From Cowboy Boots To Bulls, 22 Western Tattoos For Everyone

Western tattoos are a popular design pick for those who crave adventure, travel, and the great outdoors. Whether you’re a self-proclaimed cowboy or someone who appreciates everything about the Western culture, you might want to get a tattoo that represents your appreciation for the Wild Wild West.

We don’t care whether you have a Southern drawl, a Western twang, or a full-blown “Noo Yawk” accent – there’s no reason why you wouldn’t be able to rock a Western tattoo. Western tattoos are popping off these days, and they’re getting more and more popular among women and men.

What’s great about these types of tattoos happens to be the fact that they’re fully wearable and versatile. You can work with your tattoo artist to come up with a delicate and dainty tattoo of a cowboy boot or a cowboy hat. You can design a statement tattoo with all the details you want to showcase on your body.

Whatever you decide to do, though, don’t forget to do your research. We’re saddling up, riding into the Wild Wild West of tattoos, and bringing you a few of our favorite Western-themed tattoos. Giddy up!

1. A cow skull tattoo

Cow skulls are such a Wild West staple and we’re not surprised to see that they’re one of the most common symbols of Western tattoos. A cow skull tattoo represents strength, resilience, and a connection to the natural world and can be a great way to honor the animal that means something to you.

2. Matching cowboy boots tattoo for you and your BFF

When you’re itching to take a page out of Kendal Jenner’s book, you might want to get a tattoo of a cowboy boot – and your bestie might want to do the same. A tattoo of a cowboy boot represents all things USA – rugged individualism, westward expansion, independence, and strength of character.

3. A cowboy tattoo

Modern minimalists are obsessed with fine-line and line art tattoos, but “real” Western tattoos depict detailed renditions of cowboys, horses, bulls, and Wild West scenery. Cowboy tattoos can carry a million meanings, depending on the style of the tattoo, elements, symbols, and details you opt for.

4. A horse tattoo

A horse tattoo might be the one thing you’re on the hunt for. After all, horse tattoos are a must among all American cowboys. A horse tattoo, for example, represents freedom, courage, nobleness, heroism, spirit, and success in many ancient and modern cultures.

5. A Western-themed sticker sleeve

A sticker sleeve might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but you can’t deny that sticker sleeves (of various themes) are taking the world by storm as we speak.

A Western-themed sticker sleeve, for example, can be a great way for you to get a myriad of tiny tattoos that represent everything you adore about the Western lifestyle.

6. A line art horse tattoo

If you’re a first-timer, you might not want to get a detailed tattoo that requires hours and hours of work (as well as hundreds and hundreds of dollars). It might be for the best to opt for a line art tattoo of a Western symbol that means the most to you – a horse, for example.

A horse tattoo can represent the unbreakable bond between the rider and the steed, after all.

7. A mountain tattoo

When we think of Western tattoos, we picture cowboy hats, cowboy boots, and cowboys. While that’s one way to honor the Western lifestyle, you can *also* opt for a tattoo of mountains, rivers, and stunning scenes that depict the beauty of all-American nature.

8. A collection of Texas tattoos

A start of a sticker sleeve or a finished collection of tattoos that represent Western culture, that’s up to you to decide. Whatever the case might be, a tattoo of a cowboy hat, a cowboy boot, and a horseshoe tells a story worth your while.

9. A cactus tattoo

When you want to be creative and get a Western tattoo that’s different from the rest, you might want to go for a tattoo of a cactus – wearing a cowboy hat. A cactus happens to be a succulent plant native to the Americas, which explains why a cactus tattoo can represent your obsession with the Wild West.

A cactus tattoo, other than that, represents endurance, protection, warmth, and care.

10. A golden eagle tattoo

We can’t think of a better way to honor everything that represents you as a person. When you get a tattoo of a golden eagle, you’re sending a message to the rest of the world that you’re strong, powerful, brave, and honorable. A tattoo of a golden eagle can be a gift that keeps on giving.

11. A cowboy hat tattoo

A tattoo of a cowboy hat might be the simplest way for you to make a statement. Cowboy hats are some of the most common Western tattoos, and there’s a reason for that – they can be delicate and daring, big and small, meaningful and meaningless.

A cowboy hat tattoo typically represents substance, strength, and courage. 

12. A horseshoe tattoo

We don’t even need to explain why horseshoe tattoos are always on-trend. A horseshoe tattoo represents protection and good fortune, whether you’re a cowboy, a Western culture connoisseur, or someone who doesn’t have anything to do with the Wild West.

13. A “howdy” tattoo

Word tattoos are one of the best Western tattoos, there’s no question about that. Whenever you’re unsure of what style of tattoo to get, opt for a word tattoo. Whether you get a tattoo of the word “howdy” or “yee-haw” you’re guaranteed to get the point across.

14. A deer antler tattoo

Antlers are superior tattoos and they’re not for first-timers who are faint of heart. Opt for a tattoo of deer antlers on the chest, the back, or even the forearm when you want to attract attention, turn heads, and raise eyebrows. Antler tattoos represent spiritual superiority, authority, and power.

15. A bandana tattoo

Cowboys wear bandanas, right? When you’re trying to figure out a way to get a cowboy tattoo without getting a cowboy tattoo, opt for something never-before-seen.

A tattoo of a bandana can carry an array of meanings, depending on the style of the bandana, as well as the symbols on the bandana – some bandanas, for example, carry religious connotations due to crosses and similar symbols.

16. A tattoo of a cowgirl

Cowboys are great, but what about cowgirls? Whether you’re someone who appreciates the beauty of the female body or you want to pay homage to a particular cowgirl, you can’t go wrong with a cowgirl tattoo. Cowgirl tattoos represent femininity, beauty, strength, and even good fortune.

17. A snake tattoo

Snake tattoos might not be the ultimate symbol of your love of Western culture, but you might want something a little different than the basic, boring cowboy hats and cowboy boots.

A snake tattoo can represent different things, but snake tattoos are typically seen as symbols of a personal path toward transformation, a commitment to knowledge or healing, or a connection to divine power.

See also: 21 Incredible Cow Tattoos That’ll Make You Spit Up Your Milk

18. A Western scene tattoo

We mentioned beforehand that you can “go big or go home” whenever you’re struggling to choose between the myriad of Western tattoos you’re bombarded with. Opt for a Western scene tattoo when you want to stand out from the crowd and allow your tattoo artist to create a work of art on your body.

See also: 23 Warrior Tattoo Sleeve Ideas To Cope With Hardships

19. A tattoo of a cowboy boot and a cowboy hat

We were kidding about cowboy boots and cowboy hats being boring and basic – they’re far from that. When you want to be clear about the message behind your tattoo, opt for something everyone’s going to understand – like a tattoo of the two things everyone associates with the Wild West.

20. A tattoo of a cow skull with flowers

If you’re interested in getting a cow skull tattoo that’s a little bigger than the mysterious mole on your arm, we suggest opting for a statement tattoo embellished with symbols and elements that amplify or completely change the meaning of the tattoo.

It’s a great day to add a flower to your tattoo, don’t you think?

21. A bull tattoo

What’s more Western than a tattoo of a bull? A bull tattoo represents masculinity, strength, power, and even spirituality. We can’t forget that certain cultures consider bulls honest and honorable which makes them a perfect choice for people who identify with these personality traits.

22. A cowboy skull tattoo

We might as well end the article on a “dangerous” note – a cowboy skull tattoo sends the message of how close a cowboy can be to death when living life dangerously. Cowboys are always walking on the thin line between life and death, and that might be something you want to include in your tattoo.