Spiral tattoo ideas

943 photos and flash · 23% Blackwork, 17% Geometric · Forearm most common

What will it cost? Try the tattoo cost calculator
Black tribal spiral motifs in a grid of six panels on the upper arm, shown on a seated person in a black top.
Black tribal spiral band on upper arm
Black line drawing of a stylised tree of life with a swirling trunk, leafy branches and curling roots, on a white background.
Swirling tree of life line drawing
Black tribal-patterned gecko design on a white background, with a curled tail and spiral markings on the body, shown as a standalone flash design.
Tribal gecko design
Fine line tattoo of four small coloured symbols running down the inner forearm: a green leaf curve, a red flame, a blue spiral and a yellow lightning bolt.
Four coloured symbols on an inner forearm
Dotwork spiral mandala tattoo with red wash accents on the upper back, set against the left shoulder blade area.
Spiral mandala on upper back
Fine line tattoo of nested golden ratio rectangles with the number 1.61803399 beneath, on the inner forearm.
Golden ratio rectangles on a forearm
Black ink tattoo of three bird silhouettes on a branch with a small spiral on the toe, shown on the top of a foot.
Birds on a branch across a foot
Flash sheet of stylised turtle designs with spiral and scroll shell patterns in blue, green, pink and brown on a white background.
Stylised turtle designs in four colours
Black circular tattoo of interlocking spirals and knotwork on the upper arm, in a geometric style.
Circular spiral knotwork on an upper arm
Black line drawing of a triskelion, three interlocking spirals arranged in a triangle, shown on a plain white background.
Triskelion triple spiral design
Pencil sketch of an acorn with a stippled cap and a curling stem, a botanical tattoo design drawn on white paper.
Pencil sketch of an acorn with curling stem
Black silhouette flash design of three small birds perched on a branch with curling tendrils and leaves on a white background.
Three birds on a curling vine
Colourful neo-traditional nautilus shell tattoo with heavy black outlines and flowing feather-like shapes on the forearm.
Nautilus spiral tattoo on a forearm
Fine line black tattoo of abstract curling strokes, sweeping lines and dashed lines on the side of the ribs.
Abstract line tattoo of curls and strokes on ribs
Black tribal tattoo in a bold Polynesian-inspired pattern covering the shoulder, upper arm and upper chest of a man.
Tribal black sleeve across shoulder and chest
Black ink tattoo of a vertical line with stacked loops, a spiral and dots, centred on the back of a neck in a black and grey photo.
Unalome-style line tattoo on the back of the neck
Close view of a black blackwork tribal spiral tattoo in a circle on an arm, with a chalked hand resting beside it and further black tribal tattoos below.
Black tribal spiral circle on an arm
Black tribal swirl tattoo with spirals and curling tendrils, placed centrally on the lower back above the waistband of blue jeans.
Tribal swirl tattoo on the lower back
Watercolour style tattoo of a scallop shell above a nautilus shell on a calf, with black linework and washes of orange, yellow and blue.
Scallop and nautilus shells on a calf
Black tribal tattoo with swirls and triangular patterns running down the outer thigh and over the knee.
Tribal band tattoo on a thigh and knee
Black tribal tattoo with swirling curves and spiral motifs on the forearm of a person with tan skin, set against a stone background.
Black tribal swirl design on a forearm
Solid black tribal-style cat design with spiral patterns and a curled tail, shown on a plain white background with no body placement visible.
Tribal black cat with spiral tail
Six fine black ink sketches of looping, swirling ornamental designs drawn on grid paper, with two pens resting above them.
Six looping line ornament sketches
Sheet of eight black tribal-style gecko and lizard designs with white pattern details, shown as flash for tattoo use.
Tribal gecko flash sheet
Black tribal tattoo of an animal head above a paw print with spiral details, on the outer upper arm.
Tribal animal and paw design on upper arm
Black and white design of two facing ravens with spiral eyes and wings, framed by Celtic knotwork in a circle, shown as a drawn tattoo design with no body part visible.
Twin ravens with spirals and knotwork
Two forearms crossed in front of a pale green t-shirt, both covered in bold black tribal blackwork patterns on the forearm.
Black tribal patterns on both forearms
Solid black tattoo of a stylised skull with two white eyes and a spiral tail, centred on a woman's upper back.
Spiral skull on upper back
Black tribal-style heart tattoo with a spiral and dotted detail on the inner wrist.
Tribal heart on inner wrist
Black dotwork and blackwork tattoo on a calf of three stacked balloons with grinning faces, two bats and a small figure hanging from a string.
Stacked balloons with skeletal characters on a calf
Bold black tribal sun design with spirals and a stylised face covering the upper back and shoulder blade.
Tribal sun design on a shoulder blade
Close-up of a red geometric triangle spiral tattoo with converging lines on the upper chest, shown as a fresh tattoo on pale skin.
Red triangle spiral on the chest
Black tribal sleeve tattoo with a stylised face motif and swirling bands covering a man's upper arm and shoulder.
Tribal face sleeve on upper arm
Blue line tribal design with spirals, wave shapes and bands of triangles and fine parallel lines, shown as a drawing with no body part visible.
Blue tribal design with spirals and waves
Black dotwork spiral tattoo on the upper arm of a woman in a black top, shown in black and white photography.
Dotwork spiral on an upper arm
Black tribal-style tattoo across a woman's upper back, with a large central circle of spirals and wing-like arms reaching toward the shoulders.
Tribal back piece with central circle
Grid of nine pen drawings on paper showing swirl, wave, dot and leaf-shaped line patterns in black ink, shown as tattoo design sketches with no body placement.
Nine pen sketches of line and dot tattoo designs
Black Polynesian-style tribal full sleeve tattoo covering a man's upper arm and forearm, with spiral and triangle patterns.
Polynesian tribal full sleeve on an arm
Black and grey Polynesian-style tribal band with frangipani flowers and spiral motifs curving up a calf.
Polynesian band with flowers on a calf
Fine line black tattoo of a vertical design with spirals, loops and dots on the upper back, centred along the spine.
Vertical fine line spiral design on upper back
Solid black blackwork tattoo of a tentacled octopus-like sea creature with a spiked head on a section of skin.
Black tentacled sea creature tattoo
Close view of a bold black tribal swirl tattoo across a woman's upper back and shoulder blade, with her blonde hair tied up and a cream top strap visible.
Black tribal swirl on a shoulder
Black line drawing of a peony with leaves above a vertical unalome design, shown as a flash sheet on tracing paper.
Peony and leaves with unalome line drawing
Black and grey hatched tattoo of a profile face wrapped in a spiralling ribbon on the upper arm.
Profile face wrapped in ribbon on upper arm
Black line drawing of a sleeping cat curled into a round shape, with its tail spiralling out to the left, shown as a tattoo design with no body part visible.
Sleeping cat curled with spiral tail
Black and white drawing of a flowing unalome line above a star-shaped dotwork mandala, a design that could be used as a tattoo.
Unalome above a dotwork mandala design
Black tribal-style sea turtle tattoo with spiral patterns and a small pink flower on its head, on the ankle of a black and white photographed foot.
Sea turtle with pink flower on an ankle
Dark blue dotwork tattoo of swirls, waves and dots covering the back of a hand, with a partly visible tattoo on the wrist above.
Blue swirl and wave pattern on a hand