Sheet C · /stencils/for-men/ · 47 designs · 3 formats · 1 ink

Tattoo stencils for men

47 stencils for guys, from a 1 inch spider to a 7.5 inch sleeve piece: skulls, crosses, compasses, spiders and dark hearts, each mirrored for transfer paper and printed at real size.

Designs47
Formats3
Styles8
UseFree
IN
Mirrored for transfer ⇄
Traditional cross with rays, stencil preview3.50 in3.50 in
1″
CR-01 · Traditional cross with raysStencil · mirrored · Letter · PDFScreen preview · prints at exactly 3.50 inTest square: 1 in × 1 in. Measure before you transfer.
Print spec · CR-01

Traditional cross with rays

Format
Size
3.50 in1″4″7″10″
Place
Mirror
Paper
Test sq.
1 in square, bottom left of every sheet
3.50 inMirrored
Filter the contact sheet47 of 47 designs
Style
Placement
Size
Difficulty
CR-01On sheet
Traditional cross with rays 3.5″

Traditional cross with rays

Traditional · 3.5 in
Beginner practice
CR-02
Celtic knot cross 5″

Celtic knot cross

Blackwork · 5 in
Detailed
CR-05
Praying hands with rosary 5.5″

Praying hands with rosary

Chicano · 5.5 in
Detailed
CR-06
Gothic filigree cross 5″

Gothic filigree cross

Gothic · 5 in
Detailed
CR-09
Simple cross outline 1.75″

Simple cross outline

Traditional · 1.75 in
Simple
CR-11
Three crosses on a hill 3.5″

Three crosses on a hill

Blackwork · 3.5 in
Beginner practice
CR-12
Tall cross with banner 7″

Tall cross with banner

Chicano · 7 in
Detailed
BF-02
Death's-head moth 5″

Death's-head moth

Gothic · 5 in
Detailed
SK-01
Traditional skull 3.5″

Traditional skull

Traditional · 3.5 in
Beginner practice
SK-02
Skull and dagger 5″

Skull and dagger

Traditional · 5 in
Detailed
SK-04
Sugar skull 4.5″

Sugar skull

Chicano · 4.5 in
Detailed
SK-05
Japanese skull and snake 7.5″

Japanese skull and snake

Japanese · 7.5 in
Detailed
SK-06
Winged skull 5″

Winged skull

Gothic · 5 in
Detailed
SK-07
Geometric skull 4.5″

Geometric skull

Geometric · 4.5 in
Detailed
SK-08
Bold blackwork skull 3″

Bold blackwork skull

Blackwork · 3 in
Beginner practice
SK-09
Skull and crossbones 2″

Skull and crossbones

Traditional · 2 in
Simple
SK-10
Skull with crown 4.5″

Skull with crown

Neo-Traditional · 4.5 in
Detailed
SK-11
Longhorn skull with feathers 5″

Longhorn skull with feathers

Traditional · 5 in
Detailed
SK-12
Stacked skulls 7″

Stacked skulls

Gothic · 7 in
Detailed
CC-01
Nautical compass rose 3.5″

Nautical compass rose

Traditional · 3.5 in
Beginner practice
CC-02
Pocket watch with chain 4.5″

Pocket watch with chain

Traditional · 4.5 in
Detailed
CC-05
Geometric compass 5″

Geometric compass

Geometric · 5 in
Detailed
CC-06
Chicano clock with clouds 5″

Chicano clock with clouds

Chicano · 5 in
Detailed
CC-07
Winged hourglass 4.5″

Winged hourglass

Gothic · 4.5 in
Detailed
CC-08
Compass and anchor 4″

Compass and anchor

Blackwork · 4 in
Beginner practice
CC-10
Simple compass star 1.5″

Simple compass star

Traditional · 1.5 in
Simple
CC-11
Compass with rope and banner 4″

Compass with rope and banner

Traditional · 4 in
Beginner practice
CC-12
Pocket compass on a chain 7″

Pocket compass on a chain

Blackwork · 7 in
Detailed
AN-05
Chicano praying angel 7″

Chicano praying angel

Chicano · 7 in
Detailed
AN-06
Fallen angel 6″

Fallen angel

Gothic · 6 in
Detailed
AN-09
Angel statue bust 5″

Angel statue bust

Neo-Traditional · 5 in
Detailed
AN-11
Winged sword 7.5″

Winged sword

Blackwork · 7.5 in
Detailed
AN-12
Angel holding a cross 4.5″

Angel holding a cross

Traditional · 4.5 in
Detailed
HT-02
Sacred heart with thorns 4.5″

Sacred heart with thorns

Traditional · 4.5 in
Detailed
HT-05
Anatomical heart 4.5″

Anatomical heart

Blackwork · 4.5 in
Detailed
HT-06
Heart and dagger 4.5″

