Research Note: I have tattoos in various locations across my body, and each placement taught me something different about pain levels, visibility, aging, and practical considerations. This post draws from my personal experiences, pain level research, conversations with artists and collectors, and the lessons I learned from both good and regretful placement choices. I’m sharing this as someone who’s made smart and not-so-smart placement decisions, not as a tattoo artist.
Why Placement Matters More Than You Think
My first tattoo was on my wrist—a small script piece I thought was clever and would be easy to show off. Three years later, it’s my most regretted placement (not the tattoo itself, but where I put it).
Why? Because I didn’t consider:
- Pain: Wrist bones and thin skin = surprisingly painful
- Visibility: Can’t hide it in professional settings (had to wear watch/bracelets to cover)
- Aging: High-friction area + small delicate script = blurred and faded fast
- Sun exposure: Hands/wrists get constant UV damage
- Future expansion: Used up prime real estate with small piece
Placement affects pain during the tattoo, how it ages, professional implications, and future tattoo possibilities. Choosing placement is just as important as choosing design.
Pain Level Guide by Body Area
Understanding Tattoo Pain
Pain tolerance varies person to person, but general patterns exist based on anatomy. According to Healthline’s tattoo pain chart, pain correlates with:
- Thin skin: More painful (less padding between needle and bone/nerve)
- Proximity to bone: More painful (vibration on bone hurts)
- Nerve density: More painful (more nerves = more sensation)
- High movement/friction areas: More painful and slower healing
Least Painful Placements (My Experience + Research)
Outer Upper Arm/Shoulder:
- Pain Level: 2-3/10
- Why: Thick skin, muscle padding, fewer nerves
- My Experience: First truly comfortable tattoo session—could sit for 4 hours easily
- Ideal For: First tattoos, large pieces, people with low pain tolerance
Outer Thigh:
- Pain Level: 2-4/10
- Why: Thick skin, muscle, away from bone
- Note: Inner thigh is much more painful (thin skin, sensitive)
Calf:
- Pain Level: 3-4/10
- Why: Good muscle padding
- Note: Near ankle/shin bone hurts more
Upper/Outer Forearm:
- Pain Level: 3-5/10
- Why: Some muscle padding
- Note: Inner forearm and near wrist/elbow more painful
Moderate Pain Placements
Back (Upper and Middle):
- Pain Level: 4-6/10
- Why: Varies by location—shoulder blades bony, mid-back more comfortable
- My Experience: Upper back was tolerable, near spine more intense
Chest (Upper Pecs):
- Pain Level: 5-7/10
- Why: Thin skin over bone, nerve-dense
- Note: Center chest/sternum significantly more painful
Bicep/Inner Upper Arm:
- Pain Level: 4-6/10
- Why: More sensitive than outer arm
- Near Armpit: Dramatically more painful
High Pain Placements (Brace Yourself)
Ribs:
- Pain Level: 7-9/10
- Why: Thin skin directly over bone, breathing movement
- My Experience: Most painful tattoo I have—had to take breaks every 20 minutes
- Not Recommended For: First tattoos
Elbow/Knee:
- Pain Level: 8-9/10
- Why: Bone, nerve clusters, thin skin
- Movement: Joint bending during healing also uncomfortable
Inner Bicep/Armpit Area:
- Pain Level: 8-10/10
- Why: Extremely sensitive, thin skin, nerve-dense
- Artists Often Warn: “This is going to suck”
Feet/Ankles:
- Pain Level: 7-9/10
- Why: Thin skin, bones, tendons, nerves
- Healing: Difficult (constant movement, shoes rubbing)
- Aging: Fades fast due to friction
Hands/Fingers:
- Pain Level: 8-10/10
- Why: Thin skin, bones, high nerve density
- Aging: Fades extremely fast, frequent touch-ups needed
- Professional: Often visible (employment concerns)
Spine:
- Pain Level: 8-10/10
- Why: Directly on bone, nerve highway
- Vibration: Especially intense
Most Painful Placements (Think Twice)
Neck:
- Pain Level: 9-10/10
- Why: Thin skin, nerves, proximity to skull
- Professional: Highly visible (career implications)
- My Advice: Don’t make this your first tattoo
Face/Head:
- Pain Level: 9-10/10
- Why: Extremely sensitive, thin skin
- Professional/Social: Serious implications
- Permanence: Can’t be hidden
Genital/Intimate Areas:
- Pain Level: 10/10
- Why: Extremely sensitive tissue
- Healing: Complicated and uncomfortable
- Privacy: Difficult during healing
Visibility and Professional Considerations
The “Tattoo-Friendly Employment” Reality Check
Highly Visible Placements:
- Hands, fingers, neck, face, forearms (in short sleeves)
- Can limit employment in conservative fields (law, finance, healthcare in some settings)
- Social stigma still exists in some communities
- Consider your career path and industry norms
Easily Covered:
- Chest, back, ribs, shoulders, upper arms, thighs
- Can be shown or hidden based on clothing
- Maximum flexibility for professional life
Moderately Visible:
- Forearms, lower legs, wrists, ankles
- Visible in casual clothing, coverable with long sleeves/pants
- Depends on workplace dress code
My Wrist Tattoo Regret: I got my small wrist tattoo at 22 without considering my future career. At 30, working in a business-casual office, I wore watches and bracelets daily to cover it. If I’d placed it on my upper arm or ribs, I’d have had flexibility.
