Condom Size Chart: Finding the Brand and Style That Fits Best

The correct condom size is key to not only comfort but also maximum protection against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancy. Wearing an external condom that is too big can cause it to slip off, and wearing one that is too small can cause it to break.

Condom size charts are an easy way to choose which size is best for you. To make the right choice, you will first need to determine the length, girth (circumference), and width (diameter) of your penis during an erection.

After you select the most appropriate size, you can then decide which condom material you need (e.g., lambskin, latex, polyurethane, or polyisoprene) to afford optimal protection and comfort.

How to Choose the Correct Condom

Verywell / Alex Dos Diaz

How to Correctly Measure Penis Size

External condoms work best if they fit snugly. This means that you need to do more just than "eyeball" the size of your penis; you need to measure it with a measuring tape.

The measurement needs to be taken when your penis is fully erect. After measuring the length and girth of your penis, you can use a simple calculation to determine the width (as most condom charts in the United States are based on length and width).

Here is how to accurately measure your penis:

  • Length: Hold the measuring tape against your pubic bone (the bone in the center of your pelvis) on the top side of your penis and measure to the tip.
  • Girth: Snugly wrap the measuring tape around the thickest part of your erect penis.
  • Width: To calculate the width, divide the girth by 3.14. For example, if your penis girth is 5 inches, then the penis width would be 1.59 inches (5 inches ÷ 3.14 = 1.59 inches).

If you do not have a measuring tape, you can measure the length of your penis with a ruler and the girth of your penis with a ruler and a piece of string. Use the string as you would a measuring tape, placing it against the ruler after measuring to get the correct circumference.

How Should a Condom Fit?

To ensure maximum effectiveness and protection, a condom should:

  • Fit snugly (but not too tight where it feels uncomfortable or too loose where it can slip off during sex)
  • Cover the entire penis (with room at the tip to collect semen)

Understanding Condom Sizes

Condom manufacturers use different terms to describe condom sizes, which can make the selection tricky. While the quality and manufacturing standards of condoms are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), condom sizing has yet to be standardized.

Generally speaking, manufacturers assign condom sizes to four categories, often with considerably different category names:

  • Small (also "close-fit," "snug," "slender," or "slim")
  • Regular (also "medium," "standard," "typical," "classic," or "average")
  • Large (also "large format" or "magnum")
  • Extra-large (also "XL," "max," "maxi," "maximum," "jumbo," or "grand")

At the same time, what one manufacturer might call "standard," another might call "large." Similarly, while "thin" may describe the thinness of a condom by some manufacturers, it may also describe a condom with a smaller width or girth by others.

Given these inconsistencies, here is some guidance to help you make an informed choice:

How to Measure a Penis for the Right Condom Size
Verywell / JR Bee

External Condom Width

In some ways, condom width is more important than length as most condoms on the market can accommodate the length of a regular or even large penis. The incorrect width, on the other hand, not only increases the risk of rupture or slippage but also decreases comfort and sensitivity.

In short, wearing a condom that is too tight can not only be uncomfortable but cause it to burst. Wearing a condom that is too loose can cause it to slip off or cause discomfort as it bunches up.

A tight condom can also affect ejaculation (the expulsion of semen from the penis), leading to delayed ejaculation.

As a general guideline, you can select the correct condom category based on the following width measurements:

  • Small: Width of up to 1.8 inches
  • Regular: Width of 1.8 inches to 2 inches
  • Large and extra-large: Width of over 2 inches

External Condom Length

Unless your penis is very long, most standard condoms will provide ample coverage, stretching to around 8 inches. (The average erect penis length in males is between 5.1 and 5.5 inches.)

With that said, having a condom that is too short can increase the risk of seepage. This can happen if the condom is pulled back so much that it flattens the reservoir where ejaculated semen is captured. With nowhere else to go, the semen can be diverted to the sides of the condom and seep out of the rim.

For this reason, you should never pull a condom back so far that the reservoir tip is flattened. Doing so also increases the risk of bursting.

You can select the right condom categories with the following length measurements:

  • Small: Length of up to 6.5 inches
  • Regular or larger: Length of 6.5 inches to 8 inches
  • Extra-large: Length of over 8 inches

Condom Chart by Brand

Once you have your measurements in hand, you choose the correct condom size irrespective of the category names assigned by the manufacturer.

Here are examples from popular condom brands sold in the United States:

Manufacturer Brand Length Width
Durex Thin Feel Ultra Thin 7.08 inches 2.04 inches
Regular 7.68 inches 2.20 inches
  Comfort XL Large 8.66 inches 2.24 inches
Trojan Ultra Thin 7.48 inches 2.09 inches
Regular 7.48 inches 2.05 inches
Magnum Ecstasy 8.30 inches 2.09 inches
Lifestyles Closer Fit 7.09 inches 1.90 inches
Regular Fit 7.87 inches 2.05 inches
Larger Fit 8.27 inches 2.13 inches
Glyde Slimfit 6.69 inches 1.92 inches
Standard Fit 7.48 inches 2.09 inches
Maxi XL Fit 8.07 inches 2.20 inches
Skyn Close Feel 7.87 inches 2.00 inches
Original 7.87 inches 2.08 inches
Large 8.27 inches 2.20 inches
Caution Wear Iron Grip 6.70 inches 1.92 inches
Classic Plain 7.08 inches 2.20 inches
Grande 8.25 inches 4.24 inches

