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If you're curious about the best butt plugs for beginners, look no further. Allow us to introduce you to these versatile toys you can enjoy no matter your gender, sexual orientation, or genitalia. These rear-end friends offer a multitude of sensations, so whether you're rocking a prostate or a vagina, a butt plug can make you feel some type of way. Vagina-havers can enjoy pleasurable pressure on the back vaginal wall, and anus-havers (yes, you) can light up the nerve endings around your B-hole in a whole new way.
Our Top Picks
- Best Overall: Lovehoney Butt Tingler,
$27$17 - Most Versatile: LELO Billy 2, $149
- Best for Long Distance: We-Vibe Ditto,
$129$97 - Best for Beginners: Maude Cone, $30
- Best Butt Plug Set: Bellesa Anal Training Kit, $59
- Best Vibrating Butt Plug: PinkCherry It's A Gem Vibrating Butt Plug,
$50$25 - Best Prostate Massager: LELO Bruno, $149
Whether you've never tried butt plugs before, or if you're already into all things anal, there are a few things you should know for a comfortable, safe, and sexy experience. Keep reading to learn all of the ins and outs of butt plugs, as well as the best butt plugs for beginners on the market. Bottoms up!
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are butt plugs?
- What should I know before buying a butt plug?
- Can butt plugs be used for more than anal sex preparation?
- What should I know about lube?
- How do I get the plug in my butt…and take it out?
- What about cleanup?
- Where can I buy a butt plug, and which one is right for me?
Best Overall: Lovehoney Butt Tingler
Why It's Worth It: The Lovehoney Butt Tingler is a fanny favorite for its not-too-big-not-too-small stature, smooth curves, and varied intensity levels. The girth tops out at an approachable 3.75 inches, making it a great place to start for anal play novices (add plentiful lube, of course). You can use it with the vibrator mode switched on or off depending on how buzzy you want things, and the T-shaped, flared base keeps the plug pleasingly in place all the while.
Editor Tip: Once you've gotten comfortable with the size of this toy, go ahead and graduate to the slightly larger, 4-inch-long rendition of the Butt Tingler.
Product Specs: Waterproof, water-based lube compatible, battery-powered
Most Versatile Anal Toy: LELO Billy 2
Why It's Worth It: Newbies, rejoice. This luxurious, easy-to-use prostate massager from LELO is a gift to your well-being. It has a familiar, game console-style control panel that makes it simple to choose from any of the eight vibration settings. This massager also has a surprisingly long battery life (up to 4 hours), so you can really go the distance.
Editor Tip: Billy 2's versatility is really where the toy shines. Use it alone to add prostate play to your masturbation routine, with a partner during foreplay, or even try it as a vaginal massager to hit the G-spot. Our bodies may be different, but we can all enjoy high-end sex tech.
Product Specs: Waterproof, 4-hour battery life, water- and aloe-based lube compatible, and comes with a satin storage bag and a USB charging cable
Best for Long Distance: We-Vibe Ditto
Why It's Worth It: Meet Ditto, a vibrating plug that's great for beginners or experts, thanks to its 10 deep, powerful vibration patterns. It's made with smooth silicone and is totally waterproof, making it a breeze to clean. And if you've ever been edging, edging, edging...and then your vibe dies, you'll appreciate Ditto's low-power alert so you won't get stranded during your session.
Editor Tip: We-Vibe changes the game regarding long- (or short-) distance intimacy, as all of its toys are remote- or app-controlled. Use the remote for self-pleasure and control from different rooms (or across the dinner table), and have your partner download the app to control the toy from even continents away.
Product Specs: Waterproof, 2-hour battery life, water- and aloe-based lube compatible, with a USB charging cable, remote, and a Pjur lube sample.
Best for Beginners: Maude Cone
Why It's Worth It: Maude's no-frills silicone butt plug is among our favorites for beginners because it's slim for easy insertion, budget-friendly, and doesn't have any confusing controls. It's made with good ol', body-safe silicone, and honestly, it's pretty chic. The Cone has an insertable length of 3.5 inches and an insertable one-inch diameter, making it very approachable. Like all the best sex toys, it comes with a handy and discreet storage bag.
Editor Tip: Butt wait, there's more! Use this small plug to "warm up" for anal sex; it'll help to relax your muscles and get you used to the feeling of something in your tush. You can also wear it for foreplay, and if you decide that you like it, consider leveling up to a vibrating toy.
