Updated October 2026

The best butt plugs for beginners are about 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide or less at the widest point, made of smooth silicone, with a tapered tip, a slim neck and a flared base that cannot slip inside. Width matters far more than length. This guide gives you a size ladder in inches and centimeters, compares materials, explains what makes a plug good for men and prostate play, and answers how long you can wear one.

Butt plug sizes: a beginner-to-advanced ladder

Measure the widest part of the bulb (the diameter), not the length. Rigid glass and metal feel larger than soft silicone of the same width, so size down a step when you switch materials.

A graduated set is the cheapest way to climb the ladder. The Gossip Rump Rockers Trainer Set ($29.95) steps from 0.875 to 1 to 1.25 inches in silicone; the ROMP Luster trio ($64.95) goes from 1.14 to 1.33 to 1.61 inches, each with a heart-shaped flared base. More sets live in anal training kits. Prefer single plugs? The finger-sized b-Vibe Snug Plug 1 ($55.95, 55 g) and Snug Plug 2 ($60.95) are weighted silicone plugs designed for longer wear. Cleveland Clinic describes a similar progression for anal dilators: about 10 minutes at a time, a couple of times a day, moving up a size after roughly a week (Cleveland Clinic). Go at your body's pace, not the calendar's.

Why the flared base is non-negotiable

A toy without a base can slip all the way inside, and sex toys are among the objects emergency departments report removing (StatPearls, Rectum Foreign Body Removal). Anything that goes in the anus needs a base wider than the plug itself. Check that yours has one: a classic round flare, a jeweled base, a "between-the-cheeks" T-bar, or a curved handle that sits comfortably when you move. Cleveland Clinic also warns never to push a toy's base inside, as it can tear the opening (Cleveland Clinic).

Materials compared: silicone, glass and metal

All three are nonporous, so they clean completely. Silicone is the most forgiving first choice; the ROMP Luster and b-Vibe Snug Plugs are silicone too. The Clarity Floret is borosilicate glass with a 4.3 in insertable length, Cheeky Charms are nickel-free aluminum alloy in three sizes, and the Rear Assets trainer kit ($38.95) is lightweight aluminum. Water-based lube is safe with every plug; silicone lube can leave some silicone toys gunky, so check the maker's guidance or patch-test first. See anal lube for thicker formulas that last.

Butt plugs for men and prostate play

Any plug works for any body, but people with a prostate often prefer a plug with a slight forward curve or a bulb that presses toward the front wall of the rectum, where the prostate sits. Good starting points:

• b-Vibe Bulb Plug ($34.95): a 2.5 inch silicone plug with a bulbous tip aimed at the P-spot, a thick tapered base with a retrieval ring, and fully waterproof. The easiest entry.
• WhipSmart Glow-in-the-Dark Prostate Training Kit ($62.95): three prostate-shaped plugs in graduated 4, 4.5 and 5 inch lengths.
• b-Vibe Remote Control P-Spot Snug Plug ($127.95): curved, weighted, 6 speeds and 15 vibration modes on a rechargeable remote.

For massagers designed purely for the prostate, see prostate massagers and our guide to the best prostate massagers.

Vibrating, jeweled and tail plugs

Vibration helps many people relax; the b-Vibe Novice Plug ($110.95) is a small silicone plug with the motor in the tip, 6 intensity levels, 15 patterns and a wireless remote. For looks, browse jeweled plugs such as the Cheeky Charms range, and the WhipSmart Fox Tail ($49.95) pairs a 2.5 in metal plug with a 14 in tail.

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How long can you wear a butt plug?

There is no medical standard, so this is our boutique advice: start with 10 to 20 minutes, and extend over several sessions as long as everything feels good. Remove the plug if you feel pain, numbness or cramping, or need the bathroom. We advise against sleeping in one, because you cannot notice discomfort while asleep. Silicone, a slim neck and plenty of lube make longer wear easier than heavy, rigid plugs.

Using and cleaning your plug

Warm up with a finger, coat the plug and the opening in lube, and breathe out slowly as you press in; the plug should "click" into place as the sphincter closes around the neck. Cleveland Clinic's rule applies: some pressure is normal at first, but pain that grows or persists means stop (Cleveland Clinic). After use, wash with warm water and mild soap or a toy cleaner, and don't share a plug between partners or move it to the vagina without washing it first. For picks ranked by level, read the best butt plugs; for insertion, timing and removal step by step, read how to use a butt plug. Our guide to cleaning sex toys covers every material.

Shop butt plugs online or in store

Every order ships in a plain brown box, with free standard shipping over $75. Prefer to talk sizes in person? Our seven Badd Kitty boutiques in South Carolina and Michigan offer private, judgment-free consultations. Find a boutique. Browse more anal toys and anal beads.

Sources: Cleveland Clinic, Is Anal Sex Safe?; Easton-Carr R, Paish LM. Rectum Foreign Body Removal. StatPearls; manufacturer specifications on each product page.