I think spider tattoos are great at highlighting how resourceful you are since they weave intricate webs to catch prey. But there are quite a few spider species out there, with each of them meaning different things as tattoos. I had this client come in once to get a black widow tattoo to represent being a femme fatale, with another getting a wolf spider to highlight his hunter-like instincts.
Naturally, the meaning behind your tattoo will also change depending on the motifs you add. Like adding a skull in there can be a way to represent the impermanence of life. However, there's a lot more to talk about, so I ran through all the best spider tattoo ideas and their meanings for you below.
Here are all the best spider tattoos.
You can keep it simple and get an outline spider tattoo. You won't have to worry about it being flashy as it'll just be an outline with no color or shading inside. Also, as the spider tattoo design will be simple, you can easily scale it down and make it smaller.
If you're interested in smaller spider tattoos, I’ve discussed them in the next section.
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Small spider tattoos are great if you want something dainty. Generally speaking, small tattoos are discreet since they're not that big or noticeable. But if you want, you can make your spider tattoo design even more subtle by getting it in a spot that won't easily be seen, like your back for instance.
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When most people think of spiders, they usually think of these creepy, crawly creatures. So, a fun juxtaposition to this would be a cute-looking spider tattoo. It'll especially be a good idea if you love spiders and want more people to appreciate them and be less afraid of them.
How do you go about a cute-looking spider tattoo? You can maybe do what one of my clients did. She got this pink cartoonish spider tattooed with a bow. Also, most of the clients I've done cute spider tattoos for have gone for jumping spiders. This isn't surprising considering they're so small and fluffy.
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If you're a fan of the Hunter x Hunter anime series, you'd know that each of the Phantom Troupe members has spider tattoos. You can pay tribute to your favorite troupe member by getting a spider tattoo with their designated number. To really hit the mark, you can get the tattoo in the same spot as them, like on your back if you're honoring Hisoka.
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Spider webs are often symbols of traps much like the challenges in life. You can pay tribute to each of life's challenges that you persevered over by getting a spiderweb tattoo. Along with the web, you can also do a spider hanging down from it. It'll touch on how spiders patiently wait for their prey, highlighting qualities like patience and persistence which might be important to you.
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If you want a tattoo to tie in your love for your partner, you can do two spiders weaving a web together. It'll be the perfect way to represent the bond you've been building together. To make it clear that you're getting a tattoo about your partner and not just two spiders, you can make the web heart-shaped.
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Wolf spiders are massive spiders known for hunting and stalking prey like wolves, hence the name. They're serious predators, so making one the star of your tattoo can emphasize your killer instincts.
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Jumping spiders are super agile and precise killers. As a tattoo, they can represent quick thinking and always being on your feet. I should also mention that they are fearless hunters, being able to take down prey much larger than them. They make for great tattoos if you want to represent how fearless you are.
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Black widows are known for killing their mates, plus they have some majorly toxic venom to them. It's not surprising that they're commonly associated with the femme fatale trope. I'd say to go for a black widow spider tattoo if you're a badass female who wants to show the world that you're the wrong girl to mess with.
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Daggers are popular symbols of courage. When combined with a skillful animal like a spider for a tattoo, they can represent being craft while also dealing with problems head-on.
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Spiders a lot of the time are associated with death, so it'll be fitting to tattoo one with a skull. You'll have a permanent reminder of your mortality. Also, both spiders and skulls are associated with the occult. So, the tattoo design will have a supernatural twist to it which would be a good way of highlighting your love for mysticism.
It's up to you to decide whether to have the spider next to the skull or have it as a part of its body. Personally, I'd suggest the latter as it adds a more interesting, macabre feel.
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For a more frightening tattoo design, consider a spider with a human face as the star of your tattoo. It will be monster-like which once again would be great if you love all things occult and supernatural. But it will also be a good ice-breaker, as anyone who sees your tattoo will wonder what the backstory behind it is.
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There actually is a Japanese folk demon that's depicted as a spider with a woman's face - Jorogumo. If you're thinking of doing a tattoo of her, I'd suggest doing her as a part of a Japanese-style tattoo. The style's incredibly detailed and uses a lot of bold lines and colors that work well for such a dramatic-looking character.
