101 Best Neck Tattoos For Men in 2023 (2023)

Neck tattoos are reserved for bold and masculine men willing to take on one of the most visible and painful spots to get tattooed. Because tattoos on your neck are impossible to cover up or hide, this type of ink isn’t for everyone. Once associated with unsavory types like gang members and criminals, modern society has shifted its views. Neck tattoo ideas are now embraced by guys with strong personalities who like to express themselves through art. Given its location, a neck tattoo is guaranteed to get attention, meaning it’s very important to check out the coolest neck tattoo designs before making a choice. To inspire your rebellious and badass nature, we’ve compiled a collection of the best neck tattoos for men to get! Whether you want a full, side, front, throat or back of the neck tattoo, explore these cool design ideas to discover which drawings are meaningful to you.

Cool Neck Tattoo Ideas

While we wouldn’t recommend a tattoo on the neck if you’re a professional who works in an office, there are a number of cool neck tattoo ideas for guys who would consider this area for body art.

For starters, full neck tattoos are popular among hardcore enthusiasts, although the back of the neck is the most common all-around. Similarly, some guys like to get inked on their throat or the sides, even extending the artwork into the face, shoulder, upper back, or chest tattoo to develop a larger piece of art.

Furthermore, the neck area offers versatility in styling. From simple and small to unique and meaningful, there are many stunning neck tattoo designs to get. After creating a design idea you want to pursue, the next step is to decide on size, colors, and other artistic details.

Ultimately, the best front, side, back, and lower neck tattoos are masculine and cool-looking no matter what type of design you want. Nevertheless, remember how visible and painful this tattoo on your neck will be, and make sure to choose good artwork the first time around.

Back Neck Tattoos

The back of the neck is one of the more popular placements since it’s a little less in-your-face but still makes a lasting impression when left uncovered. However, back of the neck tattoos are great for small designs that can be hidden with a collar or longer hair, depending on your comfort level. Moreover, many guys like to extend their ink on the upper back and connect it to their shoulders and neck. Whether you want to get artwork that is simple or badass, a back neck tattoo can be an amazing look.

Full Neck Tattoos

A full neck tattoo is one of the most impressive and stunning locations you can pick, especially since guys will almost always stand out. Full neck tattoo designs generally wrap around the entire surface. Men who want to go big and bold should consider this spot. Design ideas can range from patterns, lines, and geometric shapes to skulls, demons, tribal art. Black and grey ink looks awesome for a simple manly touch, but colorful and vibrant can work as well.

Side Neck Tattoos

Side neck tattoos are versatile and awesome, allowing guys the canvas space to work with many ideas. Some will prefer a simple or small tattoo on the side of the neck, maybe with a lower placement to hide under the collar. These designs are often meaningful with words, symbols, or patterns. Nevertheless, the most popular side neck tattoo ideas are big and badass. These drawings can be black and grey or colorful, but often depict vivid scenes with unique styling for a cool look.

Front Neck Tattoo

Men who opt for a front-neck tattoo can easily dazzle with a bold and eye-catching design if they’re able to sit through the significant pain. This highly visible portion of the neck is great for vibrant, loud, or meaningful ink.

Throat Tattoos

Throat tattoos require manly designs for a stunning, almost-wicked look. Throat tattoo ideas can be crazy displays of masculinity or simple demonstrations of passion. Popular with alpha males is the fierce skull design all over the throat. Grandiose and fully visible, men who want this type of amazing art should absolutely choose masterful designs from skilled experienced artists.

Small Neck Tattoo

Sometimes a small tattoo is a better fit for a neck placement. A subtle design, like initials, a word, roman numerals, or a symbol are some of many options for consideration, especially if the pain is tough to sit through.

Badass Neck Tattoos

Though it can be argued that all neck tattoos are badass, guys can up the ante by choosing an awesome unique design that affirms strength and masculinity. However, some amazing ink is just about using artistic works to trick the eye or create 3D drawings on the skin. Ultimately, badass neck tattoos range depending on taste but can include anything from dragons and snakes to warped geometric shapes and biomechanical body parts.

Shoulder and Neck Tattoo

Tattoos that start at the hairline, use the entire neck, and extend throughout the shoulder are typically creative, detailed, and unique. All of that extra space allows for room to ink; patterns and shapes like a mandala, maze, or lotus are popular choices.

Simple Neck Tattoos

Simple neck tattoos are evidence that your designs don’t have to be overly complicated to be meaningful, inspirational, or cool. Simple neck tattoo ideas require a level of creativity and artistic insight. While most guys go with small and simple designs because they are natural complements, others prefer large pieces with basic coloring and plain styling. From geometric shapes to lines, patterns, words, and symbols, sometimes more can be said with a minimalist approach to ink.

Neck Tattoo Designs

Angel Neck Tattoo

In addition to popular religious symbols, angels are also representative of guardians and loved ones that have passed. Immortalizing them through a neck tattoo is an effective and beautiful way to honor their memory.

Words Neck Tattoo

Men who resonate with words, whether they are lyrics, poetry, movie lines, or from a written note from a loved one, can always treasure them with a neck tattoo. This placement is front and center for meaningful and significant messages.

Cross Neck Tattoo

Religious symbols like the cross look amazing when tattooed on the neck, especially when it’s a straightforward black ink with more shading than detail. It’s clear, visible, and bold, which establishes a position of strength-in-faith.

