For people who enjoy penetration, the best dildos are nightstand MVPs. These typically phallus-shaped toys are designed to provide a pleasant feeling of fullness en lieu of a penis and target some otherwise-hard-to-reach internal pleasure points like the G-spot, prostate, or anterior fornix. They can be held by hand and used to manually thrust during sex or masturbation, or you can slip one into a harness when you’re jonesing for some strap-on play. “I consider them tools and toys,” says sex therapist and sexologist Nicoletta Heidegger. “They help make sex better, more efficient, and more expansive, plus provide many creative features to enjoy new sensations.” They typically don’t vibrate, but there are some that do, adding even more intensity to the feeling you’ll get from the toy.
Beyond lifelike, realistic dildos, there’s also a wide range of dildos in all different shapes and sizes—some that more closely resemble an elegant sculpture or an alien appendage. Whatever you’re into, here are some expert-backed picks to consider (including some that we’ve tried and loved).
The Best Dildos, According to GQ
The Best Dildo, Overall: Tantus Curve
Talk about a crowd-pleaser: This silicone dildo has average dimensions, a tapered tip for easy insertion, a flared base that’s harness-compatible and anal-safe, plus a bit of texture for massaging internal hotspots. It’s one of my favorites for solo use or strap-on play, because it’s satisfyingly girthy without being so huge as to require a lot of warm-up. Plus, that tapered ending makes it super comfortable when first inserting it.
The Best Dildo for Beginners: Vixen Creations Mistress
Newbies to the world of dildos might be unsure what they want, exactly, and may also prefer to stick to the smaller end of the size spectrum for their first time. This slim silicone dildo from Vixen Creations fits the bill, and even comes with a small bullet vibrator you can (optionally) slip into a hole at the base of the dildo to amp up the sensations. Sex therapist Sarah Kelleher says Vixen is one of the brands she recommends most often, since it sells “a really vast line of [dildos of] varying shapes, sizes, colors, veins, curves, [and] testicle sizes.” The ridge near the head of this toy makes it more stimulating for the G-spot or P-spot, while the shaft is otherwise so smooth that it’s unlikely to irritate sensitive areas, making this toy extra approachable for beginners.
The Best G-Spot/P-Spot Dildo: Njoy Pure Wand
This legendary dildo is a must-have for people who like firm, intense G-spot or prostate stimulation. It’s made of gorgeously shiny stainless steel, and its C-shaped curve takes the guesswork out of finding those sensitive spots inside you. “I like the shape, weight, and sturdiness of this wand, and also that it is easy to clean,” Heidegger says. “Metal dildos are usually compatible with all types of lube as well!” I’ve found that no other dildo can induce squirting as reliably as this one, for those of us who can squirt, but your own mileage may vary.
The Best Small Dildo: Tantus Charmer
Some people prefer extra-skinny dildos, possibly because they’re getting used to the sensation of penetration or due to a medical issue like vaginismus that makes sex feel more painful. For all of the above situations, this is one of the best slim dildos money can buy. Made of comfortably flexible silicone, this toy has gentle ridges all up and down its shaft, so each thrust feels super stimulating against the G-spot or P-spot, even though the dildo itself is so small.
The Best Large Dildo: Fun Factory Boss
When you’re craving that deep feeling of fullness, a big dildo can really hit the spot. This one has a slight curve and a ridged head, which make it ideal for stroking the G-spot or prostate. Fun Factory’s silicone tends to be pretty firm, which is a big selling point for people who prefer a more solid surface to thrust with. Its suction cup base also means you can attach it to a flat surface, like a shower wall or hardwood floor, for convenient hands-free use.
The Best Glass Dildo: Pipedream Icicles G-Spotter
This was one of the first glass dildos I ever tried, and its design still holds up: One end is rippled for a more textured sensation either vaginally or anally, while the other end has an L-shaped curve that can work wonders on the G-spot or P-spot. Glass feels blissfully frictionless to the touch, and can be used with any kind of lube, so it’s a good option for people who find silicone too “draggy” and want a smoother glide. It’s also fantastic for temperature play—just dip it in a bowl of cold or warm water for a few minutes before using it.
