While pleasure products like dildos, Wartenburg wheels, and pumps are ambiguously named, butt plugs do exactly what they say: they plug a bumhole because it can feel good. These beginner-friendly anal toys are made to be inserted into the nerve-rich anal canal, where they stay in place during play to offer sensations of fullness, pressure, or vibration that can feel sensational. Here’s everything you need to know about using and purchasing one.
Why butt plugs?
What does it do? Butt plugs are uniquely-shaped toys designed for temporary use inside the anal canal. Most butt plugs sport a bulbous body that narrows to a thin, elongated neck that your anal opening can close around once it’s inside, with a flared base that keeps the toy safely outside the body.
A flared base helps keep you or a partner out of the emergency room. Unlike the vaginal canal, which has an anatomical stopping point (the cervix) that physically blocks anything from traveling further into the body, the anal canal connects to the rectum, without a stopping point, which connects to the rest of the digestive tract. Without a handle or other flared topper to keep the toy firmly rooted outside the body, there is a risk that the toy will slide deeper inside the body than intended, become difficult to remove, and potentially even put your or a partner’s health at risk.
What body part or parts is it for use with? Butt plugs, as their name suggests, are primarily designed for anal insertion. However, so long as they are sanitized first, covered with a condom or other barrier method, or only used for vaginal use, they can also be repurposed as vaginal plugs, a related toy type that also facilitates a feeling of fullness.
Some butt plugs are motorized, which means they can also be used as vibrators. The neck of anal plugs fit well between two fingers, making them an excellent substitute for a finger vibrator. The tapered tip of butt plugs also lets you use them as you would the tip of a bullet vibrator or pinpoint vibrator, while rotating the plug so the wider body makes contact, allowing it to cover a broad surface area with vibration, as a wand vibrator might.
What’s it feel like? Ultimately, what a butt plug feels like is going to depend on a variety of factors, like your experience level with anal play, the size and shape of the plug in question, how much and what kind of (pro-tip: thicker lubes are best for anal anything) lubricant you’re using, and your current levels of arousal, stress and relaxation. So long as you use an option well-sized for your experience level with lube when you are relaxed and highly aroused, both inserting the plug and wearing it can feel pleasurable.
The state of the two main sets of muscles associated with the anus will also impact the sensation. The external sphincter muscles sit right at the entrance and can be controlled on purpose—and, with practice, can loosen or soften for more comfortable and pleasurable entry. The internal sphincter muscle, which is higher up in the anal canal, is controlled by the central nervous system; it only opens, involuntarily, when your body feels safe, relaxed, and ready on a deeper level. If either of these muscle groups are tense and clenched—often because a person themselves feels tense or clenched—your anal canal won’t be able to open as much as it needs to for insertion to feel good, or happen at all.
Most people find that being patient, deep breathing, and gently bearing down help both anal sphincters release tension. It’s also worth naming that genuinely wanting to engage in this kind of play also matters—not just for consent, but also for comfort. If you feel a curious, excited, full-body “yes” about anal exploration, your nervous system is likely to accept entry. But if you feel pressured or distracted, your body often responds by resisting it.
Letting your body lead—continuing when something feels good, pausing when you encounter resistance or discomfort —is also important. Even if full insertion can’t happen this go-round, these muscles (and the body, more broadly) remembers which sensations feel safe, which can influence how future butt plug use feels.
For people who are relaxed, aroused, and rocking tension-free sphincter muscles, the initial insertion of the plug delivers a sensation often described as a “pleasurable stretch,” as the muscular anal opening quickly expands so the girthiest portion can slide in. Once the plug is inside, some people say they feel “full” or “stuffed,” while others say they feel little or nothing. Many first-time users are surprised to learn that a non-vibrating plug won’t necessarily create ongoing sensation on its own unless it’s shaped to press on the prostate or is used in combination with other touch or movement.
With that, the other sensations you layer into butt plug usage will really impact what you feel. Wearing a butt plug during vaginal intercourse or while the vagina is filled with fingers or a toy can really change what that feels like. When a plug is pushed gently against that wall of tissue between the two canals, vaginal sensations can feel different and deeper.
