Written by the Pulse & Cocktails team — sexual wellness advisors with over 25 years of in-store experience. Last updated: March 2026.
“What is a butt plug?” is one of the questions we answer most often in our stores. Sometimes asked quietly, usually whilst pretending to browse something else.
If you’ve typed the same thing into Google, you’re in good company. Butt plugs are one of the most searched-for sex toys in the UK, and yet they’re still surrounded by more mystery than they deserve. This guide covers what they are, what they actually feel like, who they’re for, how to choose the right one, and how to use one safely. No judgement — just good, honest advice.
What Is a Butt Plug?
A butt plug is a sex toy designed for anal insertion. Unlike a dildo, it’s not meant to be thrust in and out — it’s shaped to stay in place, providing gentle pressure and a feeling of fullness.
Most share the same basic anatomy: a tapered tip for easier insertion, a wider body that sits inside, a narrow neck below that, and a flared base at the bottom. That base is the important part. The rectum creates a natural suction, so a toy without a flared base could be drawn inside. A proper butt plug is designed so the base stays safely outside at all times, making removal easy.
They come in a huge range of sizes, materials, and styles. But that core design is consistent across all of them.
What Does a Butt Plug Feel Like?
This is the question most people are really asking. It tends to get glossed over, so let’s be direct about it.
The main sensation is fullness. The anal opening is packed with sensitive nerve endings, and a butt plug stimulates them gently and continuously whilst it’s in place. For most people, this creates a warm, pleasurable pressure that enhances everything else — solo play, sex with a partner, foreplay.
For people with a prostate, a butt plug can indirectly stimulate it, which can intensify orgasms quite significantly. For people with a vagina, it adds pressure against the vaginal wall, increasing internal sensation during sex or stimulation.
The first time often feels strange. Unfamiliar rather than unpleasant — your body isn’t used to this kind of sensation yet. With the right size, enough lube, and a bit of time to relax, most people find it becomes genuinely pleasurable quickly.
Who Are Butt Plugs For?
Anyone with an anus. Which is everyone.
Butt plugs are genuinely gender-neutral, orientation-neutral, and experience-level-neutral. They’re used by people curious about anal play who aren’t ready for penetrative anal sex. By couples who wear them during sex for added intensity. By people exploring solo pleasure. By those interested in prostate stimulation. By anyone who simply wants to try something new.
Research suggests that up to 36% of women and 44% of men have tried anal play at least once. It’s far more common than the silence around it implies.
There’s no right type of person for butt plugs. There’s just you, your curiosity, and the right toy for where you’re starting from.
Types of Butt Plug
Knowing what’s out there makes choosing much easier.
Beginner Butt Plugs
Small, soft, and non-intimidating. Designed for a genuinely comfortable introduction — narrow enough that you don’t need to work up to them, flexible enough that your body adjusts easily. If you’re new to anal play, start here. Our beginner’s anal butt plug set is a popular choice because it comes with three graduated sizes, so you can build at your own pace.
Silicone Butt Plugs
The most popular material, and for good reason. Silicone is body-safe, non-porous (so bacteria can’t hide in it), and has a slight give that makes insertion more comfortable. It warms to body temperature quickly and cleans easily. One important note: always use water-based lubricant with silicone toys — silicone-based lube degrades the material over time.
Metal Butt Plugs
Heavier, firmer, smooth. Metal plugs provide more intense pressure than silicone, which many people find deeply satisfying once they’ve built up a little experience. They’re also good for temperature play — warm them in hot water or cool them in the fridge before use. Compatible with all lubricants.
Glass Butt Plugs
Sleek, easy to clean, and excellent for temperature play. Glass plugs are non-porous and hypoallergenic. Despite what you might assume, they’re not fragile — they’re made from borosilicate glass, the same material used in laboratory glassware. Works with any lube.
Vibrating Butt Plugs
Everything above, with vibration. Whether you’re using one solo or handing the remote to a partner, vibrating plugs add an intensity that non-vibrating versions can’t. A good next step once you’re comfortable with the basics.
Anal Training Kits
Sets of plugs in gradually increasing sizes. Ideal for building comfort and confidence over time, or if you’re working towards a specific goal — whether that’s larger plugs, a prostate massager, or anal sex. Starting small and working up is always the right approach.
How to Use a Butt Plug Safely
Getting this right is the difference between an experience you want to repeat and one you don’t.
Lube is non-negotiable. The anus doesn’t self-lubricate. Going in without lube is uncomfortable at best. Use more than you think you need, and reapply during use. Water-based lubricant works with all toy materials; silicone-based is fine with glass and metal, but not with silicone toys. Our LoveLube anal lubricant is great place to start.
Start small. In our stores, the question we hear alongside “what size?” is almost always “what material should I start with?” — and the answer is always the same: go smaller than you think you need to. If you’re new to anal play, begin with fingers or a very small plug. Skipping ahead is the most common reason people have a bad first experience.
Relax. Tension makes insertion uncomfortable. Breathe slowly, take your time, don’t rush yourself. Arousal helps too — the more turned on you are, the more naturally your body relaxes.
Always use a flared base. Worth saying again. Only use toys designed specifically for anal play, with a base that keeps them safely outside the body.
Clean before and after. Wash with warm water and a mild, unscented soap, or a sex toy cleaner. Every time. Store clean and dry.
How long can you wear one? Start short — 15 to 20 minutes while you’re getting used to the sensation. Extended wear is something you build up to gradually. Any discomfort is a signal to stop.
For more detail on getting started, our anal toy basics guide for beginners covers everything.
Mistakes Worth Avoiding
Skipping lube. Dry anal play is painful and risks small tears. Lube every time.
Rushing yourself. There’s no prize for going bigger faster. Starting smaller than you think you need to, and taking more time than you think you need — that’s what makes it good.
Ignoring hygiene. Clean your toys properly after every use. Silicone, metal, and glass all make this straightforward.
Using unsafe materials. Avoid jelly, rubber, or PVC for anal play — they’re porous, harbour bacteria, and often contain harmful chemicals. Stick to silicone, metal, or glass.
Not communicating with a partner. If you’re playing with someone else, talk first. Set a clear signal for “slow down” or “stop.” It makes the whole thing better for both of you.
