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The pandemic-induced lockdown might be a thing of the past but the creative outlets for horniness are still going strong. People are still having more phone sex, snapping artful nudes, and investing in vibrators. So if you’ve always been curious about butt plugs, it’s never too late to explore new horizons. Experts agree that a butt plug can enhance your sex life solo or with a partner, as long as you’re patient and properly prepared. Keep reading for expert tips, as well as the best butt plugs to buy for beginners, experts, couples, and more.
So, you’re looking for the best butt plugs?
➼ Best for beginners
➼ Best for experienced users
➼ Best for couples
➼ Best for prostate stimulation
➼ Best for people with a penis
➼ FAQs
➼ Our Experts
Best Butt Plugs for Beginners
Material: Silicone | Colors: 1 | Size: 3.75 inches insertable x 1 inch circumference (for the medium option)
Available in three different sizes, this trainer set is perfect for starting out and “to get ready for larger ones,” Gigi Engle, certified sexologist and author of All the F*cking Mistakes: A Guide to Sex, Love, and Life, says.
Material: Premium silicone that’s hypoallergenic, phthalate-free, latex-free, and non-porous | Colors: 2 | Battery Life: 2 hours | Size: 4 x 6.5 x 1.75 inches
“Its small, minimalist design makes it a nonthreatening beginner’s option, soothing nervous newbies,” says Liara Roux, writer, sex worker, and organizer. “The smooth silicone construction makes it easy to slip in and out painlessly, and the vibration is a pleasant sensation — perfect for anyone who wants to explore prostate play for the first time, or anyone who has been burned in the past and wants something that won’t hurt!”
Material: 100 percent platinum-grade silicone that’s phthalate- and latex-free | Colors: 2 | Size: 3.5 insertable inches x 1 inch circumference
Get the same minimalist design with a smooth silicone construction for a fraction of the price with this Maude cone.
Material: Silicone | Colors: Black, pink, purple, and red | Size: 1.8 inch circumference
This beginner trio of nightstand eye candy makes for a cute gift for a lover or yourself. “They’re all small and great for starters. Plus the colors and shapes make the endeavor that much more fun,” says Molly-Margaret Johnson, the queer sex writer and influencer behind the account @queernightstands.
Material: Satin silicone | Size: 4.25 inches long (3.75 insertable inches ) x 1.75 inch circumference
Plugs are also a way to spice up your nudes, as Em Odesser, writer, mental-health advocate, and sex educator, suggests. “I love the idea of sending a cheeky nude (he-he) with a plug in, especially as so much of our dating lives is relegated to the online world. A lot of indie shops sell cute and affordable ones.”
Material: Body-safe metal & borosilicate glass, phthalate & latex-free | Colors: 1 | Size: 2.75 insertable inches (for the medium option)
For more fun with nudes (or the makings of a great collector’s set), Playboy’s first-ever sex toy line is highly photogenic. This pack comes with aluminum trainers in three sizes, each with the iconic Playboy bunny on the cap.
Material: Hypoallergenic & body-safe silicone | Colors: 1 | Size: 9.45 x 6.89 x 3.94 inches
For $150, this set includes three toys, an instruction guide, an enema, and a “lube launcher.” “I’m not the most experienced with backdoor play, but b-Vibe’s set seems to cater to that exact situation,” says Odesser. “For the price of one expensive vibrator, you get a pretty good range of toys, which means you can explore with some flexibility.”
Material: 100 percent silicone, hypoallergenic, non-toxic, and odor-free silicone | Colors: 5 | Size: 1 x 1 x 3 inches
If you’re not quite sure what size is the best for you (or your partner), this set is ideal because it comes with four pieces to experiment with. Plus it’s under $20.
Material: 100 percent premium silicone | Colors: 3 | Size: 9.5 x 5.25 x 3.25 inches
Reviewers agree that the silicone texture on this butt plug makes for a comfortable and enjoyable experience.
Best Butt Plugs for Experienced Users
Material: Firm plastisol exterior and flexible PVC exterior (both are body-safe and phthalate- and latex-free) | Colors: 2 | Size: 3 x 4.5 x 5.63 inches
With three ridges for more varied play, Engle says it “gives you room for experimentation, since you don’t have to put the whole thing in. You can experiment with how much feels good.”
Material: Super smooth body safe silicone | Colors: 1 | Battery Life: 1 hour | Size: .5 inch circumference x 4.25 insertable inches
This vibrating toy is noticeably more pointy at the tip. “You can use it as a clitoral vibrator for focused stimulation as well, but make sure the toy is thoroughly sterilized,” says Engle.
Material: 100 percent platinum grade silicone | Colors: 2 | Size: 10 inches high x 12.5 inch circumference
Square Peg Toys is the place to go when you simply cannot get enough. “They have toys large enough to satisfy the most insatiable booty holes,” says Roux. “Their famous double-fist plug will give such overwhelming stretch and sense of fullness that even the brattiest bottom will have to admit that they can’t possibly fit any more.”
Material: Borosilicate (hard glass) | Colors: 1 | Size: 1.25 inch circumference
Once you’re familiar with what you can handle, a custom piece has tons of possibilities. “Hedonic Glass makes the prettiest glass butt plugs I’ve seen,” says Roux. “They’re less comfortable than silicone but very easy to clean. Each butt plug is handblown to your specifications, so whether you want something small and cute or an option that can give you a bit of a stretch, they’ve got you covered.”
