130 Spine Tattoos That Will Send a Shiver Down Your Spine!

From delicate flowers to unique vertebrae, there are plenty of spine tattoos to choose from.

As an artist who has designed numerous tattoos through the years, I know all the options available. Not to mention, I know what tattoos look best for this placement.

Here are all of the spine tattoo designs that you can consider for yourself.

The Best Spine Tattoo Ideas

Here are the spine tattoo designs that you should be checking out for your new tattoo.

Floral Spine Tattoos

Flowers work beautifully as a spinal tattoo. The winding design of a flower tattoo work really well with the gentle curves of the spine. Not to mention, the stem can help to elongate the tattoo.

You may think of flower tattoos as being small spine tattoos. However, this isn't the case at all. As you will see in the following images, flowers can be designed so that they can span the whole spine - starting from the neck and travelling down to the small of your back.

Looking for spine tattoo ideas for single flowers? Here are the top options to choose from:

Now, when it comes to choosing floral designs for multiple flowers your spine tattoo ideas, it is best to choose something with a narrow design. This is better suited to this part of the body.

The most common design tends to be wildflowers, but you are free to choose any kind of flower that you want.

Here are some examples of what this kind of spine tattoo design can look like:

Of course, if you prefer a large floral tattoo instead, there are just as many spine tattoo ideas to choose from:

A spine tattoo with a lotus flower can mean an entirely different things. This is because a lotus flower traditionally has a spiritual meaning.

It is seen as a symbol for purity and succeeding despite adversity. This flower may also be seen as the human soul striving for enlightenment.

It can feature heavily in Chinese culture, Japanese culture, and South Asian cultures.

It is also linked to meditation, yoga, and other practices involving concentration. Therefore, getting this tattoo is often seen as acknowledgement of a way of life. Not to mention, the beauty and style of the flower make it a popular choice.

There are different styles and colors of the lotus flower, each having their own meaning.

Here are the spine tattoo ideas based on this flower:

Once, flowers and flower tattoos were seen as being only for women. However, as spine tattoo ideas have broadened, it is fairly common to see flower inspired designs on men as well.

Dragon Spine Tattoos

If you are researching spine tattoo ideas, you have likely already considered a dragon design. Let's face it, this is a pretty cool design. Not to mention, it is the perfect choice for the spine given the winding nation of dragons.

There is much more to a dragon spine tattoo than meets the eye, however. For one thing, it holds great importance in many cultures such as Chinese and Japanese.

It tends to be symbolic of wisdom, strength, and good luck.

You should know that the designs for dragons for each culture is quite different too. So, make sure to figure out how they vary.

This is a fairly spine tattoo idea for both men and women. In fact, these days, you will notice that there is almost no difference in the art work for women or men.

That being said, if you do want a more masculine take on this kind of spine tattoo design, then you should look for ones that have been inspired by European folklore. Better yet, love to literature and pop culture for inspiration.

In case you want your spine tattoo to appear a bit more feminine or sensual, then look for tattoo art that draws inspiration from South Asia - these dragons tend to be more curved and undulating.

On this note, here are the spine tattoo ideas that you can be inspired by:

While black ink dragons are the most common tattoos, red can be a great color too. It is considered in good luck, particularly in Chinese culture.

Snake Spine Tattoos

A snake spine tattoo is a lot more popular than you might think. Once, snakes were considered creepy but people are developing a new appreciation for them.

This is because snakes are revered in certain cultures. They are considered messengers to the Gods.

However, the main reasons that people are choosing serpents for a tattoo is because they shed their skin. This makes them a symbol of transformation and rebirth.

Not to mention, the shape of the snake is perfectly suited to a spine tattoo.

Here are the tattoo ideas to check out:

Ornamental Spine Tattoos

Some people also refer to this as a geometrical spine tattoo.

In reality, there is no strict definition for either an ornamental or geometrical spine tattoo. These tattoos are pretty black ink designs that are often made up of geometrical shapes or repeating patterns.

An ornamental spine tattoo in particular will often consist of delicate symbols. Some of these may be common shapes such as circles and triangles. However, there are just as likely to be inspired by your own personal sense of style or interesting symbols.

Here are the spine tattoo ideas that you should take a look at:

Arrow Spine Tattoos

Arrow tattoos have a lot more meaning than people realize.

This tattoo design is typically used to describe adversity. Although the arrow moves in a forward motion, it must first be pulled back in order to go in this direction.

This is a good reminder that although you may stumble on your path, you can still reach your destination.

If this is something you would like to convey as well, here are the black ink spine tattoo ideas to check out:

If you are looking for a more unique tattoo, you don't have to follow the traditional design. As you can see from the above spine tattoo designs, it is possible to get creative and do something completely different.

You may want to incorporate other symbology into your spine tattoo, along with the arrow. This can help you to create a more meaningful spine tattoo.

Chakra Spine Tattoos

Chakras refer to the energy centers within your body. According to the theory there are seven chakras, each corresponding to a specific bundle of nerves and organs throughout your body.

These are traditionally large pieces, but this kind of spine tattoo is ideal for someone who leads a spiritual life or is focused on maintaining balance in their life.

These chakras are positioned along your spine - it starts at the top of your head and works its way down to the base of your spine.

You have the crown chakra, third eye chakra, throat chakra, heart chakra, solar plexus chakra, sacral chakra, and root chakra.

Now, as you can imagine, you can get tattooed on the exact place where your chakra should be. However, you can get the right order of chakras going down your spine.

The other thing you should know about these chakras is that they have a corresponding color. This means that you can choose vibrant colors for your spine tattoo. Of course, black ink will work just as well.

Always check a reputable site or speak to an experienced individual when choosing your design for such a tattoo.