Product Specs: Waterproof, water- and aloe-based lube compatible, comes with storage bag
Best Vibrating Butt Plug: PinkCherry It's A Gem Vibrating Butt Plug
Why It's Worth It: An anal plug that doubles as eye candy? Sure, we'll bite. PinkCherry's affordable vibrating option isn't too long, and it has the tapered base you want in an anal toy. It has a bit more girth than some others on this list, so if it's your first butt plug-rodeo, consider opting for a slimmer one.
Editor Tip: The gem on this toy's base is actually a button to control the vibrations. There are 10 different settings you can cycle through to pick your pleasure — and you can have at it for up to two hours, thanks to the rechargeable battery.
Product Specs: Waterproof, 2-hour battery life, water- and aloe-based lube compatible
Best Prostate Massager: LELO Bruno
Why It's Worth It: LELO's Bruno is on the pricier side, but there's a reason why Amber Rose vouches for this luxurious brand. This prostate massager is angled and has sexual pleasure at the top of the mind. It also wraps externally around the perineum and vibrates at six different speeds and variations. Not every sex toy has such bragging rights.
Editor Tip: Bruno is a dual-motor toy, with one in the base and one in the tip. Although they don't have separate controls, this still allows the vibrations to stimulate the perineum and the prostate simultaneously.
Product Specs: Waterproof, 2-hour battery life, water- and aloe-based lube compatible, and comes with a satin storage bag and a USB charging cable
Best Butt Plug Set: Bellesa Anal Training Kit
Why It's Worth It: For those eager to play with small butt plugs in preparation for wider options, check out plug sets such as this Bellesa anal training kit, including a small (insertable length of about 3 inches), medium (about 3.5 inches), and a large (about 4 inches) plug. Ortmann refers to trios like these as "Cindy, Jan, and Marcias": They're sisters of different sizes.
Editor Tip: Here's a fun feature: The base of each of these plugs doubles as a suction cup. So, when you want to indulge in a bit of self-pleasure, you can attach it to any hard surface and allow it to penetrate you.
Product Specs: Waterproof, water- and aloe-based lube compatible
Frequently Asked Questions
What are butt plugs?
Some sex toys, such as the Wartenberg Pinwheel, have somewhat cryptic names and uses. Butt plugs, however, do precisely what you'd imagine: They plug up your butt. "The anus can be a remarkable source of pleasure, so butt plugs, with a lot of lube, are a great way to loosen up the anus and get something inside of it," says David Ortmann, LCSW, a psychotherapist and sex therapist based in San Francisco.
People often use butt plugs for penetrative anal sex prep. Remember, unlike the vagina, the rectum doesn't self-lubricate. This is why it's essential to warm up your butthole with plenty of lube and smaller insertables — such as fingers and butt plugs — before penetrative sex with a strap-on or penis, says sex educator Timaree Schmit, who also co-hosts a podcast called DTF.
Butt plugs generally have narrow tips that get progressively wider toward the middle and then narrow to a slim neck at the base so your rectum can comfortably contain them. Since things can get trapped, a flared bottom, pull cord, or ring prevents a butt plug from getting lost inside you, Ortmann says. (Nobody wants to have to tell the "ended up in the ER with a butt plug stuck in their rear" story at Thanksgiving).
What should I know before buying a butt plug?
In addition to choosing a plug with a flared base, it's important to check that your toy is body-safe. Since sex toys are categorized as "novelty items," they're more or less unregulated by any federal agency, meaning it's up to you to make sure that materials are safe to put in, on, and around your genitals. "Cheaper toys might be made of chemicals that can leach into your body," Schmit warns, so be careful what you add to your cart and caboose.
According to the Kinsey Institute, anything that's silicone, borosilicate glass (Pyrex), or stainless steel is a good bet. Schmit suggests beginners select silicone over glass or steel, as silicone has more give and is easier to insert. All three materials are nonporous and can be thoroughly cleaned after each use. Butt plugs made of rigid plastics and acrylics, on the other hand, are porous, which means they can become hotbeds of bacteria from your GI tract, which is neither safe nor sexy.
Another butt plug rule of thumb: Start small, and don't let your eyes be bigger than your butthole. "Pick one that looks ludicrously small to you," Ortmann says. "I remember buying my first one and thinking, this is a good medium size, but I don't think I got that thing inside of me for another decade." If you're a total beginner, start with the smallest size available and work your way up. After all, you definitely can't return a used butt plug.
