What Size Penis Do Women Prefer?

Society has done a great job making men believe penis size is the most important metric they’ll ever be judged by. This isn’t true, of course. But how much does size matter? What size penis do women prefer?

When it comes to women’s preferences for penis size, a limited amount of formal research has been done on the topic. But from the available evidence, the size women are partial to might not be as large as you think — seemingly only slightly over the average size.

It’s not unusual to feel insecure about not measuring up compared to other guys. Having said that, there’s no such thing as a “normal penis size.” And a healthy, satisfying sex life is possible (for both you and your partner) no matter whether you’re smaller than average, larger than average, or right in the middle.

Read on for a rundown of what we know about the penis size women prefer and why it’s probably not as important as you think.

You’re not the first guy to Google “do women like big dicks.” If you’re wondering if women prefer large penises, the short answer is that some do and some don’t.

Everybody has their own preferences. What one person finds pleasurable during sexual intercourse, another person might find painful or uncomfortable.

How big is big enough?

There’s no federally funded women’s convention that meets annually to decide on the “ideal penis size.” However, some studies have sought to find out which penis size women prefer.

The Most Frequently Cited Study on Women’s Preferred Penis Size

One of the most frequently cited studies was published in the journal PLoS One in 2015. In this study, 75 women between the ages 18 and 65 answered a survey about their sexual history and penis preferences. The researchers then presented them with 33 3D models of varying lengths and widths — from 4 inches to 8.5 inches in length and 2.5 inches to 7 inches in girth — representing different size penises.

The researchers asked the women two questions before having them select their ideal penis size:

• “...If you could spend only this one night with him, what size would you want him to be?”

• “What would be the ideal size for a husband or serious, long-term boyfriend?”

The women’s preferences for penis size varied slightly when asked to select a size for a short-term one-night stand versus a long-term relationship.

On average, they preferred an erect penile length of around 6.4 inches and 5 inches in circumference for one-time hookup partners.

The women preferred a slightly smaller penis of about 6.3 inches in length and 4.8 inches in circumference for a long-term partner.

Keep in mind, these were the average responses, meaning some of the women reported a preference below these numbers, and some above.

Findings From Another Study on Penis Size

The findings of this 2015 study are similar to the results of another study from 2017 published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. In this study, researchers looked at the average size of realistic sex toys purchased from adult retailers and Amazon.com.

Before telling you the results, an FYI: The goal of the study was to help guide decisions on how large to make penises for female-to-male transgender people undergoing reconstructive penile surgery. The researchers assumed that the bestselling realistic sex toys would reflect the most desirable size for penetrative sex.

The average length of sex toys purchased online was 16.7 centimeters ± 1.6 centimeters (or 6.57 inches ± 0.63 inches). This is slightly longer than the variation of average male penis size reported in research.

The average circumference of 12.7 centimeters ± 0.8 centimeters (or 5 inches ± 0.31 inches) was around the same as the typical penis girth for adult men.

What is considered a big penis is subjective, so if you search “what is considered a big dick,” you’ll probably see a range of answers. That said, “large” could be considered a penis longer or wider than average.

But how big is average?

Figuring out the average penis size is difficult since it requires measuring the penis of a large group of men with a standardized measuring technique. If erect penis length is measured, another problem is that the men have to be sexually aroused.

Many studies have sought to find the average penis length. But the results of this research tend to vary depending on factors like:

• Whether flaccid, stretched, or erect penis size is measured

• Whether measurements were taken by researchers or given by self-reports

• The specific technique used to measure penis length

In general, studies using self-reported measurements tend to report larger average penis sizes. Not surprisingly, it seems people would be more likely to report a larger penis size versus a smaller one.

The Average Penis May Be Around 5.5 Inches Long

In terms of length, the best available evidence suggests the average penis might be around 3.4 inches (8.7 cm) in a flaccid state, and 5.5 inches (13.93 cm) erect.. This number comes from a review of studies published in the World Journal of Men’s Health in 2023.

Over a span of 79 years, researchers analyzed 75 studies involving more than 55,000 men providing insights into what is an average penis. Researchers looked into the findings from studies that measured the length of men’s flaccid, erect and stretched penises. Stretched penis length is often used instead of erect length in research since the size is usually similar, but the men don’t need to be sexually aroused. It is basically the length of a non-erect penis when gently stretched to its maximum comfortable extension.

Among the studies reporting average erect penis length, the researchers reported an average size of 5.5 inches (13.9 cm). The studies measuring stretched length reported an average of 5.09 inches (12.9 cm).

Based on the results of this reviewed research, the average length is somewhere around 5.5 inches.

Other research has similar findings: it puts the average erect penis length somewhere in between 5.1-5.5 inches.

This range might be smaller than what you may have heard. Why? Some studies that use self-reported numbers have reported an average of 6.2 inches for straight men, and even larger for gay men.

Studies from Other Countries on Penis Size

Many studies from other countries have sought to identify the average penis size. Again, the results of these studies vary significantly based on whether self-reported or standardized data was used.

In a 2021 study, researchers reported the average penis size in a group of nearly 5,000 men living in Italy. Here’s how it broke down.

If these numbers look larger than other studies, it’s likely because the men took the measurements themselves and were likely extremely generous with their reporting.

A study from Turkey reported the following average flaccid and stretched penis length and girth measured by the researchers.

What Is a Micropenis?

Many people use the term micropenis to describe a small penis. But a micropenis, or microphallus, is actually a medical term referring to a penis that is significantly smaller than the average size (less than 2.5 standard deviations below the average), measuring less than 2.04 inches (5.2 cm) in length when flaccid, and less than 3.34 in (8.5cm) in stretched length.