Questions to Ask Yourself:
- What’s my current career, and what are industry norms?
- What career might I want in 10 years?
- Am I comfortable potentially limiting job options?
- Can I cover this if needed?
- Do I live in a tattoo-friendly area/community?
How Placement Affects Aging
Areas That Age Well
Protected from Sun:
- Chest, back, ribs, upper arms (covered by clothing usually)
- Minimal UV exposure = slower fading
- Colors stay vibrant longer
- Lines stay crisp
Low Friction:
- Locations that don’t rub against clothing/surfaces constantly
- Upper back, ribs, chest age better than hands/feet
Minimal Stretching:
- Areas less affected by weight fluctuations
- Upper back, shoulders, calves relatively stable
Areas That Age Poorly
High Sun Exposure:
- Hands, forearms, neck, any area constantly in sun
- UV damage fades tattoos dramatically
- Requires lifelong SPF 50+ application
- Colors fade to pastels, blacks fade to grey
High Friction:
- Hands, feet, fingers (constant rubbing from shoes, washing, movement)
- Tattoos blur and fade quickly
- Frequent touch-ups needed (every 2-3 years)
Stretchy/Mobile Skin:
- Areas prone to weight changes (stomach, breasts, upper arms if prone to fluctuation)
- Skin stretching distorts tattoo
- Pregnancy considerations for stomach tattoos
My Observation: My upper back piece from 7 years ago looks almost identical to when fresh. My wrist tattoo from 4 years ago is significantly faded and blurred. Placement matters for longevity.
Size and Placement Relationship
Matching Design Size to Body Area
Large Designs Need Large Canvas:
- Intricate sleeves → full arm (shoulder to wrist)
- Detailed back pieces → full back or large section
- Portrait realism → minimum 5x5 inches
- Elaborate geometric → substantial size for detail
Small/Delicate Designs:
- Minimalist → wrist, ankle, behind ear, finger
- But understand aging concerns (details blur on small tattoos)
Medium Designs:
- Forearm, calf, upper arm, shoulder, chest, thigh
- Versatile placements for most common tattoo sizes
Common Mistake: Trying to fit large, detailed design into small area—result is cluttered, hard to read, ages poorly.
My Artist’s Advice: “If the design doesn’t fit properly at readable size in your chosen placement, either simplify the design or choose a larger placement.”
Special Placement Considerations
Hands and Fingers
Pros:
- Highly visible (if you want to show off)
- Bold statement
- Part of “heavily tattooed” aesthetic
Cons:
- Employment limitations (many industries still ban visible tattoos)
- Social stigma in some communities
- Extremely fast fading (wash hands, friction, sun)
- Painful
- Touch-ups every 1-3 years
My Advice: Don’t make hands/fingers your first or early tattoos. Once you’re heavily tattooed and committed to the lifestyle, hands can be a natural progression. But starting with hands limits future employment options.
