Under normal circumstances, a small chest tattoo isn’t on display. It carries with it the sense of something a bit more personal than many other tattoos.
Certainly, an enthusiast finds meaning in all their ink, but a small tattoo over someone’s heart usually reflects something special carried within it.
It’s also a common location to have tattooed images that reflect some dangerous career or service, such as time spent in the military, or as a fireman or deep-sea fisherman.
Every tattoo should tell a story about the collector wearing it, something that reminds them of who they are and will help draw those important to their lives even closer.
Just take a look at our gallery of designs featuring awe-inspiring and meaningful small chest tattoos for men below!
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1. Small 3D Chest Tattoos
An interesting trend is growing in the tattoo world that really highlights the skill and creativity of the artists who can achieve this effect. Through a variety of techniques, including drop shadows, textures and forced perspective, skilled artists can create a three dimensional effect that gives these pieces the appearance of depth and makes for one of a kind tattoos.
2. Nautical Themed Small Chest Tattoos
Out of the American traditional school of tattooing and its nautical themes arose modern Western tattooing. Thanks to the powerful imagery associated with the sea—and the ships and men who ride her swells—nautical tattoos continue to remain popular. Whether taking an American traditional approach with bold lines and vibrant colors, or using a more photo-realistic strategy, the sea makes for some powerful tattoos that are sure to turn heads.
3. Small Script Chest Tattoos
Script is an excellent choice for those that want their tattoos to clearly and precisely represent their feelings and attitudes: there is little room for interpretation of a tattoo that explicitly says “I love my family”. However, script is not without its own beauty. Many tattoo artists specialize in script work, spending years honing their skills and are practiced in applying a variety of different fonts and typefaces to the skin.
4. Technical Small Chest Tattoos
Some people prefer more restrained designs that use a limited amount of line work to create interesting designs. For other people this just simple isn’t enough.
These tattoos demonstrate a number of different methods for applying ink, from the meticulous application of thousands of tiny dots to create a smooth gradation of tones, to bold line work that is reminiscent of lithographs. The technical skill is impressive and the painstaking attention to detail is extraordinary.
5. Black Ink Small Chest Tattoos
Like the subdued elegance of a black tuxedo, there is something inherently appealing about black line work tattoos. It never ceases to amaze, the variety of techniques and styles that can effectively utilize bold black ink to create interesting tattoos. These pieces demonstrate what is possible with the most basic of color palettes.
6. Animal Themed Small Chest Tattoos
People are fascinated with animals. The cats and dogs we spend our lives with are only a small cross section of animals that people choose to ink on their bodies. Many people associate different wild animals with personality traits that they feel represent them: for some a tiger is the perfect way to represent their tenacious nature. For others a hummingbird might signify their appreciation of the beauty of nature. The possibilities are endless when it comes to animal inspired designs.
7. Black and Red Small Chest Tattoos
While commonly associated with the Trash Polka style in the tattoo world, black and red is an ink color combination that has some specific connotations. Red is an aggressive color although it can sometimes have trouble showing up certain skin tones. Black is perfectly suited to add contrast and help make for an interesting design that will better stand up to the test of time.
8. Black and Gray Small Chest Tattoos
Some of the best tattoos are created using the classic black and gray color scheme. From the bold fully saturated blacks at one end of the spectrum, all the through gray tones and negative space, the smooth gradation that a talented artist can achieve with black and gray ink is impressive and be effectively utilized in a number of styles.
9. Minimalist Small Chest Tattoos
Sometimes it is surprising how appealing designs that utilize a minimalist approach can be. A talented artist can use a clever composition that uses the minimal number of lines to perfectly capture the quintessential elements of a design with no superfluous ink.
Small Chest Tattoo FAQs
How much does a small chest tattoo cost?
In a perfect world we wouldn’t have to worry about price; artists, designs and personal significance would be the only factors that shape the tattoos that people choose to get. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world and price is a major factor when considering future ink.
When it comes to small chest tattoos like the ones featured here, they can be completed in a single session, which means a lower starting price right off the bat. Most shops have a minimum rate, so even if you are getting a tattoo the size of a nickel, expect to pay over $50 USD (likely more depending on the city and state).
As of this year, the national average for small tattoos is about $250. Obviously averages allow for wiggle room on either end, but expecting to pay around $250 is a safe bet that will help prevent sticker shock when walking into a shop and consulting with an artist.
Did you enjoy these small chest tattoos but need some more ink inspiration. Click on the links below for more cool small tattoo imagery: