If you’re lucky enough to have a best friend who feels like family, you know how important that bond is. One of the best ways to celebrate a friendship is by getting matching tattoos. Not only are they a fun way to symbolize your connection, but they also carry a deep personal meaning that can last forever.
Whether you want something small and simple or a little more intricate, there are so many great tattoo ideas out there for best friends.
In this blog, I’ll share small tattoo ideas for best friends. These designs are meaningful, unique, and perfect for anyone who wants a permanent reminder of their friendship.
I’ll also provide some details on the tattoo’s meaning, placement, and why I personally love each idea. Let’s dive in.
Why Best Friends Should Get Tattoo?
Getting a tattoo with your best friend is a powerful way to celebrate your bond. It serves as a permanent reminder of the memories, support, and love you share.
Tattoos symbolize commitment, trust, and the strength of your friendship. They allow you to carry a piece of each other with you wherever you go.
Whether it’s a matching design or a meaningful symbol, a tattoo strengthens your connection and offers a lasting tribute to a friendship that stands the test of time. It’s a unique way to mark an important chapter in your shared journey.
Meaningful Small Tattoo Design Ideas For Best Friends
Here are small tattoo design ideas that are perfect for best friends:
1. Matching Heartbeats
Tattoo Meaning: Heartbeat tattoos are a beautiful way to symbolize your connection. The heartbeat represents the rhythm of life, and when shared with a best friend, it’s a way of saying, “You’re always with me.”
Placement: I recommend placing these tattoos on the inner wrists or ankles. This keeps the design small and personal while still being visible when you want to show it off.
Why I Love It: Heartbeat tattoos are simple, but they hold so much meaning. They remind me that my best friend is a big part of my life and heart. Plus, it’s a design that never goes out of style.
2. Puzzle Pieces
Tattoo Meaning: Puzzle piece tattoos represent the idea that you and your best friend fit together perfectly, just like pieces of a puzzle.
Placement: You can place one piece on your forearm and the other on your best friend’s. This is a great way to symbolize your bond while keeping the design close to you.
Why I Love It: Puzzle piece tattoos are an awesome way to show how you and your best friend complete each other. It’s a simple yet meaningful design that really captures what a best friend is all about.
3. Yin and Yang
Tattoo Meaning: The yin and yang symbol represents balance. It’s the idea that two opposing forces can be complementary, just like how a best friend can balance you out in life.
Placement: I think the best spot for this tattoo is on your wrist or ankle, where it’s small but still stands out.
Why I Love It: I love the yin and yang design because it shows how even though you and your best friend may be different, those differences are what make your friendship so special.
4. Lightning Bolt Tattoos
Tattoo Meaning: Lightning bolt tattoos symbolize energy, power, and excitement. For best friends, they represent a bond that’s electrifying and full of life. It’s a reminder of the thrilling and unforgettable moments you share together, sparking joy and adventure.
Placement: Lightning bolt tattoos can be placed on the forearm, wrist, or ankle. You can each get a bolt on opposite wrists or forearms, making the design feel even more connected.
Why I Love It: I love how lightning bolts are bold and energetic. They perfectly capture the dynamic and powerful nature of a friendship that always keeps you energized and excited, no matter where life takes you.
5. Lock and Key
Tattoo Meaning: A lock and key tattoo represents the idea of one person holding the key to another’s heart. It’s a symbol of trust, love, and deep connection.
Placement: A lock on one wrist and the matching key on your best friend’s wrist works well. These placements are small and personal, but also easy to show off.
Why I Love It: The lock and key design is such a sweet way to show how important your best friend is to you. It represents trust and knowing that no one else holds the key to your heart the way they do.
6. Sun and Moon
Tattoo Meaning: The sun and moon tattoo represents balance and how two people can complement each other. One person might be the light (sun) while the other provides calm (moon).
Placement: These tattoos can be placed on your shoulders or the sides of your wrists. It’s a great way to represent how you balance each other out in life.
Why I Love It: I love how the sun and moon tattoos symbolize how different but equally important you and your best friend are. It’s a simple design with a powerful meaning.
7. Coffee Cup Tattoos
Tattoo Meaning: Coffee cup tattoos are perfect for best friends who share a love for coffee dates or cozy mornings together. They symbolize comfort, warmth, and the simple pleasures in life, like chatting over a cup of coffee.
Placement: These tattoos can be placed on the wrist, forearm, or even behind the ear. A small, minimalist coffee cup looks great on the inner wrist, while a larger, detailed design could go on the forearm.
Why I Love It: I love coffee cup tattoos because they represent those calm, quiet moments spent together, sipping coffee and sharing stories. It’s a cozy reminder of the comfort and familiarity of a friendship that feels like home.
8. Birds in Flight
Tattoo Meaning: Birds in flight symbolize freedom, growth, and adventure. Getting a tattoo of two birds can represent how you and your best friend have grown together and will continue to fly high.
Placement: These tattoos look great on your ankles or near your collarbone. They’re subtle yet make a big statement about your bond.
Why I Love It: I love how bird tattoos represent both independence and connection. They remind me that my best friend and I are both free to be ourselves but always support each other.
9. Roman Numerals
Tattoo Meaning: Roman numerals can represent important dates, such as the day you met or another significant moment in your friendship. It’s a way to carry a special memory with you.
Placement: Roman numerals work well on the inner forearm, side of the ribcage, or even on your fingers.
Why I Love It: I love how Roman numerals look elegant and timeless. They’re personal and can be customized to represent something important to you and your best friend.
