6 sizes, from a small symbol to a broad design — in inches and centimetres, with something real to picture each one against, possible designs and placements. The bands use the longest side of the design. They are planning labels, not standard tattoo industry sizes.
About the size of a coin or a postage stamp.
A very small design, such as a symbol, a word or a simple shape.
Fine detail may be hard to keep legible at this size. Ask your artist whether the lines need more space or a larger canvas.
About the size of a matchbook or a golf ball.
A compact design with room for a little detail, depending on the style.
Simple line work or short script may fit. Dense shading and fine portraits may need more room; ask your artist to check the design at actual size.
About the size of a playing card or a phone screen.
A flexible size for designs with several elements.
There may be room for shading and texture, but the amount of detail depends on line weight, style and the artist’s advice.
About the size of a postcard or an open hand.
A statement piece with room for a scene — the anchor of a half sleeve or a thigh design.
A larger footprint can give layered elements more space. Ask your artist how the design should follow the body and how its details may age.
About the size of a sheet of A5 paper or a tablet.
A major piece — the body of a sleeve, a chest panel, a large back or thigh scene.
Space for a full composition with real depth. May need multiple sessions; worth mapping to the body’s shape so it flows rather than sits flat.
About the size of a sheet of A4 paper or larger.
A broad design that may become a back, chest or sleeve project.
A large project. Design it as one composition across the area, then ask the artist how to stage the work.
Every size on this site is the longest side of the piece. To go from inches to centimetres, multiply by 2.54 — the strip below does the common ones for you.
Smaller designs leave less room between fine details. Use these examples to start a conversation about line spacing, placement and long-term legibility with your artist.
Planning guidance, not predictions. Pain scores are relative estimates. Appointment length and healing vary by person, design and aftercare. See how the chart is made, discuss your tattoo and aftercare with your artist, and seek medical advice for health concerns.
FAQs
More on tattoo sizing
A 3-inch tattoo measures about 7.6 cm along its longest side — roughly a playing card or a phone screen. That lands in the medium range: a flexible size for designs with several elements.
Multiply inches by 2.54 to get centimetres. So 2 inches is about 5.1 cm and 4 inches is about 10.2 cm. Use whichever unit your artist prefers.
There is no universal first-tattoo size. Bring the design to your artist and ask what dimensions will keep its details legible on your chosen placement.
Crowded fine lines may become harder to read as a tattoo ages. A small design can still work well when it has open space and an appropriate line weight. Ask your artist how much detail suits the planned size.
It can. A design has to fit the available area and may need to follow a curve or joint. The chart offers placements to discuss, but an artist should check the design against your body.