Here's How To Choose The Right Condom Size For You - Greatist

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Here’s How to Choose the Right Condom Size for You

Medically reviewed by Kevin Martinez, M.D. — Written by Rory Stobo — Updated on September 12, 2024

Standard sizes
Measuring your penis
Popular brand sizes
Types of condoms

Choosing the right condom sizes is key for pleasure and protection. A good fit prevents STIs and pregnancy while enhancing your experience. Learn how to measure and find the perfect fit.

Size isn’t everything, but getting the right size is the most important factor when it comes to external condoms. Finding a close, not constricting, fit can maximize your pleasure while providing protection from sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and pregnancy.

Condoms don’t typically come with a size chart on the box, though, so how do you choose the right one for you? We’re breaking it down.

putting pink condom on cucumber — Juan Moyano/Stocksy United

What are the standard condom sizes?

Different brands use different terms to describe the size of the condoms they sell. That can make it tricky to pin down the right sheath for your pork sword. Condoms will generally fall into these ranges:

The closest-fitting condoms on the market usually have a length of 7 to 7.8 inches and a width of just under 2 inches.
Standard-sized condoms are about 7.25 to 7.8 inches long and 1.75 to 2 inches wide
Bigger condoms are roughly 7.25 to 8.1 inches long and over 2 inches wide

Choose a condom that’s slightly longer than your penis. This ensures there will be room to catch your ejaculate without breaking.

How to measure your penis size

In order to find the right size condom, you’ve gotta know what you’re working with.

Your flaccid penis size isn’t correlated to your erect size, so you’ll need to measure your penis when it’s hard. Nobody knows how to do that better than you, so we’ll trust in your knowledge and expertise. Once you’re up and running, here’s how it’s done:

Measure length from base to tip. Start your tape measure at your pubic bone and measure to the very tip of your penis.
Measure girth at the base. Wrap your tape measure around your penis where it meets your pelvis. Pro tip: If you don’t have a flexible tape measure, use some string and a ruler.
Measure girth at the widest point. If any part of your penis shaft widens, take a girth measurement here as well. This will help you determine if you should look for a straight condom or one with a contoured fit.

So, what’s the average penis size?

For reference, a 2021 study puts the average erect penis length at 5.1 to 5.5 inches, while another from the same year puts average girth at about 4.7 inches. (If you’ve heard that the average length is 6 inches or more, that stat’s from old studies where participants measured and reported their own sizes.)

Measurements of the most common condoms

But what does this look like in the real world? Let’s break down some popular products from the two biggest global condom brands, Durex and Trojan.

Brand	Product	Max length	Width at base
Durex	Thin Feel Ultra Thin	7.08″	2.04″
Trojan	Ultra Thin	7.5″	2.09″
Durex	Pleasure Me Ribbed & Dotted	7.68″	2.2″
Trojan	G-Spot	7.9″	2.09″
Durex	Comfort XL Large	8.66″	2.24″
Trojan	Magnum Ecstasy	8.3″	2.09″

FYI: If you have your girth measurement, you can divide that number by 3.14 to estimate the width you’d need.

Exploring your condom options

Finding the right size condom isn’t the only thing to keep in mind. Condoms come in plenty of different styles, designs, and materials to help you get the experience you’re looking for.

What’s the best material for condoms?

Size might be your most pressing concern when it’s time to go condom shopping, but you’ve also got a few different materials to choose from. The four most common condom materials are:

latex
polyurethane
polyisoprene
lambskin

Latex condoms are by far the most popular on the market. Latex is flexible and strong, even in a thin layer. That makes it an ideal line of defense for your precious member. However, it’s not great at transferring heat, so you may lose out on some of the pleasurable, warmth down there.

PSA: Don’t use oil or oil-based lube with latex condoms. Oil breaks latex down, which increases the risk it may break or tear. Water or silicone-based lubes are your safest bet here.

Polyurethane condoms are usually even thinner than latex ones and transfer heat better. That makes for more of the good, good feeling, but there’s a downside: Polyurethane is more likely to break than latex if things get rough, so be careful.

Polyisoprene condoms are a strong choice if you’re allergic to latex. This stuff doesn’t contain the proteins which seem to be responsible for latex allergies. It also feels soft and natural, despite being a bit thicker than the majority of condoms on the market.

Lambskin condoms, despite the name, aren’t made of lambskin. They’re actually made from the cecum, which is part of the intestine. These natural condoms are thin and tough, plus they’re better at transferring heat, which can boost the pleasurable feeling downtown.

PSA: The FDA doesn’t recommend lambskin condoms as effective protection against STIs, including HIV. They’re good at catching semen to prevent pregnancy, though.

How are different condoms designed?

When you’re picking the right condom, the most important thing is getting the right size to fit your little fella. Once you’re sure you’ve got the level of safety you need, you can start branching out.

Condom brands get incredibly creative, with design features like:

flavored and scented lubricants for tasty blowjobs
glow-in-the-dark outer layers for impromptu lightsaber duels
ribs and studs, giving your partner added stimulation
warming lubricants for added heat transfer and sensation
strips similar to a band-aid which make it easier to put on

Should you use a pre-lubed condom?

That’s totally up to you. Plenty of condoms on the market come pre-lubed to boost sensitivity and reduce friction. Just remember, getting the right fit and proper protection should be your top priority. Don’t sweat it if you can’t find a pre-lubed condom to fit you.

There are plenty of lubricants out there which you can apply to your condom once it’s on. A silicone-based lube works for longer on average, and it won’t break down latex condoms.

Just don’t go crazy with the lube. Too much can cause your condom to slide off during sex.

tl;dr

It’s important to pick the right size condom to fit your willy. Too large and it might simply fall off mid-act. Too small and it could break, and will almost certainly feel uncomfortable. With time and experience, you’ll learn what brands and designs enable you to enjoy a secure, shagadelic sex life.

6 sourcescollapsed

Durex. Better fit = better feel! What size condom should I buy? https://www.durex.co.uk/blogs/explore-sex/what-size-condom-should-i-buy
Trojan. Trojan and Magnum condom size charts. https://www.trojanbrands.com/en/sex-information/condom-size-chart
King, B. (2021). Average-size erect penis: Fiction, fact, and the need for counseling. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32666897/
Mauro M, et al. (2021). Penile length and circumference dimensions: A large study in young Italian men. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8243978/
Parisi C, et al. (2021). Update on latex allergy: New insights into an old problem. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8335653/
Women and HIV: Get the facts on HIV testing, prevention, and treatment. (2019).https://www.fda.gov/consumers/free-publications-women/women-and-hiv-get-facts-hiv-testing-prevention-and-treatment

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Medically reviewed by Kevin Martinez, M.D. — Written by Rory Stobo — Updated on September 12, 2024

Here's How To Choose The Right Condom Size For You - Greatist

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NUTRITION

What are the standard condom sizes?

How to measure your penis size

So, what’s the average penis size?

Measurements of the most common condoms

Exploring your condom options

What’s the best material for condoms?

How are different condoms designed?

Should you use a pre-lubed condom?

tl;dr

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