Definition

What is a full-back tattoo?

A full-back tattoo covers the entire back as a single composition — from the shoulders to the lower back. It's one of the largest, most committing tattoos, typical of Japanese Irezumi and large-scale ornamental work.

Full-back pieces often take 60–120 hours across many sessions over months or years. The back offers the largest flat canvas on the human body.

Examples

  • Japanese dragon-and-koi full-back
  • Religious scene spanning the entire back
  • Ornamental mandala-based full-back