How to Measure Penis Size for Condoms (Or Curiosity)

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Sex educator Lola Baston explains how to find the size of your penis

Co-authored by Lola Baston and Dan Hickey

Last Updated: July 16, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Length
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• Girth
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• Calculating Condom Width
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• Average Size
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• Does size matter?
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• Video

|Show more |Show less

Penis size is a sensitive topic—some love to brag about it, while others feel self-conscious about how they measure up to other guys, partners’ expectations, or what they see in adult films. But how do you measure yours accurately, and what is the average size anyway? Does size really matter to partners? We partnered with a sex educator to answer all of your questions. Keep scrolling to learn how to properly measure your length and girth for condom sizing (or just for curiosity), as well as to discover how much size matters to partners according to scientific surveys and studies.

How do you measure your penis properly?

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Sex educator Lola Baston says that finding your penis girth, or diameter, is most important when purchasing condoms. Here’s how to measure:

• To measure length: Measure the top side of your erect penis from your pubic bone to the tip of your glans (head). Do not include foreskin length in your measurement.
• To measure girth: Wrap a measuring tape around the thickest portion of your erect penis (excluding the glans).
• To measure width for condoms: Divide your girth measurement by 3.14 and convert to millimeters to find nominal width (included in most condom sizing).

Steps

Section 1 of 5:

Measuring Penis Length

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1. 
   Measure along the top of your erect penis with a measuring tape or ruler. Studies have concluded that the most accurate and consistent way to measure your penis length is from your pubic bone to the tip of your glans (the head). This measurement captures the full length of your penis, regardless of how much pubic fat is present at the base of your penis (this accounts for overweight individuals whose body mass can make the visible portion of the penis look shorter). Here’s exactly how to do it:

   • Get as full an erection as possible. (How you do this is up to you; some evidence suggests erections from oral sex or other stimulation are larger than those from fantasizing.)
   • Grab a ruler or tape measure and lay it along the top (dorsal) side of your penis. A tape measure may be more accurate and comfortable for those with curvature.
   • Press the ruler or tape measure into your pubic fat, pushing until you can feel the end resting against your pubic bone.
   • Measure from the pubic bone to the tip of the glans (near the urethral opening) and note the measurement. Do not include extra length from foreskin if you’re uncircumcised.
   • Note: Some say you can stretch your flaccid penis outward at a 90-degree angle to measure the length, but this method tends to underestimate your fullest actual length by about 20%.

   Meet the wikiHow Expert

   Lola Baston, aka Dirty Lola, is an award-winning sex educator, author, edutainer, and speaker in New York City, NY. She specializes in helping people navigate sex and pleasure without shame.
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Section 2 of 5:

Measuring Penis Girth

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1. 
   Wrap a measuring tape around the widest portion of the shaft of your penis. Baston says to use a soft measuring tape to find the diameter of your penis. Just wrap the tape around the widest portion of the shaft of your erect penis, excluding the glans (head), and note the measurement. If you don’t have a measuring tape, use a piece of string and mark where they overlap with a marker. Then, measure the length of the string up to the marking with a ruler.

   • Some condom companies will send you a flexible ruler if you request one through their website, says Baston.
   • Note: Knowing your girth and/or width is more helpful for choosing a condom size than knowing your length (most condoms are long enough to fit a variety of lengths, from shorter than average to longer).

Section 3 of 5:

Calculating Penis Width for Condom Sizing

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1. 
   1
   Divide your girth measurement by 3.14 to find your penis width. Most condom manufacturers size their condoms by nominal width, which is the width of the condom when it’s laid flat (usually in millimeters). After taking your girth measurement, divide the value by 3.14 (pi 𝜋) to get your approximate width measurement.

   • If you measured in inches, convert to millimeters by multiplying your measurement by 25.4.
2. 
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   Choose condoms that fit snugly but comfortably around your girth. It’s time to put your ego aside and pick a condom width that fits correctly; if you pick a size that’s too large, the condom could slip and leave you and your partner less protected (you may also have decreased sensation). If it’s too small, it will feel uncomfortable and potentially break, also leaving you unprotected. Here’s a breakdown of the basic condom sizes and who they’re best for. Although Baston notes that there is no industry standard sizing, so it’s important to look at the measurements of the condom before buying.

