Looking to literally wear your heart on your sleeve with some body ink? Here, explore 25 heart tattoo ideas, ranging from black and white to bold pops of color.

Whether you’re in the market for a random piece of new ink or have always embraced wearing your heart on your sleeve, heart tattoo ideas are worth perusing. Sometimes seen as cutesy and cliche, heart tattoos often get overlooked under the guise that they’re not artistic, serious, or nuanced enough for a forever work of art. We’re here to smash that narrative, though. 

“A heart can be easily broken, but sometimes it breaks so we can bloom again,” says Koral Ladna, a Mad Rabbit pro artist and the co-owner of Fortune & Love Tattoo. In that way, heart tattoos can serve as a reminder to own your journey and everything that it entails. Of course, you can also get a cute little heart tattoo for absolutely no reason at all. 

Whatever reason (and ink) you opt for, Ladna reminds us of the importance of tattoo care. “My clients always tell their stories through Ink, and the best way they can keep those stories alive is by keeping those tattoos vibrant,” she says. “The best way to keep your tattoos fresh and vibrant is by taking care of your skin—tattoo care starts with skin care. That’s why I recommend my clients to use Mad Rabbit Repair Soothing Gel ($20) as aftercare and the Mad Rabbit Enhance Tattoo Balm Stick ($12) and Refresh Daily Body Wash ($21) once [it’s] healed.”

Meanwhile, Inked NYC resident artist and Mad Rabbit pro artist Alena Wedderburn emphasizes the importance of protecting your tattoos—hearts or otherwise—with sunscreen. That’s the trick to keeping your ink looking crisp, she says. Before aftercare even comes into mind, though, she points out that picking the right artist and style for your preferred design is the most important aspect of achieving a picture-perfect tattoo. 

Now, let’s get to it. Ahead, explore 25 heart tattoo ideas, including black and white, bold color, minimalist design, and eye-catching details.

Meet the expert

Choi Yun is a tattoo artist at BANG BANG in New York City.  Alena Wedderburn is a resident artist at Inked NYC and a Mad Rabbit pro artist Koral Ladna is a Mad Rabbit pro artist and the co-owner of Fortune & Love Tattoo

Heart Jewel Tattoo

For a royal-looking heart tattoo, check out this embellished gemstone design by Choi Yun, a tattoo artist at the celebrity-favorite BANG BANG in New York City. “I feel a deep attachment to this heart tattoo, specifically, because it’s my original work, and embodies my design process in a meaningful way,” she says.

Negative Space Snake Heart

Another Yun original? This head-turning negative space snake heart features expert ombré shading and ultra-crisp lines. Just keep in mind that with an ombré tattoo like this, more frequent touch-ups may be necessary. That said, Yun points out that skilled artists are trained to tailor the pigment to each client’s complexion. They can work with consistent depth and speed to ensure perfect pigment penetration and a lasting crisp result.

Starry Night Heart Locket Tattoo

Are you kidding me? This Starry Night heart locket tattoo by artist Pilar Zurita is unreal.

Cherry Bow Heart

Cherries and bows are two of the most popular motfis of 2024. If you're in the market for a cutesy design to commemorate this year, opting for a heart-shaped, bow-tied cherry tattoo is a fun idea.

Color Block Abstract Anatomical Heart Tattoo

Excuse us while we swoon over this vibrant masterpiece by Ladna. To achieve this level of pigment and crisp line work, it's imperative that you do your due diligence when researching artists—or you can make it easy on yourself by booking directly with Ladna herself.

Delicate Red Anatomical Heart Tattoo

Love the idea of an anatomical heart but prefer more minimalist design overall? Check out this little cutie by tattoo artist Alessandro Melas. Given the fact this teeny heart is about the size of a quarter, finding an artist with demonstrated fine-line experience is key to recreating it.

Forever Heart Ring Finger Tattoo

Forget about the rubber rings. With a permanent tiny heart tattoo on your ring finger, it will be clear that you're taken whether or not you're wearing your engagement ring and wedding band.

Gradation Heart Planet

Here, Yun once again proves just how masterful she is with ombré tattoo design and gradation techniques. We love that she turned the heart into a little planet complete with its own stars.

Heart Clover Tattoos

Why get one heart when you could get four? Tattoo artist Maarten Kasantirto created this geometric, art deco-inspired clover design.

Hip Hearts

Whether you prefer hidden tattoos or are looking for a way to honor and embrace your body, these little hip hearts are a cute idea. They could also make for a sweet matching friendship tattoo.

Initial Heart Locket Tattoo

This dainty initial heart locket tattoo is an absolute beauty. Tattoo artist Tal Booker is behind the design.

Iris Heart Tattoo

Talk about a piercing gaze! This heart-shaped iris tattoo by artist Carmen Figueroa is bound to turn heads.

Meta Angel Heart Tattoo

One for meta designs? Take a closer look at this breathtaking angel tattoo by Wedderburn and you'll notice she has a heart tattoo herself!

Millennial Heart Hands

Calling all millennials and Swifties! This heart hands tattoo looks great on one person or split between besties.

Minimalist Red String Heart

For a dainty heart tattoo idea, check out this minimalist red string heart. Red tattoos are becoming trendier by the day but this design could easily be done in any color.

Ornate Vintage Heart Charm Tattoo

Tattoo artist Lauren Aigner-Westervelt crafted this ornate, vintage-inspired heart tattoo. The sentimental design is actually based on the client’s grandmother’s bracelet.

Pierced Heart

You guessed it—Yun is the master behind this perfectly-pigmented pierced heart design. We love this retro-mod take on a Cupid's heart. What do you think?

Red Bubble Heart Tattoo

For an extra cutesy heart tattoo idea, consider a bubble design.

Self-Love Hug Heart

Self-love is so important. As much as we may enjoy experiences with and validation from outside sources, at the end of the day, any therapist will tell you that internal assuredness is most important of all. This heart-warming hug design can serve as a reminder of that.

Sentimental Hearts

If you have kids and forever want to remember them at this age, consider letting them be the illustrators of your next tattoo. This trio of hearts was done by the client's three little ones.

Teeny Red Heart

There's always the option to keep it simple with a tiny red heart, filled in or left blank.

Teeny Watercolor Heart Tattoo

Love the idea of a little red heart but don't want it to feel lonely? Surround it with other watercolor designs, like a four-leaf clover, sunflower, moon, sun, and stars.

Watercolor Locket Tattoo

Here we have another watercolor heart locket by Zurita and again we say, unreal. The shading, the colors, the crisp lines—absolute perfection.

Winking Heart Tattoo

How cute is this little winking heart design? It could serve as a reminder to not take life so seriously.

Mini Ankle Anatomical Heart

Meanwhile, if you like anatomical designs, this blooming heart is a different take on the norm. The radiating dots make for an almost enlivened design.