On the hunt for the best dildo in 2023? T3 is here to help you find the perfect phallic fantasy with our top picks for the best dildos, available in all shapes, sizes, styles, colours and budgets.
In the broadest of terms, a dildo is a phallic shaped sex toy and are some of the best sex toys you can get today. But once you start exploring further, you'll find that the range of dildos available today is expansive; a cornucopia of colourful, imaginative toys that are designed to suit every shape, preference and desire.
This guide is here to help you find the best dildos for your needs. We'll walk you through the different types, and offer our top picks in each category. Whichever kind you choose, make sure you also order a bottle of the best lube – these two are essential partners when it comes to dildo play. While you're shopping for sex accessories, we also have dedicated guides to the best vibrators, the best Fleshlights and the best condoms, too.
Want to browse for yourself? Below are links to the trusted retailers we'd recommend – click the links to explore their dildo ranges and see what takes your fancy. And once you've had some fun, make sure to clean your sex toy properly.
Best dildo: lifelike
A lifelike dildo is, as you'd expect, designed to look like a realistic penis with a tip-shaped, swollen head, natural-feeling ridges and soft testicles. This type is often considered a good 'starter' dildo for beginners, the realistic dildo never really loses its appeal – it remains a popular choice for rookies and more experienced sex-toy users alike.
Most lifelike dildos are made out of silicone for its soft, malleable qualities; some contemporary dildos are made from liquid silicone, which has a very natural skin-like texture. We'd advise buying a lifelike dildo that has a suction cup as this makes it much more user-friendly and means you can try different positions with a hands-free option, including wet play in the shower.
How big do you want to go? As you might expect, the size range is huge. We'd recommend starting small (around 6 inches of insertable length) and building up from there. Equally important is the girth – an average erect penis girth is around 5 inches, but you can buy girthy dildos that boast double that. Make sure you get your measurements right before ordering and always pop a bottle of lube in your shopping basket too.
Best dildo: strap-on
A strap-on dildo is designed to be used by people without a penis – it comes with a harness that fastens around the wearer's waist and legs, while the phallus feeds through an O-ring opening at the front. Versatility is a key USP for this type of dildo – it's a popular sex toy with lesbian couples and hetro partners who want to dabble in role reversal play with a spot of pegging. The better kits come with different sized O-rings, so you can change the size of dildo when desired.
This category has expanded somewhat to give more options. Now, there are also no-strap versions, in which the end that would be in the O-ring is designed to be inserted into the wearer's vagina, to give plenty of G-spot stimulation. Double-penetration versions are also available – these attach to a penis so the wearer can penetrate the vagina and anus at the same time. Did we mention that versatility is one of its selling points?
As always check the girth and length of the dildo element of the strap-on kit and that the O-ring is the right size for the dildo you're buying. Harnesses are adjustable and will suit most body shapes and sizes.
Best dildo: glass
If the idea of a glass dildo sounds risky, do not fear: these are made from super-strengthened borosilicate glass, which is guaranteed to stay firm and shatter-free, so you can pack away any wincing preconceptions you may have had about inserting glass internally.
In fact, let's focus on the pleasure a glass dildo can bring. Those familiar with these beautiful-looking dildos will tell you of the wonderful sensation of the smooth texture of the glass. In fact, if you're interested in sensory play, this might be the best dildo type for you, as they can be cooled or heated before use. Put your glass dildo in the fridge or in a bowl of warm water, test the temperature before use, and away you go. Temperature play can heighten the sexual experience and advocates sing its praises as a sensory way to use sex toys.
Another advantage of the glass dildo is that it can be used anally or vaginally and with any kind of lube, and it's easy to clean so it boasts some pretty good hygienic credentials too.
Best dildo: vibrating
In almost every category of dildo you'll find a vibrating option. So whether you're looking for realistic, double-ended, anal only, strap-on or inflatable dildo you can usually find a version that'll give you an extra bit of buzz.
The best dildos will offer you a range of settings and vibration patterns so you have complete control over how intense the experience is, with the option to have more or less as and when you want it. Some vibrating dildos have simple button controls near the base, while others are operated by remote control so you can increase the intensity without having to try and remember what button does what while you're mid-flow.
Vibrating dildos are designed to stimulate the G-spot and/or the prostate gland (P-spot). They are often curved and shaped in order to hit those crucial erotic zones and the results can be pretty intense.
Best dildo: anal
As long as they have a flared base (important to avoid any embarrassing disappearing acts) most dildos can be used anally. So, whether you have a penchant for glass, steel, silicone, soft or hard, there will a dildo to match your anal desires. However, there are dildos designed specifically for anal play that are shaped to tickle the prostate gland (P-spot) and are contoured to be held with ease. These dildos often feature small, bead-like nobbles, just like you would find on anal beads, so that insertion and extraction activates all the thousands of nerve endings in your anus.
Before you puchase an anal dildo, it's important to note that lube and anal play are the best of friends and should never to be separated. Unlike the vagina, the anus is not self-lubricating so you will need to reapply frequently – indulging in anal play without lube will cause discomfort rather than pleasure. The kind of lube you choose for anal play is important. Water-based is best and never use silicone lube with a silicone toy. There are lubes on the market that are designed specifically for anal play – they're thicker and creamier and will last longer.
How to choose the best dildo for you
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When it comes to buying the best dildo, there are so many to choose from! There are dildos that vibrate, inflate and deflate. There are compact dildos that are perfectly beginner friendly, and bigger ones for more experienced users. They are made from different materials too, such as glass, metal or silicone. Some are designed for G-spot stimulation, others are shaped to tickle the prostate gland (P-spot).
There are lifelike dildos, modelled to look like a real penis, while others are much more abstract, some with an exotic array of nobbles, bobbles and ridges to create extra frisson and sensation. In short, whatever you fancy, you'll probably be able to find it, especially if you take our advice from this list.
