It can be pretty difficult to wear long nails when you’ve got a busy lifestyle, a hands-on job, or kids to run around after – but that doesn’t mean you can’t have GREAT nails, too!

In fact, short, clean nails with bold designs (or a more understated look) are seriously on trend at the moment. Seen on the likes of celeb royalty including Hailey Bieber, Selena Gomez, and Kim K – everyone seems to swapping the long acrylics for a more understated look.

I’ve personally always preferred a short mani, avoiding the risk of my long nails accidentally liking my ex’s new Insta pH๏τo or making it easier to share a new TikTok vid that you just. can’t. click with longer talons.

Another bonus is that short nails are much less likely to chip or break, so you can expect your mani to last longer – which is perfect in the current climate!

Whether you’re an acrylic addict, a fan of press-on nails, an on-the-go gal who loves quick and easy nail wraps or prefer to use your fave nail polish – we’ve got a short nail design for *literally* everyone!

After all, who said you need long nails for jaw-dropping designs? Definitely not us!

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60 of the best short nail designs

Best short acrylic nails

1. ɴuᴅᴇ acrylic short nail design

ɴuᴅᴇ nails *never* go out of style, we love this mani with a dainty reversed gold French tip!

2. Matte acrylic short nails

Matte nails are a great switch up from the usually glossy mani, and you can always mix it up by using a combination of both gloss and matte. Although this style looks great on short nails, we *personally* love a matte on any length or shape.

3. Glossy acrylics

Who said shorter nails have to be bland and boring?! This groovy set is perfect for the summer, and the lime green makes the purple really POP! In. Love.

4. Minimalist acrylic short nail designs

The embellished tips are a *perfect* balance between minimalist and statement.

Best short coffin nails

5. Minimalist short coffin mani

Coffin nails are a style that demands attention, but they don’t have to be extra-long. This short mani is a less dramatic finish that looks neat and feminine.

6. Iridescent short coffin nails

7. Groovy flower short coffin nail designs

Coffin shape? Check. Cute design? Check. Matte finish? Check. This mani *literally* has it all.

8. Milky short coffin nail ideas

This OPI ‘Funny Bunny’ milky polish is perfect for any season, but particularly frosty winters!

Best short French nails

9. Short ɴuᴅᴇ Frenchies

Classic ɴuᴅᴇ Frenchies *never* go out of style and, if you know us, you’ll already know we just love a French mani.

10. Short pink French nails

Looking for something a little more bold? Try a shade of pink on your French mani! These H๏τ pink ones are perfect for summer.

11. Colourful French nail design ideas

Swirls, French tips AND pretty pastels? Call my nail tech and book an appointment, pronto.

12. Short modern Frenchies

The literal *queen* of cool short nails and nail tech to the biggest celebs of the moment, Betina Goldstein has nailed it (pun intended) with this perfect purple set.

Best short almond nails

13. Short ɴuᴅᴇ almond nails

ɴuᴅᴇ and almond nails go together like PB & jelly sandwiches – clean, chic and classy.

14. Colourful almond mani

The Barbenheimer weekend will go down in history, and so will this mani inspired by the films! Okay, maybe not, but *Seriously*, how. cool.

15. Clear almond nail design ideas

This *dreamy* set of clear almond nails will go with literally anything you decide to wear. You do you!

16. Short almond nails with intricate nail art

You can still achieve AMAZING nail art on shorter nails, and we really can’t get over the amount of detail in this incredible set. It’s giving Greek holiday vibes.

Best stiletto short nails

17. Black and white short stiletto nail design ideas

This swirly set of black and white stiletto nails, complete with moon and stars, truly are *spellbinding*.

18. Colourful short stiletto nail designs

Okay, so this set isn’t super-short, but they’re certainly shorter than a lot of the stiletto nails out there. This mani is perfect for cool summer days at the beach bar.

19. Short stiletto nail design ideas with gems

This shimmery mani with pink gems is mesmerising. In. Love.

20. Stiletto short nails with intricate nail art

These intricate cherry nails with a ɴuᴅᴇ background look good enough to eat!

Best short square nails

21. ɴuᴅᴇ square mani with nail art

The *perfect* mani for working in the office – short enough to type easily and not too ‘out there’!

22. Colourful short square nail design ideas

Would you believe us if we told you these nails glow in the dark? Well, you better believe it, baby! How perfect would these be for going out?!

23. French tip short square nail design ideas

French manis don’t have to be ɴuᴅᴇ and white! Try a twist on the classic with some glitter tips.

24. Glitter square nails

These shorter-style glitter nails are giving disco vibes and we are *so* here for it.

Best cute short nails

25. Short nails with shimmer polish

This opulent polish looks AMAZING on a short set of nails.

26. Short nails nail art

This set was apparently designed around an ASOS skirt pattern – We NEED to see this skirt!

