Harry Potter tattoos are popular amongst fans of the series, with subtle designs being particularly favored. Script tattoos, Quidditch and the Golden Stitch, the Sorting Hat, Hogwarts and its Houses, Fantastic Beasts, and lightning bolt scars are all popular designs.
If you thought that you were a true Harry Potter fan because you own the collector’s edition wand and you always went to the midnight movie screenings, that doesn’t make you better than the average Potter-loving Muggle. To prove that you are still obsessed with Harry Potter, even after all this time, you need to get a tattoo (and understand the line I loosely quoted). These Harry Potter tattoos separate the true fans who would stay with Harry until the very end from the ones who are dedicated, but rather show their love with a fancy HP smokey eye instead of permanent body modification.
(Related: What Quote Would You Want Tattooed On You?)
Put on your wizard robes and your (fake) round glasses, and take a look at 25 brilliant Harry Potter tattoos:
1. Hogwarts Crest
A Hogwarts school crest is great if you can’t choose a favorite schoolhouse. Though I don’t know why anyone would consider anything but Gryffindor…
2. Gryffindor Crest
I like that this person committed to their house. The Sorting Hat would not have to think too hard about where to place her.
3. “It does not do well to dwell on dreams and forget to live.”
This is a well-thought-out design. I like how they combined the Deathly Hallows symbol with the Forbidden Forest and a Dumbledore quote.
4. Golden Snitch
The golden snitch is a popular tattoo, but this placement is one of my favorites. It wouldn’t be half as good if the snitch didn’t look like it was mid-flight.
5. 9¾
Someone wasn’t content trekking it all the way to London just so they could take a photograph of the 9¾ platform; they wanted the number on their back too.
6. “I must not tell lies.”
Though I still get upset when I think about this part of the book and that evil Dolores Umbridge and her blood quill, I will concede that it makes a great tattoo.
7. Harry Potter Symbols
I love how the scarf has been incorporated into the Gryffindor shield and how the glasses are overlapping the other symbols.
8. Scar And Glasses
Speaking of glasses, this is another popular HP tattoo. You can get the lightning bolt scar or the glasses, but I suggest you get both.
9. Dark Mark
I question what type of person would want to get this as a tattoo, but I can still admire their dedication to Harry Potter. If I didn’t know the meaning of the mark, I would think that this is a brilliant tattoo.
10. Lumos
In my nerdy mind, nothing can get cooler than this. The person who thought to do this is a genius. This has changed my mind about white tattoos.
11. “The ones we love never truly leave us.”
Harry Potter has so many excellent quotes that it is difficult to choose a favorite. This is a very sentimental one and doesn’t scream, “I LOVE HARRY POTTER.”
12. Whomping Willow
The Whomping Willow wasn’t one of the things I thought about when I was looking for Harry Potter tattoos. However, it makes a beautiful design and is a subtle nod to the books.
13. Hogwarts
Side HP tattoos seem to be quite popular. This rendition of Hogwarts lit up at night combined with the cursive font makes this a very romantic tattoo.
14. “I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.”
This clearly references the Marauder’s Map, but it is a much more complex and striking design than an exact duplication of the map.
15. Mischief Managed
If you get the previous tattoo, then it is mandatory that you get this one too. The Animagus footprints that reference the creators of the Marauder’s Map are a great idea as opposed to the expected footprints.
16. Snape
Snape’s “always” quote is a great tattoo, but nothing can stop a full sleeve portrait of him.
17. Weasley Is Our King
If Ron Weasley saw this, I guarantee that he would say it is “bloody brilliant.”
18. HP
The Harry Potter logo with the lightning bolt “P” was designed to be made into a tattoo–no modifications necessary. Although, I do like that the snitch was included.
19. Wand
The only thing that would make this tattoo better is if they permanently had wand sparks nail art on that fingernail.
20. Hedwig
Don’t settle with any old bird tattoo. Get an owl tattoo, and make sure that it is Hedwig.
21. Dobby
OMG! It is a Dobby tattoo. Words have escaped me.
22. “Don’t let the Muggles get you down.”
This is a beautiful and inspiring tattoo. Everything is incorporated nicely. I almost didn’t notice the round glasses at the bottom because it flows together so well.
23. Voldemort
Hmmm….I question the morality of this person, but I cannot deny that this is a great portrait. I would not trust this person 100%, though.
24. Expecto Patronum
This is another tat that needs to be added to the best silhouette tattoos list. It is so simple, but the colors are stunning.
25. Harry Potter
If you thought that the Voldemort tattoo was impressive, take a look at this. The tattoo artist deserves MAJOR cred. And I think this person wins the award for #1 Harry Potter fan. I’m disappointed, but they deserve it.