Meanwhile, if you have a prostate gland—an erogenous nerve cluster that most people who were born with a penis have—wearing a butt plug that is long enough to apply pressure to the prostate alongside penile stimulation can add a deep, internal pleasure that many describe as “warm,” “intense,” or “orgasmic.”
Quick facts
What materials is it made of? Most butt plugs are made from medical-grade silicone, which has a soft, skin-like feel. Some plugs are made from harder, body-safe materials like stainless steel or borosilicate glass; these heftier materials can lend themselves to greater feelings of fullness, making them more optimal for those experienced with anal play and stimulation.
Is it loud? Standard butt plugs are not motorized and thus are completely silent. Vibrating butt plugs can make a noticeable hum when turned on and outside the body. However, once inserted, the sound is usually muffled enough that most people can’t hear it. If discretion is a priority, opt for one marketed as being “whisper-quiet” or stick to a pick described as quiet in online reviews.
Is it beginner-friendly? Yes, so long as you start with a size and shape that matches your experience level—and are committed to purchasing a quality lubricant to use with it.
Butt plugs come in a wide range of sizes, from tiny training plugs—often thinner than a pinkie finger—to plugs meant for people used to using butt plugs or other kinds of anal sex. For beginners, silicone options are usually the most comfortable, as the material is soft and does not absorb heat (like stainless steel can), which keeps it from being shockingly cold against the sensitive spot.
Worth noting: It is common for anal toys to be wrongly called “advanced.” Indeed, some plugs are on the larger or more intense end of the spectrum, but the category itself is not inherently advanced. If the anus is the part of your body you’re most curious about exploring, then starting with a small, beginner-sized plug is just as valid a starting point as any other toy.
Plus, some people don’t feel the need or desire for a toy designed for their front genitals, but do want an aid for anal stimulation because the anus can be harder to reach or comfortably stimulate with one’s own hands.
Do I need anything besides the toy to use it? Lube is a non-negotiable add-in during butt plug usage or any kind of anal sex. The anal canal is not self-lubricating, which means that you need to add a lubricant for the dose of slick that keeps play pleasurable and safe.
Silicone-based lube shouldn’t be used with silicone toys, and oil-based lube can’t be used with latex barriers. Your best bet is to get a long-lasting, thick water-based lubricant free from any sugar (glycerins) or alcohol, which can be irritating to the anal tissues.
Is it safe?
Yes, butt plugs are usually safe so long as they are proper anal plugs fashioned with their emblematic flared topper. These bases—often shaped like a T or O—are essential because they keep the toy from slipping entirely inside the body and give you something to hold onto when it’s time to remove it.
It’s also important to listen to your body when inserting and removing a butt plug. Discomfort and pain are your body’s way of communicating that something isn’t quite right. During anal play, any unpleasurable sensations mean your body isn’t quite ready for what you’re trying to do at that moment, that you’re not using enough lubricant, or both.
Respecting these sensations by slowing down—focusing on external forms of anal pleasure and giving love to other erogenous zones—adding in more lubricant, and switching to a smaller plug can all help replace pain with pleasure, while eventually getting you to insertion. On the flip, continuing on and ignoring these signs can irritate the delicate tissues lining the anal canal, and even lead to tiny little micro-tears (called fissures). While these tiny, internal cuts hurt, they are largely preventable when you go slow and use lots of lube.
Listening to your body is also key when you’re ready to take the plug out, too. Rather than yanking out the toy willy-nilly, pause, take a few deep breaths, and add a little extra lubricant around the neck of the plug. Next, grip onto the handle and slowly remove as you exhale. Some people find it helpful to push out or bear down slightly (yes, as if you’re getting ready to poop), as it encourages the muscles to relax and the body to release the plug.
It’s worth being explicit about this: Using a butt plug will not stretch out, weaken, or otherwise damage or ruin your anal opening or canal. The opening of your bum is made of elastic muscles that contract and relax regularly, a lot like those of the vagina or mouth and throat. Butt plugs allow your body to open and close, this time in service of sex and sensation.
