32 Small Wrist Tattoos That Speak Volumes

A hand wearing gold wrings and a bracelet with a "breathe" tattoo on top and a starburst tattoo on the wrist — @little.tattoos / Instagram

When it comes to tattoos, you have an entire body of placements to choose from. While some areas offer the benefit of easy concealment, others spotlight the new ink for all to see– such as the wrist. While it may be small, it’s an open space with fairly straight lines, making it an easy spot to get almost any design. Outer wrist tattoos are ideal for expressing yourself to the outside world, while inner wrist tattoos feel slightly more intimate, like a special message you keep just for yourself.

Whether you’re looking into getting a small wrist tattoo of an important quote or one that just makes you smile when you see it, here are 32 beautiful, small tattoos to inspire you.

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Words and Symbols

Tattoos on Zoe Kravitz's hand, including wolf word tattoo, compass, and date — Getty

Zoe Kravitz's many hand and wrist tattoos offer different interpretations, but we love the combination of a simple cursive word (in this case, "wolf") with a series of small stars in the shape of a cross.

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Concentric Triangles

black triangle wrist tattoo — @aztattoozz / Instagram

These bold, black, open triangles fade into an arrow. The simple tattoo can be turned upwards or on to its side depending on what direction you want the lines to face.

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Hand-Poked Adornments

woman's wrists with black tattoos on top of each — @megansancheztattoo / Instagram

These hand-poked tattoos offer something for each wrist—a flourish of simple, elegant, black ink in various shapes, including dots.

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BFF Butterfly

Wrists with half a butterfly tattoo each — @inked.bydani / Instagram

Butterflies make great wrist tattoos, as they can be shrunk to any size. However, if you go for a smaller butterfly on the wrist, it’s a good idea to choose an artist who specializes in thin lines so you can pack a lot of detail into the design.

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Dainty Maximalism

Several small tattoos on top of wrist — @blackninked / Instagram

Small tattoos are perfect for mixing and matching to create a larger design that isn't overpowering. We love how this constellation of nature iconography flows beautifully from the top of the wrist to the back of the hand.

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Open Wings

Pair of wings tattoo on wrist — @g.gia_ / Instagram

Tattoo designs that can be boiled down to a few simple elements make great wrist tattoos, as they stand out but remain minimalistic. This stunning tattoo makes the perfect small, yet mighty statement.

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Single Letter

Letter S tattoo on wrist — @akkurat_tattoo / Instagram

If there’s someone in your life you want to memorialize, or if you have a favorite letter of the alphabet, getting a small initial on your wrist is a simple but impactful design. Keep the font simple and crisp for a clean look.

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Floral Wristband

Floral chain tattoo around wrist — @xiso_ink / Instagram

While armbands seem to be more popular than wristbands, tattoos look great wrapped around the wrist. It’s like a beautiful, permanent bracelet!

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Olive Branch

@humblebeetattoo / Instagram

An olive branch on the outside of the wrist creates a beautiful line that mimics the area between the wrist and the hand. Placing it here also emphasizes its connection to peace and “extending an olive branch.”

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Positive Affirmations

"I am enough" wrist tattoo — @s.dreamsstudio1517 / Instagram

While many people get words on their inner wrist for a personal reason, placing the text facing outward makes it feel like it's more for others. This easy-to-read message reminds anyone who reads it that they matter.

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Cursive Font

Red ink "love" tattoo on wrist — @ghinkos / Instagram

Script font makes tattoos appear more delicate, and when combined with the wrist placement makes the tattoo feel dainty—despite how much of the wrist it takes up. Add extra curl details to make it feel like a greater design rather than a single word.

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Poetic Justice

Line of poetry saying "if the sees catch fire" tattooed on top of wrist — @joannamroman / Instagram

An outer wrist placement is ideal for a line or stanza that resonates deeply with you. It's the perfect eternal reminder of poetry in motion.

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Abstract Design

Abstract wraparound wrist tattoo — @yard_n_gnome / Instagram

Abstract designs look great placed on the wrist, as they tend to contrast with the rigid lines of the arm. Keep the overall design simple, like this one, for a minimal design that makes a major statement. Seattle-based tattoo artist Emma Eli gives each of their clients unique, one-off designs—if you're interested in something similar, working with your artist on a custom abstract piece can be a memorable experience.

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A Significant Signature

Delicate signature tattoo on wrist — @joannamroman / Instagram

While some prefer to immortalize their loved ones through portrait tattoos, we love this dainty, and slightly more mysterious iteration. A tattoo of a beloved's signature on your wrist is a beautiful way to honor them.

