115+ Sun and Moon Tattoo Ideas To Represent the Yin and Yang In Life!

Sun and moon tattoos are a great way to represent unity - they're pretty common with couples. I actually did one for my sister and her husband yesterday. They both wanted a small sun and moon kissing each other on their wrists: they said they were getting it to represent how they were complete opposites but still worked so well together.

I whipped it up in an absolutely gorgeous minimalist design, which I definitely will be using for reference again! But while working on it, it hit me that I've done at least two dozen different sun and moon tattoos since the last year. So, today, I thought about telling you about all the sun and moon tattoo ideas you can possibly get.

The Best Sun and Moon Tattoo Ideas

Here are all the best sun and moon tattoo ideas.

Sun and Moon Linework Tattoos

To start off this list, let's talk about simple, sun and moon linework tattoos. This design focuses on the pure geometric shapes of the sun and moon, with no shading and zero colors going on. So, it's minimalist and really lets the symbolism of unity in the sun and moon tattoo to shine.

Most of the tattoos I've done of this sun and moon tattoo design have been on the smaller side: they've just been really simple so there's been no need to go big with them. But it's really up to you what size to go for. Also, you can either use the full moon, crescent moon, or half moon: there are really no rules with this tattoo style.

Here are some simple sun and moon tattoo ideas for your body art:

Sun and Moon Intertwined Tattoo Design

I think a good design idea would be making the sun and moon intertwined with each other: it'll really help symbolize the unity between the two.

I have to say that most of the sun and moon tattoos that I've done have included them being intertwined in some way. Typically, it's the sun in the center and the moon on the side, but it's up to you how to go about this.

As you keep reading this guide, you'll notice that most of the examples I added for sun and moon tattoo ideas include intertwined suns and moons. You definitely can use them for inspiration. However, here's a few distinct sun and moon design ideas that you might like:

Sun and Moon With Faces Tattoo Design

You can also add faces to your sun and moon tattoo. It's another one of the most common sun and moon tattoos that I've done. And you'll actually notice that just like with having the two intertwined, a lot of the examples for sun and moon tattoo ideas in this guide feature faces.

I think adding faces is a good way to make the two celestial bodies more human, which adds to the companionship and unison that they have.

I've done a couple of tats where the sun and moon have had more stoic looks but most of them have been happy. I personally think the latter looks better.

Here are some sun and moon tattoo ideas with faces:

Sun and Moon Tattoos With Text

To add to the idea of unity, you can maybe add a quote next to your sun and moon. I actually did a tattoo like this for this young client this week, and she wanted a "live by the sun" quote next to the sun, and a "love by the moon" quote next to the moon. She wanted a small tattoo that was simple too. Here are some similar sun and moon tattoo ideas:

Intricate Sun and Moon Tattoo

I think a fun tattoo idea would be a really intricate, almost ornate sun and moon tattoo. The whole goal with this design is to add as many elements to the tat as possible. I personally like to add mandalas, swirly patterns, and stars hanging from the moon like little jewels.

Whenever a client comes in wanting a sun and moon tattoo like this, I try to make it as big as possible - I get to really let all the little details shine. But of course, it's up to you to decide how big to get with the sun and moon tattoo.

Here are some intricate sun and moon tattoo ideas:

Tarot Card Sun and Moon Designs

For anyone who wants a sun and moon tattoo but is a bit more spiritual, I always suggest adding in tarot cards. They're all about destiny and fortune-telling which might be something you like.

The sun tarot card represents joyful energy while the moon card represents mystery and emotions. By combining the two, you'll have a sun and moon tattoo that symbolizes the union between these aspects.

If you don't have a specific vision in mind, I'd perhaps recommend going the neo-traditional route. So, you'd swap all of the traditional card colors for more contemporary ones.

Here are some tarot sun and moon tattoo designs:

Kissing Sun and Moon Tattoo Designs

Like I said, I did a kissing sun and moon tattoo on my sister and her husband recently: they each got a little sun kissing a moon on their wrists. The tattoo's a good representation of lovers who are opposites but work well together.

