Examples of Popular Dragon Tattoo Designs and Placements

Author:
MakinBacon
Updated date:
Aug 29, 2022

I love tattoos and have been writing about the topic for several years.

This article will help you find design inspiration for your next dragon tattoo!
Mendar Bouchali, CC, via Unsplash

Find Inspiration for Your Next Dragon Tattoo

Dragon tattoos are among the most popular tattoos in the world. Regardless of gender, age, or ethnicity, lots of people across the globe love to get ink of these majestic creatures.

Part of what's fascinating about these tattoos is that they can mean very different things, depending on whether your roots are in the East or the West.

Even the shape of a dragon differs across cultures. For example, what a dragon looks like varies from Japanese to Chinese cultures. A Japanese dragon is generally slender and long, and they usually are not thought to have the ability to fly. Chinese culture, on the other hand, tends to associate the dragon much more with wings and flying. So when you see more of a snake-like creature tattooed on someone with a dragon head, this design likely has a Japanese influence.

This article will take a look at different designs, placements, color options, and meanings of a wide array of dragon tattoos to help you get inspired!

What Goes With a Dragon Tattoo?

If you've got a good vision of what you want your dragon to look like but aren't sure what might complement it, here's a handful of ideas:

Another Dragon: It might seem almost too obvious, but the "double dragon" look is a popular and timeless choice. Whether you go for a mirrored image, a more varied assortment, or a companion couple, it's tough to go wrong with doubling up!
Castle: One of the first things people likely think about in association with dragons is a castle. So why not give them a grand estate to watch over and guard?
Books and/or Words: As they are often associated with knowledge and wisdom, having your dragon amongst a collection of books and/or paired with a favorite quote is a solid route to go with.
Zodiac: Being born in the Year of the Dragon is a great honor, so why not show it off with a sweet zodiac tattoo?
Human Companions: There are all sorts of cool and different ways to pair up a mighty dragon with a human being, though they tend to suggest a role of protector, or perhaps as a hidden weapon, or maybe just as a lovable friend.
Dungeons & Dragons: Where would the legendary tabletop game be without its alliterative namesake? If you want to convey your love of the Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson RPG, then having your dragon curl up around the iconic 20-sided die is a great choice.
Flowers: Beautiful creatures and gorgeous flowers are a match made in heaven. Whether it be cherry blossoms, peonies, lilies, sampaguitas, or an assortment of a few options, this pairing is sure to accentuate the elegance of your mythic animal!

What Kind of Background Goes Well With a Dragon Tattoo?

Maybe you think your dragon might feel a little lonely if it's just left floating somewhere on your body and want to give it a nice background to explore. Here are a few ideas to think about:

Beautiful Nature Settings: Placing your dragon against a backdrop of natural wonders like mountains, waterfalls, and tranquil gardens is pretty much always a great idea, as seen in this elaborate tapestry done by @ktdragontattoostudio.
Abstract Expression: If you want to go with something a bit more abstract and creative, consider weaving through different patterns and drawings with varied colors like this dynamic example from @_marode_.
Combine Different Elements: Dragons tend to serve as great anchors for busier tattoos that feature lots of different elements. This one by @goyotattooart, for instance, incorporates flowers, leaves, smoke, clouds, and dragon balls.

Where Do Dragon Tattoos Look Best?

There are primarily three places where you see this type of tattoo, and they are very rarely small. These include:

Half sleeve: A design that goes up the arm, over the shoulder, and across one side of the chest is pretty common.
Entirety of the back: This is probably the most common form of dragon tattoos, likely because it gives the artist lots of room to work with and looks very impressive when the person removes their shirt to show it off.
Outside of the top of the arm: From a little above the elbow and farther up, this is another really popular choice and tends to look great as well.

They are also popular because, as mentioned earlier, they have a lot of meaning in Asian cultures. But based upon design, it's the shape that allows artists to have a lot of leeway with what can be done. It's that versatility and accompanying meaning that make it so desirable as body art.

Dragons Can Complement Body Shape

There are of course exceptions to these three places, but probably 80–90% of all dragon tattoos are in these locations. It could be placed in many parts of the body too though, including the feet, hands, stomach, and legs.

Because the dragon can be imagined as a long shape, and in a lot of instances are placed that way on the body, people can have them applied in ways that complement their unique body makeup, which I think is a big part of the reason why they're so popular.

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Dragons in Asian Cultures

Many Asians find more meaning in these tattoos than their Western counterparts. The symbolic meaning behind them is considered much deeper than the 'cool' factor that dragon tattoos carry in the West.

Dragons also speak to something of the character that makes up many people. So they're really considered an extension of who they are, possibly more than any other tattoo.

Below is an example of a red dragon with blue highlights added to it. The deep-set eye sockets are designed very well, producing that sometimes ominous feeling you get when viewing dragon art.

It's easiest to see near the tail of the dragon and its left arm.

Another unique part of this tattoo design that isn't immediately recognizable is the tendril-looking skin color lines mixed throughout the piece.

Differing Designs and Styles

There are a lot of different styles and choices to pick from, which also lends itself to the growth and popularity the dragon tattoo enjoys. It's like a positive look constantly getting feedback and being expanded upon.

It can also be very colorful, which makes it appealing as a tattoo.

No matter where you may want to put your tattoo, there will be a design you are sure to like. This is what makes body art design so successful and fascinating and increasingly desired.

After you look at the examples, you'll agree that they're really extraordinary, even if just to enjoy them as works of art.

A Rib and Chest Tattoo

The photo below shows an awesome green dragon that looks like one of those you might see carried by dancers celebrating Lunar New Year in many Asian countries.

This one apparently is attempting to wreak havoc on some people, who look like they're trying to fight back.

But the star of this tattoo is the dragon—the body, teeth, scales, and tongue all combine to make a fierce but amazing image.

A Back Piece of a Dragon Breathing Fire

I like how the colors of this dragon blend together so well. The cream background is a good canvas for the dark ink and red highlights. It's also interesting that the background is black in the middle and has light edging around the dragon to help it stand out.

The flames burning on its body add a nice touch to the overall look of the design.

A Colorful Green Tattoo

Like others around the world, many Asian people are drawn to bold, vibrant colors, and this is often expressed in tattoo art, as you can see in the photo below.

When dragons are done with a lot of color, green and red are usually the predominant ones, with others like blue and purple used at times as well.

It's fascinating to see the dragon encircling itself on the sword in the center of the back, even as the creature emits fire from it's entire body.

Black and White

Dragons offer tattoo artists and designers such great material to work with, and you can see some pieces that are incredibly colorful works of art, using the body as a canvas.

Others are completely black in color and have a tribal feel.

Below is an example of a dark-colored dragon, this one with wings and sharp, long talons. The shadowing and alternating dark and light colors really make this a compelling piece of body art.

High-Quality Dark Ink

Here we have one of the highest-quality designs I've ever seen. Everything about it just sticks out in an extraordinary way.

There is so much that is clearly visible that it leaves no doubt as to what a fantastic dragon tattoo this is, one that I'm sure is very difficult to reproduce. But it sure generates a lot of ideas on how to create a magnificent image.