35 Micro Tattoo Ideas If You Want Ink, But Also Kinda Don't (2024)

If you’ve always wanted some ink, but a giant wolverine on your back isn’t exactly what you had in mind, this list of micro tattoos is definitely for you.

While tattoos are permanent, forever, indelible, and other SAT words you learned once upon a time, these options feel more like the sprinkles you get on ice cream: fun little toppings for your skin. The decision to get inked feels less weighty, because even if you hate it in five years, it’s tiny. Yes, you can use that logic to convince your BFF to get matching tats. Just make sure that second “F” doesn’t mean “for now.”

From flames to flowers, and dinosaurs to cute cups of coffee, you’ll be sure to find something you want on this list of micro tattoos.

35 Cool Micro Tattoos

1. Dino Baby Micro Tattoo

If you loved the Land Before Time animated movies when you were a kid, this is for you. We had them on VHS. Did we just call ourselves old?

2. Live With Purpose

Someones, a permanent tattoo is just the kick you need to start living life with purpose. Or whatever word you get inked. Think “stay freaky” will look as classy in that font?

3. Thorny Rose Micro Tattoo

Show everyone you’re a little prickly, but also aesthetic as heck. This one is called “hasn’t shaved in weeks.”

4. Love You More Micro Tattoo

No, Starbucks, we love YOU more. Which reminds us to get our coffee order inked next.

5. Let’s Hold Hands

This micro tattoo works for everything: BFFs, mother and daughter, father and son, etc. Too bad we can’t get it with us holding a bag of Doritos. On second thought…

6. Swirly Tattoo

This tattoo feels like something between an ancient rune and an ocean wave. Either way let’s hope it brings us the magic we need to win our Bachelorette bracket.

7. Delicate Wristlet

If you can’t remember to put on jewelry to save your life, just get it tattooed. That whole “take one accessory off before you leave the house” rule no longer applies if it’s inked on.

8. Hidden Rose Tattoo

This flower tattoo is just for you and whoever is breathing down your neck in line at Target checkout. Glad we could memorialize such a special relationship.

9. Crescent Moon

We’re just going through a phase. Yes, that phase is spending all our dollars on lil tattoos. Whoops.

10. Flower Micro Tattoo

This screams dainty, modern princess. Less Avril Lavigne and more Ariana Grande. Not that we’d ever want less of Avril Lavigne.

11. Struck With Love

Hopefully this micro tattoo manifests a drop-by from Cupid, because we can’t with these dating apps. Hey, Cupid could be the one! You never know.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CuitomsNUvT

12. Tiny Triangle Tattoo

This one works best if you stay uber mysterious about why you got it. Are you a member of the Illuminati? Did you just really love geometry class? No one needs to know.

13. Baby Butterfly Ink

Whatever they mean to you, butterflies are cute as heck and make great micro tattoos. And if you get one on each ankle, you’ll be able to fly. Don’t quote us on that, though. We saw it on Reddit or something.

14. No Place Like Home

For the cottagecore witch living inside all of this, this micro tattoo is the future you can work towards. It’ll make getting splashed by a city truck on your way home from work less emotionally debilitating.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cq0oTh3tdCs

15. Tiny Flame Tattoo

If you like your food to be so spicy that you sweat every time you eat, consider this micro tattoo. We’ll be over here with all of our taste buds still intact.

16. Elemental Micro Tattoo

Be your own sun and stars…and moon and waves. Spend that hard-earned cash on some permanent accessories. By “hard earned,” we do mean scrolling through this article at work.

17. A Meaningful Initial

L is for the way you look at…that Venti Starbucks cold brew you just ordered.

18. Family Love Tattoo

This one is a step up from the classic “Mom” written in a heart tattoo. And let’s be real, your mom won’t approve either way.

19. Tiny Table and Chairs

With a scene like this, you’ll always be one glance away from a soothing mental image of lakeside beers and sandy shores. If it makes you use some of your vacation time (read: quit your job), even better.

20. Lucky Horseshoe Tattoo

Calling all horse girls. Our time is now, and this is the micro tattoo we will use to identify each other. Ready, set, gallop.

21. Baking Tattoo

This is the most perfect tattoo for all baking nerds and Great British Baking Show fans. We’d give you a Paul Hollywood handshake but our palms are all sweaty.

22. Baby Cactus Micro Tattoo

Desert girlies, this one’s for you. Or maybe this is for people that can’t keep a real cactus alive. Soooo, us. At least we’re self aware.

23. Mini Jet Plane

When you can’t afford a plane ticket out of here, just get a little plane tattoo instead. Guaranteed to make you feel better, highly less likely you’ll get a tan.

24. Palm Tree Tattoo

Who needs Florida as a vacation destination when you can get this palm tree tattoo instead? Plus, it’s an excuse to drink piña coladas daily. We don’t make the rules.

25. Bunny and a Butterfly

Hop along to your nearest tattoo studio to get some critters inked. Everyone will say “aww” when they see this duo, but “ahh” when they see a rat IRL. So weird.

26. Coffee Micro Tattoo

Let the whole world know that you’ll never feel bad for spending eight dollars on a latte. Life is short, and we’ll never be able to afford houses anyway.

27. Dating Dino Micro Tattoos

If you’re worried about one little dinosaur getting lonely, there’s a solution: get two so they can have a friend. It’s the same reason we have 12 cats.

28. Bird Micro Tattoo

This micro tattoo will remind you to spread your wings and fly… right down to the tattoo studio. Then you can crawl back into bed, we promise.

29. Realistic Human Heart

If you’re passionate about reinforcing the message that the heart emoji is not what a heart actually looks like, get this tattoo so you can brandish it before the naysayers. With a sparkle emoji for emphasis.

30. Busy Bee

If you’re heading into battle, and only have whatever is tattooed to arm you, this little guy won’t do much. But at least he’s cute!

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ctdpu7XIqCI/

31. Pine Tree Tattoo

If trees are your happy place (or you’re just trying to run away to Forks, Washington to live your Twilight fantasy), look no further. Btw, Edward was like a hundred years old, if that cures you.

32. Self Love Tattoo

Sometimes, you just need a big hug. Just hugging yourself might not cut it, but hugging yourself with a tattoo of you hugging yourself on your arm is foolproof. We finally understand Inception.

33. Moon and Stars

We love this dainty tattoo and delicate placement. It’s the kind of spot you only show to someone special…or everyone, if you’re embracing the whole low rise jeans thing.

34. She Is Art Tattoo

Think it would have the same effect if you replaced “art” with “hungry?” Asking for a friend. :tummy rumbles:

35. Little Ladybug Tattoo

Sure you might do a double take when you look down and there’s a bug on you, but it’s worth it. Until the spiders start getting confused, too.