You pretty much can do anything with the concept and go as intricate as you want, but I'd recommend keeping it simple to really let the symbolism you're going for to shine.

Here are some sun and moon tattoo ideas:

Small Sun and Moon Tattoos

If you want something that's not attention-grabbing, perhaps consider a small sun and moon tattoo. I personally think sun and moon symbols when done small look super dainty and adorable. Also, you have the flexibility of choosing any placement you want, like the back of the ear.

When it comes to style, I think going minimalist with things works the best - you won't have to worry about losing any intricate details on your sun and moon tattoo when scaling down.

Here are some small sun and moon tattoo ideas:

Sun and Moon Tattoos With Flowers

Incorporating flowers into your sun and moon tattoo won't just make it prettier but will also help you play with the idea of duality. There are actually a few different ways that you can do this, but the best has to be masculine versus feminine energy.

The sun's a good embodiment of masculine energy while the moon is a good embodiment of female energy. Emotions like passion are considered masculine, which a rose can represent, while emotions like innocence are feminine which lilies can represent. You can have them revolving around the sun and moon like a halo.

To be honest, I just like this sun and moon tattoo idea because of how cool it looks - the symbolism is just an added benefit.

Here are some flower sun and moon tattoo designs:

Hand Sun and Moon Tattoo Designs

I recently did this cool sun and moon shoulder tattoo that had these hands incorporated in them. The client at the time wanted to make the tattoo a bit spiritual. So, she wanted to add hands to represent a higher power guiding her and her partner.

If you're wondering how to add the hands, this other tattoo artist in our studio was working on a similar piece: he actually added strings connecting the hand to the sun and moon. I thought this emphasized the idea of outside forces being at play, which maybe you can try too.

Here's a sun and moon tattoo that's a lot like it:

Tribal Sun and Moon Tattoo

Tribal tattoos are based on indigenous culture - there actually are a bunch of different tribes out there, so the tattoo design can vary a bit. But for the most part, they use these very thick geometric shapes.

Many indigenous cultures view the sun and moon as sacred, so getting a sun and moon tattoo in this style is very fitting.

Also, I'd say that this is a more minimalist sun and moon tattoo design compared to some of the others on my list: there are just very simple thick lines and pretty much zero shading going on.

Here's a tribal sun and moon tattoo idea that you might like:

Sun and Moon Yin and Yang Tattoo Design

The yin-yang symbol is a key part of Chinese philosophy and focuses on two opposites being in unison. The addition of the sun and moon take this concept further, as both celestial bodies are two opposing forces that are complementary to each other.

All the yin-yang sun and moon tattoos that I've done have been in black and white, but it's completely up to you to decide to add color or not - you can add it to the sun and moon to perhaps emphasize that you've added these two celestial bodies into your design.

Here are some yin and yang sun and moon tattoo ideas:

Soul Eater Sun and Moon Tattoo

I'm a big fan of the Soul Eater anime, so I thought about telling you that you can get a sun and moon tattoo inspired by the show. Soul Eater gives life to both the sun and moon in its universe: they each have their own emotions and personalities.

The sun's usually pretty happy in the series while the moon is grumpy, which once again plays into the duality seen in a lot of our other tattoos. So, a Soul Eater-inspired sun and moon tattoo would be a good way to represent difference and unity while also referencing probably one of the best anime ever.

Here are some Soul eater inspired sun and moon tattoo ideas:

Sun and Moon Back Tattoo

If you want a big sun and moon tattoo, the back's a good placement for it. The intricate design I touched on earlier would work well here. In fact, a lot of the clients I did more intricate moon and sun tattoos for this year have got them on their backs.

Just remember that back tattoos take a while. In our tattoo studio, we try to finish them in around 4 days but it can always differ. Plus, I have to mention that back tattoos in general can be expensive, especially if you're using colored ink.

