Ribs tattoo: pain, size and healing
Thin skin right over the ribs, moving with every breath – one of the most intense spots there is.
- Pain
- 9/10 · very high
- Design width
- 6–25 cm
- Healing (surface)
- 14–21 days
- Visibility
- mostly covered
How much does it hurt?
On the ribs, pain sits at about 9 out of 10 – very high. For comparison: on the chest it is about 6, on the stomach about 7. On the ribs it is the most sensitive of the three.
Pain values are our own rough assessment on a scale of 1 to 10, not measurements – every body feels it differently.
How much room is there?
Designs on the ribs are usually 6–25 cm wide – from about half to three quarters of a credit card wide to about 1.5 times the width of an A5 sheet.
The skin moves more than on calmer spots. Fine lines work, but need a little more space between them.
Healing and visibility
On the ribs, the surface is usually closed after 14–21 days; the skin underneath takes several weeks.
This spot is usually covered in everyday life. Good for designs not everyone should see, and good for longevity because little sun reaches it.
Which style works?
| Style | Verdict | Width |
|---|---|---|
| Fine line | possible | 6–25 cm |
| Realism | possible | 12–25 cm |
| Micro realism | possible | 6–25 cm |
| American traditional | good fit | 6–25 cm |
| Blackwork | good fit | 6–25 cm |
| Geometric | possible | 6–25 cm |
| Japanese (Irezumi) | good fit | 12–25 cm |
| Colour | good fit | 6–25 cm |
| Tribal | good fit | 6–25 cm |
| Polaroid | possible | 6–25 cm |
| Anime and manga | good fit | 6–25 cm |
| Blackout | good fit | 12–25 cm |
| Dark art | good fit | 6–25 cm |
| Dotwork | possible | 6–25 cm |
| Māori-inspired | good fit | 12–25 cm |
| Nordic | good fit | 6–25 cm |
| Ornamental | possible | 6–25 cm |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a tattoo on the ribs hurt?
On the ribs, pain sits at about 9 out of 10 – very high. For comparison: on the chest it is about 6, on the stomach about 7. On the ribs it is the most sensitive of the three.
How big can a tattoo on the ribs be?
Designs on the ribs are usually 6–25 cm wide – from about half to three quarters of a credit card wide to about 1.5 times the width of an A5 sheet. The skin moves more than on calmer spots. Fine lines work, but need a little more space between them.
Which style works on the ribs?
Good fits are American traditional, Blackwork, Japanese (Irezumi), Colour, Tribal and more. The skin moves more than on calmer spots. Fine lines work, but need a little more space between them.
See it on your body before you ink it
Tattvue places your design on a photo of your own skin, so you can judge size, placement and style before you book an appointment.