You and your best friend have been through a lot over time, through thick, thin, and downright crazy. If you want to make a permanent reminder of how awesome you are together, a tattoo could be the way to go. While it’s not bad luck to get a matching tattoo with your best friend, there are things to consider before taking the plunge. You both need to be 100% onboard with the design – remember that tattoos are forever. Choosing a design that can stand on its own is also a good idea, just in case you have a falling out, you’re not left with a missing piece. Lastly, you want to be in it together – use this as another bonding experience and go together to get it don and add it to your list of stories!

Dolphins are an animal that commonly depicts friendship. They’re associated with being graceful, playful, and loyal. They’re incredibly popular for female friends. If dolphins wouldn’t be your pick, but you like the idea of your relationship being represented by the animal kingdom, dogs and bears are also great options. Dogs are loyal, noble, and faithful – everything you want from a friend. Bears also represent gentle friendship, as well as courage and tenacity.

According to affinitynumerology.com, 173 is the number for friendship. Its numerology energy is all about companionship, introspection, and friendship. It also reduces down to number 2, which represents teamwork, relationships, and diplomacy. If you’re looking for other mathematical symbols for friendship, infinity is another popular choice illustrating an everlasting relationship.

Friend Best Tattoos Design

1. Small Best Friend Tattoos

Even a tiny best friend tattoo has a significant meaning. A petite inking is perfect for those who are getting their first tattoo as it is a low-pain, low-cost option.  Alternatively, it’s also an excellent choice for those who want a design that’s quick and simple to draw. To make the most of your small tattoo, choose a simple design in black ink. Some ideas could include your initials, lucky number, or a reference to your favorite movie, book, or TV show.

 

2. Tree Tattoos

Some people are lucky enough to have two best friends! If your trio is looking to get a distinctive tattoo, why not reference the number three? A matching tattoo that includes this motif will let people know that the three of you are close pals. A popular design is three trees. The size of each tree can represent your heights or ages. Trees also symbolize growth, wisdom, protection, and eternity – a metaphor for a friendship that will stand the test of time.

 

3. Cute Tattoos

Cute tattoos are a popular body art choice for best friends who bring out the sweet and playful side in each other. If you met your best friend when you were children, a cute tattoo could be the ideal way to symbolize your relationship. Your favorite childhood cartoon character, animal tattoos, or the famous ‘hugging fingers’ design are all adorable inkings for cute best friends.

 

4. Symbol Tattoos

When choosing a symbol tattoo with your best friend, it’s essential to do your research. There are many symbols with different meanings, so there’s bound to be one that summarises how you feel about each other. Symbols can also be as elaborate or as simple as you desire, so choose something that works with both your styles. A fresh minimalist choice is the double triangle symbol. One triangle points up, while the other points down. It symbolizes that the two of you are opposites that have connected on a deep level. Plus, the design also looks like the Nordic Rune Inguz, which represents creativity, new beginnings, and a new phase of life. It could be a great tattoo choice if you and your best friend are starting an adventure or a project.

 

5. Quote Tattoos

Quotes have been a popular tattoo choice for many years. That’s because they poetically summarise our feelings and ensure we never forget them. Whether it be a line from a play, movie, book or song lyric, quotes are a meaningful choice for body art. Best friends might choose to get the same quote tattooed, or have one person inked with the first half of the quote and the other person with the second half. That way, the quote will only be complete when you are together – just like your friendship.

 

6. Matching Tattoos

Getting matching tattoos is a classic choice for best friends. One of the best bonding experiences you can share is choosing what you’ll get – or even creating a unique design together. However, make sure the final inkings suit both of you, with an art style you both like. Matching tattoos are ideal for best friends who are incredibly similar. Like matching couple tattoos, these inkings show you have the same mindset and see the world the same way. Choose this type of body art if you and your best friend are soulmates.

 

7. Sun and Moon Tattoos

Sun tattoos and moon tattoos aren’t just for romantic couples. The design is also ideal for best friends who are opposites but have complementary personalities. Many people associate the sun with outgoing, extroverted people, while the moon is usually symbolic of more reserved, introverted types. However, the Earth needs both night and day – so when you bring these two powerful symbols together, they represent perfect unity. As a result, getting sun and moon tattoos represents how your friendship is perfectly balanced, no matter how different you may be.

