A Rear View: 105+ Back Tattoo Ideas for Men

From trees and mythology to geometric designs, there are many different kinds of back tattoos to get!

I really like inking back tattoos for men. Their backs tend to be broader and it's the perfect canvas to draw on - in particular, I like designing and inking large pieces. It is also fun to see how different people make use of this space based on their own personal style.

In this post, I will show you the top back tattoo ideas for men and share what they mean as well.

The Best Back Tattoos for Men

Here are the top back tattoo designs for guys that you should consider:

Tree and Plant Back Tattoos

A lot of people associate trees and plants with women but in reality, these make for great back tattoos for men. This is because a great many plant and trees represent strength, sturdiness, and a good foundation.

The type of plant or tree can also have an impact on the meaning of your back tattoo. For instance, the mighty oak is known for stability, endurance, and power. The bamboo, on the other hand, represents growth and flexibility.

So, for such back tattoos for men, you should consider what symbolism you would like for your ink and get the associated tree.

Wolf Back Tattoos

It isn't surprising to learn that wolves are popular upper back tattoo designs. After all, wolves are associated with leadership and toughness. At the same time, they are also highly social creatures who are the protectors of their family.

If these are traits that you admire and respect, then a wolf tattoo is the way to go. Best of all, there are so many options for this kind of body art.

You can have a back tattoo with a wolf and a backdrop. The tattoo can consist of a wolf howling at the moon. You can even get matching wolf tattoo designs with a friend or loved one if you want.

Lion Back Tattoos

The lion is another popular tattoo design for back tattoos for men. Once again, it isn't difficult to see why.

A lion tattoo is associated with strength and bravery - they are the kings of the jungle. They command respect and are the leaders of their pride.

Lions are noble creatures, so it is only natural that you would want to get this back tattoo for yourself. It can act as a reminder for you to embody each of these traits.

Of course, there is a softer side to lion tattoo designs. If you would like to showcase this, you may want to get a lion back tattoo with a lion playing or socializing with his mate and cubs. This is a beautiful idea if you are a family man and want to depict your family in your tattoo.

Bird Back Tattoos

Birds make wonderful upper back tattoos for men. They look really cool perched on your shoulder blade as a shoulder tattoo. Of course, if you want, you can also get a lower back tattoo or even a full back tattoo.

Birds are great as back tattoo ideas is because each bird has its own meaning. For example, the sparrow is associated with good luck and to help you find your way. So, it's a good back tattoo to get if you are starting a new journey in your life.

Then you have the eagle back tattoo - this is a majestic bird that is also a national symbol. Eagles are known for their intelligence, their ferocity, their ability to soar above the rest. They are also believed to have greater insight than many other creatures.

So, an eagle tattoo may be right up your alley if these things appeal to you!

Phoenix Back Tattoos

A phoenix back tattoo can be a great idea for a couple of reasons. First of all, a phoenix tattoo makes for a stunning back tattoos. The design and the colors really bring this concept to life.

So, if you are looking for a badass back tattoo, then this is what you should consider:

You may also want to get this lower or upper back tattoo because the phoenix is significant. It's a symbol of immortality, as near the end of its life, it bursts into flames and rises from the ashes, reborn.

This back tattoo doesn't just have to do with immortality. It also is associated with regeneration or renewing yourself when you are given a second chance.

This back tattoo also works well if you have been through a lot of trauma or problems. It will remind you that no matter what you have gone through, you can always build yourself back up again.

Dragon Back Tattoos

The dragon is yet another great concept if you are looking for a badass tattoo. Dragons are considered messengers from the gods and are believed to be intelligent and powerful.

There is also no denying that they make for really cool upper back tattoo designs.

With dragon back tattoos, you can choose more than one type of dragon. You have Chinese, the Japanese, and Western dragons. However, when it comes to back tattoos for men, a Japanese or Chinese dragon is most common.

If you want a Chinese or Japanese tattoo specifically, it is important to do your research. Figure out exactly what these dragons should look like, based off traditional art. Of course, you are free to take some creative liberties here as well.

The most common placement for a dragon back tattoo is across the shoulder blades. However, if you prefer thin, long dragons, you can also get a spine tattoo if you like.

Skull Back Tattoos

A skull tattoo is another great idea for a badass back tattoo! For one thing, skull tattoos look really fierce and are great if you want a more somber or gothic look to your back tattoo.

However, skull tattoo designs don't always have to be scary. This is because skulls can have a beautiful meaning too. They can be a reminder that nothing lasts forever and that you should take advantage of the time that you do have.

A skull tattoo can also remind you that death doesn't necessarily mean the end of life. Some things transcend the earthly plane and continue to live on.

