80 Leg Tattoos for Men You Must See!

From minimalist leg tattoos to snake tattoos and Japanese tattoos, the options can seem endless for leg tattoos for men.

I have been an artist and have designed numerous tattoos for men, including leg ink. So, I can guide you through all the designs and options available.

Check out the many leg tattoo ideas that you can borrow from.

The Best Leg Tattoos for Men

Here are the top leg tattoo designs you should be checking out:

Simple Leg Tattoos

There is certainly nothing wrong with big and complex tattoos, but sometimes you just want minimalist leg tattoos. This is especially true if you are getting your first tattoo - hey, leg tattoos hurt! If you are looking for simple leg tattoo ideas, then here are some of the images that you should consider:

A small leg tattoo may be best as side leg tattoos or closer to the ankle. Of course, it is up to you so this kind of ink can be placed anywhere!

Koi Fish Leg Tattoos

If you are looking for a Japanese leg tattoo, a koi fish tattoo may be just the thing.

Koi fish are representative of perseverance and determination. These fish often have to swim upstream, against the current but they still make it to their destination.

This is why a koi fish tattoo may be a symbol for how you have overcome a trial in your life. Or, this ink may simply be a reminder of how you have the strength to face anything that comes your way.

Here are the best koi fish leg tattoos for men:

While a single koi fish leg tattoo is most common, you can also find leg tattoos for men with two koi fish. This can be a symbol of love or friendship. This kind of leg tattoo can also be portrayed as a sign of balance between two opposing forces.

Dragon Leg Tattoos

A dragon leg tattoo is a fairly popular choice of leg tattoos for men. This has to do with its meaning.

In Eastern cultures, a dragon is connected to good luck, wisdom, strength, and power. They are also often seen as symbols of an unstoppable force.

If you have any association with these things, a dragon leg tattoo is a natural choice for you.

Before you get this leg tattoo, just be aware that there are lots of different types of dragons. So, make sure to do enough research to figure out which design you like best.

Do you want a full leg sleeve tattoo idea? Then here is one to check out:

Also be aware that if you want to get Japanese leg tattoos, there is something known as a Foo dog design. It is a guardian spirit and although it may look like a dragon, it isn't one.

Big Cat Leg Tattoos

There is nothing quite like a big cat. These animals are strong and powerful hunters. They also have majestic profiles.

So, leg tattoos for men featuring big cats are fairly common. The kind of big cat that you choose can be very telling.

For instance, lions are considered the king of the jungle. Cheetahs are known for their sleekness. Tigers, on the other hand, are considered to be more exotic and cunning.

Looking for lion leg tattoos? Here are some stunning leg sleeve tattoo ideas that you can draw inspiration from:

As you can see from the above leg tattoos for men, there are many ways to incorporate a lion into your leg sleeve. You can choose mystical, tribal, or do something entirely different for lion leg tattoos.

If you prefer tigers, here are some exquisite leg tattoo designs to choose from:

Of course, there are other big cat leg tattoos for men that you can get. Here is a collection of upper and lower leg tattoo ideas to consider:

Snake Leg Tattoos

Snake tattoos are becoming increasingly popular. They work well as leg tattoos for men as the curved lines wrap around the leg beautifully.

Snake leg tattoos are becoming more common because people are learning about other cultures.

In Eastern cultures, snakes are a sign of good luck. In China, they are considered symbols of fortune and longevity.

In Japan, snakes are seen as guardians and associated with gods and divinity.

A lot of people also associate snakes with transformation and rebirth. This has to do with the fact that they shed their skin.

If you would like to get snake leg tattoos, here are some ideas to consider:

Animal Leg Tattoos

Animal leg tattoos for men are fairly common too. This is because each animal is associated with a certain set of traits and characteristics.

This could be intelligence, wildness, strength, etc. Therefore, you can choose the animal you most closely associate with for your leg tattoo.

If you are looking for a gray leg tattoo idea, here is a great one to borrow from. What makes this so interesting is that it looks as though it has been shaded in.

Just check out these full leg sleeve tattoo designs. They contain numerous different animals - the result is a wild and ferocious work of art.

If you have a favorite pet, it is only natural to want to get a leg tattoo of them. From small leg tattoos to more complex ones, there are plenty of options to choose from.

Bird Leg Tattoos

When you're looking for ideas for leg tattoos for men, a bird leg tattoo may not be the first thing that springs to mind.

However, there is no need for your leg tattoos to be aggressive or bold. For example, consider bird tattoos. They are beautiful creatures that symbolize freedom. It is only natural to want to capture their likeness for your leg tattoo.