 

8. Memorial Tattoo for Best Friend

One of the most lasting ways to pay tribute to a lost friend is with a memorial tattoo. Because it is such a personal inking, the design of a memorial tattoo is up to every individual. It can be as simple as their initial or birthday, or as intricate as a sleeve tattoo full of symbolic elements. One motif that is often used in these types of tattoos is the rose. That’s because this flower represents eternal and immortal love that transcends death. Red and black roses, in particular, are associated with memorials, and the flower can also represent new hope and new beginnings.

 

9. Simple Tattoos

Tattoos don’t need to be complex to be meaningful. If you and your best friend are looking for a body art design that matches your easy friendship, a simple tattoo is a perfect choice. Many choose to get each others’ initials. Other ideas could include simple geometric shapes, lines, or dots. Friends who share the same religious faith could get subtle inkings that express their shared beliefs. Popular placements for simple tattoos include the wrist and fingers, and even though the inking is small, you will always be able to see it.

 

10. Heart Tattoos

One of the most popular tattoo designs of all time is the heart. It’s a universal symbol of love and affection – but it’s not just for couples. These tattoos show that your best friend is close to your heart. It’s also a versatile design because you can customize it to match your style. A floral heart would suit best friends with a feminine style, whose love for each other has grown over time. Some choose a full-color heart with a hue that matches their best friend’s personality. For example, yellow is the universal color of friendship, while green represents trust. Whatever you decide, there’s no mistaking how you feel about each other when you get heart tattoos.

 

11. Best Friend Sister Tattoos

Some people are lucky enough to be best friends with their sisters. So if your sibling is also your best friend, you’ve got twice as many reasons to get a sister tattoo together! One cute idea is to get a design that makes sense when you place the two inkings side by side. It symbolizes how you are two halves of the same whole and your strong bond with each other. You could also choose to get matching symbol tattoos, like the Celtic Sister’s Knot.

 

12. Guy and Girl Best Friend Tattoos

If your best friend is of the opposite sex, make sure you choose a design that will work with both your styles. Neutral symbols will ensure your tattoo doesn’t look too romantic and is neither overly masculine nor super feminine. A popular choice is lightning bolts; it’s a great design if you are both Harry Potter fans too. Anchors or numbers, such as your birthdays, the date you met, or co-ordinates for a special place you’ve visited together, are also trendy ideas.

 

13. Funny Tattoos

One of the best parts of friendship is laughing together. Having the same sense of humor can make a friendship last a lifetime. So, if your buddy makes you crack up, a funny tattoo is the perfect idea for your tattoos. Puns, cartoons, and cheeky or dirty jokes are all fair game. The only thing that matters is that the two of you giggle every time you see your ink. Take your funny tattoo to the next level by choosing tattoos that others will ‘get’ when they see them together.

 

14. Cool Tattoos

Best friends with unique, artistic, or edgy styles should choose a cool tattoo. These inkings are all about the art, so you must select an artist whose designs you both like. For an on-trend cool tattoo, opt for a black line drawing with no shading. These minimalist inkings look striking on fair skin, and you can incorporate meaningful symbols without the design becoming too complicated or confusing. A trendy placement for tattoos is the back of the arm, rather than the forearm or bicep. If you choose to have your inking placed there, bear in mind, you won’t be able to see your ink without using mirrors. However, your best friend will always be able to see it!

 

15. Butterfly Tattoos

Butterflies are a symbol of transformation because they turn from a caterpillar into a beautiful winged insect. They are also associated with nature and freedom. As a result, best friends who connect with these ideas could consider getting matching butterfly tattoos. In the Christian religion, butterflies represent resurrection. If you and your best friend have helped each other through dark times, matching tattoos bearing this symbol could be a significant choice for you.