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Constellation

A small constellation—or perhaps your star sign—on your wrist is a personal touch. Placing it on the outer wrist makes it more visible, and you’ll always be reaching for the stars.

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Sanskrit Wristband

Who needs jewelry when you can have permanent bracelets of Sanskrit motifs lining your wrists? The intricate details of this tattoo, layered and stacked so elegantly atop one another like the finest bangles, rival even the most elaborate jewels.

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Bouquet

Tattoo of four flowers on wrist — @bora_tattooer / Instagram

Florals make great large, sweeping tattoos; sometimes, though, a small bouquet makes a bigger impact. These flowers are tiny and minimal, but the clean lines and thin detailing add visual interest.

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Elegant Rose

Fine line rose wrist tattooo — @tinytattooinc / Instagram

Rose tattoos have a very feminine energy, so placing them on the wrist only serves to emphasize that. This means the tattoo feels dainty, even if the fine line work is on a larger scale.

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Music Notes

Music note tattoos on two wrists — @drea843 / Instagram

If you love a specific song or musician, getting the music notes on your wrist is a stunning way to pay tribute. Plus, you can personalize it to a certain part of the song that means the most to you.

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Yin Yang

The yin yang symbol is a popular choice for a wrist tattoo, as it’s a simple design that works in any space. To give it a unique touch, try using the negative space of your wrist as the background of the symbol.

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Fantasy Language

Lord of the Rings letter wrist tattoo — @humblebeetattoo / Instagram

For fans of a specific book or movie that has its own script, a great way to pay homage is by getting a letter of that language on your wrist—like this Quenya letter from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth. Placing it on the wrist means you’ll be showing your passion to everyone who sees it.

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Simple Heart

Two hands with matching heart wrist tattoos making a pinky promise — @inked.bydani / Instagram

A simple small heart on your inner wrist will draw attention no matter what, so what better story to tell than that of enduring friendship? We love that one heart is filled in while the other is left open, allowing for individuality, but still remaining the same.

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Crescent Moon

A crescent moon tattoo on the inside of the wrist emphasizes the delicacy of the area. Pairing it with florals, as this design does, emphasizes the feminine power of the moon as well.

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Personal Planets

Small planet tattoo on inner wrist — @joannamroman / Instagram

Forget zodiac signs, personal planets are a much fresher way to show off your birth chart—or just your general love of the cosmos. We love how the off-center placement of this inner wrist tattoo highlights its orbital nature.

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Powerful Word

Wrist tattoo of word "sonder" — @dianagraytattoo / Instagram

A small word on the wrist serves as a forever reminder of something meaningful. Place it on the bottom of your arm, rather than in the center, for a fun twist on placement.

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Lotus Flower

Because a lotus flower can easily be broken down into a few elements, they make for great minimal tattoos.

Byrdie Tip

Go for lines that overlap—as opposed to just touch—for an interesting detail that keeps your tattoo feeling minimal.

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Bird in Flight

Dotted bird wrist tattoo — @lesya_spicy / Instagram

Adding a lot of detail to a small tattoo may sound like it’ll be overwhelming, but when done correctly, it can actually enhance the look of the design. This bird tattoo uses a lot of dotwork and shading. However, because it’s spaced out and done to add dimension to the design, it works with it, not against it.

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Diminutive Flower

Small flower wrist tattoo — @little.tattoos / Instagram

A small, simple flower on the side of the wrist makes a big enough impact by itself. Keep the design as basic as possible—within whatever style you’d prefer—to make the focus on the size and placement.

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Trailing Vines

These tattooed vine illustrations, in Mira Mariah's signature Girl Knew York style, are everything we could ever want from a bejeweled cuff. While some may prefer to have the design filled in, we love the visibility of the detail here.

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Shiny Star

Simple pair of stars wrist tattoo — @little.tattoos / Instagram

For a small tattoo that shines, choose a design that uses only a few lines. These sparkles are extremely minimal, but the style suits the design without making it feel too simple.

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Lightning Bolt

It's the smallest things that are often the most impactful. This dainty, open linework lightning bolt tattoo is absolutely electric without occupying too much space.

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Pinky Promise

Nothing screams best friends forever quite like a tattoo that's permanent. While most BFF ink goes the way of puzzle-piece tattoos that create a finished image when brought together, we love the meaning behind these pinky promise tattoos.