Here are some sun and moon back tattoo ideas:

Sun and Moon Spine Tattoo

If you want a big sun and moon tattoo but aren't a fan of getting your back tattooed, you can always get it done on your spine. Once again like with back tattoos, these can take time (over 4 days in our studio). Plus, they can be pretty expensive too.

Just keep in mind that if you are going to be getting a sun and moon tattoo on your back, you'll be dealing with a lot of pain. The spine is probably one of the most sensitive parts of your body.

Here are some spine sun and moon tattoo ideas:

Sun and Moon Arm Tattoos

I'd say that the arm is one of the most popular spots I've done sun and moon tattoos on. You can either get the sun and moon symbols in a single design, or get the sun on one arm, and the moon on another.

I also have to mention sleeves. It's definitely a route you can take if you want something more eye-catching. You'll basically get the sun and moon as a part of a giant piece that will stretch from your shoulder area to your wrist.

However, if you'd rather go for something a bit less eye-catching, you can always opt for a half-sleeve - it sounds exactly like you might've guessed: you'll have a sun and moon design from your elbow to your wrist or shoulder to your elbow.

Here are some sun and moon arm tattoos:

Thigh Sun and Moon Tattoo Ideas

The thigh's another popular spot clients get sun and moon tattoos on - it's a big space but not too big, and it especially doesn't hurt to get the upper part of your thighs tattooed on. I actually did a thigh sun and moon tat yesterday: it was a giant tarot card piece with only black ink. But here are a few other sun and moon thigh tattoos to base your body art on:

Sun and Moon Foot Tattoos

I don't think I've done that many sun and moon foot tattoos, but it's definitely a choice if you want something more discreet. Think about it - not that many people will see the tattoo, especially when you have shoes on. This works well if you're someone who works in corporate.

But the thing about feet tattoos is that they hurt a lot. The tattoo machine will be striking on thin skin and bone. I normally advise newbie clients against getting their feet tattooed, but if they still want to do it I always tell them to go small with the design.

However, here are some moon and sun tattoo ideas for your feet that you can base the body art on:

Sun and Moon Shoulder Tattoos

I think shoulders work great for sun and moon tattoos: it's kind of circular so it brings the shape out of a sun and moon design.

One of the last tattoos I did for one of my regulars was a small sun and moon on their shoulder - it was a few days ago, and they wanted both the sun and moon to be simple, and in black ink. I remember thinking how well it turned out. However, you can go with any style you want for the sun and moon shoulder tattoo:

FAQ

Answered below are some popular questions.

1. What Does Sun and Moon Tattoos Mean?

Sun and moon tattoo ideas generally represent a sense of unity. Hence, the tattoo's really common with couples to represent their bonds. The sun and moon kissing tattoo I talked about especially earlier works perfectly as sun and moon matching tattoos - couples can get them to represent this love.

Also, a sun and moon tattoo can represent harmony between two opposing forces. This is similar to the yin-and-yang concept in Chinese philosophy. As mentioned earlier, the sun is associated with masculine energy while the moon is associated with feminine energy, so a sun and moon tattoo of them symbolizes a sense of balance well.

2. Is a Sun and Moon Tattoo Good?

I think sun and moon tattoo designs are good because not only do they symbolize a bunch of different things, like unity, love, and even yin-and-yang. But I also think that sun and moon tattoos in general look really cool. You can get a sun and moon tattoo in all kinds of styles and sizes, and they don't take much to look ethereal since they're these mighty celestial bodies.

Final Thoughts

As you saw from my guide, there are a bunch of different sun and moon tattoo ideas out there. From them, my favorite sun and moon tattoo just has to be the tarot card design - it's a smart way to show unity and harmony but also get sun and moon body art that has spiritual elements to it.

All in all, I hope you found my ultimate guide useful. I ran through 120 sun and moon tattoo ideas, so I just know that one of them will work for you!