 

16. Flower Tattoos

Flowers can have many meanings. So, when choosing the perfect floral tattoo with your best friend, consider not just the appearance but also the symbolism of the flower. The rose represents everlasting love, while lily of the valley is associated with sweetness and happiness. Meanwhile, each month of the year also has a ‘birth flower’ as well as a birthstone. You and your best friend could have each other’s birth flowers inked. Finally, if you and your BFF have botanical names – like Poppy, Violet, Jasmine, or Daisy – you could have the flowers inked to remind you of each other.

 

17. Yin and Yang Tattoo

Another symbol that represents two different yet complementary people, the yin and yang sign originates in ancient Chinese philosophy. Yin symbolizes feminine and calm energy, while yang is associated with male, active power. The two together are a sign of balance and harmony – just the way two best friends are. When you get your yin and yang tattoo, you can customize the design with other elements. The mandala is sometimes added to the yin yang as it is also a symbol of unity, wholeness, and perfect balance.

 

 

18. Best Friends Forever Tattoos

What symbolizes everlasting friendship better than the infinity symbol? It’s an excellent choice for those who have been best friends for many years, as your bond can stand the test of time. While you can opt for the simple version of the sign, it can also be customized with other symbols. A popular choice is to turn the infinity into an arrow. The meaning behind this arrow tattoo is that whichever direction you go in life, your friendship will remain eternal. For best friends who might be parting ways – for example, if one of you is moving to another part of the country – the infinity arrow design is meaningful.

 

 

19. Half Tattoos

A plain yet powerful best friend tattoo is the half symbol. Taken literally, it means that you are both halves of the same whole and are complete when you are together. When you are apart, you can look at your ink and remember that you are one of two – you’re never truly alone. It’s a design that suits best friends who mean the world to each other. Because the design is so simple, it looks best when drawn small. As a result, it suits placements like fingers, ankles, or behind the ear.

 

20. Lock and Key Tattoos

While a lock and key tattoo is a popular choice for couples, it’s also suited to best friends. That’s because the design represents two people who are made for each other. If you and your best friend bring out the best in each other – and unlock each other’s potential – it could be an ideal design. The lock and key also represent the thing that is most precious to us and that we most want to protect. For many people, that is their friendship with their BFF.

 

21. Wings Tattoos

Wing tattoos are a very symbolic inkingchoice. Flying requires two wings moving in the same direction. For two best friends, getting one wing tattooed each can mean that you lift each other and are unstoppable when you are together. In mythology, wings must also be earned, so these tattoos could represent best friends who have gone through hard times and come through stronger. Wings are also often used to symbolize an angel, so these tattoos could be a memorial to a friend who has passed away.

 

22. Best Friend Distance Tattoos

Life can take you and your best friend in very different directions, sometimes leaving you on opposite sides of the world. One of the best ways to pay tribute to each other – and make sure you never forget your bond – is with matching tattoos. A meaningful phrase, a map of the globe, or an airplane are popular choices for distance tattoos. You could also get the coordinates of each other’s locations inked as a subtle tribute

 

23. To Infinity and Beyond Tattoos

One of the most famous lines in movie history is Buzz Lightyear’s catchphrase, “To infinity, and beyond!” The phrase was first said in the movie Toy Story, which is all about friendship. If you and your best friend love the film and its message – and if they are the Buzz to your Woody – you should consider having the line turned into a tattoo. The inking connects you to your childhood. At the same time, it reminds you of your potential and the adventures you and your best friend will go on together through life.

 

24. Arrow Tattoos

Arrows represent life’s journey, so they are the perfect tattoo for two people who have grown up together. Two crossed arrows are a universal symbol of friendship, making that the ideal design for best friends. When it comes to matching tattoos, they are also popular inking for pairs and groups as multiple arrows are harder to break than a single one. You can easily combine your arrow tattoos with other symbols like your initials, leaves, and flowers – or leave your body art eye-catching and straightforward.

 

25. Birds Tattoos

If you and your best friend are looking for a classic tattoo design, you can’t go past birds. One of the original sailor tattoos, the swallow bird design represents coming home after a long journey – perfect if the two of you live far apart or are about to reunite. Sparrows, meanwhile, represent loyalty so it could be an excellent idea to show that the two of you are incredibly close and never let each other down. Because they can fly, birds are also associated with freedom, so a couple of free-spirited friends would suit matching bird tattoos.