You’re ready to buy a dildo to enhance your sexual repertoire…
But the sheer amount of options on the market is overwhelming.
Don’t worry, though, because I’m here to help!
Once you’re done with this guide, you’ll feel empowered to make the perfect decision.
Then, you can give yourself the greatest gift of all: Sexual pleasure.
So first, I’ll cover some basic information on dildos, followed by factors to keep in mind before you buy.
Then I’ll give you a rundown on different types of dildos and a top choice for each category.
Our Pick:
Our experts have chosen this as the best overall pick due to its high quality design and features, making it the top option for most people.
Table of Contents
The Best Overall Dildo This Year
What makes a dildo great?
Comfortable, hypoallergic materials, versatility, and a quality design.
While everyone is going to have different preferences, a longer dildo is going to suit most as it enables you to choose between shallow or deep penetration.
Most dildos don’t vibrate, but this feature can greatly enhance the experience of using a toy.
Based on these factors, my favorite overall dildo is the Lifelike Lover Classic Ultra Realistic Dildo.
This toy is 8 inches long, so you can choose ultra-deep penetration or just shallow strokes. It has a realistic feel to it instead of hard, smooth material, which I think most women will find pleasurable.
At its widest, the Lifelike Lover Dildo is 5 inches around. It’s compatible with a strap-on harness and also comes with a suction cup, so you can use it hands-free.
What is a Dildo?
While you might think a dildo has to look a certain way, dildos are just adult sex toys with the purpose of penetration. They come in all colors and a wide variety of materials.
Some dildos are designed to look realistic while others don’t even look remotely similar to a real penis.
They can be smooth or have textures and ridges.
Some are straight, while others are curved to hit your sweet spots.
You can choose between vibrating and non-vibrating options, suction-cup dildos, strap-on products, and more.
What to Consider When Dildo Shopping
Dildos are designed to hit all the right spots when you use them.
But in order for your toy to work how you want it to, you first have to know what you want.
- Are you looking for a lifelike experience, or do you prefer the feel of a firm and smooth material, such as glass?
- Do you want to focus on G-spot stimulation, or are you just after penetration in general?
These are all good questions to ask yourself before you buy your dildo.
Here are some other factors to keep in mind:
Size and Texture
If this is your first time buying a dildo, you may want to start with something small and simple. This is especially true if you’ve never had sex.
If you’ve never bought a sex toy before, go for a smooth dildo. You can always progress to more complex options with ridges or twisted designs later on.
Women who are experienced with sex and want a realistic experience with their dildo will be better off with a product that looks like a penis.
If you’ve had a variety of sexual partners, you probably already know what size and shape you prefer. So, try to choose your dildo accordingly.
Shape
Some women require G-spot stimulation for a pleasurable sexual experience. If you’re one of them, choose your sex toy accordingly.
G-spot dildos will be labeled as such and have a curved shape designed to hit your spot perfectly.
Or perhaps you want a dildo for anal pleasure.
If that’s the case, shape is also very important. You’ll need to choose an option with either a handle or a flared base to prevent the toy from getting stuck in your rectum.
Vibrating vs. Non-Vibrating
Another key factor to consider is whether or not you want a vibrating dildo.
If you want the experience of using your toy to feel like real sex, vibrations probably aren’t so important.
Other women, however, love the feel of a vibrating sex toy. Decide which you would prefer to have before you choose.
I personally recommend a vibrating option because it gives you the choice to either add vibrations to the mix or not.
But the best part of vibrating toys?
Super intense orgasms!
Consider checking out my vibrator buying guide for more information on these toys.
Buying Multiple Dildos
A lot of women have not just one dildo, but a collection of toys.
As you get more aroused, you may find that you want to switch from a smaller toy to something larger.
Or you might find that with different moods, you crave different types of stimulation (like pulsing vibrations or a larger girth).
If you simply can’t decide which type of dildo is best for you, you may consider buying multiple types.
That way, no matter what you feel like, you’ll have the right toy for the occasion.
Solo vs. Partner Play
Another factor to think about before you choose your dildo is whether you’ll mainly use it alone or with someone else.
A toy you’ll use by yourself doesn’t necessarily need to have any special features apart from what you prefer.
If you want to share your toy with a partner, though, its characteristics may be different.
For example, you may choose to get a double-ended or strap-on dildo instead of an ordinary design.
Tips for Using Your Dildo
Once you have your dildo in your hands, how do you ensure the best experience possible?
Below are some helpful tips:
Start Out Solo
When you’re getting used to using your new dildo, you’ll want to start out by yourself. This is especially true if you’re completely new to sex toys.
Here’s the deal:
Using your toy solo will make you feel less self-conscious.
You can use this time to figure out what turns you on and what sensations you prefer.