If you are on the lookout for cool leg tattoo ideas, this is definitely one you will want to consider. Here, you have the mythical phoenix as an upper leg tattoo and the brave eagle as a lower leg tattoo.

Religious Leg Tattoos

If you are considering a religious leg tattoo, know that there are lots of designs to choose from.

In case you prefer small leg tattoos, here is a simple cross design:

You can also get a religious leg tattoo with prayer hands or a rosary:

Look at this exquisitely drawn lower leg tattoo:

Here are leg tattoos of the Virgin Mary which use an incredible amount of detail.

Of course, you don't just have to focus on one religion, which means there plenty of different spiritual-themed leg tattoos you can get. Just check out this Buddha-inspired full leg tattoo:

I have to warn you that Buddha leg tattoos may not be acceptable everywhere. So you may want to think twice if you are planning on visiting an Asian country.

Celtic Leg Tattoos

I want to start off by saying that there is a lot of misinformation about Celtic tattoos. A lot of what you see are mainstream designs which are distorted versions of traditional symbols.

Due to this, if you want a Celtic leg tattoo, it's important to look up authentic designs. This will give you a better idea of what kind of design you should get for more realistic leg tattoos.

Here are some Celtic leg tattoo ideas to give you some inspiration:

If you are looking for a full leg tattoo idea or are considering leg sleeve tattoos, these are great designs to consider. At the same time, these designs work just as well for lower leg or upper leg tattoos too.

Tribal Leg Tattoos

A tribal leg tattoo is one of the coolest designs you can get. I do have to warn you, though, the term tribal tattoo is an incredibly vague one.

This is because tribal leg tattoos can be inspired by various cultures. This includes Maori, Polynesian, Hawaiian, and Samoan.

Most of the tribal leg tattoo designs you see are made up by the wearer and the artist. If this is something you would like for your leg tattoo, go right ahead.

On the other hand, if you want something more authentic, you need to do some research.

Here is an example of an authentic upper leg tattoo design. These small leg tattoos are less common as you are more likely to see a full-leg sleeve tattoo. If you don't want something quite as bold or as obvious, upper leg tattoos or a thigh tattoo is the way to go:

If you want to get a full leg tattoo, here are the leg sleeve tattoos to draw inspiration from. As you can see, they don't just cover the front and bottom of the leg. They wrap around the upper and inner leg too.

Greek Leg Tattoos

Do you love Greek mythology or simply the artistic styles of Ancient Greece? If so, getting these realistic leg tattoos is a great way to honor your interest.

In fact, these are great ideas for leg tattoos for men, in general. Check out some of the top Greek men's leg sleeve tattoos:

Portrait Leg Tattoos

Portrait leg tattoos are a beautiful way to honor or memorialize a loved one. Of course, you do need an experienced tattoo artist to bring these realistic leg tattoos to life.

Once you find the right person for the job, these leg tattoos can be stunning:

This gorgeous leg sleeve tattoo proves that your portrait tattoos don't always need to be based on someone you know. If there is a personality or scene that you want to bring to life, then you should go for it!

Geometric Leg Tattoos

There is something oddly soothing about geometric patterns and tattoos. Although they may seem like minimalist leg tattoos for men, this isn't the case at all.

As you can see from the designs below, you can choose from small leg tattoos and leg sleeve tattoos, all in varying levels of complexity:

Mechanical Leg Tattoos

A mechanical leg tattoo is a cool idea for a lower leg tattoo. They also work well as leg sleeves:

Should Guys Get Leg Tattoos?

This is an entirely personal decision. If you want to get a leg tattoo, you should go ahead and get one.

Leg tattoos are fairly common among men, so if you do get one you will be in good company.

Are Thigh Tattoos for Guys?

Thigh tattoos aren't gender specific; in fact, there aren't any rules as to where you should or shouldn't get a tattoo based on your gender.

With men, lower leg tattoos are more common than upper leg types but this shouldn't stop you from getting one wherever you want.

Do Tattoos Look Good on Skinny Legs?

Yes! It is all about the design and the quality of the tattoo. As long as you go to a good tattoo artist, you will have no problem making your ink look good.

What are Leg Tattoos Called?

There is no specific name for leg tattoos. Instead, you may refer to a tattoo based on the specific location you want it to go on. This includes upper leg tattoos, lower leg tattoos, side leg tattoos, etc.

When describing your leg tattoo, you need to point out precisely where you want it to be drawn by the tattoo artist.

There you have it. These are all the leg tattoo ideas for men out there. Now that you know the top choices you can choose which one suits you best.