Neck and Face
Cons Outweigh Pros for Most:
- Permanent visibility (can’t be hidden)
- Employment severely limited
- Social judgment
- Face tattoos specifically: considered extreme even in tattoo community
- Difficult healing
When It Works:
- Full-time tattoo industry professionals
- Artists, musicians, performers with no traditional employment concerns
- After extensive other tattoos (not first tattoo territory)
Behind the Ear
Pros:
- Discreet
- Can be shown or hidden with hair
- Small, delicate pieces work well
Cons:
- Painful (thin skin, near skull bone)
- Fades relatively quickly
- Limited to very small designs
Ribs/Side
Pros:
- Large canvas for elaborate designs
- Easy to hide professionally
- Looks stunning on many people
- Popular for quotes, florals, animals
Cons:
- Extremely painful (top 3 most painful placements)
- Breathing movement during tattooing uncomfortable
- Women: consider if you plan pregnancy (skin stretching)
Placement and Future Tattoo Plans
Thinking Long-Term
Prime Real Estate: Certain placements are most visible and most requested:
- Outer forearm
- Outer upper arm/shoulder
- Upper chest
My Mistake: I put a small 2-inch tattoo on my outer shoulder—prime real estate that could’ve held a large, impressive piece. Now if I want a shoulder piece, I have to work around or cover that small tattoo.
Better Approach:
- Save prime real estate for larger, more important pieces
- Put first/small tattoos in less prominent areas
- Think about eventual sleeve/large piece possibilities
If You Might Want a Sleeve Eventually:
- Avoid random small tattoos scattered on arm
- Start with full concept or at least cohesive style
- Work with artist who can plan long-term coverage
Practical Healing Considerations
Easy-to-Heal Placements
Ideal for Beginners:
- Outer upper arm (minimal movement, easy to keep clean)
- Upper back (little friction, easy aftercare)
- Outer thigh (covered, protected)
- Calf (straightforward healing)
Why These Heal Well:
- Less friction from clothing
- Easy to keep clean
- Not constantly in use/movement
- Protected from sun/elements during healing
Difficult-to-Heal Placements
Challenging Aftercare:
- Hands/feet (constant washing, movement, friction from shoes)
- Joints (elbows, knees—constant bending)
- Areas that sweat heavily (armpits, groin)
- Areas rubbed by clothing (waistband, bra line)
My Rib Tattoo Healing: Ribs were difficult—breathing moved skin, couldn’t wear bras comfortably, sleeping position limited. Healed fine but required extra diligence.
My Placement Recommendations
For Your First Tattoo
Best Placements:
- Outer upper arm/shoulder (comfortable pain, easy healing, versatile)
- Outer forearm (visible to you, moderate pain, easy healing)
- Calf (decent size canvas, moderate pain)
- Upper back (if you don’t mind not seeing it daily)
Avoid for First:
- Ribs (too painful)
- Hands/neck/face (too visible, professional implications)
- Feet (painful, ages poorly)
- Anything you can’t cover if needed
For Building a Collection
Strategic Approach:
- Start with easily hidden areas (gives you flexibility)
- Progress to more visible as you commit to tattoo lifestyle
- Save prime real estate for significant pieces
- Think cohesively if planning sleeve/large coverage
Personal Anecdote
If I could redo my tattoo journey:
- First: Upper arm or back (hidden, comfortable)
- Second: Forearm or calf (building confidence)
- Third: Ribs or other challenging placement (once I knew my pain tolerance)
- Eventually: Hands/neck after being heavily tattooed elsewhere
Instead, I started with wrist (regret), then scattered placement, then tried to build cohesion later. Learn from my mistakes.
Final Placement Wisdom
Key Takeaways:
Think Long-Term:
- Consider career implications
- Think about aging and sun exposure
- Plan for potential future tattoos
Start Conservative:
- Easily hidden placements first
- Build to more visible as you commit
- Test pain tolerance before attempting ribs/painful areas
Match Design to Placement:
- Size appropriate for area
- Subject works with body contours
- Consider how it looks from different angles
Don’t Rush:
- Live with temporary placement (draw on with marker, wear for a day)
- Consider multiple placement options
- Trust artist’s recommendation if they suggest different placement
My Biggest Lesson: Placement isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about pain, healing, aging, professional life, and future possibilities. Take time choosing where your permanent art lives.
Where was your first tattoo? Would you choose the same placement again? Share your placement experiences and advice in the comments!
Resources
Pain and Placement Information:
- Healthline - Tattoo Pain Chart
- Talk to your artist about placement during consultation
Aging and Sun Protection:
- SPF 50+ on all tattoos, especially sun-exposed areas
- Reapply every 2 hours in sun
- UV damage is cumulative and permanent
Professional Considerations:
- Research your industry’s policies on visible tattoos
- When in doubt, choose coverable placements
- Policies are slowly changing but still vary widely
InkedWith is written by tattoo collectors sharing real experiences. We’ve made good and bad placement choices—learn from both to make informed decisions about where your art lives permanently.