If you’re googling “does a tattoo hurt” at 2 a.m. before your first tattoo, welcome. You’re in the right place. Tattoo pain is one of those things everyone warns you about, but nobody explains properly.
One person says it was “basically nothing,” another swears it was the worst pain of their life and they saw God halfway through the tattooing process.
The truth is, pain varies wildly depending on the area of the body, your pain threshold, your biological sex, and how brave you feel when a tattoo needle is buzzing near your soul.
There’s no universal tattoo pain chart that works for everyone, but there are general rules, plenty of anecdotal evidence, and enough tattoo artists rolling their eyes to know where things usually go wrong.
Below is a brutally honest breakdown of the most painful places to get tattooed, why they hurt, and how much pain you’re actually signing up for.
Most Painful Areas to Get a Tattoo Ranked
Here are the parts of the body we’ve ranked as most painful to get a tattoo, if you have a different opinion come let us know in the comments or in our Bad Attitudes Facebook group.
1. Rib Cage
The rib cage earns its place on every tattoo pain scale for a reason. This area has thin skin, a thin layer of skin stretched over bone, very little fat, and lots of nerve endings packed into a small space.
Add in constant movement from breathing and you’ve got intense pain from start to finish.
Many people describe rib cage tattoos as a sharp, burning sensation that never really settles. The tattoo gun vibrates directly against bone, and the pain level doesn’t ease up during the tattoo session. It’s one of the most painful body parts, especially for a first tattoo, and yes, it absolutely counts as one of the worst places.
2. Stomach Tattoos – Looks Cool, Hurts More Than You Expect
Stomach tattoos catch a lot of people off guard. On paper, it sounds manageable. In reality, the stomach is one of those sensitive areas where the pain level jumps fast and stays annoying the entire tattooing process.
The skin here stretches and moves constantly, which means the tattoo needle never really settles into a rhythm. Even if you have a lot of fat in this area, that doesn’t guarantee less pain. For many people, stomach tattoos feel sharp, uncomfortable, and weirdly intense, especially near the center where the skin is thinner and closer to muscle.
Breathing, laughing, existing – it all makes the tattoo process harder. The amount of pain can spike suddenly, and a lot of people say this area hurts more than expected compared to other parts of the body. Not ideal for a first tattoo unless you enjoy white-knuckling through life choices.
3. Spine Tattoos – Beautiful, But Painful
Spine tattoos look stunning. They also hurt like hell. This is a bony area with thin skin and almost no padding, which means the tattoo needle hits close to the bone the entire time.
Because the spine runs along such a sensitive part of your body, the level of pain can spike unpredictably.
Many tattoo enthusiasts say this was worse than expected, especially during longer back tattoos that cross over the spine. It’s easily one of the most painful locations, particularly for first time tattoo clients.
4. Top of the Foot – Small Area, Massive Pain
Foot tattoos are deceptively small but pack a lot of pain. The top of the foot has thin skin, the least fat, and lots of nerve endings crammed into a tiny space. The tattoo process here often feels sharp and relentless, and swelling can make the healing process extra annoying.
The top of the foot is also constantly rubbed by shoes, which doesn’t help recovery. Even people with a high pain threshold often admit this one was rough.
5. Neck Tattoos – Small Area, Big Attitude, Big Pain
Neck tattoos look bold, cool, and effortless. The pain is none of those things.
The neck has thin skin, a thin layer of skin over muscle and bone, and a lot of nerve endings packed into a small area of the body.
That combination alone puts it firmly in the most painful areas category. Add in constant movement, sensitivity, and the fact that the tattoo needle is very close to the surface of the skin, and the pain level ramps up fast.
Many people describe neck tattoos as sharp and relentless rather than deep and dull. The amount of pain doesn’t really fade as the tattoo process goes on, and it can feel especially intense near the sides and back of the neck where the skin is tighter. For a first tattoo, this is usually a terrible idea unless your pain threshold is high and your life choices are already locked in.
It’s one of those most painful spots where the tattoo design might be small, but the tattoo experience feels long.
6. Groin Area and Inner Thigh – Deeply Personal Pain
The groin area and inner thigh are extremely sensitive areas with thin skin and a lot of nerve endings. While the inner thigh may have some fat, it’s still close enough to sensitive structures that the pain level stays high.
Most tattoo artists will warn you upfront about the amount of pain involved here. It’s not just uncomfortable – it’s intimate, intense pain that lingers during the tattooing process and sometimes into healing.
7. Hip Bones and Lower Back – Sneaky Pain Traps
Lower back tattoos are often underestimated. While some parts of the lower back have more fat, areas near the hip bones and spine are bony areas with little fat and tighter skin.
The pain level can jump dramatically depending on tattoo placement, and the tattoo process can feel uneven as the needle moves across different textures. Many people report more pain than expected, especially closer to bone.
8. Head Tattoo – Only for the Truly Unbothered
A head tattoo is not subtle, and neither is the pain. Thin skin, direct contact with bone, and a constant buzzing sensation against your skull make this one of the most painful spots overall.
Even experienced tattoo enthusiasts admit this is a lot of pain. It’s not a great place for a first tattoo unless you’re deeply committed to the chaos.
And then there are the tattoos most people don’t actually get, but everyone has a horror story about. The back of the knee, the elbow ditch, and yes, even armpit tattoos fall into the category of “technically possible, emotionally questionable.”
These areas of the body have thin skin, little fat, lots of nerve endings, and a reputation for a brutal pain level. Most tattoo artists will tell you the same thing: just because you can tattoo these spots doesn’t mean you should. There’s a lot of pain, a strange burning sensation, and absolutely no payoff unless you’re chasing bragging rights. Consider this less a recommendation and more a public service announcement.
So Where Do Tattoos Hurt Less?
After reading all that, you might be wondering if any part of your body is safe. The good news is yes, there are least painful places that make a great place to start, especially for your first tattoo.
Areas like the outer bicep, outer arms, upper arms, outer shoulders, shoulder blades, upper outer thigh, and lower back (away from bone) generally have thick skin, more muscle, or a lot of fat. These areas of the body have fewer nerve endings or even the fewest nerve endings compared to bony zones, which means less pain overall.
My first tattoo was the back of the shoulder and the pain was super manageable.
As a general rule, places with thickest skin, a lot of muscle, or fat tend to hurt less. The outer bicep and inner bicep are often compared, and while the inner bicep can be more painful due to thinner skin, the outer bicep is widely considered a good place and even the best place for a first time tattoo.
If you’re planning your next tattoo and want a smoother tattoo experience, think carefully about the placement of your tattoo, the location of the tattoo, and the tattoo design itself. Smaller designs, simpler lines, and smart placement of your tattoo can dramatically reduce the amount of pain and make the healing process easier too.
Some people use numbing cream, some grit their teeth, and a lot of people swear they’ll never do it again – until they book their next tattoo. Tattoo pain is real, but so is the satisfaction of surviving it.
If you’re part of the club then tattoo pain is part of the deal. Some placements hurt more, some hurt less, and no chart can predict it perfectly. Choose your placement wisely, trust your tattoo artist, and remember that the pain is temporary and the tattoo is forever.
More Tattoo Inspiration
Now that you settled on the right spot, take our what tattoo should I get quiz to finalise your design.
