🍑 How to Choose Your First Butt Plug: Our Guide on Picking Your First Butt Plug

We don't want to brag but we're all passionate anal aficionados. We love putting sex toys, amongst other things, up our butts and up the booties of others. The reason is simple - it feels so darn good, thanks to human anatomy and, of course, a healthy dose of any water-based personal lubricant.

Did you know that there are more than 2,000 pleasure-sensitive nerve endings around your anus? No kidding, there's endless opportunity to get excited and thrill your body, regardless of your orientation, with just a little touch and pressure around this pleasurable area. Fire start your anal adventures and reach the gates of godly-good literal buttpluggery bliss by getting to know how to choose your first (and not last, we absof'nlutely bet!) butt plug. New to butt plugs? Start with our foundational guide on what butt plugs are and how they work.

What Are Butt Plugs?

Oh, glorious butt plugs! A sex toy that can be enjoyed by anyone with an anus, regardless of genitalia, gender, or orientation. A butt plug is an anal toy that essentially plugs your butt — in a good way. They're shaped like a teardrop and have a wider base that prevents them from getting sucked in too far. Butt plugs are a must-have pleasure tool for sex starters and pleasure veterans. Your anus is chock-full of sensitive nerve endings, more than 2000 to be exact, that feel fant-ass-tic when stimulated.

When someone says "anal toys", the butt plug with a flared bell and flat base is often the first item that comes to mind. The quintessential device that enhances orgasms for vulva-owners, and makes penis-havers experience more powerful feeling ejaculations.

This is such a vague term and encompasses several different sizes, shapes, and designs from huge girths to the bejeweled butt plug, anal training butt plug sets, or a set of gradually increasing diameters, also known as stretching sizes. Some plugs have tails hanging out of the base, others vibrate or inflate. Some are smooth silicone, others are ribbed jelly or rubber.

The designating feature of an anal toy plug is the presence of a thin neck, tapered tip, and flat base. The base prevents it from sliding into the rectum too far. The thin neck gives the sphincter something to grasp, thus preventing the device from falling out of the anus. The design is made to be "set and forget" you shouldn't need to push it back in, but be aware that tiny plugs are too slim and typically fall out without a helping hand. Browse our complete beginner butt plug collection for properly sized starter options.

What Should You Know Before Purchasing a Butt Plug?

Butt plugs can be a gateway to the bigger and (not necessarily) better toys that will open you all the way up, or they can be the final destination. It's all about what you're into and what you're aiming for. Butt plugs are also an excellent prep tool for penetrative anal sex, and they come in handy for prostate stimulation, which makes them the ideal toy for anal play. With a variety of materials and features to play with, your booty won't get bored. Want to explore anal play even more? Check out our full range of anal toys including anal beads, prostate vibrators, and anal dildos.

Either way, butt plugs can make your sex life go sensationally phenomenal in a blink of an eye. But before you run off to our butt plug collections to get your horny hands on one of these bad boys, make sure you aren't writing checks your booty can't cash. Learn proper usage techniques in our comprehensive how to use a butt plug guide.

How to Choose a Butt Plug

In the world of anal play, you can't ask for a more multifaceted toy than the humble butt plug. They are straightforward to use, self-explanatory, easy to clean, and, for such a small toy, they pack a mighty punch. These toys are real game-changers for all of us who like to dive deep into the dark arts of anal play. Choosing a butt plug isn't rocket science, however, there are certain bits of paramount importance one should consider before purchasing a butt plug:

• A butt plug must have a flared base to avoid slippage and prevent medical emergencies
• It should be body-safe i.e materials are safe to insert into your body
• Beginners should select a butt plug made up of stainless steel, silicone, or borosilicate glass because they are easy to insert, non-porous, flexible (silicone), and can be cleaned properly after every use
• Butt plugs made using acrylic, plastic, polyvinyl chloride, rubber, etc., are not recommended at all because they are porous, and can cause bacterial infections. Also, the plastic materials cannot be completely sanitized and provide a suitable environment for bacteria to grow
• If you're a beginner, always start with the smaller size available. Visit our beginner collection for appropriately sized options
• Consider anal training kits with multiple graduated sizes for systematic size progression

Choosing the Right Size of the Butt Plug

As with anything in life, size does matter. Getting used to wearing a butt plug takes a little time, so the rule for size is "slow and steady" wins the race. One option for where to begin is to try finger play, then buy a butt plug that is relative to the size that you enjoy when using fingers (always use lots of water-based lube). If the butt plug you're considering seems absurdly small, that's ok, however, don't let your greedy eyes take over.

