Let’s just get into it, shall we? If you’re here, it’s probably because you either have a 5-inch penis or are, ahem, acquainted with someone who does and want to know if it’s “normal.” (Or hey, maybe you just saw the word “penis” in a headline and mindlessly —which, can’t blame ya.) Short answer: Yes, 5 inches is a perfectly normal length for a penis.
In fact, you might even say that a 5-inch penis is, like, the most normal, as the majority of research out there suggests the is is between 5.1 and 5.6 inches.
“Statistically speaking, a 5-inch penis is a medium size,” says sexologist . “In terms of slang, it’s considered ‘ ’ or the ‘Goldilocks principle’ of penises. Not too big and not too small but just right.
” So there you go—5 inches is basically the platonic ideal of dicks. Longer answer: There’s no such thing as “normal” when it comes to bodies and sex, and bullshit beauty standards that purport to tell you how anyone’s body “should” look or perform are just that—bullshit beauty standards that harm people of all genders and body types. All of which is to say that beauty (including penises) is in the eye of the beholder, and there’s absolutely no need to torture yourself trying to figure out how your dick measures up to all the other dicks out there.
But because I know you likely came here explicitly for that purpose, here’s the lowdown on all things 5-inch penis, from where it stands in the grand scheme of to how to make the most of what you’re working with, whether you have a 5-inch penis of your very own or are just boning one. Once again for the folks in the back (and/or those of you who skipped over my eloquent intro and went straight to this subhed—yeah, I see you), a 5-inch penis is not small. In fact, it’s pretty much “the standard size,” says King.
According to a 2015 scientific published in that looked at the flaccid and erect penises of over 15,500 men, the average erect penis length is 5.16 inches. Per the review, 68 percent of men measured between 4.
5 and 5.8 inches while erect. “So a 5-inch penis is perfectly average,” says s “ ” columnist , author of .
If 5 inches sounds small, Zane adds that it may be because men have a tendency to exaggerate their size, if you can believe it. Let’s also not forget the influence of , adds sexologist Marla Renee Stewart, a sexpert for sexual wellness brand and retailer. While porn (of the variety) is a wonderful way to get off, consider this your regular reminder that it’s rarely an accurate reflection of real-life sex and body types, including penis size.
If you’re used to seeing massive schlongs onscreen, then, yeah, 5 inches may seem small by comparison, but that’s simply not a realistic reflection of the majority of dicks you and/or your partner are likely to encounter in real life. Ah, the eternal question. The simple answer is: yeah, sure.
But the extent to which it does really depends on personal preference. “Size is relative,” says Stewart. If you’re a size queen (and/or having sex with one), then yeah, a 5-inch penis may be a bit on the small side.
But anecdotally, I’ll let you know that, as a gal who’s ridden her fair share of dicks, I’ve encountered ones that verge on feeling for my comfort more often than the opposite. And the vast majority of the time, whatever someone’s packing feels totally fine if not—dare I say—downright negligible. That’s because there’s a lot more that goes into a satisfying sexual experience than the length of the penis involved.
One of those things is, of course, girth. Which, according to sexologist , can often be a more significant factor than length in terms of satisfaction, as many receiving partners may find a girthier penis creates more sensation or a greater feeling of “fullness.” That said, unrealistic standards exist for girth too! According to King, the average girth is about 4.
8 inches in circumference, “so if you think you’re small just because you can’t pull a Girthmaster and compare yourself to a wine bottle, change your mindset to a more realistic one.” Much! More! Importantly! Regardless of whether we’re talking length or girth, size is really not the make-or-break factor we’ve all been led to believe it is when it comes to great sex. That’s because, as Rowett so graciously reminds us, “great sex doesn’t begin and end with penetration.
” Remember that , fingering, , , and all other forms of erotic touch and play , and, in many cases, play a much bigger role in creating a satisfying sexual experience than penis size. Regardless of what you’re packing down there, communicating with your partner about what they like and cocreating a mutually pleasurable sexperience that isn’t all about the P-in-V “will put you much further ahead than many other men and penis-havers who think that sex begins with an erection and ends with an ejaculation,” says Rowett. And if you’re still stressing about size, allow the hard data to reassure you that, statistically speaking, the odds of your partner being happy with what you’ve got are in your favor.
King cites a 2006 published in that found that 85 percent of women were satisfied with their partner’s penis size. “So if you’re worried about whether or not your penis is big enough to satisfy your partner, rest assured that it probably is,” says King. Once again, a 5-inch penis is pretty par for the course, which means that a schlong of that size is equipped to take on most .
“Remember, the vaginal canal is typically around 4 to 5 inches when aroused, so honestly, most positions work for a 5-inch penis,” says Zane. If you’re craving more depth, however, there are some tweaks you can try to create deeper penetration. For , a handy may be just the thing.
“Putting a pillow beneath your hips allows your pelvis to tilt forward and straightens the vaginal canal,” says King. “This also stimulates more nerve endings, especially if your legs are extended over your partner’s shoulders.” Most variations of are also great for a 5-inch penis, says Rowett, adding that lying face down as the receiving partner (aka the “ ” position) can allow for deeper penetration.
“Maximize pleasure by laying on your stomach and keeping your legs together; it creates a tighter fit,” says King. “It may also help if your partner focuses more on grinding motions than in-and-out thrusting.” So yeah, pretty much all sex positions are on the table with a 5-inch penis, although Zane notes that may be a slightly trickier one, as less length = more potential for the penis to slip out while a partner is bouncing up and down.
For deeper penetration (and less slippage), Zane also recommends the , a slight variation on the prone bone. Last but not least, here’s yet another reminder that penetration isn’t everything and it’s important to incorporate other forms of touch and stimulation—especially if your partner has a vagina. “Most women cannot orgasm from alone,” says Zane.
“So really this has nothing to do with your penis size. Regardless of size, you should be either manually or with .” To recap: Whether you have a 5-inch penis or a partner with one, congrats! You’ve got a perfectly fine cock on your hands, one that’s more than capable of providing all kinds of sexual pleasure for penis-havers and penis-takers alike.
That said, great sex is really not all about anyone’s dick or the size thereof. So if you’re worried about it, don’t be. Kayla Kibbe (she/her) is the Associate Sex and Relationships Editor at Cosmopolitan US, where she covers all things sex, love, dating and relationships.
She lives in Astoria, Queens and probably won’t stop talking about how great it is if you bring it up. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram..
