Torso tattoos
Rib tattoo
The ribs are a long area along the side, and they seem made for pieces that follow the curve of the body. Long-stemmed flowers, lettering, branches and designs running from the chest to the hip look especially natural here.
A rib tattoo is almost always covered by clothing and shows only in swimwear or without a shirt, which is why it is often chosen for a personal, meaningful piece.
- Pain
- 5/5
- Healing
- 2 weeks
- Typical size
- 30 × 18 cm
About this placement
What sets a rib tattoo apart
The skin on the ribs is thin and close to the bone, and the side changes shape as you breathe, turn and lift your arm. That is why the composition is built along the line of the ribs and side: elongated elements run from top to bottom, and larger details go where the surface is flatter.
Fine lines, graphic work and black and grey realism come out well here, as do pieces that continue onto the chest, back or thigh.
Work on this placement
Popular designs
- Flowers and botanicals — peonies, roses, jasmine and thistles on long stems, often in black.
- Lettering and quotes — lines running along the ribs.
- Butterflies and birds — compositions rising along the body.
- Animals — wolf, tiger or bear heads on the side.
- Mandalas and geometry — combined with botanical motifs.
Why choose the ribs
The ribs are a place for a tattoo that emphasises your silhouette and stays your personal story. A piece here does not clash with any dress code, looks beautiful in motion and, if you wish, becomes part of a larger composition across the side — onto the chest, back or thigh.
How the design is created
- Consultation — we discuss the idea, the size and whether the piece will continue onto the chest, back or thigh.
- Design — the artist stretches the composition along the line of the side and checks how it looks with the arm raised.
- Transfer to the skin — the stencil is placed and moved until it sits straight, then checked standing, turning and with the arm raised.
How many sessions it takes
Small lettering or a branch on the ribs is done in one short session, and a medium-sized piece usually in one session. A composition covering the whole side, from chest to hip, is done over several sessions with breaks so the skin can recover.
Let’s talk about your project
Tell us what you have in mind. We’ll give you a quote and suggest a date.
Other placements in this area
01Chest tattooFrom the collarbones to the ribs: the chest suits both a delicate piece and a full-width composition, symmetrical or free-flowing.- 02Hip tattooThe hip: a piece here follows the curve of the body and can flow onto the waist, thigh or lower stomach.
03Rib tattooThe ribs are a long area along the side for pieces that follow the curve of the body, from lettering to a design running from chest to hip.- 04Stomach tattooThe stomach is the centre of the torso, from a delicate pattern around the navel to a composition that continues a chest piece.
- 05Collarbone tattooThe collarbone is a narrow, elegant line for lettering, a branch or an ornament that shows in open necklines.
Want to talk your idea over? Get in touch or come in for a free consultation: we’ll go through the project in detail — size, placement, number of sessions — and decide together where to start.