What to Look for in a Sex Toy
The best sex toy is one that does what you want it to do, is made from a material you can clean thoroughly, has controls you'll actually use, and feels right for your body and how you plan to use it. There’s no single best choice for everyone. Instead, the right toy depends on your preferences, and this guide will help you compare the features that matter most.
Using sex toys is a normal part of adult life, whether you already have a few favorites or you're shopping for your first one. In a large U.S. study, about half of women ages 18 to 60 reported using a vibrator, while a companion study found that roughly 45 percent of men had incorporated one into their sex lives with no difference by sexual orientation (see the Journal of Sexual Medicine findings summarized by ScienceDaily and the companion study on men reported by Newswise). Whether you're shopping for yourself, for a partner, or for something you'll use together, you're in very good company.
So what separates a toy you'll be glad you bought from one that ends up at the back of a drawer? Start with a few practical details that can make a big difference in how well a toy works for you.
- **The material is clearly identified and easy to clean. **Look for materials such as 100% silicone, ABS plastic, borosilicate glass, and stainless steel, which can be cleaned thoroughly. Jelly, rubber, TPE, and PVC blends can be more porous and are harder to clean completely, so they require more care and are generally best used by one person.
**The power source and controls make sense for how you'll use the toy. **A rechargeable toy with a stated runtime can help prevent interruptions, while buttons that are easy to find by feel can make adjustments simpler during use. If a partner will be controlling the toy, a remote or app may be worth considering.
**The water resistance is clearly stated. **Don't assume a toy is waterproof just because it looks like it could handle water. Check the product information to see whether it's waterproof, water-resistant, or should be kept completely dry.
**Lube compatibility is clearly explained. **Water-based lube is generally compatible with all toy materials. Silicone-based lube should not be used with silicone toys because it can damage the material.
**Anal toys have a flared base. **This is an important safety feature, not simply a matter of preference. The safety section below explains why a flared base matters.
Use labels as a starting point, not a rule. Lists of the best sex toys for women often focus on external and internal vibrators, while lists aimed at men tend to feature strokers, penis rings, and prostate toys. Couples' sex toy lists often highlight wearable or remote-controlled options. These categories can be helpful, but your body and what you're looking for matter more than a label. The sections below focus on what different toys do so you can choose based on your preferences rather than who a toy is supposedly for.
The Main Types of Sex Toys and How They Differ
Knowing the differences between the main types of sex toys makes it easier to find one that fits what you're looking for. Here's a quick look at what each type does, plus where to find it on Adam & Eve.
- Wand massagers. A large, rounded head on a long handle gives you broad external vibration and easy reach without bending or stretching. Browse wand massagers.
- Clitoral and air-pulse toys. These focus on external stimulation. Some vibrate, and some use pressure waves around the clitoris rather than direct contact. Compare clitoral vibrators or air-pulse and suction toys.
- Bullets and eggs. Small, simple, and easy to start with. Some models can even be run from a remote or an app. You'll find them under bullets and eggs.
- Rabbit and G-spot vibrators. Curved insertable toys, some with a second arm that stimulates externally at the same time. Take a look at rabbit vibrators and G-spot vibrators.
- Dildos. Insertable toys available in a variety of shapes, sizes, materials, and styles, including vibrating options and toys designed to work with a harness. Browse dildos.
- Strokers and masturbators. A textured sleeve for the penis, either manual or automatic. Compare male masturbators.
- Penis rings. Worn around the base of the penis, these rings can be designed to enhance sensation, with vibrating styles adding stimulation for one or both partners during sex. See penis rings.
- Prostate massagers, plugs, and beads. Anal toys, each with a base or retrieval loop that keeps it where you put it. Browse prostate toys and anal toys.
- Couples and wearable vibrators. Worn during sex or under clothing, usually with a remote or an app so either of you can change the setting. Browse couples vibrators.
No matter which type of toy you're considering, a few practical differences can help you narrow down your choices:
Where it's used: Some toys are designed for external stimulation, some for internal use, some for both, and some are worn during sex.
Who controls it: You might control the toy yourself, share control with a partner nearby, or use a remote or app to let a partner control it from a distance.
How it's powered: Rechargeable and battery-powered toys each have their advantages, so consider what works best for how and where you'll use yours.
Whether it's water-safe: If you want to use a toy in the bath or shower, check whether it's waterproof or water-resistant before getting it wet.
Choosing a Sex Toy Based on What You Want
The best place to start is with what you want from a toy. Think about the type of stimulation, control, or experience you're looking for, then look for features designed to provide it. Below, we've paired common preferences with features to consider and real product examples.