Similarly, vibrating butt plugs cannot damage the nerves around the anal opening or lining the anal canal. If anything, the vibration can actually help the muscles relax, making the experience even more pleasurable.
How can you keep it clean? All sex toys come with cleaning instructions that you should read and heed. Generally, silicone, borosilicate, and steel plugs can be cleaned with warm water and a fragrance-free soap before and after use. A sex toy cleansing wipe can come in handy if you share a bathroom or don’t have one near where you utilized the toy.
While mild, unscented soap will do a perfectly good job at removing bacteria from the toy, you may (may!) notice a faint, lingering odor even after washing anal toys. This doesn’t automatically mean that the toy is unsafe or still dirty. In fact, the scent usually disappears once the toy has completely air-dried. However, washing it a second time or using a toy cleaner designed for anal play can help.
If the toy is not motorized, made from body-safe materials, and the manufacturer signals that it’s safe, you can also boil the toy for a few minutes to remove any stubborn odors.
How to use it?
The three most important tenets of butt plug play, whether you’re going it alone or with a partner, are to go slow, keep it lubricated, and listen to your body.
By design, the anal sphincter muscles remain contracted and closed. On top of that, some people hold tension in their pelvic floor muscles, just as others hold it in their shoulders or jaws, which can make their resting state even tighter. Comfortably inserting a plug past these muscles requires them to relax, which means helping your body feel relaxed is your first order of business.
Any practice that supports calm is a good starting point. Taking a warm bath or shower, breathing deeply, receiving a full-body massage, inhaling soothing scents, surrounding yourself with soft lighting, snuggling, and eye gazing can all signal to your body that it’s safe to soften and relax.
Arousal is also key, as being turned on increases blood flow to the pelvic tissues, which helps relax the anal muscles. You can start with full-body arousal through things like fantasizing, listening to audio-erotica, reading smut, kissing, external touch, and other toy use. Then, you could gradually shift your focus to your backside erogenous zone by doing things like massaging your glute muscles, the anus, or the perineum—or inviting your partner to do so, if you’re doing this with someone else.
When the anal sphincter muscles relax, you’ll usually be able to feel them pucker. Or, with the help of a hand mirror, you may even see them open slightly. Once you reach this state, it’s a good time to lubricate the body of the plug as well as your anus. You can position the plug at the opening and, as you slowly exhale or gently bear down, gently press it inward, moving it forward in tandem with feeling your anus open more or feel like it’s pulling the toy inside on its own. You may notice an unfamiliar pressure as the girthiest part of the plug slides in. After that moment, many people find the rest of the plug—up to the neck—eases right in.
Can I use it alone? Yes! In fact, it’s generally advised to explore anal sex toys for the first time on your own rather than with a partner. The presence of a partner can make some people nervous about how they look or pressure them to perform, ultimately making it harder for the body to relax and enjoy the sensation.
Any position that allows you to reach towards your anus comfortably is great—there is no single correct position for plug insertion during solo play. Some people like to lie on their backs and prop their hips up with a positioning prop or pillow (with a towel layered on top), which brings their bum closer to their hand. Others like to lie on their side with knees slightly bent. Some, too, like to assume a squat position, which naturally opens up the anus, while putting in the plug before relocating.
What you do once the plug is in is entirely up to you. Some like to enjoy the sensation of fullness on its own, or like to contract or relax against the plug. Other people like to layer in additional sensations by stroking their genitals, penetrating their front hole with fingers or another toy, or touching their nipples.
Can you use it with a partner? If so, how? Yep. In a partnered setting, one partner might wear the plug to facilitate their own arousal while focusing their attention (via their hands, mouth, by talking, etc.) on a partner. Someone might also wear a butt plug while receiving or taking part in other types of touch or sex, finding that the added sensation of fullness or pressure intensifies the whole experience, even if the plug itself isn’t being actively interacted with.