Beginner sizing guidelines: Start with plugs measuring 0.75-1.0 inches (1.9-2.5 cm) in diameter at the widest point and 3.0-3.5 inches (7.6-8.9 cm) in insertable length. Look for tapered tips starting around 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) and narrow necks (0.6-0.75 inches / 1.5-1.9 cm) for comfortable wear. Your first plug might seem surprisingly small—that's intentional and appropriate. Start conservatively because you can always size up once comfortable, but you cannot undo an uncomfortable experience with a too-large plug. For detailed sizing guidance including measurements and progression strategies, see our article on butt plug sizing principles.

Material

If you're curious about anal play, consider using butt plugs made using body-safe materials. This will help you to explore different sensations in your sex life without any restraint. Butt plugs come in a variety of materials - stainless steel, shatter-resistant borosilicate glass, super-plush silicone, jelly, rubber, and even wood, and tend to be softer and more flexible as you go down that list (except wood, obviously). Softer plugs are usually recommended for beginners because they have a good combination of flexibility and firmness. This means they are still easy to insert and feel good, but are more comfortable and accommodating to folks who are still adjusting to anal stretching and fullness. Non-porous materials are always preferred for health, safety, wellbeing, and peace of mind reasons, especially if the plug might be shared.

Body-safe material options: Platinum-cure silicone (flexible, hypoallergenic, affordable $20-60), medical-grade stainless steel 316/304 (firm, temperature play, any lube compatible), and borosilicate glass (ultra-smooth, beautiful designs). These non-porous materials don't harbor bacteria and can be fully sterilized by boiling for 3-5 minutes. Avoid porous materials like jelly, TPE/TPR, rubber, or PVC—these cannot be fully sanitized, may contain harmful chemicals like phthalates, and provide breeding grounds for bacteria even after washing. For detailed material comparisons including pros, cons, and beginner ratings, read our comprehensive guide on butt plug materials.

Choosing a Butt Plug with the Right Firmness

Most folks like their anal play served on a medium-firmness plate, however, there are also those of you who like it really rough. Choosing the right firmness of your butt plug will take time, patience, and plenty of experimenting. If you're a beginner and are just getting your feet, and butt hole, wet in the wonderful world of gratifying anal play, we'd strongly recommend starting with butt plugs made using velvety smooth silicone. Browse our silicone anal toy collection for flexible, beginner-friendly options. If the years of newbie anal adventures are long gone, we'd recommend upgrading your sex toy arsenal to butt plugs made using stainless steel as they'd really pack a signature punch where needed the most. Explore our metal anal toy collection for premium steel options.

Firmness guide: Soft/flexible silicone works best for beginners—forgiving with sizing errors, comfortable for extended wear, adapts to body movements. Medium-firm silicone balances structure with comfort—maintains shape during insertion while providing satisfying pressure. Firm materials like steel or glass are for experienced users—creates intense sensations but requires perfect sizing as there's zero flexibility. Start with medium-firm silicone, then experiment based on your discovered preferences.

Special Features to Consider When Choosing a Butt Plug

Butt plugs are designed to be inserted into the anus and remain there during sexual activity. In order to make insertion easier, butt plugs are narrow at the tip and wider in the middle. The end of the plug typically has a slimmer neck followed by a flared base for safety.

Butt plugs can be smooth or textured, and some vibrate for extra stimulation. The highest-quality plugs are usually made with a non-porous material, like silicone or stainless steel. If you are curious to try anal sex with your partner, butt plugs are a way to get your sphincter muscles used to the sensation. Consider anal training kits, which include several plugs of varying sizes that'll help you stimulate better, assess your own thresholds and limits, and initiate you into the blissful world of anal depth and stretch games. Already thinking of prancing around your partner to show them how shiny your booty hole's looking? Explore our tail butt plug collection for decorative roleplay options. We bet!

Texture considerations: Smooth plugs offer easiest insertion, lowest friction, and most comfortable extended wear—ideal for beginners. Lightly textured options (shallow ridges under 2mm) provide gentle stimulation during movement—good transition after mastering smooth plugs. Heavily textured designs (deep ridges, spirals, large nubs) create intense sensations but require more lubricant and experience. Always start with smooth designs for your first 10-15 sessions.

Vibration features: Non-vibrating plugs are recommended for first-time users to focus on mastering insertion technique and basic comfort. Once comfortable with standard plugs, vibrating options add intense pleasure through prostate or internal stimulation. Vibrating plugs work excellently for prostate massage, enhancing other sexual activities, or partnered play with remote controls. For advanced users seeking unique sensations, explore inflatable plugs or rimming plugs with rotating beads.

Safety Tips When Choosing a Butt Plug

The proper and thorough process of cleaning your sex toys is paramount in order to ensure your health, safety, and wellbeing, as well as the structural integrity, material resilience, and longevity of your pleasure product friends.

Cleaning

Different materials harbor germs or bacteria in different ways, so your butt plug could be full of microscopic abominations despite your bona fide cleaning efforts. We're going to show you how to keep your butt plugs squeaky clean and perfectly safe to use. Silicone butt plugs and other silicone-made booty-calling anal toys should get some time with boiling water just to keep that bodily smell outta place.