Rose Neck Tattoo

Out of all the flowers, roses have an especially poetic connotation, representing both sides of life – the beauty and the pain. And with a neck placement, a rose tattoo maintains an air of masculinity for men willing to endure the prick of the needle.

Tribal Neck Tattoo

For men who have relevant heritage, a tribal neck tattoo is a great way to honor those roots. This heavily shaded, patterned style looks amazing when inked on the back of the neck, wrapping across the hairline.

Wings Neck Tattoo

There are many different kinds of wings, from angels to birds to dragons, and each carries a different symbolism; men who identify with freedom or Christianity or just cool art should consider getting a set of wings tattooed on the back of their neck. It’s a unique and interesting design.

Religious Neck Tattoo

Christian men have a lot of inspiration to draw from when it comes to religious tattoos. The neck is a great canvas for a profession of faith, whether it’s a specific figure, verse number, or images, like a thorn or crowns or the symbol of a fisherman.

Crown Neck Tattoo

A crown neck tattoo is akin to royalty, perfect for men who recognize their worth as kings and noblemen. This type of ink is great for someone who likes the look of crowns or appreciates the powerful, successful, and historic associations of the symbol.

Star Neck Tattoo

Stars are amazing both in the sky and on the neck, blazing in tattoo form. They are scientifically cool, historically interesting as tools of navigation, and are inspirational as a guiding figure of light. This design works for both minimalist and fully detailed interpretations.

Eagle Neck Tattoo

A symbol of freedom, strength, and patriotism, an eagle is a popular choice for neck tattoos. Men can easily show off their masculinity and love of red-white-and-blue with this fierce bald creature.

Dove Neck Tattoo

Dove tattoos are great for men who have an appreciation for peace, hope, and new beginnings. Many men gravitate toward biblical references, though they can be appreciated outside of religion. Doves look best inked onto the neck, where their wings are spread in flight.

Owl Neck Tattoo

Widely regarded as a symbol of wisdom and knowledge, either a perched or spread-winged owl would be a neat design for a neck tattoo. Though intelligent, owls are also known for their protective and fierce qualities.

Classy Neck Tattoo

Because of a long-held society grudge against neck placements, there’s no better way to subvert expectations and stick it to the man than to get a classy neck tattoo. Beautiful, delicate, sophisticated, and artistic designs will speak volumes.

Devil and Angel Neck Tattoo

The age-old battle of good versus evil is a great story and an even better visual – especially when tattooed on the neck. Men who embrace the feelings of opposition and appreciate the duality of human nature should consider a devil and angel neck tattoo.

Dream Catcher Neck Tattoo

Some Native American cultures regard dream catchers as a form of protection for capturing negative spirits; if you have Native American lineage, a dream catcher neck tattoo is a spiritual tribute.

Eye Neck Tattoo

There are many reasons why an eye tattoo is popular among men. Some appreciate the third-eye spiritual connotation, especially when the ink is centered on the neck. Others lean into the “window into the soul” meaning. Eye neck tattoos can also be associated with the throat chakra, in a literal representation. There are people, too, who just like the look of a piercing eye, always watching.

Wolf Neck Tattoo

Wolves are fierce, loyal, and protectors, which have earned them status as a popular tattoo theme for men. These wild creatures look especially untamed when inked on the neck. This design is flattering when the wolf’s profile is drawn, complimenting the jawline.

Barcode Neck Tattoo

Barcode tattoos are rising in popularity but can still be novel. If you have the technology, you can create a customized code that can be scanned and pull up personalized details and information; this also makes it important to scan any design that you replicate or lift from the internet. As a bonus, barcode tattoos are neat, functional, and fit nicely on the neck.

Spider Neck Tattoo

If you’re not afraid of spiders, they work great for a tattoo. Not all spider ink is creepy crawly; the eight-legged insects are associated with various positive attributes, including protection, complexity, and creation. A spider and its web are a winning tattoo combination for the neck, where you can go either subtle or bold.

Sailor Neck Tattoo

Because sailors were some of the original tough-guys who decorated their bodies in ink, it makes sense that so many badass tattoos are sailor-themed. Maritime symbols, such as ships, sails, anchors, ropes, and compasses, are great for men who appreciate the sea, the skill, and the aesthetic of seamen.

Skull Neck Tattoo

Skull neck tattoos are popular for several reasons. They’re diverse, edgy, tough-looking, and representative of things ranging from death and dying to beauty and nature. This type of ink is also masculine, especially with elements such as shading and complementary symbols like snakes.

Pattern Neck Tattoo

Because it’s such a visual spot, the neck is great for tattoos that incorporate patterns into the design. From simple lines to circles to random geometric shapes and nearly everything in between, there are many pattern ideas to consider. Whatever you choose, you’ll become a piece of art.

Peace Neck Tattoo

Peace neck tattoos are perfect for men who live by love-guiding principles. Anti-war, anti-violence, anti-racism, and anti-sexism are all represented with this symbol that was popularized in the 1960s.

Lion Neck Tattoo

There are very few animals as fierce and powerful as the lion, which is what makes it a great source of inspiration for a neck tattoo. Lions represent power, dominance, courage, and confidence, and men who gravitate toward a lion neck tattoo want to epitomize the king of the jungle in their own lives.