Butt plugs are also commonly used as a tool to help prepare one partner’s body for anal intercourse with a penis or strap-on. Here, the plug can help the body acclimate to taking something inside of it in a controlled setting, which can be primarily a new sensation for people who do not have a vagina, therefore may not have much prior experience with insertive sex.
Worth noting: Unlike pleasure products designed for simultaneous usage (like a double-ended dildo) or to be shared between multiple partners with a condom, butt plugs are generally best used as single-user toys. Plugs are often inserted and worn for the duration of play, rather than passed back and forth (as a wand vibrator might be). With that, it’s generally advised to purchase as many plugs as there are partners who want to try it.
If you and your partner(s) plan to use the same plug at different times, be sure to thoroughly disinfect it between uses to reduce the risk of transferring bacteria.
Where to get it?
Is there something I can find at home? A butt plug cannot be DIY-ed from a household item. Butt plugs need to be made from a particular material (body-safe) and be a specific shape (flared base! flared base! flared base!) to make them safe for anal insertion—and there is nothing else that can take their place. Putting anything other than an anal-specific toy in your anus is incredibly dangerous, as objects of suboptimal shapes, materials, and sizes can damage the anal canal.
That said, some dildos do have an anal-safe design. If you already have an appropriately-sized dildo on hand, check the packaging or online description to see if it’s safe for anal insertion and use (or not) accordingly. You know the drill: if it doesn’t have a flared base, it’s a big nope for anal use.
Most other vibrator types—finger vibrators, wand vibrators, pinpointed vibrators, to name just a few—are not safe for anal insertion. These other vibrators, however, can be used externally to stimulate the butt cheeks, the opening of the anus, or the perineum, through which vibration can travel for indirect anal stimulation. That said, using a vibrator substitute (toothbrush, vibrating razor, etc.) in or near your anus is dangerous and unsanitary and therefore not recommended.
Of course, you can always utilize your own fingers to explore anal sex, just like a partner could use theirs with you. Just be sure to trim and smooth nails and hangnails to maximize comfort, and experiment with different angles. You can also protect the anus from fingernails y using a latex glove.
Where can I get it? Nearly all online and in-person sex toy shops sell butt plugs. Most online carriers typically have a wider selection, but in-person shops have the advantage of being staffed by sex educators who can help you pick out the best plug for you.
Depending on your age, location, and privacy needs, you may want to browse the website ahead of time or call the helpline to ask about age restrictions, as some retailers have an age restriction on sex toys. If discretion is important to you, you should also ask how the item will appear on your bank statement and how it will be packaged for shipping. Most retailers use plain packaging and neutral billing names, but it’s best to check ahead of time.
What do they usually cost? Butt plug prices range widely, with motorized and steel options costing up to $200. However, simpler, beginner-sized options usually cost between $25 and $50.
How should I pick the right one for me? When selecting a butt plug, the most critical factors are material and size. Anything you’re putting in your body or using near your genitals needs to be made from a body-safe material, so go ahead and limit your selection to those made from silicone, steel, borosilicate glass, or ABS plastic. If you’re brand new to butt plugs, it’s best to stick with silicone, which has more give and thus will feel less abrasive or invasive to your bum.
Next, consider size. Nothing will thwart the pleasure-potential of anal play quite like having your eyes be bigger than your bumhole. People who are brand new to anal exploration should stick with simple plugs that offer less than three inches and are only as thick as a finger at their girthiest point. If you’re a more-experienced anal-explorer, pick a toy that’s similar in size to what you’ve used and enjoyed. Just keep in mind that steel and glass plugs are heavier, so they will feel bigger than any similarly sized body part or silicone toy you’ve used.
Your final task is to consider what other details you might enjoy or need. If you want the option of vibration, for example, you’ll need a vibrating plug. Here, you’ll want to consider how many settings are available, where the buttons are located, whether the toy can be controlled via remote or an app, and whether there is a second motor in the neck or handle for additional stimulation. Meanwhile, if you have limited hand mobility, for example, you should stick to plugs with loop handles, which may be easier to pull out compared to those with slim, T-shaped handles.