Wands are built for broad, strong stimulation and easy reach. A long handle and a big head are the two features that define a wand, and they're the reason you can use one without folding yourself into an awkward angle. One example is the Magic Wand Rechargeable, which runs 13 inches end to end with a 2-inch silicone head. It's cordless with up to 3 hours of runtime per charge, so play doesn't have to stop for a wall outlet, and it offers 4 speeds and 4 patterns and works with most wand attachments. Use water-based lube only.
**A bullet or egg is a good place to start if you want something small and quiet. **These toys are generally compact and easy to handle, making them a simple way to explore different types of stimulation before choosing something larger. They're simple, they're discreet, and they fit in your hand, which makes them a comfortable way to find out what you like before you commit to anything bigger. The Lovense Lush 4, is one example of a wearable insertable toy with app and on-device controls. It has a 3.5-inch insertable length, a stated sound level of about 36 decibels, and a waterproof rating. You can control it with the button on the toy or through the free app, giving you the flexibility to use it on your own or let a partner take control remotely.
Couples vibrators are made to be worn during partnered sex. One of the first things to consider is whether the toy will fit comfortably for both partners, and the We-Vibe Chorus is designed with that in mind. It's worn during penetration, and its flexible, poseable arms adjust to your bodies rather than locking into one position. Either partner can change the settings using the squeeze remote, which responds to how firmly you press, or through the app, allowing control to pass back and forth. The toy is described as 100% waterproof and runs for up to 90 minutes per charge. For more options and considerations, see our best sex toys for couples guide.
App-controlled toys give you hands-free or long-distance control. Both the Chorus and the Lush 4 connect to your phone through Bluetooth, so your phone needs to remain near the toy for a direct connection. Their long-distance modes use the app and an internet connection, allowing a partner in another city to control the toy remotely. Explore more options in our guides to app-controlled vibrators or remote-controlled vibrators.
Shopping for a stroker for the penis? Start with the sleeve design, size, and how easy it is to clean. Adam's Quickshot by Fleshlight is one compact option, measuring 4.4 inches in total. It's open at both ends, so you can use it from either side, and the sleeve pulls out of the case for easier cleaning. The sleeve is made from TPE, a porous material that requires extra care when cleaning. It's best used by one person, washed after every use, and allowed to dry completely before reassembly. If you're comparing strokers, rings, and prostate toys, our men's toys guide is a good next read.
Curious about anal play? Look for a flared base, then start small. A plug or a graduated trainer set lets you go at your own pace, and the base is what keeps the toy where you put it. Start with anal training kits, and read the beginner anal toys guide for tips on choosing and using your first toy.
Vibrating penis rings add sensation for a partner during sex. They sit at the base of the penis and bring the vibration to whoever is on the other side. Compare shapes and power options in vibrating cock rings.
None of these options are limited by gender or relationship. What matters is what feels right for you, what you enjoy, and how you want to use the toy. Choose the features that fit your preferences and let that guide your decision.
Comfort, Materials, and Safety in Sex Toys
Choosing the right material, understanding how to clean and care for a toy, and following a few basic safety practices can go a long way toward making toy use comfortable and safe.
Know how toys are regulated, and how they aren't. Most consumer sex toys aren't regulated like medical devices in the U.S., and there is no mandatory, toy-specific safety standard. That makes the material listed on the product page, and buying from a seller you trust, especially important (see this overview of US sex toy regulation). A voluntary international standard, ISO 3533:2021, does exist for products that come into contact with the genitals or anus. It covers physical, electrical, and chemical safety. However, it's a standard for manufacturers, not a certification or safety badge displayed on individual products, so it shouldn't be treated as a certification claim for any particular toy.
Choose a material you can clean completely. Silicone, ABS plastic, borosilicate glass, and stainless steel are non-porous, which means liquid and bacteria can't soak into the surface, so they wash fully clean. Jelly, rubber, TPE, TPR, and PVC blends are porous and can't be fully sanitized. When you use one, put a condom on it, don't share it with a partner unless you clean or put a new condom on before use, and keep it to one body area (see the California Prevention Training Center resource and the UBC sexual health cleaning guide).
Pair the lube with the toy. Water-based lube works with every toy and every condom. Silicone lube can degrade the surface of a silicone toy, so keep those two apart (see Bedsider's toy cleaning and lube guidance). On their product pages, the Magic Wand Rechargeable and the We-Vibe Chorus both call for water-based lube.
