A new YouGov survey explored how Americans feel about tattoos, what tattoos they’d consider getting in the future, and what tattoo placements they consider to be acceptable or unacceptable. Among other results, the survey found that Americans are more likely to view tattoos favorably than a decade ago, according to a June 2015 YouGov survey. They’re also more likely than a decade earlier to say men or women with tattoos can be attractive and that tattoos should be considered art.
24% of Americans say they currently have a tattoo. Women (30%) are more likely than men (19%) to say they currently have a tattoo. They’re also far more likely than men to have other body modifications, including ear piercings (71% vs. 11%), hair dyed a natural color (37% vs. 7%), and body piercings (10% vs. 3%).
One-third of adults between 30 and 44 have a tattoo. Fewer younger (25%) and older (20%) Americans have a tattoo.
8% of Americans say they have one tattoo. 8% have two or three tattoos, 4% have four or five, and 5% have six or more. 21% of women and 12% of men have more than one tattoo.
8% of Americans have a tattoo on their forearms, 8% have a tattoo on their upper arms, and 7% have one on their shoulders. Other common placements for tattoos are the upper back (6%), wrists (5%), ankles (4%), hands (4%), and the lower back (4%).
What do Americans’ tattoos represent? The most common tattoo inspirations — among the options on the poll — are a favorite animal, flower, or symbol (7% each) and something the tattoo-haver just liked the look of (also 7%). 6% say they have a tattoo that represents their past experiences or life story, 5% have a tattoo representing a family member who died, and 5% have a quote or phrase tattooed on them. (Respondents with tattoos could select more than one inspiration.)
Women are more likely than men to say they have a tattoo that represents a favorite animal, flower or symbol (11% vs. 3%).
Among people who have a tattoo, nearly all (91%) say they would consider getting another tattoo in the future. So would 27% of Americans who don’t have a tattoo.
16% of Americans would consider getting a tattoo that represents a favorite animal, flower, or symbol. 15% would consider one they just like the look of. 14% would consider a tattoo of a family member who died, 14% would consider one of a quote or phrase, and 13% would consider a tattoo that represents their past experiences or life story.
Among people who do not have a tattoo, about 10% would consider getting each of the following: one that represents a favorite animal, flower, or symbol, one to represent a family member who died, one they just liked the look of, one of a quote or phrase, and a tattoo that reflects a hobby or personal interest.
Among people who already have at least one tattoo, 34% would consider getting something they just liked the look of. 33% would consider getting a favorite animal, flower, or symbol and 30% would consider getting a quote or phrase tattooed.
Americans are more likely to have a very or somewhat favorable (37%) view of tattoos than an unfavorable one (26%). Positive opinion toward tattoos has increased since June 2015, when only 26% had a favorable view of tattoos and 40% were unfavorable. 35% say they have a view that’s neither favorable nor unfavorable. Women (43%) are more likely than men (30%) to say they have a favorable view of tattoos.
Adults under 65 are twice as likely as Americans 65 and older to have a favorable view of tattoos (42% vs. 20%).
29% of Americans say the statement that comes closest to their feeling is, “Our society has gone too far in accepting tattoos.” 44% of Americans 65 and older feel this way; 24% of younger adults agree. 39% of Americans say their view is closer to, “Our society has been about right when it comes to accepting tattoos,” while fewer (15%) say “Our society has not gone far enough in accepting tattoos” comes closest to their view.
About two-thirds (66%) of Americans say when they meet someone and notice they have a large tattoo, they don’t think more positively or negatively of them. But Americans are twice as likely to think more negatively of them than more positively (21% vs. 9%).
36% of Americans say it’s always acceptable for someone to have a tattoo on their arm. 33% think it’s always acceptable to have one on their lower back and 31% say it’s always acceptable for someone to have a tattoo on their torso. Fewer say it’s always acceptable for someone to have a tattoo on their hand (22%), neck (15%), or face (8%).
Three-quarters (76%) of Americans say tattoo design can be considered art, like painting or sculpture, up from 65% who said this in June 2015. Adults under 65 are more likely than older Americans to say tattoos can be art (80% vs. 60%).
Are tattoos attractive? 61% say tattoos can be attractive on a man. Women are more likely than men to say this (73% vs. 48%). 62% of Americans — including 65% of women and 58% of men — say tattoos can be attractive on a woman.
In June 2015, fewer Americans (51%) said tattoos can be attractive on a man. The share who said they could be attractive on a woman was also lower than it is now (51%).
18% of Americans say tattoos generally look great on a man, 26% say they generally look good, and 30% think they usually look OK. Women are more likely than men to say tattoos on a man generally look great (22% vs. 13%) or good (32% vs. 19%). Adults under 45 are more likely than older Americans to say tattoos on a man generally look great (26% vs. 11%).
21% of Americans say tattoos generally look great on a woman. 23% say they usually look good and 26% say they usually look OK. Women are more likely than men to say tattoos on women usually look great (24% vs. 17%) or good (26% vs. 20%). Adults under 45 are far more likely than older Americans to say tattoos usually look great on a woman (34% vs. 10%).
Half of Americans say it’s always unacceptable to assume someone with tattoos is more likely to commit a crime. 45% say it’s always unacceptable to deport immigrants based on their tattoos; the same share (45%) say it’s always unacceptable to deny someone entry to a business because of their tattoos. Fewer say it’s always unacceptable to judge someone based on their tattoos (37%), refuse to hire someone because of their tattoos (34%), or refuse to date someone because of their tattoos (20%). For all of these, more say it's always unacceptable than say it's always acceptable.
What are the professions for which Americans are most likely to say it’s unacceptable to have visible tattoos? 39% think it’s not acceptable for K-12 teachers to have any visible tattoos, though 39% say it’s acceptable for teachers to have visible tattoos, just not face or neck tattoos. 34% say doctors and nurses shouldn’t have visible tattoos; 39% say it is acceptable if it’s not a face or neck tattoo and 17% say it’s acceptable even if it is a face or neck tattoo. 34% say people in senior office-based roles shouldn’t have any visible tattoos.
Related:
See the results for this YouGov survey
— Carl Bialik and Taylor Orth contributed to this article
Methodology: This article includes results from an online survey conducted March 31 - April 2, 2025 among 1,115 U.S. adult citizens. Respondents were selected from YouGov’s opt-in panel to be representative of adult U.S. citizens. The sample was weighted according to gender, age, race, education, 2024 presidential vote, 2020 election turnout and presidential vote, baseline party identification, and current voter registration status. 2024 presidential vote, at time of weighting, was estimated to be 48% Harris and 50% Trump. Demographic weighting targets come from the 2019 American Community Survey. Baseline party identification is the respondent’s most recent answer given around November 8, 2024, and is weighted to the estimated distribution at that time (31% Democratic, 32% Republican). The margin of error for the overall sample is approximately 4%.
Image: Getty (Olga Pankova)
