Guide · Anal plug
As a beginner, you should choose a small plug with a clear, flared base, a narrow neck, and a non-porous material such as silicone or glass—and use it with plenty of lubricant, slowly, and without pain. The base is the most important safety measurement; you can always go up in size later.
An anal plug is a short toy that is inserted and then stays in place, unlike a dildo that moves back and forth. It has three parts: a main body that becomes wider toward the middle, a narrow neck that the ring muscle closes around, and a base that stays outside the body.
For a first plug, there are four things. The base should be clearly wider than the rest of the plug. The diameter should be small. The material should be non-porous, so it can be cleaned completely. And you need lubricant—your rectum produces none on its own.
The muscles in the anus can draw objects inward. That’s why an anal plug must have a wide, flared base—often called a flange or stopper—that prevents it from sliding in completely. This applies to all toys used anally, and it’s why you shouldn’t use a dildo or vibrator without a wide foot anally.
The base comes in a few shapes. A round, flat base is obvious and easy to grip. A T-shaped or anchor-shaped base sits narrower between the buttocks and is often more comfortable if you want to keep the plug in for a longer time. No matter the shape, it should be sturdy enough not to bend and follow it in.
Inflatable plugs are a special case. Several of them lack a real flange, and the fixed-in hose and pump have to fulfill that function. They’re made to increase in size gradually and fit better when you already know what you like.
Look at the largest diameter, not the total length. That’s the widest point that should pass the ring muscle, and it determines how it feels. Length matters less for a first plug, as long as it isn’t unnecessarily long.
As a comparison, Black Velvets Vibrating Plug Small has a diameter of 1.9–2.7 cm and a 9 cm insertion depth, and Cuties Vibrating Mini Butt Plugis 6.5 cm insertable with 3.1 cm as widest and 1.4 cm at the neck. Both fall within the small range and are designed as beginner models.Lovense Hush 2is sold in four sizes from 25 to 57 mm in diameter, which shows how big the difference can be within the same model—where the smallest size is for beginners.
The next measurement is the neck. A narrow neck lets the muscle relax around the plug once it’s in place, and that’s what makes it feel comfortable to keep in. The shape of the main part affects how insertion feels: a smooth taper gives a gradual increase, while several steps or bumps in increasing size provide several short passages.
If you’re unsure, choose the smaller size. It’s easy to go up later, and a plug that’s too big from the start rarely makes the experience better. A set with multiple sizes is an option if you want to be able to increase step by step.
Choose a non-porous material. Silicone is the most common: soft, slightly flexible, and body-friendly. Glass and metal are hard, smooth, and completely non-porous, and all of them can handle all types of lube. They feel heavier and can be warmed or cooled for temperature play, but they aren’t flexible at all.
Avoid porous materials like PVC, TPE, and TPR in an anal toy. They have microscopic cavities that can be cleaned on the surface but not completely, and in a toy that comes into contact with bacteria from the intestines, that’s a disadvantage.
Icicles No. 47is a glass plug with three graduated balls, a narrow neck, and a flared base: 9.5 cm insertable and 3.5 cm as widest. The manufacturer states that it’s dishwasher-safe, and glass as a material tolerates all types of lube. Glass has one drawback you should know about—it can break if dropped, and a plug with a crack or chip should not be used.
Lube isn’t a comfort thing with anal use—it’s a prerequisite. Use plenty, both on the plug and on the opening, and top up if it starts to feel dry.
Water-based lubricant works with all toys and is easy to wash off. Silicone-based lubricant lasts longer and doesn’t dry out as quickly, which many people prefer for anal use—but it can damage silicone toys. For a silicone plug, water-based is therefore the safe choice; for glass and metal, you can use both. Avoid numbing lubricants: pain is your body’s signal to slow down or stop, and you don’t want to switch off that signal.
Read more in which lubricant should you choose or compare in best-in-test lubricants.
1. Get prepared. Wash the plug and your hands, and trim your nails if you’re going to use your fingers first. Many people feel safer after a trip to the toilet and a shower.
2. Relax. Start when you’re relaxed and aroused, not when you’re stressed. Breathe calmly. Having a gloved finger with lubricant first can help the muscle get used to it.
3. Insert slowly. Apply lubricant to the plug and press the tip lightly against the opening. Let the muscle give way at its own pace, ideally while you exhale. The widest part is the hardest moment; once it has passed, the neck of the plug glides into place and the muscle closes around it.
4. Check in with yourself. A certain amount of pressure and a feeling of fullness is normal. Sharp pain is not—then remove the plug, add more lubricant, or try another day.
5. Take it out carefully. Relax, exhale, and slowly pull from the base. Don’t leave the plug in for several hours at first; start with short sessions.
A plug without a motor is the easiest: nothing to charge, nothing that can break, and it can be cleaned thoroughly. A vibrating plug provides more sensation, but it has electronics, so the enclosure rating matters for cleaning. Cuties Vibrating Mini and Black Velvets Small have no enclosure rating and must not be submerged in water.
App-controlled plugs, such as Lovense Hush 2, can be controlled remotely by a partner. Hush 2 is full silicone with IPX7 and up to 275 minutes of operating time according to the manufacturer, but the 45 mm size isn’t a beginner size—if you want app control as your first plug, that’s the smallest size you should look at. More models are available in best-in-test anal plugs and under anal toys.
Wash the plug before and after each use with lukewarm water and mild, fragrance-free soap or a toy-cleaning product. Be extra careful around the neck and the base, where residue can easily collect. Let it dry completely and store it separately in a bag, so it doesn’t sit against other toys.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your specific plug: glass such as Icicles No. 47 is, according to the manufacturer, dishwasher-safe, while a vibrating plug without an enclosure rating can only be dried off. More about different materials can be found in how to clean sex toys.
The information about the products comes from the manufacturers’ published specifications and manuals. Read more under this is how we review.
