7 Best Butt Plugs for Beginners 2024 to Get Your Foot In The Back Door

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.