The Best Dual-Purpose Dildo: Tantus Plunge
Heidegger recommends this toy because it pulls double duty: “It’s a paddle and a dildo,” she explains. “Need I say more?!” Indeed, this is a silicone spanking implement made to delight sadomasochists, but the “handle” is also a dildo. Its subtle curve, and the round ball at its tip, are well-suited to massage the G-spot or prostate. I’ve appreciated being able to toss this in my suitcase when I didn’t want to bring a separate dildo and paddle while traveling, but note that there’s a hole in the dildo end (presumably so you can loop some string/ribbon through it for display purposes) which can be tough to clean.
The Best Dildo for Strap-On Sex: Uberrime Astra Hippolyta Large
I love Uberrime dildos because they’re beautiful, colorful, and pleasurable. This one is an ideal shape for strap-on sex, especially pegging, with its upward curve and flat head that massages the prostate or G-spot on each thrust. While this toy’s diameter tops out at a slightly intimidating 1.63 inches, its tapered tip is so slim that easing it inside can be more comfortable than you’d think, especially when you’ve doused the dildo in water-based lube first.
The Best Vibrating Dildo: Tantus Tsunami
Many people enjoy dildos with texture, like ridges or beads, because of how they feel sliding back and forth against the vaginal or anal walls. This wave-shaped dildo is one of my very favorites, not only because its texture is on point, but also because the slight curve at its tip helped me discover my A-spot (a.k.a. anterior fornix), a sensitive area located deep inside the vagina in front of the cervix. In the base of this dildo, you’ll find a hole that perfectly fits the included bullet vibrator, in case you want to overwhelm your senses even further by adding vibration into the mix.
The Best Wearable Dildo: Strap-On-Me Vibrating Bendable Strap-On
Sometimes known as a “strapless strap-on,” this type of toy has a bulb that one partner can slip into their vagina, allowing them to penetrate someone else with the more classically phallic-shaped side. “80% of people with vulvas cannot orgasm without clitoral stimulation,” Kelleher points out, which is why she recommends toys that stimulate the user externally, not just internally—like this one, which vibrates against the wearer’s vulva during use. It even comes with a remote control, so you can change the vibration setting at any time without having to pause the action.
The Best Aesthetic Dildo: Unbound Babes Stellar
The Stellar dildo from Unbound Babes, a.k.a one of the coolest slingers of sex toys out there (case in point: this soft serve-shaped clitoral vibrator), is yet another dildo that lives up to its namesake. “It looks like some kind of undersea alien from the mind of James Cameron,” says contributor Francky Knapp, who says that she uses her Stellar for both vaginal and anal play; “The bulbous tip makes it especially good at targeting the G- and P-spots,” she says, adding that “You just have to secure the looped end well in your hand during anal penetration on your partner, because—while that handle would be a beast to suck up their ass—it’s technically not a flared base.” It’s also a favorite gift-able dildo for Knapp, who says that the glass toy’s postmodern aesthetic is unlike any she’s seen before. As she says, “There’s a real artfulness to this dildo. It’s been out for years, and I’ve still seen nothing else quite like it from any other brand. I love hanging it up in my room—especially because friends and hookups rarely know what it is. They think it’s some swanky design object from Coming Soon New York or something.”
The Best Beaded Anal Dildo: Lovehoney Beaded Sensual Glass Dildo
Tall, dark, and handsome—that’s this beaded ass-blaster in a nutshell, which comes to us from the good folks at Lovehoney. At 7 inches of insertable length and a little over 4 inches in girth at its most bulbous points, the Beaded Sensual Glass Dildo is poised to become staple of any anal-lover’s sex toy rotation, because it packs all of the length and sensuous weight you could ask for thanks to its glass material. As Knapp explains about butt toys in general, “It always feels like a plus when a butt plug or anal dildo is made out of glass. A little extra weight and texture goes the extra mile.”
The Best Thrusting Dildo: Playboy Pleasure Hop To It Rabbit Vibrator
Now we’re cooking with gas. There are all kinds of bells and whistles to look out for in the Dildoverse, but one of the best—and most toe-curling—functions is the ability for a dildo to thrust automatically in your horny holes. Playboy Pleasure’s beast of a dildo does just that, offering you roughly 6 inches of insertable length (and three speed settings) that will thrust you to O City. As Knapp explains, “This is one of those toys that’s worth the loftier price tag. You’re getting a self-thrusting dildo and rabbit vibrator in one tool, to say nothing about the ability to get off hands-free.” Plus, the dildo’s shaft is ribbed with three rings that move inside you while the toy thrusts, providing you with an even more toe-curling stimulation.
