Key tattoo ideas

392 photos and flash · 19% Realism, 16% Traditional · Forearm most common

What will it cost? Try the tattoo cost calculator
Black and grey neo-traditional wolf head with scrollwork across the back of a hand, with small key, dagger, cross and spider tattoos on the fingers.
Snarling wolf on the back of a hand
Black and grey pencil drawing of a tattoo design showing an owl holding a heart padlock and key, flanked by roses and leaves, in a neo-traditional style.
Owl with padlock, key and roses design
Pencil and colour sketch of two owls for a neo-traditional tattoo design, one holding a skeleton key in its beak.
Owl with key design sketch
Close-up of a hand covered in small black doodle tattoos of eyes, suns, spirals, stars and the numbers 999, placed across the fingers and back of the hand.
Doodle symbols across a hand
Black and grey realism tattoo of an ornate heart-shaped padlock with a keyhole and a hanging key, on the upper arm.
Heart padlock and key on upper arm
Two matching realistic ornate key tattoos with blue gem details, one on each forearm, with the arms touching at the wrists.
Matching ornate key tattoos on forearms
Two fine line black tattoos on a forearm: an open birdcage with a hanging key on the left, and a flock of birds rising from swirling lines on the right.
Open birdcage and flying birds on forearms
Traditional-style colour tattoo of an ornate black filigree heart lock with red ribbons and two crossed keys, placed on the arm.
Ornate heart lock and crossed keys with red ribbons
Black and grey flash design of two shaded roses, a Roman numeral pocket watch, a quill feather and a key over ink splatters, with no body placement shown.
Roses, pocket watch and feather flash
Neo-traditional tattoos on the tops of both feet, showing a black panther head with orange flame accents and ornate scrollwork, with a crescent moon above the left ankle.
Panther and crescent moon on both feet
Traditional tattoo of a heart-shaped padlock with a teal key and three ribbon banners on a calf, with dotwork shading.
Heart padlock and teal key with name banners
Realistic colour tattoo of a silver key with a keyhole charm tied with a pink bow and the script words follow your heart, on the ribs.
Pink bow key with follow your heart script
Shaded pencil drawing of an ornate key with a city skyline in its shaft and script lettering, a tattoo design on a sketchbook page.
Ornate key with city skyline
Black and grey tattoo of a winged key with small stars and the script words It's real for us, on the ankle above a sandal strap.
Winged key and script on an ankle
Collage of three tattoos: a shaded clock face with gears on a shoulder, an outlined key with colour splashes on the ribs, and a compass with a feather on the upper arm.
Clock, key and compass tattoos in mixed styles
Two small black key tattoos on the inner wrists, an ornate skeleton key on the left and a simpler key with an oval bow on the right.
Matching key tattoos on two wrists
Black ink flash drawing of two swallows in flight, one carrying a small key, rendered with dense dotwork shading on the wings and bodies.
Two swallows, one carrying a key
Two neo-traditional tattoo designs in pink and copper, one with a rose and key, the other with a rose and ornate heart padlock, both with chains and swirls.
Rose, key and heart padlock flash pair
Black ink drawing of a fine line owl with ornamental scrollwork, crossed keys and a sunburst, drawn as a tattoo design on paper.
Owl with ornate keys and sunburst design
Black and grey tattoo of an ornate key with a textured bow and a hand gripping it, running from the shoulder down the upper arm.
Ornate key tattoo on upper arm
Traditional style tattoo flash design of a woman in a dark jacket standing in a TARDIS doorway, with a Dalek, a gas mask, a rose and the banner BAD WOLF.
Doctor Who tribute tattoo flash design
Black and grey realism style tattoo of an owl holding a heart-shaped padlock and key above shaded roses, on the upper arm of a woman in a white top.
Owl, heart padlock and roses on an upper arm
Black and grey fine line tattoo of the word Believer running into an ornate key, on a person's upper chest or shoulder area beside a white top strap.
Believer script and key on skin
Black and grey realism tattoo of a pocket watch with Roman numerals and a key set in swirling smoke, covering the forearm.