Clean after every use. Clean your toy after every use with mild soap and warm water, paying extra attention to seams, grooves, and other areas where residue can collect. Non-motorized toys made from 100% silicone, glass, or stainless steel can generally be boiled for 3–5 minutes for a deeper clean. For motorized toys, stick to surface cleaning unless the toy is specifically rated as waterproof. For more detailed guidance, see Planned Parenthood on sex toys and the PASS toy cleaning guide.
Use a barrier when sharing. Put a condom on a shared toy, and change it any time the toy moves to a different person or from the anus to the vagina on the same person. That reduces the risk of STI transmission and bacterial vaginosis (see Planned Parenthood's safer sex guidance).
With anal play, the base is not optional. For anal play, always choose a toy with a flared base or another feature designed to prevent it from being drawn fully inside the body. Unlike the vagina, the rectum doesn't have a natural stopping point, so an appropriately designed base or stopper is an important safety feature.
This isn't just a theoretical concern. Medical case reports have documented situations where retained rectal objects required removal under anesthesia, including sex toys. One Swedish hospital study found that sex toys accounted for 40% of retained rectal objects removed under anesthesia, and noted that a safety string or appropriately sized stopper could have prevented retention.
Never use household objects for anal insertion. If a toy becomes stuck, or you experience significant pain, bleeding, or fever, seek medical care rather than trying to remove it yourself (see this medical overview of anal toy safety).
Comfort and consent are part of safety. Start on lower settings, use plenty of lube, and stop if anything hurts. When you're bringing a toy into partnered sex, talking with your partner about how they feel about it is a sign of respect, and it gives you both a say in what happens next. The Sexual Medicine Society of North America has a plain-language patient guide if you'd like one more source to bookmark.
Choosing Sex Toys: What to Check Before Buying
You've narrowed down what you're looking for, and now you have a product page open. Before you buy, take a minute to check the details that can make a real difference in whether a toy works for you. If the product page doesn't answer an important question, don't fill in the blank with an assumption.
- Material. Is it named? Is it one you can fully clean, such as silicone, ABS, glass, or steel? With a porous material, are you comfortable with the extra care?
- Power. Is it rechargeable or battery powered, and is the runtime stated? As an example, the Magic Wand Rechargeable lists up to 3 hours of runtime and can be used while charging.
- Water rating. Is it stated? Both the Chorus and the Lush 4 are described as waterproof, while the Magic Wand Rechargeable's page doesn't say, so assume it isn't.
- Controls. Buttons, a wireless remote, a squeeze remote, or an app? Choose the one you'll actually reach for in the moment, and think about whether a partner will need to reach it too.
- Size. Check total length, insertable length, and width, especially for anything that goes inside the body. The Lush 4, as a reference point, is 8.5 inches total with 3.5 inches insertable and 1.5 inches wide.
- Noise. When privacy matters, look for a stated sound level, such as the Lush 4's stated level of about 36 decibels. Most product pages don't state one, and when a page is silent on the point, assume you don't know how loud the toy is rather than assuming it's quiet.
- Lube compatibility. Does the page say water-based only? For silicone toys, it should.
- Anal safety. Anything going anywhere near the anus needs a flared base or retrieval loop. Without one, it isn't an anal toy.
- Cleaning. Does it come apart for washing? Can it be submerged? Is there anything you'd need to do to maintain the material, like renewing a stroker sleeve?
The right toy isn't necessarily the one with the longest list of features or the most impressive specifications. What works for one person may not work for another, and your preferences can change as you learn more about what you like. A toy that seems perfect on paper may turn out to be too much, too little, or simply not right for you—and that's useful information for your next choice. No product can guarantee a particular sensation or result, so be wary of any claim that promises one.
Choosing Your Sex Toys: Next Steps
You don't need to find the perfect toy on the first try. Start with what you want to explore, narrow your choices based on the features that matter to you, and use the product details to make an informed decision.
- For external, internal, and dual stimulation, compare the best vibrators. That's where you'll find wands, bullets, rabbits, clitoral toys, and G-spot toys.
- For strokers, rings, and prostate toys, compare the best men's sex toys.
- For something you'll use together, compare the best couples sex toys, including wearables, remote toys, and app-controlled options.
Whatever you choose, two small additions round out the purchase. Pick up a water-based lube, since it works with every toy and every condom. And grab a toy cleaner so looking after your toy is easy from day one. The guide to finding the right toy lube and the how to clean sex toys guide walk through both in more depth. And when materials are still on your mind, the sex toy materials and safety guide is the place go.
Adam & Eve carries We-Vibe, Lovense, Fleshlight, Magic Wand, Satisfyer, Dame, and its own line, so everything compared above is something you can browse and buy in one place. Take your time, trust what your body tells you, and enjoy the choosing. That part is supposed to be fun too.