Cross tattoo stencils
15 cross designs, from a one-inch fine-line cross to a tall Chicano cross for a sleeve. Print any of them mirrored for transfer paper, as a plain outline, or filled with color.
3.50 in3.50 inTraditional cross with rays
3.5″Traditional cross with rays
5″Celtic knot cross
1″Tiny cross, fine line
2.5″Cross with wildflowers, fine line
5.5″Praying hands with rosary
5″Gothic filigree cross
4.5″Cross and dove
4.5″Geometric cross
1.75″Simple cross outline
4.5″Sacred heart with cross
3.5″Three crosses on a hill
7″Tall cross with banner
4.5″Chicano butterfly with rosary
4.5″Angel holding a cross
4.5″Dove over cross with rays
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§1What a cross tattoo means
The cross is the main symbol of Christianity and recalls the crucifixion of Jesus. Most crosses on this page are Latin crosses, the shape with a longer lower arm, from CR-03 Tiny cross up to CR-12 Tall cross with banner.
Several designs carry a specific story. CR-11 Three crosses on a hill shows Calvary, where the Gospel of Luke places Jesus between two criminals, so the middle cross is drawn taller. CR-02 Celtic knot cross keeps the ring of the stone high crosses raised in Ireland and Britain between the 9th and 12th centuries. The praying hands in CR-05 go back to a drawing Albrecht Dürer made in 1508, long read as a study for an apostle’s hands on an altarpiece.
CR-05, CR-12 and BF-09 Chicano butterfly with rosary are drawn in the Chicano manner. That black-and-grey style came out of Chicano East Los Angeles and California prisons in the 1970s, where the only ink on hand was black and the imagery was often Catholic, and from there it moved into tattoo shops. If you want a cross that leans on ornament rather than story, look at CR-06 Gothic filigree cross or CR-08 Geometric cross.
§2Cross sizes by placement
| Placement | Usual size | Good designs |
|---|---|---|
| Wrist | 1–3 in | CR-03 Tiny cross, CR-09 Simple cross outline, CR-04 |
| Ankle | 1–3 in | CR-03, CR-09, CR-04 |
| Neck | 2–4 in | CR-03, CR-09 |
| Forearm | 3–6 in | CR-01, CR-07, CR-08, CR-11, CR-12 |
| Calf | 2–6 in | CR-01, CR-11, AN-12 |
| Chest | 3–10 in | CR-05, CR-06, CR-10, CR-02 |
| Back | 4–10 in | CR-02, CR-12, CR-05, BF-09 |
| Thigh | 4–10 in | CR-07 Cross and dove, CR-02 |
Usual sizes are taken from the placement charts at Saved Tattoo and Inkjin. A plain cross like CR-09 still reads at 1 inch. Knotwork and filigree need more room, so keep CR-02 and CR-06 toward the top of the range.
§3Keeping a cross straight
A cross is made of straight lines, so even a slight tilt shows. Before the stencil goes on, line the upright bar up with the long axis of the forearm, calf or spine, with the limb relaxed, and check it in a mirror. If it lands crooked, wipe it off and place it again. Reprinting a stencil is cheap, and a crooked line is permanent.
§4Questions
Q1Is there a three crosses stencil?
Yes, CR-11 Three crosses on a hill. It is bold blackwork with the middle cross taller, rated for beginners, and sits well on a forearm, chest or calf at about 3.5 in.
Q2Can I add a word like “Blessed” to a cross?
CR-12 Tall cross with banner has a blank ribbon for that. None of the designs carry lettering, so the word is written in by hand, usually by your artist, in the script you pick.
Q3Do you have a Virgin Mary or Jesus stencil?
There is no portrait of Mary or Jesus in this set. The closest religious pieces are CR-05 Praying hands with rosary, CR-10 Sacred heart with cross and AN-12 Angel holding a cross.
Q4Is there a rosary stencil?
Two designs include one: CR-05 Praying hands with rosary and BF-09 Chicano butterfly with rosary. Both are Chicano style and sized for a forearm, chest or back.
Q5Which cross is best for a small wrist tattoo?
CR-03 Tiny cross is fine line and prints at 1 in by default. CR-09 Simple cross outline is bolder, 1.75 in by default, and easier to line if you are practicing.