Pocket watch and key on a forearm
Two wrists with black and grey crown tattoos above One Life and One Love script, and a forearm with a realistic key and a red heart tattoo in a collage.
Matching crown and key tattoos on wrists
Heavily tattooed arms crossed over a head of long hair, showing a grey rose on the hand, a pink rose on the forearm, and a teal heart on the upper back in traditional style.
Roses and heart tattoos on arms and hands
Fine line black tattoo of a small star and arrow on the upper chest near the collarbone, with a small key tattoo on a finger.
Small star and arrow tattoo on the chest
Two black tattoos on a forearm: a bold key silhouette reading MEMORY IS THE KEY, and a second black symbol in a blocky lettering style.
Memory is the key quote on forearm
Four people's inner wrists show matching black script tattoos reading No 1/4, No 2/4, No 3/4 and No 4/4, with a key design beside No 3/4.
Four numbered wrist tattoos, 1/4 to 4/4
Two matching black and grey key tattoos with the word Sisters in script, shown on the inner forearms of two people.
Matching sisters key tattoos on forearms
Black and grey realism tattoo of a pocket watch with Roman numerals, a key and scrolling ornament on a forearm.
Pocket watch and key realism on forearm
Black line drawing flash design of two birds facing each other beneath a banner reading YOU HOLD THE KEY, with keys, leaves and a keyhole framed in a central oval.
Two birds with keys and a banner
Pencil sketch design of a pocket watch, a rose, a key and a beaded chain, with handwritten lettering beneath, drawn on white paper.
Pocket watch, rose and key pencil design
Neo-trad forearm tattoo of a pocket watch, pink roses and leaves, shown from two angles with a red heart in an ornate gold frame and a key.
Pocket watch, roses and heart on a forearm
Black and grey tattoo of an ornate key with a heart-shaped bow on the centre of the chest, with dotted lines and small diamond shapes radiating behind it.
Ornate key with dotted rays on chest
Black and grey realism tattoo of an ornate heart-shaped locket on a chain with a key and script lettering, on a lower leg.
Heart locket and key on a calf
Small black padlock tattoo on a wrist and a red key tattoo on the back of a hand, shown as two people hold hands.
Padlock and key tattoos on held hands
Colour neo-traditional tattoo of a gold heart padlock with a red heart and keyhole, a key and purple and black ribbons, on the back.
Heart padlock and key with ribbons
Black and grey realism tattoo of a Roman numeral pocket watch on a chain and an ornate key on the upper thigh.
Pocket watch and key on the upper thigh
Back of a woman with her hair up, showing a small fine-line grey ornate key tattoo running vertically down the centre of her upper back.
Fine line key on upper back
Small solid black key tattoo with an ornate bow on the upper arm, shown in a close photograph against pale skin.
Small black key tattoo on upper arm
Black and grey traditional flash drawing of a swallow in flight holding a small ornate key in its beak.
Swallow with a key in its beak
Black ink drawing of an owl perched on a branch beside a heart-shaped keyhole key, with detailed patterned feathers, shown as a tattoo design on paper.
Ornate owl on a branch with a key
Pencil sketch of a tattoo design showing an ornate crowned key, a ribbon, a potion bottle with a skull and a Drink Me banner, shown without a body placement.
Key and potion bottle with Drink Me banner
Black ink drawing of a scowling owl with a feather, a key, flowers and leaves, shown as a tattoo design on white paper.
Owl, key and flowers tattoo design
Four black silhouette skeleton key designs stacked on a white background, each with a different ornate bow and bit, drawn as a stencil-style tattoo design.
Four ornate skeleton keys
Black dotwork and fine line tattoo of an ornate birdcage with a hanging key and beaded chain on the inner forearm, shown against a red wall.
Birdcage and key on a forearm
Fine line ink drawing on paper of a woman with a large flower in her hair, a tear on her cheek, and a ruffled collar with layered necklaces and a key.
Woman with flower and key necklace design