Half sleeve tattoos are very popular these days. Half sleeve tattoos for men look especially good on guys with toned arms, biceps and shoulders. And although full sleeve tattoos are much more noticeable, a half sleeve can be much more discreet and affordable.
If you’re looking for badass upper arm tattoos, then you’ll love these cool half sleeve tattoo ideas. From black and grey tribal designs to colorful skull, dragon, lion, religious, geometric, Japanese or traditional American tattoo designs for guys, we’ve compiled the best half sleeve tattoos to get.
Here are the top 125 half sleeve tattoo designs to inspire you!
Cool Half Sleeve Tattoo Ideas
A half sleeve tattoo generally covers the upper arm – from elbow to shoulder. A shoulder sleeve tattoo can wrap around the inner and outer bicep and even extend to the chest to create an amazing piece of artwork. However, you can always just choose to get a quarter sleeve tattoo.
Because half sleeve designs can easily be covered up and hidden, these arm tattoos have become popular among professionals. With just half your arm tattooed, no one will ever suspect you have an awesome tattoo underneath your suit.
Plus, if you haven’t decided on a full sleeve yet, then starting with a half sleeve tattoo and making it a compilation of multiple designs can be a great way to start.
When thinking about half sleeve tattoo designs, remember that the focal point of your ink should be on the outer part of your arm where it is more visible.
Otherwise, cool half sleeve tattoos allow for a lot of creativity. No matter what type of design ideas you prefer, your upper arm is the perfect canvas.
For example, guys can choose to include a compass, clock, rose, anchor, wolf, owl, Christian cross, samurai, koi fish, cloud, bird, eagle, angel, portrait of Jesus, phoenix, tiger, or a mix of pictures.
So whether you want a tribal half sleeve tattoo that looks like armor, a creative yet simple design that symbolizes faith, love, strength, or courage, or a 3D biomechanical tattoo that simply looks badass, there are many designs out there.
Now that you have a general theme in mind and you have narrowed down your artwork, guys need to consider the color scheme. Black and grey or black and white is dark and masculine. However, a colorful half sleeve can depict optimism, happiness, and positive energy.
Best Half Sleeve Tattoo Designs
Check out the best half sleeve tattoos for men to find inspiration for your next piece of ink. We’re confident you’ll love these upper arm half sleeve ideas.
