The 666 Dating Rule Explained: An Expert's Advice

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Dating coach Emyli Lovz explains the 666 rule and whether it's actually important

Co-authored by Emyli Lovz and Dev Murphy, MA

Last Updated: February 12, 2026 Fact Checked

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• What is it?
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• Is it superficial?
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• Do women care?
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• Setting Expectations
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• Other Dating "Rules"
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• Video

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You might know 666 as the devil's number, but it also refers to a new rule in the dating world that says girls should only date a guy who's at least six feet tall, makes at least $100,000 a year, and has a d*ck that's at least six inches long (or a six-pack of abs). But is this rule "real"—meaning, do girls actually care about this stuff? Isn't it…well, kind of shallow? We've got the answers! In this article, we'll explain the rule in more depth and how seriously people take it, with insights from dating coaches Emyli Lovz and Damona Hoffman. We’ll also cover tips for setting healthy and reasonable dealbreakers in a relationship, without lowering your standards. Keep reading for all the deets!

666 Rule Explained

Dating coach Emyli Lovz says girls who follow the 666 rule only date guys who are 6 feet tall, earn 6 figures, and have a 6-pack. Sometimes, the latter is replaced with a penis that's at least 6 inches long. The rule is generally considered superficial, and most women prefer to date men with great personalities.

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Section 1 of 5:

What is the 666 dating rule?

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1. 
   The 666 dating rule says a guy must be 6 feet tall, make 6 figures, and have a 6-pack. Ideally, according to the rule, he should be at least 6 feet tall, make at least 6 figures, and have at least a 6-pack (or, in some variations, at least 6 inches below the belt), as this TikTok by @jazminereneex explains. We're not totally sure where the 666 rule (aka the "rule of sixes") came from, but it's been circulating since at least 2018. The 666 rule is just satire for many women, but some women (especially Gen-Z women) have taken to writing "following the 666 rule" in their social media bios and dating app profiles to signal they'll only entertain the idea of dating a guy who meets this criteria.

   • According to Lovz, those requirements don’t matter, and you don’t need to have all those things to get a girl. She says the rule is happening because dating apps have made us so superficial that we can make choices before we know somebody.
   • Less commonly, the 666 rule refers to a workout routine in which you walk 6 days a week for 60 minutes at a time, often beginning at 6 a.m. or 6 p.m., followed by a 6-minute cooldown.

   Meet the wikiHow Experts

   Emyli Lovz is a dating and relationship coach for men based in San Francisco, CA. She has 14 years of experience and helps people not only find a long-term partner but an enduring, thriving relationship.

   Damona Hoffman is a celebrity dating coach, on-air personality, and bestselling author. With over 15 years of experience, she’s a regular contributor to The Drew Barrymore Show, NPR, and NBC’s Access Daily.
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Section 2 of 5:

Is the 666 rule superficial?

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1. 
   Yes, most people agree the 666 rule is pretty shallow. Look, there's nothing wrong with wanting to date someone who works hard, earns a decent living, exercises, is attractive, and is good in bed—which is what the 666 rule seems to be shorthand for. But people who follow this rule are ignoring the fact that earning 6 figures, being 6 feet tall, and having a 6-pack or 6-inch shl*ng aren't the only way to check those boxes.

   • Short kings can be hot. Guys who aren't jacked can be hot. Guys who make less than 6 figures but work hard at a career they love can be hot (plus, come on, the economy's terrible right now—none of us is making any money). And let's be real, the size of a guy's package doesn't really matter if he knows what he's doing in the sack.
   • Is the 666 rule even achievable? Technically, sure, but it's pretty rare. Let's look at the stats:
     • The average American man's height is 5'9".
     • The average American man earned $67,964 in 2025. (And let's not forget that your dollar goes farther in some places than others—for instance, 6 figures in New York City won't go as far as it will in, say, Pittsburgh.)
     • Only around 1-2% of men have a 6-pack (and that number drops considerably for men over the age of 35. Age comes for us all!).
     • The average flaccid penis is 9.16 cm (3.61 inches) in length; the average erect penis is 13.12 cm (5.16 inches) long.

Section 3 of 5:

Do women actually care about the 666 rule?

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1. 
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   Some might, but most women care more about a man's personality. If someone insists their partner meet such arbitrary and superficial standards as those presented by the 666 rule, it suggests they don't really know what they find desirable in a guy and are just going off of stereotypical traits of a so-called "high-value man." In fact, Lovz thinks their ego cares about the rule, but in reality, who they fall in love with doesn’t. For most people, regardless of gender, abstract traits like kindness, positivity, sense of humor, and personality are what really makes someone attractive, as numerous studies have shown.