Sugar Skull Back Tattoos

If you like the idea of death not being the end, you may want to consider Mexican sugar skulls as a tattoo idea.

In Mexican culture, sugar skulls are about celebrating the life of the people who have passed on, not just grieving them. So, if there is someone you want to remember fondly, this is a great back tattoo to consider.

Warrior Back Tattoos

Many men consider themselves warriors - at the very least, they try to live their life according to a code that many warriors follow.

If this is something you do, a warrior tattoo design would be fitting. Now, there are significant warriors from all around the world.

So, for this kind of back tattoo, your first order of business is to determine the culture that you would like to portray.

A lot of people like to get a samurai Japanese back tattoo, and this is something you can do too. After all, the samurai lived their life according to noble principles.

If you want to switch things up with your back tattoo, consider a back tattoo like this one that portrays both Japanese as well as Viking culture.

Nautical Back Tattoos

Nautical back tattoo ideas are becoming more commonplace. Though such back tattoos were only inked onto sailors and marines, they are becoming quite popular.

This largely has to do with the fact that people see sailing on the open sea as an act of freedom. So, if you are in the mood to get away from it all or start anew, this can be a great small or full back tattoo to get.

Tribal Back Tattoos

Tribal tattoos are certainly nothing new for tattoos for men. However, most people misunderstand what a tribal tattoo actually is.

A couple of decades ago, there were spiky black tattoo designs that were popularized. These were labelled tribal tattoos but this is misleading.

The real tribal designs are based on tribal art styles native to indigenous tribes of Maori, Polynesia, and more. Due to this, while these patterns may look random, they are anything but - they each tell a beautiful and meaningful story.

So, if you want a tribal back tattoo, make sure to get some background information on the various patterns and designs. This way, you get a more realistic design.

You should also consider working with tattoo artists who have experience with this design.

Traditional Back Tattoos

This design refers to the traditional art style. This is a classic tattoo style that uses thick black lines and bold colors. The result is a very vintage looking tattoo.

While you can get a small tattoo, this style works just as well for a full back tattoo!

Spiritual Back Tattoos

Now, this kind of back tattoo can be based on any religion or belief system. This means that you can get a cross for Christianity and a Hamsa for Judaism. You can also get a trishul for Hinduism.

At the same time, if you are more spiritual than religious, then there are plenty of other designs related to Buddhism and meditation that you can get.

Angel Back Tattoos

You may be wondering about getting an angel back tattoo, angels can seem like a more feminine tattoo idea to get. In reality, though, an angel back tattoo can work just as well for men as well as women.

This is because angels are associated with faith, guardianship, strength, and protection. You should also remember that there are lots of different ways to portray angels in tattoos as well.

Of course, if you don't want to get a full angel, then you can get an angel back wings tattoo instead!

Mythology Back Tattoos

Are you a fan of stories and legends from ancient times? Then this is the perfect back tattoo for you.

One of the great things about this kind of tattoo is there are so many different myths for you to choose from - Egyptian, Roman, Greek, etc. Of course, if you want to be really creative you can get a few different ones for a full back tattoo.

Fantasy Back Tattoos

Do you love fantasy literature, games, movies, or simply the art of role playing? If so, why not get fantasy upper back tattoos?

You can choose a concept from your favorite book or piece of media. Or, you can go ahead and get a piece that is based completely on your imagination!

Portrait Back Tattoos

When a lot of people think of portrait tattoos, they think of getting one that is based on a loved one. While this is certainly a beautiful idea, it is not the only option available to you.

You can get a favorite character or even someone that you have created from your own imagination. Of course, you will need a talented tattoo artist to help you pull this off.

Script Back Tattoos

Your back is a great place to get a script tattoo. This can be anything from a loved one's name to your favorite saying to even religious or spiritual text.

The placement and the design of this tattoo will depend on how long the passage is. For instance, a single word or phrase can be drawn as a spine tattoo. A few lines, on the other hand, may need to be a shoulder tattoo.

Geometric Back Tattoos

This is a great half or full back tattoo idea for anyone who wants a repeating pattern. A geometric back tattoo has a specific structure to it.

While this can make for a very attractive tattoo, such designs can also feel rather soothing as well.

Do Back Tattoos Look Good on Men?

Yes, back tattoos do look good on men. In fact, if you work out, a tattoo can help to emphasize the muscles in your back!

Are Back Tattoos Painful?

The tattoo pain all depends on the location. Lower and upper back tattoos are less painful due to the muscle and fatty tissue in these areas. Most middle back tattoos or spine tattoos hurt as they are close to bone and the skin is thin around these areas.

If you are looking for a back tattoo design, then you are in the right place! Here you will be able to find all types of concepts and designs. So, choosing the perfect tattoo for you should be a breeze.