Then, once you know what you like, you can share your preferences with a partner.
Get Prepared
A dildo isn’t something you can just dive right into using without any preparation. You need to make sure you’re nice and turned on before attempting any penetration.
Masturbate however you normally would before you add the toy into the equation. Try to also ensure that you’re in a relaxed mood before you use your toy.
I also highly recommend using lubricant with your toy (more on this later).
Go Slowly
If you’re a first-timer, you need to go slowly when you’re using your new sex toy, initially. Rushing the process won’t do you any favors.
Pay close attention to how your toy feels as you experiment with shallow penetration and slow strokes. You can always increase speed and intensity as you progress.
Experiment
As soon as you’ve gotten accustomed to the feel of the dildo, you can play around with different speeds and rhythms.
Your dildo is all about your pleasure, and you can make it do whatever you want it to do.
If you aren’t sure what you like yet, experimentation is all the more important!
Try out quick and shallow strokes, long and deeper thrusts, and everything in between. Take your time and feel it out.
This will help you have better experiences with partners in the future since you’ll know what to ask them for.
Trust me:
Nothing is sexier than a woman who knows what she likes and isn’t afraid to ask for it.
Try Different Positions
Don’t be afraid to get imaginative with positions while you’re playing with your dildo.
While it’s fun to lie on your back while you’re using it, some women also have a great time riding their toys. And if you get a toy with a suction cup, you can even do doggy style.
You can also experiment with adjusting the length of your dildo by holding the shaft at different points for shallower or deeper penetration.
Playing around with different angles is another fun way to explore with your new toy.
Add a Clitoral Vibrator
For some women, there’s no better feeling than using a dildo and clitoral vibrator at the same time.
This is especially true if you have trouble climaxing from penetration alone.
If you do, don’t feel bad. Many women can only orgasm from clitoral stimulation.
While the coordination of hitting both the G-spot and clit at the same time takes some practice to get right, it’s totally worth the effort!
You can read all about our favorite clitoral vibrator picks here.
Proper Dildo Maintenance
The vagina is a sensitive area, so keeping it free from potential irritants is essential.
Even if you aren’t especially prone to vaginal infections, getting one is not a risk worth taking!
And taking care of your toys to ensure they stay in great shape is an important component of dildo maintenance.
Here are a few simple tips to keep in mind:
Clean Before and After
When you buy your dildo, you should clean it before using it to make sure it’s safe. Then remember to always wash it before and after uses.
You can get some sex toy cleaner for the job, or simply use soap and water.
Be Mindful of Materials
Always check to make sure the lube you use is compatible and safe to use with your toys. Certain materials can react badly with each other and make your toys warp.
You should also be careful that you don’t let your anal toys touch your vaginal toys, as this can spread contaminants and lead to an infection.
Proper Storage Protocol
In order to keep your toys free from lint or dust, you should store them in a special box or bag after you wash them.
Some toys will come with a drawstring bag to store them in. This helps with cleanliness and discretion, plus makes them more travel-friendly.
As you can see, cleaning and caring for your sex toys doesn’t have to be complicated.
The Best Realistic Dildo
While most dildos come in bright colors and vaguely resemble a real penis, realistic dildos look a lot more… well, realistic.
Here’s the deal:
Penis-like dildos are a good option for women who not only want penetration, but an experience that feels similar to actual sex.
You may be married but curious about how a different sized penis would feel. Or perhaps you live far away from your partner and miss having sex with him.
In either case, a realistic dildo should serve your needs well.
The RealDoll RealCock 2
The RealDoll RealCock 2 is my favorite life-like dildo on the market.
It is more expensive than other options, but you get what you pay for.
The RealCock 2 is made with medical grade silicone, so quality is never a question. Its color and design look amazingly realistic.
Each of these products is custom-made with an impressive girth that’s satisfactory but not too big.
Check out our best realistic dildo guide for other top picks.
The Best Suction Cup Dildo
As you may have guessed by the name, suction cup dildos are dildos with a suction cup base. You may use them on any flat, smooth surface, including a table, floor, or chair.
Some people have tons of fun using their dildo in front of a mirror to give their partner a sexy view.
Using a suction cup dildo leaves your hands free to explore the rest of your body or to stimulate your clitoris as the toy penetrates you.
The Lifelike Lover Classic Remote-Control Dildo
My favorite suction cup dildo is the Lifelike Lover Remote-Control model.
It has a soft surface, an agreeable size, and a gently curved design to hit your spot.
It not only has a suction cup, but also vibrates, so you can have hands-free, intense pleasure sessions.
The suction technology and waterproof design make it perfect to use in the shower. And the remote-control function is a blast to use with your partner.
Read our guide on the best suction cup dildos for more top-notch options.
