How to measure your penis

It sounds simple: you grab a ruler, align it against your penis and read the number. But not so fast, there’s a correct way to measure your penis. If the angle of the ruler is off or your starting and endpoints are a bit too liberal, you may be doing it wrong. Here’s what you need to know to avoid cheating yourself.

In order to measure your penis size properly:

1. Measure your penis starting at the pelvic bone
2. Measure along the side of the penis to the tip
3. Be sure to measure in a straight angle (perpendicular to the body)
4. If you have excess fat in the way, push it aside

Many men exaggerate penis size

A lot of men believe that penis size is an indicator of masculinity and they are willing to exaggerate a bit to come out top. Research published in the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy found that out of 130 male college students, the majority reported greater erect penis sizes (average 6.62 inches) after self-measurement. Just 27% said their penis was below 6 inches. The average erect penis size, by the way, is 5.2 inches. Thirty-one percent of respondents said their penis length was greater than 7 inches.

In a research study aimed at helping men identify the right condom size, participants were a little more honest. A total of 1,661 men in the U.S. took part in the research. The average erect penis length was 5.6 inches whilst the average circumference was 4.8 inches.

So, the next time, someone brags about their ‘huge’ penis, just remember that they are probably exaggerating.  

What’s the right way to measure your penis?

Many research studies advise participants to measure penis size at room temperature and standing up. A ruler is then placed along the upper side of the penis from the pubic bone to the tip of the glans.

For girth, it’s advised to measure the penis shaft using a flexible measuring tape. You can also use a string and wrap it around your penis, mark the position and then hold it against a ruler. Be careful not to strangle your penis whilst measuring the circumference.

If you worry about the size of your penis, fear not. A whopping 85% of women are happy with their partner’s penis size. The size of your piece matters far less than what you do with.

References

1. How to measure penis size, length and circumference | Penis size. (2019). Penissizes.org. Retrieved September 23, 2019, from <http://www.penissizes.org/how-to-measure-penis-size>
2. King, B., Duncan, L., Clinkenbeard, K., Rutland, M., & Ryan, K. (2019). Social Desirability and Young Men’s Self-Reports of Penis Size. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 45/5: 452-455. https://doi.org/10.1080/0092623x.2018.1533905
3. Herbenick, D., Reece, M., Schick, V., & Sanders, S. (2014). Erect Penile Length and Circumference Dimensions of 1,661 Sexually Active Men in the United States. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 11/1: 93-101. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsm.12244
4. Hussein, N., Abid, A., & Alnuaimi, A. (2017). Reference range of flaccid and stretched penile lengths of adult males in Baghdad: A cross-sectional study. Arab Journal of Urology, 15/1: 68-73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aju.2017.01.001