What Are the Best Dildos for Beginners?
How to choose your first dildo: the right size, material, shape and features for a comfortable and genuinely pleasurable first experience.
A dildo is one of the most straightforward sex toys available: no motor to manage, no charging, no settings. The experience is entirely shaped by material, size and shape. Getting these three decisions right for your body and experience level makes a first dildo immediately enjoyable. Getting them wrong — most commonly by choosing too large — makes it uncomfortable regardless of everything else.
This guide covers every decision a beginner needs to make when choosing their first dildo, with clear recommendations at each stage.
Dildo vs Vibrator: Which Should a Beginner Choose?
A dildo provides penetration without vibration. A vibrator vibrates. Some toys do both. For a first internal toy, a dildo without vibration is often the better starting point because it lets you focus on the sensation of penetration itself — the fullness, the pressure, the G-spot stimulation — without the additional variable of vibration intensity to manage at the same time.
Once you know what you enjoy about penetration, adding a dildo with vibration or pairing a non-vibrating dildo with a bullet vibrator for simultaneous clitoral stimulation gives you both experiences in a combination you can control independently. Starting simple is almost always faster to an enjoyable outcome than starting complex.
Size: The Most Important Decision
Size is the decision beginners most commonly get wrong in the direction of choosing too large. The vagina and anus can accommodate what they are ready for comfortably and create discomfort when asked to accommodate something too large too quickly. Neither the appearance of a dildo on screen nor general assumptions about "what should fit" are accurate guides to what will be comfortable.
For vaginal use as a first dildo: a circumference of around 10 to 12cm (approximately 3.0 to 3.8cm diameter) is appropriate for most beginners. This corresponds roughly to two fingers. A dildo in this range will feel noticeable and satisfying without creating the stretching discomfort of a larger toy.
For anal use as a first dildo: significantly smaller is appropriate. A circumference of around 7 to 9cm (2.2 to 2.9cm diameter) is appropriate for most beginners. The anal sphincter requires more progressive acclimatisation than the vagina and a first anal dildo should be noticeably smaller than a first vaginal dildo.
Length matters less than circumference for comfort on a first use. A longer dildo at an appropriate diameter is not more uncomfortable than a shorter one at the same diameter. The discomfort of incorrect size is almost always about circumference.
Material Guide for Beginner Dildos
| Material | Best For Beginners? | Properties | Lube Compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body-grade silicone | Yes — the top recommendation | Soft and flexible, non-porous, body-safe, wide size range, easy to clean. Dual-density silicone (firm core, soft outer) offers the most realistic feel. The most beginner-appropriate material for its combination of safety and comfort | Water-based only |
| Borosilicate glass | Yes — for those who prefer firmness | Smooth, hard, non-porous, compatible with all lube types and temperature play. Inspect before every use for chips. The smooth surface makes insertion easy despite the firmness | All types |
| Stainless steel | Yes — for those who want weight | Heavier than silicone and glass, smooth non-porous surface, compatible with all lube types and temperature play. The weight creates a fuller sensation at smaller diameters. More forgiving than it appears | All types |
| TPE/TPR (jelly rubber) | No | Porous: cannot be fully cleaned between uses. May contain phthalates. The soft feel is appealing but the safety compromise is not appropriate for a toy used internally | Water-based only |
| PVC | No | Porous and in many cases contains phthalates that leach into internal tissue. Avoid regardless of price or claims on packaging | Avoid |
Shape: What Beginners Should Choose
Smooth and slightly tapered tip. A smooth surface with a tapered tip is the most comfortable for first-time insertion. Avoid heavily textured, ridged or veined designs as a first choice — additional texture creates more sensation during the insertion process, which can be overwhelming before you are accustomed to the basic sensation.
Straight or mildly curved. A straight dildo or one with a mild curve (less than 30 degrees) is easier to position for a first use than a sharply angled G-spot design. Once you know how you respond to internal stimulation, a more curved design for G-spot targeting becomes a useful second purchase.
Suction cup base (optional but useful). A suction cup base allows hands-free use against a wall or flat surface. For vaginal use, this frees both hands for clitoral stimulation simultaneously. For anal use, a suction cup base on a flat surface allows hands-free use that many people find more comfortable than holding the toy manually. Not essential for a first dildo but worth considering as a feature.
Flared base for anal use (essential). Any dildo used anally must have a flared base wider than the insertable portion. This is non-negotiable. A suction cup base functions as a flared base. A standard vaginal dildo without a base must never be used anally.
Six Beginner Dildo Tips
Beginner Dildo Price Guide
Body-grade silicone beginner dildos from reputable UK specialists typically cost £15 to £35. Borosilicate glass dildos in a beginner size start at around £25. Stainless steel dildos suitable for beginners start at around £30. The price difference between entry-level and mid-range dildos typically reflects finish quality, detail and the specific silicone formulation rather than fundamental safety. A £20 body-grade silicone dildo from a reputable retailer is as safe as a £60 one.
For more guides across the full dildo range including realistic dildos, glass dildos and suction cup dildos, see the full buying guides library at Ava Noir.
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