The Best Glass Dildo
Glass dildos are sex toys designed for pleasurable penetration with a smooth, comfortable glass body.
Now:
Why would you want to use a glass dildo over other types?
I’m glad you asked. Glass dildos have a firm feel that’s hard to get with other materials.
They also have an attractive look to them that some people will prefer over penis-like sex toys.
Glass dildos may be a perfect pick for lesbians who want penetration but aren’t interested in thinking about penises while they masturbate.
They’re easy to keep clean due to their non-porous texture.
And to top it all off:
Glass dildos can be warmed up or cooled down for unique and pleasurable sensations. Just run the toy under hot or cold water to create this effect.
The Adam & Eve Twisted Love Glass Dildo
My favorite glass dildo pick is the Adam & Eve Twisted Love model.
It’s a good size for most women and has a ribbed design for tantalizing sensations.
The body has a curved shape to hit your G-spot and the other end of the toy is a butt plug. This makes it a great pick for versatile sexual explorers who love to experiment and mix it up in the bedroom.
(Just make sure you’re always following proper hygiene and washing the toy between using it for anal and vaginal pleasure).
Another major bonus of the Twisted Love Glass Dildo is its attractive design: It’s undeniably pretty!
Learn more about glass dildo options in our guide on the topic.
The Best Squirting Dildo
Squirting dildos are sex toys that mimic ejaculation.
They have a life-like look, similar to the realistic dildos described earlier. But these toys take the realism a step further with their squirting function.
So, how do these toys work?
These products have a reservoir inside the body that causes them to squirt out a liquid of your choosing. Most people fill them with lubricant but water is another popular option to put inside.
With many squirting dildos, you can cause the dildo to “ejaculate” by simply pressing a button.
Others use a syringe-like plunger that you use to make them squirt.
These are a good option for people who would like to feel the sensation of a penis ejaculating inside of them but who don’t want to get pregnant.
A squirting dildo is also a good choice if you’re single and simply miss the look and feel of semen coming out of a penis.
The Big Shot Squirting Vibrating Dildo
My favorite option on the market right now is the Big Shot Squirting Vibrating Dildo.
The ejaculation feature on this toy is easy to activate with a button and causes it to squirt for about 3 seconds. The ease of use and length of ejaculation makes the dildo seem very lifelike.
It has a suction cup for hands-free play. Keep in mind that the suction feature works better when it’s slightly wet, so the shower is the ideal spot for using it.
The Big Shot Squirting Vibrating Dildo comes with a variety of vibration settings.
But the best part?
You can use it as an ordinary dildo or vibrator, even if you don’t always feel like using the squirt feature.
You can check out a few more options in our best ejaculating dildo guide.
The Best Large Dildo
There are a couple reasons why you might want to buy a large dildo for your sexual explorations.
Perhaps you’ve never experienced a big penis and want to know what one would feel like.
Or perhaps you have had a large partner in the past and have been missing the feeling ever since.
Now:
I don’t recommend starting out with a large dildo if you aren’t very experienced. However, after you’ve been using dildos for a while, you may find the extra girth very stimulating.
Different sized dildos can appeal at different times depending on how aroused you are or what mood you’re in.
So, adding a big one to your collection could be a great next step.
The King Cock Extra Girthy Ultra Realistic Dildo
The King Cock Realistic Dildo is a 9.5-inch toy with realistic details including lifelike veins. It comes with a strong suction cup that will attach to any smooth surface.
The realistic balls on the King Cock Dildo provide external stimulation while the firm shaft hits your G-spot due to its slight curve.
This dildo is large, but not so big that it looks intimidating.
This is a good choice for people who want a lifelike masturbation experience. Dipping the toy in warm water can make it feel closer to body temperature for even more realistic play.
You can read more about our favorite large dildo options in our guide on the subject.
The Best Double-Ended Dildo
Double-ended dildos come in a few different styles and shapes.
Most of them have one long shaft with a head on each end. Others have a curved shape.
These toys have be used in a variety of different ways.
They’re a good option for people who want to use a sex toy but also would like to include their partner in their fun. They can be used by two women, a man and a woman, or two men.
Now:
Two women can use a double-ended dildo to stimulate their G-spots at the same time. Other toys can, of course, be added to the mix for clitoral stimulation.
Another fun idea is to use a double-ended dildo anally. A woman can insert one end into her vagina and the other end into her male (or female) partner’s anus.
Or, if you’re using a flexible toy, you can insert one end into your own vagina and the other into your anus.
As you can see, there are lots of imaginative combinations you can use here.
The Ice Gem Realistic Double-Ended Dildo
This option is an 18-inch double dildo with a stimulating and realistic texture and a large head on each end.
It has a flexible design that makes it compatible with a variety of different positions.
