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.
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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:
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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.