   • Standard (regular, medium, classic, average) size: The average condom will fit most people with lengths of 5-7 in (12.7-17.8 cm) and girths of 4-5 in (10.2-12.7 cm). The width is approximately 2-2.2 in (5.1 to 5.6 cm).
   • Small (close-fit, slender, snug, slim) size: Best for penises with widths under 2 in (51 mm) and girths around or under 4.5 in (11.5 cm).
   • Large (magnum) size: Best for penises with widths over 2.2 in (57 mm) and girths larger than 4.5-5 in (11.4-12.7 cm).
   • Extra-large: Best for penises with widths over 2.5 in (64 mm) and girths larger than 5.5 in (15 cm).
   • A note on length: It’s generally OK if the condom is slightly too short or too long if it fits snugly. A proper fit will keep short condoms from sliding off, and long condoms can be rolled at the base. If there is no room for a reservoir at the tip of the condom while wearing it, choose a longer condom.
   • Baston notes that if you don’t see the measurements on the box, you can talk to someone at an education-focused sex shop or go to sites like Lucky Bloke or Condomania to view the sizes of different condom brands.
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Section 4 of 5:

Average Penis Size

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1. 
   1
   The average erect penis is 5.2 in (13.2 cm) long with a girth of 4.6 in (11.7 cm). Contrary to what pop culture, anecdotes from friends, or pornography might lead you to believe, the average penis length is just over 5 inches. (And no, penis size is not correlated with shoe size, height, or any other physical feature.)

   • The average flaccid penis is 3.6 in (9.2 cm) long and has a girth of 3.7 in (9.3 cm).
   • On average, only 5 out of 100 men have a penis larger than 6.3 in (16 cm), and only 5 out of 100 have a penis smaller than 3.9 in (10 cm).
   • “Penises come in different sizes, girths, lengths, shapes, and colors,” says Baston. “They curve to the left, they curve to the right.”
   • What counts as a small penis (medically)? In clinical terms, an adult penis is considered a micropenis if it is less than 2.95 inches (7.5 centimeters) long when gently stretched or erect. This is rare, affecting only about 0.6% of people worldwide.
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   Misleading ads and pornography can make the average seem “small.” Ads for “penis enlargement” products may claim the average length is 7 inches to persuade you to buy their supplements or devices, and porn actors (who are often chosen for their larger-than-average genitalia) can make most people with penises feel self-conscious about their size. Remember that these portrayals are misleading—the majority of penises fall in the average range!
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Section 5 of 5:

Does penis size matter?

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1. 1
   About 55% of women believe penis size is unimportant, while 20% say it’s important. Everyone’s sexual needs are different, so it’s hard to give a firm “yes” or “no” answer. In a survey published in European Urology, 55% of women said penis size was unimportant, and 22% said it was totally unimportant. On the other hand, 20% said it was important, and only 1% said it was very important.

   • Similarly, a survey from sex toy brand Lovehoney found that only about 1 in 8 women wish their partner’s penis was larger.
   • Baston says that vaginas are all different shapes and sizes, just like penises—so the right size penis for one person might be very different from that of another.
   • So, it might be safe to say that penis size is unimportant to most women, but remember that this is a generalization.
2. 2
   The preferred penis size may be smaller than you think. Again, it’s impossible to speak for all partners, but there are a few generalizations we can make based on research and surveys. According to a study published in PLOS One, women may prefer a penis that is only slightly larger than average: about 6.3 in (16 cm) and with a girth of 4.8 in (12.2 cm). Women may also prefer a larger penis for a one-time partner compared to a long-term partner.

   • Width is often more important for sexual satisfaction than length. In one study published in BMC Women’s Health, a large majority (45 out of 50 participants) reported that girth was more pleasurable than length.
   • Overall, about 85% of women are satisfied with their partner’s size, while only 55% of men are satisfied with their own size. This suggests that men may be harder on themselves over their size than women are, and that women perceive penises to be larger than men do.
   • Baston says that there’s a lot more to great sex than just size—it’s also about knowing “what you’re doing with your body, if you know about angles and movement, and you’re learning the body of the person you’re with.”
3. 3
   Consult a mental health care provider if you’re ruminating on your penis size. It’s normal to feel self-conscious from time to time about the size of your penis. However, if you’re fixated on your size or it’s causing you sexual anxiety that interferes in your intimate relationships or daily life, it’s wise to speak with a professional. You may be experiencing Penile Dysmorphic Disorder (PDD), a subtype of body dysmorphic disorder that causes you to have obsessive preoccupations with perceived flaws that are only minor or unnoticeably in reality.

   • Anxiety over size can lead to other sexual issues, like erectile dysfunction and/or premature ejaculation. Often, these issues cause more problems between partners than the actual penis size, as attentiveness, stamina, and firm erections are more important to most partners than penis size.
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