Material: hypoallergenic premium cured silicone | Colors: 1 | Size: 2.5 insertable inches x 4 inch circumference
If you’re not a beginner but still testing out the waters, this butt plug is for you. It’s the classic butt plug that adjusts easily no matter which vibration setting you choose.
Best Butt Plugs for Couples
Material: Body-safe silicone | Colors: 1 | Battery Life: 120 minutes | Size: 3.125 inches long x 1.25 inch circumference
The We-Vibe Ditto is the perfect starter toy for couples who want to add tech into the mix. The vibrating plug can be controlled by an app to keep even the most advanced among us guessing. It’s on the pricier side, but that just means you get features like ten interesting vibration patterns that rumble in the right ways.
Material: 100 percent body-safe and hypoallergenic silicone | Colors: 2 | Size: 4.6 inches long x 1.2 inch circumference
Anal beads are part of a more involved process, making this hybrid more fit for advanced users. “What makes it feel really good is when you’re removing it one step at a time,” says Engle.
Material: Latex- and phthalate-free silicone | Colors: 1 | Size: 4.5 insertable inches x 3 inch circumference
“This one has beads around the neck of it that simulate rimming,” says Ty Mitchell, a gay adult entertainer and writer of the First Openly Gay Book Club newsletter. Combining a vibrator with anal play, it engages everything in that erogenous zone.
Material: 100 percent body-safe silicone | Colors: 2 | Battery Life: 1.5 hours | Size: 3.39 insertable inches x 1.6 inch circumference (for the medium/large option)
Want to surprise your partner with a blinged-out booty? This vibrating butt plug comes in four sizes, and each size has different color options. It comes with a remote that has a 30-foot range and can take you or your partner through 15 patterns and six vibration intensities.
Best Butt Plugs for Prostate Stimulation
Material: Medical-grade and body-safe ABS plastic | Colors: 1 | Size: 4 invertible inches x 1.25 inch circumference
Like the G-spot, the prostate can be a pleasure center if you reach it right. With this toy’s curved shape, it’ll hit that sweet spot. Engle also says that “it presses on the perineum, which adds extra stimulation.”
Material: Stainless steel | Colors: 1 | Size: 2.5 insertable inches x 1.25 inch circumference
“This daddy is sexy, and its weight alone will turn you on,” Johnson says. “This heavy plug is perfect for temperature play.” Try running it under warm water for some extra heat.
Material: Latex- and phthalate-free silicone | Colors: 2 | Battery Life: 120 minutes | Size: 5.5 insertable inches x 4.5 inch circumference
“This is the Cadillac of butt toys,” claims Engle — a luxury item filled with fancy features.
Best Butt Plug If You Have a Penis
Materials: Hypoallergenic & body-safe silicone | Colors: 1 | Size: 3.7 insertable inches x 1.2 inch circumference
For those with one, penis rings make erections stronger and last longer. Engle assures that this toy is “not actually scary.”
Materials: Latex- and phthalate-free silicone | Colors: 1 | Size: 4.5 inch circumference
Simple but effective. Just as Engle mentioned above, one reviewer can attest that this two-in-one sex toy “kept them hard and restricted ejaculation.”
FAQs
What should I know before buying a butt plug?
The most important rule is to go slowly. “It’s important to start small and use a lot of water-based lube (silicone can degrade your toys) so you’re not damaging anything,” says Gigi Engle, certified sexologist and author of All the F*cking Mistakes: A Guide to Sex, Love, and Life. “People think that because they can handle a big penis or dildo in other parts of their bodies that they can handle anything, but that’s not true.”
Should butt plugs be painful?
Whether you’re new to anal penetration or not, it’s important to remember that it should never be painful. “Getting turned on first will help you relax,” says Molly-Margaret Johnson, the queer sex writer and influencer behind the account @queernightstands. “Masturbate or use a vibrator or your fingers to warm up your asshole.” She also recommends romancing yourself with ambience for deeper relaxation. “Have a glass of wine, smoke a little, light a candle, and turn on some sexy music.”
What makes butt plugs so pleasurable?
Ty Mitchell, a gay adult entertainer and writer of the First Openly Gay Book Club newsletter, explains why butt plugs are so pleasurable. “It’s a sensation of fullness and a feeling of pressure that permeates the whole pelvic area that’s intense and good,” says Mitchell. “You just have to lean into it with a little bit of submission.” And if you’re hesitant about making a mess, don’t worry. “Sex is inherently messy, whether it’s emotionally messy or physically messy, and that’s what makes it amazing,” says Johnson. “Whether it’s shitting, squirting, sweating, cumming, or whatever, it’s just part of the deal.”
Should I wash my butt plugs?
Always make sure to wash your toys and your hands. Make sure to read the label for the proper way to clean them up between uses and to store them.
Our Experts
- Gigi Engle, certified sexologist and author of All the F*cking Mistakes: A Guide to Sex, Love, and Life
- Molly-Margaret Johnson, queer sex writer and influencer behind the account @queernightstands
- Ty Mitchell, a gay adult entertainer and writer of the First Openly Gay Book Club newsletter
- Em Odesser, writer, mental-health advocate, and sex educator
- Liara Roux, writer, sex worker, and organizer