Heart and dagger

Gothic · 4.5 in
Detailed
HT-09
Chicano crowned heart 4.5″

Chicano crowned heart

Chicano · 4.5 in
Detailed
HT-12
Anatomical heart with vines 7″

Anatomical heart with vines

Blackwork · 7 in
Detailed
SP-01
Traditional spider 3″

Traditional spider

Traditional · 3 in
Beginner practice
SP-02
Spider web 5″

Spider web

Traditional · 5 in
Beginner practice
SP-03
Tiny spider, fine line 1″

Tiny spider, fine line

Fine Line · 1 in
Simple
SP-05
Black widow on web 4.5″

Black widow on web

Gothic · 4.5 in
Detailed
SP-06
Geometric spider 3.5″

Geometric spider

Geometric · 3.5 in
Beginner practice
SP-07
Bold web with spider 4.5″

Bold web with spider

Blackwork · 4.5 in
Beginner practice
SP-10
Spider outline 2.5″

Spider outline

Traditional · 2.5 in
Beginner practice
SP-11
Tarantula 4.5″

Tarantula

Traditional · 4.5 in
Detailed
SP-12
Spider dropping from web 7″

Spider dropping from web

Blackwork · 7 in
Beginner practice

§1How this set is put together

These are the designs the stencilfolio editors tagged for men, drawn from seven motifs: skulls, crosses, compasses and clocks, spiders, sacred and anatomical hearts, darker angels and one moth. The tag is a browsing shortcut, not a rule. Anyone can print any design, and each one also sits on its own motif page.

The page opens in the Stencil format, line art only and mirrored for transfer paper. Switch to Outline for a copy the right way round to trace or hand to your artist. Still choosing between designs? The color flash version of this set is easier to compare at a glance.

§2Stencils for men by placement

PlacementUsual sizeGood designs
Wrist, ankle1–3 inSP-03 Tiny spider, CR-09, CC-10, SK-09
Forearm3–6 inSK-01, CR-01, CC-08 Compass and anchor, SP-11, HT-06, CC-02
Calf2–6 inSK-02 Skull and dagger, SP-07, CC-11, AN-12
Chest3–10 inHT-02 Sacred heart with thorns, SK-06, AN-09, CC-06, HT-09
Back4–10 inAN-06 Fallen angel, CR-02, CC-05, SK-07, AN-05
Thigh4–10 inSK-05, AN-11, SK-11, HT-05

Size ranges follow the charts by Saved Tattoo and Inkjin. They describe a typical single tattoo, so a broad forearm or calf can take the top of the range.

§3Printing a large stencil

About three in four designs here are medium or large, 4 to 7.5 inches by default. Before you pick a size, measure the spot with a soft tape: flat across the chest, along the arm for a forearm. Then print a copy on plain paper and hold it in place in a mirror before you use stencil paper.

Set a design above 7.5 inches and it prints across several sheets, each marked with its row and column and carrying its own 1 inch test square. The tallest designs, drawn to run along an arm, are collected on the sleeve stencils page, which also covers joining the sheets.

§4Questions

Q1Which men’s stencils are easiest to start with?

For a first forearm piece, SK-01 Traditional skull, CR-01 Traditional cross with rays, CC-01 Nautical compass rose and SP-01 Traditional spider: bold lines at 3 to 3.5 inches. SK-08 Bold blackwork skull is the same size in solid black.

Q2Should I print the stencil or the outline?

Print the stencil for transfer paper. It is mirrored, so it reads correctly once it is on skin. Print the outline when you want to trace the design or hand it to your artist as a reference.

Q3How do I narrow down tattoo ideas for men here?

Filter by placement first, then by style. Forearm plus traditional, for example, leaves bold-line skulls, crosses, compasses and spiders. Print the two or three you like at real size and compare them on the arm.

Q4Are these stencils only for men?

No. The tag groups designs the editors expect men to look for most, but every design prints the same way for anyone.