Getting a neck tattoo is a big commitment. One that more than often comes with potential future regret and stigma. It requires confronting society and acceptance of being judged negatively on daily basis by your peers. Not to mention, it’s a “job stopper” too.

Neck tattoos are traditionally reserved for those who are already covered in tattoos when they walk in the door, but are rapidly rising in popularity to the point they’re part of the 50+ best tattoo ideas list.

If you are thinking about getting a neck tattoo consider the negative connotations. They might look cool or have significant meaning, but they can also come loaded with stigma from other sectors of society.

No matter if you want a small or heavily inked piece around your head, you can still find inspiration from these top 39 best neck tattoos. Perhaps they will give you new ideas and designs to explore, or a better perception of just how visible they are.

See more about – The Top 135 Best Tattoo Ideas for Men

1. American Traditional Neck Tattoos

This is a great tattoo that takes the classic “screaming eagle” design that has been a popular military design and uses an expert application to complete this standard of American traditional tattooing.  

In this piece, the artist takes a more illustrative approach to the black and gray figure while the incorporation of vivid blue roses is an interesting choice that increases the appeal of this clean neck tattoo.  

Here, the artist uses vivid colors and a relatively busy composition to perfectly create this “sugar skull” from Dia de Los Muertos, while the scroll work and clean application of script complete this ode to “mi vida loca”, or “my crazy life”. 

The American traditional school is the granddaddy of Western tattooing. The rough and tumble sensibilities and nautical themes that defined it are still apparent in this popular style. Characterized by bold lines and a limited, but vibrant color palette American traditional tattoos used to be governed by a strict set of rules about both methods of application and acceptable subject matter.