Pure silicone can be fully sanitized and is non-porous, meaning bacteria and germs can't thrive on its surface. You can use any cleaning method to keep your silicone butt plugs squeaky clean and in perfect shape. You have a lot of options on how to clean sex toys. Just how thorough you clean depends on the item. If it's meant for anal play, consider giving it a good boil every few uses if possible, especially if you wish to keep that butt scent at bay. Use specialized toy cleaners for convenient everyday cleaning.

Metals such as medical-grade stainless steel and gold are non-porous, as are borosilicate glass (aka shatter-resistant Pyrex glass) and some other types of glass.

For a regular wash, clean using a mild soap and warm water or a damp, soapy washcloth. If the product is labeled waterproof and is not motorized, you can boil underwater for three to four minutes to disinfect. To be on the safe side, we wouldn't want to expose ceramic or glass to the high temperatures of boiling water or a dishwasher - you just never know and you'd be really sad to ruin a hella good toy. For comprehensive cleaning protocols including sterilization methods and material-specific guidance, see our complete sex toy cleaning guide.

Personal Lubrication

The anus doesn't self-lubricate like the vagina does so be sure to apply a generous amount of lube and re-apply as needed. Choosing the right lube is important too. Thicker lubes and jellies are great for anal play and considering the material of the butt plugs you're using will help dictate whether you should use water or silicone-based lubricant. For detailed lube recommendations and product comparisons, see our expert guide on the best lubes for anal play.

Highly recommended silicone lubes, are thick and long-lasting as compared to water-based lubes. But If you're looking for a silicone butt plug, go for a water-based lube as silicone-based lubes can, and will, compromise the structural integrity of your silicone butt plugs, or any other silicone-made sex toys, per se. Browse our complete anal lubricant collection for specialized formulas.

Glass or stainless steel butt plugs work wonderfully with any lubricant.

Lube selection guide: For silicone, latex, or rubber plugs, always use water-based lubricant—silicone lube degrades these materials. For stainless steel or glass plugs, any lube type works (water, silicone, or oil-based). Apply generously—use far more than you think you need. The anus doesn't self-lubricate, so external lubrication is essential. Look for thick, cushioning formulas marketed for anal use—they last 15-20 minutes before needing reapplication.

Choosing a Butt Plug with a Flared Base

Unlike other anal toys, like dildos and probes that are meant for in-out action, butt plugs literally plug your butt. A continuous feeling of fullness is their game. Plugs are usually tapered for easy insertion and flare towards the bottom. As mentioned above, they come in different materials, each offering up different sensations for your pleasure. You can find flared smooth plugs, flared textured plugs, and flared vibrating plugs. The butt plug differentiates itself from the standard dildo by also having a flared base or stopper at the bottom of the sex toy, to prevent it from slipping inside or getting lost in the anus. For comprehensive information about why flared bases are mandatory for anal safety, read our guide on butt plug anatomy and safety features.

Why flared bases are mandatory: The rectal sphincter can pull objects inside the rectum beyond reach, creating genuine medical emergencies requiring hospital visits and sometimes surgical intervention. Unlike the vagina (which has the cervix as a natural stop), the rectum connects to the intestinal tract with no natural barrier. The flared base must be significantly wider than the plug's maximum diameter—typically at least 1.5x the width—to physically prevent over-insertion. This is non-negotiable: never use anything anally without a substantial flared base, handle, or retrieval system. Emergency room physicians regularly remove lodged objects from people who thought "it won't happen to me."

How Exactly to Use My Butt Plug

No matter your gender and sexual orientation, butt plugs can increase your sexual pleasure. Follow this step-by-step guide to learn how to safely use a butt plug. For preparation techniques and relaxation strategies, also see our comprehensive anal play guide.

Exercise caution, be patient, insert the butt plug slowly, and begin by pushing only the tip into your anus. Hold it there for a moment, allowing your anal sphincter muscles to relax before pulling it out and taking a break. When you're ready, reinsert the butt plug, pushing it slightly deeper. Try deep breathing exercises to relax your muscles. Continue this exercise until you can fully insert your butt plug. Be patient - you might not be able to insert the plug on your first try. Trust us, your patience will have been worth it in the end!

Usage essentials: Apply generous water-based lubricant to both the plug and your anus. Position the tapered tip at the entrance at a slight downward angle. Take deep breaths to relax your sphincter muscles. Push slowly and gently—the widest part requires the most patience. Once past the widest point, your sphincter naturally closes around the narrow neck. Start with 10-15 minute sessions for beginners, gradually increasing duration. Most experts recommend wearing plugs for no more than 2-3 hours at a time. For comprehensive duration guidelines and extended wear protocols, read our complete guide on how long you can safely wear a butt plug.

Frequently Asked Questions About Choosing Butt Plugs