including tips is a good place to start for a simple butterfly tattoo.

Large butterfly ink can range from $750-$1000 plus tips, with those on the back or thigh being the largest.

Simple purple designs of outline ink and color will be cheaper than pieces adopting heavier shading or more time-consuming techniques.