I have a weird little thing for origin stories — especially the messy, complicated ones where a villain makes you feel something you didn’t expect. The Joker is peak of that energy: whether he’s a scribble in a comic or full-on cinematic chaos, his look tells a whole mood. Tattoos of the Joker do the same thing — they can be loud, subtle, playful, or unsettling — and honestly, they’re perfect for anyone who wants to wear that story on their skin. I pulled together 23 of my favorite Joker tattoo ideas to inspire your next (or next-next) piece.
Show it off: Joker on your hand
Credit: @nahrenink
If you want the tattoo to be part of every handshake and every tiny gesture, a Joker on your hand is such a flex. Hand tattoos are for people who don’t mind being noticed — and for a piece like this, find an artist who really gets the vibe of the Joker you love.
Forearm Joker: start a sleeve or keep it simple
Credit: @sahar_needleman.tattoo
The forearm is sweet because it’s visible but still easy to cover if you need to. Want a whole Joker-inspired sleeve down the line? Start here. Or keep a single portrait and layer in little moments from the films and comics that mean something to you.
Inside-the-arm Joker: a personal spot
Credit: @corbintattoos
The inside of the arm is kind of intimate — it peeks out when you want it to and stays tucked away when you don’t. Whether it’s your first Joker or your twentieth, this placement feels like keeping a little secret with you.
Comic-book Joker for the classic vibe
Credit: @kt_tattoo
Not into the movie reinterpretations? The comic-book Joker is timeless and can be stylized to match your aesthetic — vintage, bold, or even a little punk. It’s a safer bet if you want that instantly recognizable energy.
Big and bold: Joker on the upper thigh
Credit: @isabella.ink
Thigh tattoos are perfect when you want space to go wild. Portraits, scenes, mixed elements — the thigh gives your artist room to breathe and make something dramatic that reads like a piece of art.
Back of the leg: unexpected and eye-catching
Credit: @empireinks
This placement asks people to do a double-take. It’s playful and a little mysterious, and it usually starts conversations — which, if you’re a Joker fan, is half the fun.
Joker’s smile tattoo on the hand: party trick energy
Credit: @beyondinktattoo
A smile on the hand is such a silly, theatrical move — wave and watch people do a tiny double-take. It’s a low-commitment way to show personality, and it’s perfect for someone who loves a cheeky reveal.
A sleeve of Joker faces: mood board on skin
Credit: @smileyartla
If you’re obsessed with every expression — the laughs, the grimaces, the chaos — a sleeve of faces turns that obsession into a story. It’s like a film reel wrapped around your arm.
Classic comic Joker: show your devotion
Credit: @wade.whitman
A classic comic Joker tattoo reads as pure fandom, and it’s instantly iconic. If you want people to know where your loyalties lie, this is a clear, bold way to say it.
A sleeve of Joker tattoos: mix and match freely
Credit: @rebelkolors
Sleeves let you combine styles — realism, cartoon, script, symbols — so if you can’t pick just one version of the Joker, why not let them all hang out on your arm?
Newspaper-style Joker: graphic and bold
Credit: @adonispr
I love the idea of the Joker rendered like a headline or a collage — it feels loud and narrative, like your skin is telling the story of Gotham’s chaos in one glance.
Full color Joker: make a statement
Credit: @benytattoos
Color pulls so much emotion out of a piece. It costs more and takes longer, but if you want people to stop and stare, a colored Joker is totally worth the investment.
Chest Joker: wear it like armor
Credit: @tattoo.maker
A chest tattoo hits different — it feels intimate and powerful at the same time. If you want a piece that commands presence, chest placement makes that happen.
Small and simple Joker hand tattoo: subtle flex
Credit: @wildcoyoteco
If you love the idea but not the full commitment, go small. A tiny Joker hand tattoo still says a lot without taking over your whole aesthetic.
Ankle Joker: cute and chill
Credit: @jerink_11
Ankle tattoos are low-key and easy to hide or show off. They’re great first-timers or for people who like smaller, longer-lasting placements.
Watercolor comic Joker on the upper arm: soft chaos
Credit: @zoiotattooartist
Watercolor gives the Joker this dreamy, surreal quality — like a memory of a laugh. On the upper arm it’s playful and expressive, especially if you want color without hyper-realism.
Jack Nicholson’s Joker: homage on the leg
Credit: @hikaru.t.t
Jack Nicholson’s take is iconic in its own right. If his Joker shaped your love for the character, a dedicated portrait is a classy way to pay tribute.
Jared Leto’s Joker on the leg: a modern twist
Credit: @kevin_breno_art
Jared Leto’s version polarized people, but it has a distinct look that reads modern and edgy. If that’s the Joker that speaks to you, a leg piece can carry that style beautifully.
Heath Ledger’s Joker: timeless and intense
Credit: @martin.misfits
Heath’s Joker left an impression on a generation, and portraits of his take are some of the most emotional and detailed you’ll see. Arm placement keeps it personal and powerful.
Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker on the upper arm: raw and cinematic
Credit: @esperanzainktattoos
Joaquin’s portrayal is intimate and unsettling in a way that makes for incredible tattoo art. Upper arm or shoulder placement lets you show that cinematic mood off or keep it close.
Smile on the inside of the arm: small but chilling
Credit: @inkbox35_tattoo
The Joker’s smile is one of those images that sticks with you. Putting it on the inside of the arm makes it feel like a private little horror — in the best way.
All the smiles: can’t pick one? combine them
Credit: @tattooist340
If every actor brought something different you love, stitch those smiles together. It’s a celebration of the character across time, and it reads like a personal history.
Close-up Joker face: the moment you first met him
Credit: @christof_groll
Ending with a close-up feels right — this is the piece that brings you back to that first, weirdly magnetic moment. When a tattoo makes you feel like you did the first time you saw the Joker, you know it worked.
Wrap-Up
Anyway, that’s my little roundup — a mix of subtle and full-throttle Joker energy for every kind of fan. If one of these sparked an idea, save it, show it to your artist, and tell me which version you’d actually get. I want to know. Seriously — send pics if you do it, I’ll be here, excitedly scrolling.