The Best Anal Dildo: Playboy Pleasure Jewels Wand Glass Dildo
In all our years of slinging dildos, we’ve yet to see an anal sex “wand” live up to its name like this celestial, sparkling rod. As Knapp says about the hypnotic wand, “It’s one of the longest in my collection at almost 8 inches, yet it’s nice and slender for gradual, gentle insertion. Most importantly, the weight and slightly undulating shape of the shaft feels amazing in your ass.” Glass is also one of the easiest sex toy materials to clean, which is particularly helpful with anal play.
The Best Silicone G-Spot/P-Spot Dildo: Lelo Gigi 2
We’re biiig stans of Lelo—so big, we’ve whipped up an entire shopping guide to the luxury Swedish sexual wellness powerhouse. From powerful, quiet motors to sleek and sometimes abstract designs (shout-out to the extraterrestrial Lelo Dot), Lelo never skimps on quality, and its rechargeable Gigi 2 dildo is a G- and P-spot powerhouse. The ultra-soft silicone slides in smoothly while the curved shaft and slightly flattened tip offer more intense G-spot stimulation. As Knapp explains about the toy, “When I think of G-spot vibrators and G-spot dildos, I think of a classic like Gigi 2. It packs just enough girth and length to feel to suit beginners and seasoned dildo-lovers alike, and its motor is pretty damn quiet.”
The Best Strap-On Dildo Bundle: Lovehoney Beginner’s Unisex Strap-On Harness Kit with 5 Inch Pegging Dildo
Trying to get into pegging, but feeling daunted by the world of dildos and harnesses? Knapp has nothing but high praise for Lovehoney’s strap-on dildo bundle, because it equipped her with pretty much everything she could need to peg (minus some water-based lube) as a complete noob to the game. As she writes in her GQ Recommends review, “The cost of the kit alone makes it a sick investment; for about $45—a.k.a. the cost of a bougie lobster roll and a dirty martini—Lovehoney set me up with a slim 5-inch starter dildo, an adjustable harness, and three graduated rings for securing dildos of varying sizes and shapes.” As for the dildo you receive with the kit? It’s a chic schlong for beginners with a hollow body, just in case you want to slip in a bullet vibrator for extra sensations.
The Best Suction Cup Dildo: Lovehoney High Five
Shopping for dildos on a budget can be challenging, especially if you want to avoid low-quality materials like PVC that can cause infections and irritation, which is why this ultra-cheap, body-safe silicone dildo from Lovehoney is such a good product. It’s nothing fancy, but its curve is well-suited for G-spot/prostate massage. Its flared suction-cup base makes it extra versatile, since you can attach it to a wall or floor for hands-free use, or slip it into a harness for strap-on sex.
The Best Luxe Dildo: Njoy Eleven
Yes, this toy is ludicrously expensive, but having been one of my personal favorites for nearly a decade, I can vouch that it’s worth every penny. So named The Eleven because of its 11 inches of steel, it’s a stunning double-ended dildo that firmly massages the G-spot or P-spot, provided you can manage its significant girth. One end is fairly smooth, while the other has a pleasant ribbed texture. One word of warning: as you might expect, the Eleven is very heavy for a dildo (2.75 pounds), so it’s definitely not for everyone—I admittedly don’t have the best arm strength so I prefer to have my partner use it on me for better leverage.
Who Can Use a Dildo?
Dildos are equal opportunists, and can “help with internal stimulation and discovery of pleasure zones in [the] mouth, vulva, and anus,” Kelleher explains. Many queer couples use dildos together, in a harness or otherwise, but you don’t have to be queer to enjoy them. People with penises might be wondering right about now, Why would I use a toy to penetrate someone, when I already have a dildo-shaped appendage on my body? Well, for many reasons. Dildos “can help people manage erectile unpredictability, performance anxiety, and additional medical conditions,” Kelleher points out, since dicks can easily go soft and dildos don’t.
They also just give you more variety than you’d get if you stuck to the basics. “Dildos can enhance sexual pleasure through new or unique sensations and stimulation that a human body simply cannot reach, or [that] may be really difficult to achieve,” Kelleher says, noting that it’s not about a lack of skills, but more so the limitations of the body.
You can even use dildos solo, which can be especially helpful for getting used to penetration over time. “Dildos are sometimes recommended as part of therapy for pelvic floor muscle spasms, vaginismus, and additional medical conditions,” for instance, Kelleher says. “They can also help folks practice relaxation of the pelvic floor muscles for more pleasurable insertion.”
