Yes, it’s how you use it, but when toys come in a much wider range of sizes than natural appendages, and sometimes our eyes are bigger than our orifices. Especially for insertable toys, knowing if it’s something you can easily take, if it’s going to be a challenge, or if it’s going to be a very big maybe some day when you’re a more advanced user is really nice to know up front. Along with what material your toy is made from, size is an important consideration for portability, discretion and play.

Images aren’t always the best indication of toy size – something that seems big on a website can be tiny in real life and vice versa. So, always check for available measurements in product listings.

But if you need a way to translate those numbers into something a bit more meaningful in the real world, this guide is for you! 

Length = Overall length from top to bottom

Width (diameter) = Longest distance from one side through centre to the other side. For round toys, this is also the diameter of the toy. Some toys are more oblong shaped, and in this case the width is likely to be the maximum width of the toy.

Height = For toys with a base, this is the height of the toy from base to tip. Where toys have a height, the length will be the longest measurement that isn’t the height, and the width will be the shorter measurement, where those meaningfully differ.

Insertable length = Maximum length that can enter the body, or be penetrated in the case of a masturbator or similar.

Insertable width = Maximum width that can enter the body, or be penetrated in the case of a masturbator or similar.

Girth (circumference) = Distance around the widest insertable part of the toy

Often, toys will mention a width, but not a girth. The formula to calculate girth using width is: Girth = π x width (π is approximately equal to 3.1459)

The length and width of insertable sex toys are often related – typically, the longer the shaft, the wider the toy. However, long and slim or short and thick vibrators, dildos and anal toys are available, depending on what you’re after.

Insertable toys that are generally easier for beginners to handle are 7" (17.8 cm) in length or shorter and 1.2" (3 cm) wide or narrower. That’s a girth of 3.8” (9.6cm) or less. We also recommend looking for toys with a flexible shaft made from silicone or realistic-feel materials that can move with your body. 

For more information, read our Guide To Sex Toy Materials and How To Choose Your Vibrator. 

Once you've obtained measurements for your sex toy, try putting it into context so you can get a practical understanding of the size and if you'd feel comfortable with it.

To illustrate, consider the most popular dildo size compared to that of a soft drink can (holding 12.7 oz or 375 ml). The length of the dildo is 7" (17.8 cm) while the length of the can is about 5" (12.7 cm). 

The average penis is slightly longer than the soft drink can when erect (5.16" / 13.1 cm) and almost three-quarters of its length when flaccid (3.61" / 9.2 cm).

At the other end of the scale, a dildo with length 14" (35.6 cm) is about 2.8 times the length of the soft drink can. That's almost three cans stacked on top of each other! 

We aim to provide you with the most accurate sex toy measurements available, but problems may arise. If you find any discrepancies between the stated size of a product and its packaging or listing on our site, please let us know.