Condom Size by Girth

Not all condoms are described by their widths. Certain brands, like Kimono and Beyond Seven, categorize their condom by girth. Other like Durex and Trojan may include both the girth and the width:

Examples include:

Manufacturer Brand Girth
Caution Wear Iron Grip Small (girth of less than 4.7"
LifeStyles Snugger Fit Small (girth of less than 4.7")
Beyond Seven Seven Studded Small (girth of less than 4.7")
Beyond Seven Ultra Thin Small (girth of less than 4.7")
Durex Extra Sensitive Regular (girth of 4.7 to 5.1")
Kimono Thin Regular (girth of 4.7 to 5.1")
Kimono MicroThin Ribbed + Sensi-Dots Regular (girth of 4.7 to 5.1")
LifeStyles Ultra Sensitive Regular (girth of 4.7 to 5.1")
Kimono MicroThin Regular (girth of 4.7 to 5.1")
Beyond Seven Seven Crown Regular (girth of 4.7 to 5.1")
Caution Wear Black Ice Regular (girth of 4.7 to 5.1")
Caution Wear Wild Rose Regular (girth of 4.7 to 5.1")
LifeStyles Skyn Regular (girth of 4.7 to 5.1")
ONE Pleasure Plux Regular (girth of 4.7 to 5.1")
Durex Tropical Flavors Regular (girth of 4.7 to 5.1")
Durex Real Feel Avanti Bare Regular (girth of 4.7 to 5.1")
Durex Performax Intense Large (girth of 5.1 to 6")
Durex Extra Sensitive Stimulating Large (girth of 5.1 to 6")
Trojan Supra Large (girth of 5.1 to 6")
Kimono MicroThin Large Large (girth of 5.1 to 6")
Kimono Maxx Large (girth of 5.1 to 6")
Trojan Magnum Thin Large (girth of 5.1 to 6")
Trojan Magnum Large (girth of 5.1 to 6")
Trojan Magnum XL Extra-Large (girth over 6")
Durex XXL Extra-Large (girth over 6")
Trustex Chocolate Extra-Large (girth over 6")
Trojan Double Ecstasy Extra-Large (girth over 6")

Other Considerations

Although size is central to the selection of a condom, other factors need to be considered to make an informed purchase. This includes factors like comfort, sensitivity, and whether the condom is being used to prevent pregnancy, STIs, or both.

All of these factors are directed by the type of material a condom is made of. There are four types commonly used in the manufacture of external condoms in the United States:

  • Latex: a natural rubber that most condoms are made of
  • Lambskin: made from the intestinal membrane of a lamb
  • Polyurethane: made from a type of plastic
  • Polyisoprene: made from a petroleum-based material with the same chemical structure as latex

Each has its pros and cons and reasons why it may not be appropriate for you:

Type Pros Cons
Lambskin Hypoallergenic
Soft and comfortable
Able to transmit body heat for increased sensitivity
Effective against pregnancy
Can be used with any lubricant type
Cannot prevent STIs
Not as stretchy as latex
Not as available as other condoms
Most expensive condom option
Latex Readily available
Least expensive overall
Effective against pregnancy and STIs
Not suitable if you or your partner have a latex allergy Is degraded by oil-based lubricants and can burst
Polyisoprene As soft and stretchy as latex condoms
Effective against pregnancy and STIs
Feels like latex but without the allergenic properties
Thicker than latex, which may reduce sensitivity
Costlier than latex condom
Not as available as latex condoms
Can also be degraded by oil-based lubricants
Polyurethane Hypoallergenic
Thinner than latex condoms
Better able to transmit body heat for increased sensitivity
Effective against pregnancy and STIs
Can be used with any lubricant
Not as stretchy as latex
Tends to fit looser
Prone to slippage and bursting
May not be as effective against STIs as latex or polyisoprene
Not as available as latex condoms
Costlier than latex condoms

Other factors to consider include whether a condom is textured or ribbed (which some people find stimulating and others find irritating), flavored or scented (which may hide the smell or taste of latex but cause irritation or promote a yeast infection), or lubricated (as certain types, such as those containing the spermicide nonoxynol-9, can cause vaginal irritation).

Ultimately, it may take a period of trial and error to find the condom brand that is not only effective but that you like. This includes those that are safe and pleasurable for your sex partner. You can make the process more pleasurable by trying out several brands during sex and narrowing them down to the brand(s) you both like.

Summary

It’s important to find a condom that is snug, secure, and comfortable. A condom that meets these criteria will increase pleasure and provide the best protection.

To determine which condom is best for you, start by measuring the length and girth of your penis. The right condom for you will provide better comfort and may prevent such accidents as the condom breaking or falling off.

6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Ending HIV. How to pick the perfect condom.

  2. Planned Parenthood. How do I know what size condom I need?

  3. Food and Drug Administration. Latex condoms for men.

  4. Wainipitapong S, Wiwattarangkul T, Bumphenkiatikul T. Delayed ejaculation due to improper male condom size: a case reportSex Med. 2021 Jun;9(3):100373. doi:10.1016/j.esxm.2021.100373

  5. Belladelli F, Del Giudice F, Glover F, Mulloy E, Muncey W, Basran S, et alWorldwide temporal trends in penile length: a systematic review and meta-analysisWorld J Mens Health. 2023 Oct;41(4):848-860. doi:10.5534/wjmh.220203

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Dawn Stacey

By Dawn Stacey, PhD, LMHC
Dawn Stacey, PhD, LMHC, is a published author, college professor, and mental health consultant with over 15 years of counseling experience.