But if you are going with a Japanese-style tattoo, you need a proper tattoo artist who's skilled in Japanese-style pieces. There's a lot of nuance that goes into them to get them right.
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If you absolutely love spiders, why not bring them to life with a realistic tattoo? You'll be able to showcase how much they mean to you with such an intricate piece. But to make it pop, I'd recommend going with a bigger tattoo so no one would miss all the little details.
I have to mention that realistic tattoos of any kind are hard to do. You need to find a proper tattoo artist who's trained in realism.
Of course, you can also take your tattoo the extra mile and do a 3D effect. Just be cautious with this - people might actually think there's a spider on you.
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You can get an arm spider tattoo if you want something attention-grabbing. You can actually take your spider arm tattoo up a notch by making it a full sleeve. Basically, a full sleeve is an arm tattoo that stretches from the top of your arm all the way to the bottom.
It's definitely stunning but it can be expensive and time-consuming, so I get it if you don't want to commit to it. This is where a half-sleeve can come in - it's exactly what you might think as it's a sleeve that only stretches halfway from your arm.
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You can get a spider hand tattoo if you want something even more attention-grabbing. But as the hand's not the largest space, you can't get that detailed of a tattoo here. Also, I have to say that hand tattoos can hurt. This shouldn't come as a surprise considering how much thin skin there is on hands.
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On the flip side, you can get the tattoo on the palm of your hand. It's a more unorthodox option, so it'll definitely turn a few heads. However, spiders can symbolize good fortune and luck in certain cultures. This makes one tattooed on your palm a neat way to represent making everything you touch and work on prosperous.
However, remember that you aren't supposed to get tattoos wet during aftercare, so taking care of a palm tattoo can be tricky.
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A spider tattoo on your head is a bold statement. It's definitely the route to go if you want to stand out. However, you'll obviously need to cut your hair first. So decide whether shaving it all off would be worth it.
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The back is ideal for your spider tattoo if you want something big and elaborate. Since you're working with so much space, you'll have to add a lot of details to your spider tattoo so that it doesn't feel empty. But here's the thing - back tattoos can hurt a lot. When I say a lot, I mean it - I almost had this client faint mid-spine coverup once.
That being said, back tattoos can be discreet. You'll easily be able to cover spider tattoo designs here when you wear a shirt. This works great if you're someone who works in corporate.
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Last but not least, you can go for a leg spider tattoo. The leg's pretty big, so you can go to town and get an elaborate spider tattoo here. What's also nice is that leg tattoos don't hurt that much especially if you're working on your upper outer thigh. Also just like on your arms, you can get a sleeve tattoo on your legs. It's up to you to decide whether to go for a half or full sleeve.
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Spiders are highly resourceful animals that can weave and trap prey, so they make good tattoos to represent how skilled you are.
Of course, there are different spider species out there. The meaning behind your tattoo will change depending on the spider you do. Like a black widow tattoo can represent being a femme fatale, while a jumping spider can symbolize being precise and agile, and a wolf spider can emphasize your hunter-like spirit.
The different motifs and design elements you add will also play a role in your spider tattoo's meaning. You can get a spider tattoo with a skull to represent the impermanence of life, while a spider web tattoo can be a way of appreciating all the obstacles you've overcome.
There are a number of celebrities that have spider tattoos that you can draw inspiration from, like Doja Cat for instance. The rapper has a spider tattooed on her arm. It's a spider with a few geometric shapes surrounding it, so it's definitely interesting looking. She first unveiled it in May of this year on Instagram with a rather cryptic caption.
Musician Melanie Martinez has a spider tattoo too. It's on her arm and is based on a Campbell Soup Girl advertisement from the 50s. However, she added her own twist to it by adding a spider hanging next to the little girl in her tattoo design.
Singer Kehlani also has a spider tattoo. It's on the front of her left leg and is a spider and rose being pierced by a dagger. It looks to be a wolf spider in her tattoo if you were to ask me.
Lastly, singer Demi Lovato has a spider tattoo as well. It's on the side of their head and they revealed it while live in concert. According to the artist, the piece was done by celebrity tattoo artist, Dr. Woo.
There are quite a few spider tattoo designs to talk about. All around, they make for great tattoos to represent being resourceful but also deadly. Hopefully, you found everything that was discussed useful and know which of the different spider tattoo ideas to go for. Happy inking!