27. Bright short nail design ideas

Bright colours don’t have to cover your *entire* nail!

28. Short mani with groovy flowers

Harking back to the 70s – one of my FAVE eras for fashion and trends, personally – this design is *clearly* perfect in any shade.

Best ombre short nails

29. Pastel ombre short nail design ideas

This subtle ombre pastel set is giving us *serious* ice cream vibes. And we are here. for. it.

30. Neon ombre short nails

Perfect for summer, this glossy pink and orange mani is sure to turn heads at festivals and beach bars. All you need now is a cocktail!

31. Rose gold ombre short nail design ideas

Rose gold looks great on *literally* all skin tones. We recommend keeping the jewellery on your hands to a minimum when using rose gold – let your nails do the glam.

32. White ombre short nail design ideas

Tons of people add a really light pink or ɴuᴅᴇ hue, but these purely white ombre nails look so chic.

Best white short nails

33. Plain white short nail design ideas

This is embarrᴀssing, but I recall painting my nails with tip-ex at school trying to achieve this look – take it from me, skip the correction fluid and emulate this look with a high-quality polish for a classy look.

34. Short white French tip nail design ideas with nail art

Level up your French tips with some dainty blue nail art like this super pretty set.

35. Short nails with white nail art

We are seriously *obsessed* with this set of dreamy nails complete with little clouds and tiny evil eyes. Swoon.

Best pink short nails

36. Neon pink mani

Neon can look a tad garish on super-long nails, but you can still keep your mani looking classy by keeping the length shorter.

37. Pink nails with nail art

There are some really incredible nail art designs out there these days, and this set with neon pink feature nails is up there at the top.

38. Pastel pink design ideas

Stuck on which shade of pastel pink you want to go for? Use a different tone on each nail to emulate this fun and playful look that will fit in *literally* anywhere.

39. Glitter pink short nails

Carrying on with the Barbiecore theme, this pink glitter mani is a set Barbie would *definitely* wear herself!

Best red short nails

40. Frenchies with red nail art

Another shoutout to the classic French mani! This time with dainty red nail art.

41. Red glitter short nails

This *perfect* set of short red glittery nails would fit right in at Christmas… But hold your horses, as they say, we’ll get to festive winter nails soon!

42. Classic glossy short red nails

You can’t go wrong with a classic red glossy nail, in our opinion.

Best blue short nails

43. Baby blue short nail design ideas

True blue, baby we LOVE you.

44. Royal blue short nails

Go for plain royal blue on your short mani, or dare to wear leopard print!

45. Shades of blue short nail design ideas

With so many shades to choose from, sometimes it’s *really* difficult to decide – so don’t!

Best spring short nails

46. Chequered short spring nails

Fancy a game?

47. Lemon short spring nails

When life gives you lemons, paint them on baby pink nails and wear them ALL spring.

48. Iridescent purple spring short nail design ideas

These purple iridescent nails are giving real Lavander Haze vibes – Taylor Swift fans, ᴀssEMBLE!

49. Clear short nails with dainty spring flower nail art

Clear nails always look cool, but this mani is cool AND cute.

Best summer short nails

50. Orange summer mani

Nothing says the arrival of summer, sun, and sangria like a set of bold orange nails.

51. Swirly summer short nail designs

It’s not necessary to be chilling by a pool to pull off these *super* cute tropical nails, but it definitely doesn’t hurt.

52. Mermaid summer short nail design ideas

The film world and Disney fanatics alike have been going crazy for mermaids at the moment after the release of the live-action movie. And who doesn’t want to be a mermaid in summer – either in the pool or the sea? I know we do!

53. Yellow summer short summer nails

These cute short yellow nails will *defo* brighten up your day! Even if the typical British summer doesn’t pull through on the sunshine, as usual.

Best fall short nails

54. Brown short fall nail design ideas

Nothing says fall, cosy clothes, pumpkin-spiced lattes and cooler weather like a brown mani.

55. Leaf short fall nail design ideas

Leaves falling off the trees, long walks wrapped up, take-out coffee and shorter days… Anyone else daydreaming about fall?

56. Gold short fall nails

These light gold nails with art and gems are the *perfect* transition from summer into fall.

57. Halloween short fall nail design ideas

One of my FAVE things about fall is Halloween, and I know I’m not alone in this! And there are some seriously spooky nail art designs out there to finish off your fancy dress outfit.

Best winter short nails

58. Frosty winter short nail design ideas

Nothing says winter like snowflakes and gold!

59. Black glitter winter short nail design ideas

Black doesn’t have to be bold, this shimmer set with painted stars is perfect for those Christmas parties.

60. Christmas winter short nail design ideas

How *sweet* are these Christmas nail designs?! They look like they could have arrived straight out of Whoville!