The Ice Gem toy is versatile to use regardless of the gender of each partner.
You can also use it alone for super deep penetration. It has a clear color, which many people find extra arousing due to enhanced visibility.
The toy is 5 inches in circumference, so it’s not too big or too small.
Find more great double-ended sex toy picks in our double dildo guide.
The Best Strap-On Dildo
Strap-on harnesses come in a few different styles, with some resembling underwear and others made just with straps.
But no matter the style, they strap on to your body via a harness with the ability to attach a dildo.
While some come with a dildo, others are just the harness. So, make sure you check the type you’re buying before you settle on a choice.
This style of dildo gives ladies a chance to experience entirely new sexual sensations.
Most people get curious about how the opposite gender feels during sex. With a strap-on dildo, you’re given an opportunity to see how it feels to be the one penetrating your partner.
Strap-on dildos work with either a female or male partner.
If you’re using one with a female partner, you can use it to penetrate her vaginally or anally.
Another potential use for a strap-on is by men who struggle with erectile dysfunction.
As with most other sex toys, the only limit here is your imagination!
The Lifelike Lover Realistic Pleasures Dildo Kit
My top pick for the best strap-on dildo is the Lifelike Lover Realistic Pleasures Dildo Kit.
The kit comes with 3 dildos, each with unique textures and shapes to add some variety to your sex life.
One of the toys is an 8-inch realistic dildo for people who crave deep penetration. Next is a 6-inch vibrating dildo that has 3 speeds and 7 vibration patterns.
And last is a 6-inch anal dildo for fun with the back door.
The kit also includes 3 O-rings and the harness is adjustable for comfortable wear.
For more information, read our guide on the best strap-on harnesses.
The Best Anal Dildo
Anal play can be intimidating if you aren’t used to it.
It’s a totally different sensation than vaginal play and many people have concerns about discomfort.
Thankfully, anal never has to hurt if you do it right. (You can read my guide on pain-free anal sex to learn more).
But part of the process of getting used to anal sensations is using an anal dildo.
Even if you never plan to progress to actual anal sex, one of these toys can bring you immense pleasure and spice up your solo playtime.
Here’s the deal:
There are a few features that set anal dildos apart from ordinary dildos.
This type of sex toy will have either a handle at the bottom or a flared base. This design limits how far inside your rectum they can go. Without this safety feature, you might end up in the emergency room.
So, try to make sure you’re always using a toy specifically designed for anal when you’re doing any butt stuff.
The Jollipops Smooth Anal Dildo
My favorite anal dildo option is the Jollipops Smooth Anal Dildo. This toy is made with smooth TPE material and has a 6-inch body with a curve in the shaft.
The curved body is designed to hit the prostate, so you can share the toy with your male partner. The tip of the toy is tapered for easy insertion.
The Jollipops smooth anal dildo has a suction cup at the end so you can use it hands-free. Attach it to a table top, mirror, or the wall of the shower.
While cleanliness is important with all sex toys, it’s especially important with anal dildos. Always wash your toy after using it, and don’t forget to use plenty of lube.
The Best Vibrating Dildo
Any adult toy that vibrates can be called a "vibrator" despite its shape and how it looks.
But a vibrating dildo usually refers to toys that resemble a penis and also have a vibrating function.
Vibrating sex toys are a popular option because they take your climax to an entirely new level.
Some vibrating dildos come with a remote control while others have the vibrating mechanism built into the toy.
You can obviously use one of these with or without the vibration, but this feature adds some versatility to the product. Like other dildos, vibrating options can be used both alone and with a partner.
The Lifelike Lover Classic Realistic Dildo Vibrator
I’ve brought this toy up a few different times throughout this article because it’s just that great of a product.
It has a realistic feel that’s both flexible and firm.
It comes with 10 unique vibration settings. You can mix up the pulsations to create a wide variety of stimulating sensations, so you’re never bored.
It has a girth and length that most women should find suitable, and a suction cup for hands-free play.
Don’t Forget to Use Lube
I recommend using lubricant each time you use a sex toy, especially if you’re engaging in anal play.
Water-based lubes are a good option because they’re compatible with all sex toys.
So, if you want one type of lube that will work with every toy, water-based is the best kind to get.
Silicone-based lubes, on the other hand, can degrade silicone dildos.
If you’re using a silicone-based lubricant, make sure you check what materials it’s compatible with before you use it with a toy.
For anal penetration or any type of anal play, use a thick lubricant.
Gel lubes designed specifically for anal will provide a thicker cushion to protect the sensitive tissues in your anus.
You can learn more about the best lubes for anal sex in my guide about them here.
Dildos are a fun way to get to know your own sexuality better or to add some spice to your sex life with your partner.
Hopefully, my guide helped you find the best pick for you.