   • Guys may sometimes put more stock in the 666 rule than girls. Some guys who face rejection from women may find it easier to blame their dates for being "superficial," choosing to believe they were rejected because of their looks or income rather than for more substantial reasons—like that they have a crummy personality or that there just wasn't any chemistry (which is nobody's fault).
   • As one Redditor pointed out, a guy's height, appearance, and income are some of the least important traits: "You can have all that and it still won’t make me attracted to you if I’m not attracted to you. Wild how some people can just turn their attraction off and on all selective like that. Only person I ever loved was a 5'9" waiter lmfao."
   • Lovz also agrees that the 6-figure income is a myth. She says that all the men that she and her (very cute) female friends dated were “broke as hell.”
   • That said, Lovz says women do like men who are tall, and there’s even a book that explains it. However, it’s the same concept that a man would probably choose a woman with a “rockin’ bod.”
   • To work around this, Lovz recommends putting that you’re six feet in your dating profile and then saying “I’m really 5'6", but I didn't want you to miss me” in your bio. That way, you’re not being dishonest, and you can get around the app filters.
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   For many women, the 666 rule is just a joke. As TikToker @professorneil points out, the 666 rule has been trending for years, but it's almost always used satirically by women as a list of the superficial traits she expects her man to have. Most women recognize these are pretty silly requirements to expect from a guy, especially if he's otherwise a kind, funny, caring person.

   • The 666 rule may also be some women's way of making fun of the sometimes extreme and superficial expectations men claim to have for the women they date, like the FFF rule, which says a girl must be fit, feminine, and friendly for a guy to go out with her.
   • What really matters? Lovz says the 666 rule is only a big deal to our superficial brain, which doesn't actually dictate real connection. What’s really a big deal is confidence, and “there’s no filter for [that].”
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Section 4 of 5:

What should I expect from a partner?

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1. 
   Just because the 666 rule is superficial doesn't mean you shouldn't have standards. We're not telling you to date an ugly, unemployed couch potato, here. But Hoffman recommends limiting your dealbreakers as much as you can to widen your dating pool: "I give my clients three must-haves and one deal-breaker because we can write deal-breakers until the cows come home. But if you are really focused on just the things that are most important to you, it helps you filter a lot more easily." So what sort of things should you consider when looking for a partner?

   • What sort of relationship are you looking for? Are you after a casual fling, or hoping for something more long-lasting and serious?
   • Are they kind? Do they treat you well? Are they respectful of your boundaries? Are they loving and honest?
   • Do you find them attractive? Note we said "attractive," not "six feet tall with abs" or "98 pounds with an hourglass figure."
   • Do you share a similar vision of the future? Does your imagined future wildly differ from theirs? Do you both feel the same way about kids?
   • Do you have compatible interests and shared values? Do you have stuff to talk about? A shared sense of humor? Things in common?
   • Lovz also advises asking yourself, “What actually leads to love and connection?”

Section 5 of 5:

Other Dating "Rules"

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1. 1
   The FFF Rule The FFF rule is a rule in dating that says a girl must be "fit, feminine, and friendly" in order to be worth going out with. It's sort of like the male version of the 666 rule. (In other words, it kinda sucks.)
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   Rule #5 This Get Rich or Die Tryin'-inspired guideline says that you should hold off being emotionally vulnerable with a new partner in case the relationship doesn't work out. With Rule #5, the logic is that by not getting attached, you'll save yourself some pain when the other person ultimately leaves. (Do we get it? Yes. Do we approve? …No. You'll never find true love if you're afraid to get hurt, babes!)
3. 3
   The 3-Month Rule According to TikTok (this video by @annnexmp sums it up pretty well), if you're dating someone and their enthusiasm and adoration don't wane after 3 months have passed, it's a green flag. The idea is that a person's infatuation tends to wear off over time, and if they're still crazy about you after a few months have gone by, they're probably the real deal.
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   The 777 Rule The 777 rule says that in order to maintain a healthy relationship, a couple should aim to have a date night every 7 days, a weekend getaway every 7 weeks, and a longer romantic vacation every 7 months. The goal is to prioritize quality time with your partner, but flexibility is important, so don't feel too pressured to follow this rule to the letter (er, to the number).

   • In fact, variations of this rule exist because this timeline might not work for every couple's schedule or budget. For instance, some couples instead follow the 222 rule: have a date every 2 weeks, take a weekend trip every 2 months, and enjoy a nice vacation every 2 years.
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