Here is some of the chakra spine tattoo art work that you can be inspired by:

This is a particularly beautiful watercolor spine tattoo.

This spine tattoo is another interesting take on this style. See, each of the chakras has a letter and sound associated with it. This helps you to vocalize the chakras and focus on them as you meditate.

With this spine tattoo, only the letters of the chakras along with the corresponding colors are shown. If you are looking for unusual designs for your chakra spine tattoo, this is certainly one that you should go with:

Script Spine Tattoos

If you are considering a spine tattoo, you will notice that script designs and ideas are incredibly popular.

This could be because not only is the spine a major placement, it is fairly painful to get inked here. This pain can often help you remember the message you got tattooed on your body for a lot longer.

Your spine tattoo can contain the name of a loved one. If you are a pet lover, then this spot works just as well.

Your spine tattoo can also be made up of a single word. Or, it could be a phrase - a lesson, a line of poetry, or something similar. You will discover that scriptures are rather popular for this spot too.

In addition to deciding what word or phrase to get inked here, your other decision involves choosing the perfect print. It is a good idea to select a font that matches a similar vibe to the message.

If getting a spine tattoo with script alone feels a little plain, you can always get an additional symbol or image printed along with it. Here are some great spine tattoo ideas to consider:

If you want to get a script spine tattoo in another language, this can be a beautiful idea. However, you should be cautious about this.

If you are getting your script spine tattoo in something other than your mother tongue, it is important to get the message properly translated. Whatever you do, don't rely on online or digital translators.

Instead, look for bilingual translators. This may seem like a lot of work but remember that your spine tattoo is forever! If you get the wrong message - or worse, something inappropriate, you are going to be stuck with it for quite a while unless you decide to get it lasered off.

Here are some spine tattoo ideas to check out:

Phases of the Moon Spine Tattoos

This is a spine tattoo style that's becoming increasingly popular. There is something beautiful and mysterious about the moon, making it a favorite to get inked on your spine.

There is quite a bit of meaning to the phases of the moon spine tattoo, though. For one thing, it is associated with women and so, it's a deeply feminine symbol.

Due to this, the phases of the moon may indicate the stages that women go through in their life.

This spine tattoo doesn't automatically have to be feminine, though. When all the phases of the moon are included in the spine tattoo, it can refer to life stages in general or how life goes in a full circle.

Here are the phases of the moon spine tattoo ideas to get inked:

This can seem like a rather solemn tattoo design. So, if you are looking for a tattoo that is a little different or more uplifting, here is a tattoo idea to borrow from:

Sun Spine Tattoos

Perhaps you are a fan of the sun symbol instead. After all, it is associated with light, life, and strength. It is also a sign of positivity.

If you would like a more traditional tattoo design, these are the ideas you should go with:

Want your tattoo design to be different? Or, perhaps you are looking for a simple sun tattoo design. In any case, here are some for you to check out:

Planet Spine Tattoos

If you are looking for a slightly different take or style on your spine tattoo, you can include other elements of the sky or galaxy. This could include the sun, the stars, and even other planets if you choose.

You can choose to have your tattoo based on a similar pattern that you might find in the solar system. Or, you can arrange them according to size, planets you like the most, etc.

Looking for a small and subtle tattoo? Here are the tattoo ideas to choose from:

In case you don't mind going big and bold with your tattoo, here are some options:

Vertebrae Spine Tattoos

As far as spine tattoo ideas go, this is a pretty cool one. Here, you get the replica of your vertebral column tattooed along your spine.

If you want your spine tattoo looking as realistic as possible, it is a good idea to research the bones and find an accurate diagram that your tattoo artist can follow.

Of course, this kind of spine tattoo doesn't have to be based on the human body. This spiky looking spine tattoo has a more reptilian or even alien look to it. It is great if you are going for a different kind of tattoo design.

This spine tattoo is of a different animal entirely. However, this tattoo is elevated by the outline of the animal, making the tattoo more unique and interesting.

What Does a Spine Tattoo Symbolize?

In most instances, a spine tattoo alone doesn't symbolize much. However, as this is a rather sensitive area of the body, some people might see it is a sign of strength as it is quite painful to get a spine tattoo.

For many, the spine can also be a central place on the body. Therefore, some people tend to get more meaningful body art in this area.

There is also no denying that a spine tattoo can be quite eye-catching. So, if you want your body art to be the center of attention, this is a good placement for it.

How Badly Do Spine Tattoos Hurt?

The spine is a pretty painful place to get tattooed. The pain can be described as significant to extreme.

There are various factors why a spine tattoo can cause so much pain. For one thing, there are a lot of nerves and nerve endings here which makes the area more sensitive. If you are tattooing right on top of your spine, you are likely to hit bone as well.

How Much Does the Average Spine Tattoo Cost?

On average, a spine tattoo can cost between $100 for the smallest tattoo, all the way up to $500.

The cost can depend on a few things, starting with how the tattoo artist chooses to charge clients. In some instances, it is an hourly rate - so, if your spine tattoo is time-consuming, then your body art is going to cost more.

In other cases, the artist may charge per piece. If so, the minimum amount is likely to be a bit higher - around $200 but this can depend on the intricacy and size of the tattoo.

The other factors can depend on how big the spine tattoo is, how complex it is, whether it is black ink or other colors are used, etc.

Do Spine Tattoos Age Well?

The good news is that spine tattoos can age quite well. This is because they aren't as exposed to the sun as other parts of the body.

What's more, when it comes to both weight gain and weight loss, the skin on your spine isn't as affected. This means that there will be little to no change in the design.

There are so many categories to choose from for spine tattoo and even more designs to go through. Now that you know exactly what your option are, making your choice should be a whole lot easier. Good luck making your choice!