Monkey tattoo ideas are popular for collectors wanting an animal ink design motif emphasizing fun and mischief. Monkeys, and in particular the chimpanzee, are popular choices for old-school and cartoon tattooing styles for their fun-loving, hilarious temperament that often spills over into mischief and chaos. For the more serious-minded tattoo enthusiast, a gorilla or orangutan may be the choice you look for in ink design. Those who are fans of the beautiful creatures in the wild often opt for realistic tattoo choices etched in painstaking detail. For contemporary body art, neo-traditional concepts – such as imagery associated with the Planet of the Apes films – are a popular choice. No matter your design choice, monkey tattoo meaning, or application style, the following top 27 monkey tattoo ideas are sure to give you inspiration about choosing the right image to take to your tattoo artist.

Monkey Tattoo FAQs

What does a monkey tattoo symbolize?

Monkey tattoo ideas are popular for collectors wanting an animal ink design motif emphasizing fun and mischief. Conversely, those who are fans of the beautiful creatures in the wild often opt for realistic tattoo choices etched in painstaking detail.

What are some popular monkey tattoo themes?

There are plenty of options to choose from when looking to find the right monkey tattoo theme.

These include:

• Fun-loving chimpanzee cartoon designs
• Serious gorilla and orangutan tattoos
• The three wise monkeys – see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil
• New school tattoos referencing the Planet of the Apes films
• Photorealistic tattoos mirroring real monkeys

Choosing the right style of monkey tattoo concept often involves matching the sentiment of your piece with the correct style elements to make it work.

Where should I place my monkey tattoo?

Monkey tattoo designs can go practically anywhere if small enough, however portrait and realistic pieces tend towards significant large areas such as the bicep and forearm. Popular areas for more mischievous monkey tattoos include the inner arm and wrist, shoulder, and contemporary spaces such as the neck, thigh, and lower leg/ankle are also becoming inked more often.

Cartoon Monkey Tattoo Art

Source: @vezetattoo via Instagram

Source: @starcrossedtattoo via Instagram

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Source: @jonnydextertattoos via Instagram

2. Realistic Monkey Tattoo Ideas

Source: @tyleratd via Instagram

Source: @wolf_tattoo via Instagram

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Source: @denisnogueiratattoo via Instagram

Source: @leanne_brothers via Instagram

Cute Monkey Tattoo Art

Source: @stavros_tattooer via Instagram

Source: @dalriadatattoos via Instagram

Source: @ecstacytat2s via Instagram

 Monkey Tattoo Ideas for the Forearm

Source: @relja_tattoo via Instagram

Source: @sergiotattoos via Instagram

Source: @zigermeister via Instagram

 Neo-Traditional Monkey Tattoo Designs

Source: @allday_jina via Instagram

Source: @schuster_tattoo via Instagram

Source: @kodeart via Instagram

Source: @mu_genn_tattoo via Instagram

Source: @auseklis_studija via Instagram

Simple Monkey Tattoo Ideas

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Source: @chupacabratatto via Instagram

Source: @yogixiii via Instagram

American Traditional Monkey Tattoos

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Source: @mikereedtattoo via Instagram

Source: @sammotattoo via Instagram