Can butt plugs be used for more than anal sex preparation?
Anal sex warm-up is far from the only use for plugs. Some people within the BDSM community use them as part of dominance and submission (D/s) play. ("I like to make submissives suck on the butt plug that I'm going to use on them," Ortmann says.) An advanced user may wear a butt plug for several hours, or out in public.
If you have a vagina, the butt plug is also a wonderful way to experience double penetration: Slide one in after applying lube and wear it during vaginal sex with a penis or dildo to get that ultimate feeling of fullness. You can also simultaneously stimulate your clit with fingers or a vibrator. Many people dig receiving oral while they have a butt plug in. That said, you don't need a partner to enjoy butt plugs — they make for excellent masturbation companions. In fact, solo sex is a lovely way to explore anal play. The bottom line is that anal pleasure through butt plugs is something anyone can enjoy.
What should I know about lube?
Again, the rectum doesn't self-lubricate, so you have to add lube. Uf you're using a butt plug with multiple partners, practice safer sex by putting a condom on it and using a non-oil-based lube before each use, advises Ortmann. Oil-based lubes, including at-home options such as coconut oil, break down latex, but water- and silicone-based lubes do not.
Here's the thing about silicone lubes, though: They're fantastic for butt stuff because they're thick and tend to last longer than water-based varieties, but silicone breaks down silicone. If you're using a silicone toy, grab a water-based lube. Glass or stainless steel butt plugs work wonderfully with any lubricant. But if you're new to butt plugs, start with silicone, as the material has more give than glass or stainless steel. We recommend Maude's Shine Organic Lube, Überlube, or Pjur Aqua.
How do I get the plug in my butt…and take it out?
First, don't neglect foreplay. Instead of going straight for the ass, try a few other activities you enjoy, like oral sex, to get your body turned on and receptive to a new kind of stimulation.
Next, start with something smaller than a plug: Lube up your finger, or ask your partner if you can borrow theirs. Circle the anus with the finger, glide it gently in and out of the anus, then add another finger.
After your butt is comfortable with a couple of fingers, slather your plug in lube and slowly slide it inside you. Some find that inserting a butt plug is easiest when the receiver is bent over in a doggy-style position, but everyone is shaped differently, so experiment to find out what works for you.
According to sex and relationship expert Jessica O'Reilly, the key to anal play is relaxation. As she writes in The New Sex Bible: The New Guide to Sexual Love, there are two muscle rings known as the sphincter around the entrance to the anus. You want to be gentle with them when inserting anything into your butt. "Relax, breathe deeply, and bear down slightly with your sphincter muscles as you insert [a toy] for the first time," writes O'Reilly. If things are tricky to figure out at first, keep plugging away and we promise you'll get it down.
To remove a butt plug, gently pull it out while taking slow and steady deep breaths, or have your partner hold the base and slide it out for you. O'Reilly also points out that removal can be easier if you've orgasmed during anal play, as orgasms relax the pelvic floor.
What about cleanup?
After play, always wash your butt plugs and your hands with warm water and ample soap. If you have a vagina, avoid transferring bacteria from the butt to the vulva or vagina through contact since it can cause infection. (This means you and your partner need to wash your hands before rubbing any of your other genitalia.) Schmit says you can toss silicone plugs in a dishwasher, and our favorite three nonporous materials — tempered glass, silicone, and stainless steel — can be boiled to disinfect, provided they don't contain motors.
Where can I buy a butt plug, and which one is right for me?
That's a decision between you and your butthole, but we have some recommendations for you. You may want to buy your toy in person at a reputable adult boutique so you can ask questions of the knowledgeable staff. If you don't have access to an adult shop or are too shy or busy to visit a brick-and-mortar store, plenty of reputable brands and retailers will ship them right to your door (with discreet packaging, at that). Most of these sites offer educational videos and tips for using their anal toys, too.
Read more stories on tips and techniques for a satisfying sex life:
- The Best Sex Toy Sites to Shop in 2023
- The 18 Best Clitoral Vibrators That'll Upgrade Your Sex Life
- Your Guide to Body-Safe Lubes and What They're Made Of
- How to Clean Your Sex Toys Without Damaging Them, According to Experts
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