9 Least Painful Places to Get a Tattoo

Tattoos hurt—that’s part of the deal. But not all body parts feel the needle the same way.

If you’re looking for the least painful places to get a tattoo, you're in luck. Some spots come with fewer nerve endings, more muscle, or a nice fatty layer to cushion the blow.

Here’s a list of low-pain zones—especially helpful if it's your first tattoo or you're just not about that intense pain life.

Contents

Outer Thigh
Upper Arm (Outer Bicep)
Calves
Outer Shoulder
Forearm (Outer Side)
Front Thigh
Upper Back (Shoulder Blade Area)
Bicep (Front)
Hip (Side, Not Bone)

1. Outer Thigh

Thigh tattoo. antoniodiaz / Shutterstock

With plenty of muscle and fewer sensitive nerve endings, the outer thigh is a go-to for low tattoo pain. It also offers a large canvas, so tattoo artists have room to get creative.

2. Upper Arm (Outer Bicep)

The outer bicep is one of the most beginner-friendly spots. It has thicker skin and fewer nerve endings, which means minimal discomfort during the tattooing process. Just avoid wrapping too far toward the inner arm, where pain increases.

3. Calves

Another muscular area, the calf is well-padded and generally easy to tattoo. This spot usually ranks low on the tattoo pain chart and is a smart choice for first-timers.

4. Outer Shoulder

Shoulder tattoo. Rawpixel.com / Shutterstock

Right at the top of the arm and over the deltoid muscle, the outer shoulder has enough padding to minimize pain. It also avoids thin skin and sensitive nerve endings that make other areas more painful.

5. Forearm (Outer Side)

Forearm tattoo. BublikHaus / Shutterstock

The outer forearm is one of the most popular places for tattoos because it's easy to access and not terribly painful. The skin is thicker here, and the tattoo needle doesn’t get close to bone.

6. Front Thigh

Upper thigh tattoo. Rawpixel.com / Shutterstock

Like the outer thigh, the front has enough muscle to absorb some of the sting. It’s a good area for medium to large designs and usually won’t make you wince too much.

7. Upper Back (Shoulder Blade Area)

Though spine tattoos can be incredibly painful, the area around the shoulder blade (not directly on the shoulder blade itself) has more muscle and less thin skin, which keeps pain levels lower.

8. Bicep (Front)

A bicep tattoo, especially on the front part, tends to hurt less because of the thicker muscle. Just keep in mind that everyone’s pain tolerance is different.

9. Hip (Side, Not Bone)

While tattooing directly over hip bones can be extremely painful, the outer hip area with more flesh is less sensitive. Stick to areas with more padding to minimize pain.

Tattoo pain is subjective. Biological sex, body fat, pain threshold, and even how much sleep you got can affect how much it hurts. An experienced tattoo artist and good aftercare will go a long way in making the tattoo session more comfortable.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.