10. Peanut Butter and Jelly
Tattoo Meaning: Peanut butter and jelly tattoos symbolize the perfect pairing, just like best friends who go hand in hand through life. It’s a playful, fun design that represents your inseparable bond.
Placement: These tattoos can be placed on your inner wrists or forearms, side by side, so that they come together when you hold hands.
Why I Love It: The peanut butter and jelly tattoo is a fun and nostalgic design. It’s a quirky and lighthearted way to express how your friendship is as classic and perfect as the combo itself.
11. Lock and Heart
Tattoo Meaning: The lock and heart tattoo symbolizes how one person has the key to the other’s heart. It represents deep love and a bond that can’t be broken.
Placement: A lock and heart tattoo works well on the wrist or behind the ear. It’s a small but meaningful design that’s easy to carry with you.
Why I Love It: The lock and heart design is so sweet and personal. It’s a great way to represent how much your best friend means to you.
12. Together/Forever
Tattoo Meaning: “Together” and “Forever” tattoos are simple but powerful. They represent the idea that no matter what happens, you and your best friend will always be there for each other.
Placement: These tattoos are perfect for your wrist or ankle. One friend gets “Together,” and the other gets “Forever.”
Why I Love It: This tattoo is a beautiful reminder that no matter what changes, you and your best friend will always be there. It’s simple but says everything.
13. Tiny Arrows
Tattoo Meaning: Arrow tattoos represent direction and strength. Two arrows facing each other symbolize the bond between two people who are always there for one another.
Placement: These tattoos can go on your forearm, wrist, or ankle. They look great when placed together, facing each other.
Why I Love It: Arrow tattoos are simple and strong. They represent the direction your friendship is going — straight forward, together.
14. Moon Phases
Tattoo Meaning: Moon phases represent change and growth. Getting a tattoo of different moon phases can symbolize how your friendship has evolved and continues to grow.
Placement: These tattoos look great on the wrist, ankle, or even the back of your arm. They’re small but beautiful and meaningful.
Why I Love It: I love how moon phase tattoos represent growth and evolution. They remind me that just like the moon, our friendship goes through phases but continues to grow and shine.
15. Matching Stars
Tattoo Meaning: Star tattoos represent guidance, dreams, and hope. When paired, they symbolize how you and your best friend guide each other through life.
Placement: Small stars look great on your wrist, ankle, or behind the ear. They’re subtle but carry a lot of meaning.
Why I Love It: Star tattoos are simple, but they symbolize something big — how you and your best friend are always there for each other, guiding each other through life.
16. Avocados
Tattoo Meaning: Avocado tattoos are perfect for foodie friends. They represent a love for food and the special bond you share over shared meals and memories.
Placement: Small and cute, these tattoos can be placed on your wrist or ankle, making them easy to show off whenever you’re together.
Why I Love It: If you and your best friend love cooking together or sharing meals, an avocado tattoo is a fun and unique way to capture that special connection. Plus, who doesn’t love avocados?
17. Matching Flowers
Tattoo Meaning: Flower tattoos represent growth, beauty, and new beginnings. When shared between best friends, they symbolize how your friendship blossoms over time.
Placement: Flower tattoos look great on your inner wrist, ankle, or shoulder.
Why I Love It: I love how flower tattoos are delicate yet meaningful. They remind me that friendship, like flowers, continues to bloom as you grow together.
18. Sushi Tattoos
Tattoo Meaning: Sushi tattoos are a great choice for best friends who share a love for Japanese cuisine or enjoy sushi nights together. These tattoos symbolize the fun, joy, and unique experiences you share while indulging in your favorite foods.
Placement: A small sushi roll tattoo works perfectly on the wrist, ankle, or the side of your arm. You could even go for matching sushi tattoos, one for each friend, on opposite arms or wrists.
Why I Love It: I love how sushi tattoos are both playful and personal. They remind me of those casual yet meaningful moments spent together, enjoying each other’s company over a sushi platter. Whether it’s a traditional roll or a quirky design, it’s a fun way to capture your shared love for food and friendship.
19. Semicolon
Tattoo Meaning: The semicolon tattoo represents strength and continuity, particularly in difficult times. It’s a reminder that even though life may pause at times, it continues, just like your friendship.
Placement: These tattoos are often placed on the wrist or ankle. They’re small but have a huge emotional impact.
Why I Love It: The semicolon tattoo is simple but powerful. It represents resilience, and I love how it symbolizes both personal strength and the strength of friendship.
20. Matching Wine Glass Tattoos
Tattoo Meaning: Matching wine glass tattoos symbolize celebration, connection, and shared memories. They reflect a friendship filled with joy, laughter, and cherished moments spent together, much like the toasts raised during special occasions. The design can represent the bond of two people who know how to celebrate life and each other.
Placement: These tattoos are perfect for the inner wrists, forearms, or ankles, with each friend sporting a glass. For added creativity, the glasses can appear clinking or feature small personalized details like initials.
Why I Love It: Wine glass tattoos are elegant and meaningful. They capture the essence of a friendship that’s vibrant, celebratory, and timeless.
Follow Our Pinterest
In conclusion, whether you’re considering matching tattoos with your best friend or simply exploring new tattoo ideas, our Pinterest is the perfect place for inspiration.
With a wide variety of designs, placement suggestions, and creative concepts, you’re sure to find the perfect tattoo to reflect your unique bond or personal style.
Don’t miss out—follow our Pinterest today and start discovering new and exciting tattoo ideas to make your next ink unforgettable!
