Short on time? The number that matters most is the widest point of the plug, not its length. The narrowest plugs in our range are 22 mm (0.9 in) across, and our six-piece training kit tops out at 30 mm (1.2 in), so that is the span we would call a first ladder. Choose a tapered tip, a slim neck and a flared base, use plenty of water-based lubricant and move up a size only when the one you have feels comfortable from start to finish.
How are butt plug sizes measured?
Listings use several measurements and they are not interchangeable. These are the ones to look for:
- Widest point (maximum diameter): the thickest part of the plug, usually the bulb. This decides how a plug feels, so compare it first.
- Insertable length: the part that goes in, from the tip to where the neck meets the base. It is shorter than the overall length.
- Overall length: tip to base, including the part that stays outside. The remote-control vibrating metal plug, for example, is 96 mm overall but about 87 mm insertable, with a 23 mm maximum diameter.
- Neck: the narrow part between the bulb and the base. A slimmer neck is what lets the muscles close around a plug and hold it in place.
- Base width: the flared part that stays outside the body. It should be wider than the widest point of the plug so it cannot be drawn inwards.
There are 25.4 mm in an inch, so 30 mm is 3 cm, or about 1.2 in.
Butt plug size chart: our range from narrowest to widest
Every figure comes from the size diagram on that product’s listing, so you can compare like with like. Where a toy has more than one part, the width given is its widest point.
| Plug | Widest point | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Anal training kit, six plugs | 22 to 30 mm (0.9 to 1.2 in) | 75 to 135 mm |
| Remote-control vibrating metal plug | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 96 mm overall, about 87 mm insertable |
| Bunny tail butt plug | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 72 mm |
| Fox tail butt plug | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 70 mm overall, 60 mm insertable |
| Jewel butt plug set, size S | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 70 mm overall, 60 mm insertable |
| Ribbed vibrating plug with T-bar base | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 130 mm overall |
| Inflatable plug with hand pump, not inflated | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 116 mm overall |
| Light-up vibrating plug | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 94 mm overall |
| Jewel butt plug set, size M | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 82 mm overall, 70 mm insertable |
| KIKU rotating plug | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 160 mm overall |
| Vibrating plug with jewel base | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 123 mm overall, 96 mm body |
| Jewel butt plug set, size L | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 95 mm overall, 82 mm insertable |
| Teardrop vibrating plug, size M | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 78 mm overall |
What size butt plug should a beginner start with?
Start narrow and plain. A first plug should have a tapered tip, a smooth bulb, a slim neck and a flared base, and it should be one you can relax around rather than one you have to work at. In our range that is the narrow end of the chart: the two smallest plugs in the training kit are 22 and 23 mm wide, and the remote-control metal plug is 23 mm.
A set is an easy way to choose a first size without guessing. The six-piece training kit runs from 22 to 30 mm wide and from 75 to 135 mm long, so you can begin with the smallest and move up inside one box. The jewel set of three goes up in bigger steps, 28, 34 and 40 mm, and in metal the weight climbs quickly: 55 g, 92 g and 160 g from S to L.
How to move up a size
- Wait until your current size feels comfortable from insertion to removal, not only once it is in.
- Go up one step at a time. The steps in the training kit are a few millimetres each; in the jewel set they are 6 mm, from 28 to 34 to 40.
- Use plenty of water-based lubricant and reapply it when you need to.
- Go slowly and breathe out as you insert. If it hurts, stop; never push through it.
- If a new size does not feel right, go back to the one before and try again another day.
There is no timetable. Some people move up over days or weeks, and some stay at the size they like. A plug that is too big today is not a failure.
Does butt plug length matter?
Width decides how a plug feels; length decides how far it goes in. Compare insertable length rather than overall length, because the base is meant to stay outside. A plug does not need to be long to work: the fox tail plug is 70 mm overall with 60 mm insertable, while the tallest plug in the training kit is 135 mm.
Plain, vibrating, inflatable or beaded: how the type changes the size
- Vibrating plugs vary widely, so check the widest point rather than assuming a vibrating plug is small. In our range they run from 23 mm for the remote-control metal plug to 41 mm for the teardrop plug in size M. See all vibrating butt plugs.
- Inflatable plugs change size as you pump. The inflatable plug is 33 mm at its widest before inflation; the supplier does not state the inflated size, so we cannot tell you how wide it gets and would pump a little at a time. See all inflatable butt plugs.
- Beaded toys are measured bead by bead. The pink vibrating beads run from 17 to 30 mm, the black rechargeable beads from 21 to 34 mm and the metal beaded plug from 20 to 33 mm. See all anal beads.
Using a butt plug safely
Only use a toy with a flared base for anal play. Use plenty of water-based lubricant, insert slowly and never force it. Stop if there is sharp or lasting pain, numbness or bleeding, and speak to a GP if it continues. Wash the plug before and after every use, and before it touches anywhere else. Our anal toy safety guide covers the rest.
Questions people ask
What is the smallest butt plug size?
In our range it is 22 mm (0.9 in) across at the widest point: the smallest plug in the six-piece training kit.
What is a normal butt plug size?
There is no standard. The plugs we list run from 22 mm to 41 mm at the widest point, and the right one is the one that feels comfortable for you.
Is a 30 mm plug too big for a beginner?
That depends on the person, not the number. In our training kit 30 mm is the widest plug, so we would treat it as the top of a first set rather than the place to start.
Does a butt plug need a flared base?
Yes. The base keeps the plug outside the body. Never use an anal toy that does not have one.
Which lubricant should I use?
Water-based lubricant suits every material, which matters because several of our listings are still waiting for the supplier to confirm the material. Avoid numbing products, which hide pain.
Plugs to start with
Browse every butt plug in the shop, or keep reading: butt plugs for beginners, vibrating plugs with a remote compared, Kegel balls and love eggs and how to use a rose toy.