Micropenises are incredibly rare and typically develop due to hormonal issues in the womb. Hormonal treatment with testosterone is usually the first-line treatment option for infants. Surgery may help improve size for adults.

Knowing how to measure your penis is useful beyond just knowing your stats. It can help you to select condoms that fit properly. Here's how to measure your penis correctly:

1. Choose the right starting point: Measure from the top side of your penis (the side facing you when looking down). This side is preferred because it provides a consistent and reliable endpoint—the pubic bone.

2. Position the ruler or tape measure: Place the end of your ruler or measuring tape at the base of the erect or flaccid penis, where it meets the body. Push gently past any excess fat or pubic hair to ensure the ruler is firmly against the pubic bone. A flexible measuring tape is more effective than a rigid ruler because it’s easier to measure when your penis is curved.

3. Take the measurement: Measure from the pubic bone to the tip of your penis.

If you want to measure penis girth (or circumference), you need a soft measuring tape (or a piece of string you can measure with a ruler). Wrap it around the thickest part of your erect penis, ensuring it goes around only once. Where the ends meet—this measurement is your circumference or girth.

Many men feel self-conscious about their penis size and believe it impacts their sexual performance. However, it seems men may be more preoccupied with penis size than women.

In an older 2006 study, researchers found that while only 55 percent of men reported satisfaction with their penis, 85 percent of women were very satisfied with their partner’s size.

What’s more, 45 percent of men wish their penis was longer. And most men seeking surgery to make their penis larger are of average size.

What Penis Size Do Women Prefer When Having Sex?

Penis size is one of several factors contributing to pleasurable sexual intercourse — but it’s not the only factor and might not be among the most important factors.

In fact, having an overly large penis may make penetrative anal or vaginal sex painful for a partner, especially for females with shorter or tighter vaginal canals.

Girth may be a more significant factor than length for sexual pleasure since it can help stimulate more nerve endings around the clitoris.

Take an older study from 2001 titled “Survey of Female Perceptions of Sexual Satisfaction.” Researchers looked into the potential importance of penis length and width in female sexual satisfaction by surveying 50 female undergraduate college students.

An overwhelming majority of the students (45 out of 50) reported that penis width was a more important factor than length.

Keep in mind that everybody is different. Even if some women prefer a penis size that’s significantly longer or thicker than average, the majority of scientific evidence suggests that many don’t.

It’s not possible to increase your penis size — at least not without expensive surgery that comes with a serious risk of complications.

However, there are other things you can do to improve the physical sensations of sex and ensure you and your partner have a more satisfying sexual relationship.

Here are some changes you can focus on.

• Eating a healthy diet. Eating a healthy diet can support your overall health and sexual health. Conversely, eating lots of highly processed or fatty foods may increase your risk of cardiovascular problems that mess with your ability to maintain an erection.

• Staying physically active. Staying physically active is the best way to boost your cardiovascular fitness and improve blood flow to your penis.

• Work on your stamina. Just like whether or not an average-sized penis is best, how long sex should last is subject to interpretation. In an older 2008 survey of sex therapists, researchers reported that sex lasting for seven to 13 minutes is usually thought of as the most satisfying.

• Treating erectile dysfunction (ED). You may have ED if you consistently find it difficult to achieve an erection or stay fully hard during sex. In that case, you might benefit from improving your lifestyle habits or trying an ED medication such as sildenafil (Viagra®) or Tadalafil (Cialais®).

• Communicating with your partner. If you’re concerned you don’t have the ideal penis size for your partner, it’s good to talk to them about your worries. You might find they’re totally happy about your penis and don’t want you to feel uncomfortable or anxious.

• Medications can make you last longer. Prescription medications like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a type of antidepressant that may improve sexual stamina.

We offer several SSRIs for premature ejaculation (PE), including sertraline (the active ingredient in the antidepressant Zoloft®) and paroxetine (Paxil®).

Erectile Dysfunction and Sexual Performance

Erectile dysfunction is a common problem men face, especially as they get older. It can lead to frustration in the bedroom and feelings of inadequacy.

If your goal is better sex with your partner,you can access evidence-based erectile dysfunction medications online from Hims.

These medications may help improve your sexual performance and confidence in the bedroom if you’re one of the tens of millions of men in the United States affected by ED. Our erectile dysfunction prescriptions are delivered by mail in discreet packaging. You can even get chewable ED meds in the form of hard mints.

What size penis do women prefer? There’s no across-the-board answer to this question, but it may not be as big as you think.

Many men who are unhappy with their penis size actually have a penis of average size or larger. If your penis size is affecting your confidence or causing mental health concerns, you might benefit from connecting with a mental health provider.

The online mental health services on our telehealth platform are a great place to start.

Instead of focusing on size of the penis, try turning your attention to factors that are under your control, like:

• Working on your technique

• Improving your stamina

• Learning to accept your body for what it is

• Asking your partner what they like

The best available scientific evidence suggests that, on average, women prefer a penis size only slightly above average. But there’s a large variation, meaning many women (and men) might actually prefer a penis on the smaller side.

You might have a sexual partner who wants a larger penis, but even if that’s true, there are other things you can do to make sex more pleasurable for them.

Our guide to having better sex lists tips and techniques to enhance sexual performance, improve body image, and worry less about penis size.

And our guide to lasting longer in bed shares strategies for delaying orgasm and having more stamina in the bedroom.