At Natural Pursuits, we see a lot of penises. From our photoshoots to our pottery classes, weโve had the privilege of documenting plenty of different sizes and shapes. And if thereโs one thing we can say with certainty, itโs that that no two are exactly alike.
Weโve covered Small Penis Acceptance before, focusing on advice from our community. But we wanted to write this piece to clear up the myths about penis size, separate fact from fiction, and give a reality check on whatโs really hanging between people’s legs.
And, if there’s one takeaway, it’s that most people’s concept of “average” is very distorted.
So, what’s “average”
So, what actually is average? Put simply, the average hard dick is 5.16 inches (13.12 cm) long and 4.59 inches (11.66 cm) around. When soft, the average length is 3.61 inches (9.16 cm), with a girth of 3.66 inches (9.31 cm).
Most guysโabout 68%โare between 4.5 inches and 5.8 inches when hard. While there are outliers, with boners ranging from under 2 inches to over 12, almost 70% fall within 1.3 inches of each other.
Even these “outliers” are pretty close to the average range:
- A 6.3-inch (16 cm) erection puts you in the top 5%, meaning only 5 out of 100 guys are packing more.
- On the flip side, a 3.94-inch (10 cm) boner lands in the bottom 5%, meaning just 5 out of 100 guys have one smaller.
Despite the extremes people talk about, most dicks arenโt that different in size.
What If Youโre Below Average?
“Shit, Iโm in the bottom 20%.”
If that thought crossed your mind while reading the numbers, youโre not alone. Seeing โbottom 20%โ can make it feel like youโre an extreme outlier, but the reality is far from that.
Twenty percent of the 3.2 billion adults with penises means 640 million people fall into this categoryโthatโs all of Latin America or double the population of the United States. Thatโs a lot of people.
But that doesnโt erase the fact that size stigma is real. Some people care about size. Some donโt. And, it’s unfair that smaller guys have to develop resilience to rejection based on their size, while watching bigger guys get celebrated. That’s the reality and it sucks.
If You Want Help Feeling Better About Your Size, We’re Here to Help
There’s a lot to say about this topic, which is why Iโm creating a Package Acceptance Programโto help people move past the stigma and build a satisfying life on their own terms. If this resonates with you, sign up to be informed when it launches.
Where These Numbers Come From
The most comprehensive study on penis size comes from a 2015 meta-analysis published in the British Journal of Urology International.
A meta-analysis combines data from multiple studies to give a more reliable, clearer picture than a single study alone. For this one, researchers compiled data from 17 studies and over 15,000 penis measurements worldwide, making it one of the most extensive studies ever conducted on the topic.
Why is this important? Because previous studies often relied on self-reported data, which tends to be inaccurateโmany people overestimate their size when reporting it themselves. This meta-analysis focused on studies where medical professionals took the measurements, making the results far more reliable.
The Distortion of Reality
Most of us base our perception of penis size on three things: our own, our partnersโ, and what we see in the media.
In media, the biggest ones get the most attention. We have a whole series about how penises are used in film, frequently pointing out the use of prosthetics.
Social media further distorted our idea of what’s “average”. Even on platforms that donโt allow nudity, suggestive content is everywhereโripped guys flopping their dicks around in grey sweatpants, thirst traps carefully curated to highlight bulges, and viral trends that keep size obsession in the spotlight.
Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter reward engagement, and the content that gets the most likes, shares, and comments tends to follow the same patternโbigger dicks make better spectacle. If someone isnโt naturally in the top 5%, they fake itโwith Photoshop, angles, or old-fashioned stuffing.
When the majority of penises we see are in the top 5%, it shifts our expectations. It makes the most extreme examples seem normal, and everything smaller than that feel like itโs not enough.
The result? Size anxiety, even for people who are right in the average range or above it. When every comparison point is oversized, itโs easy to assume youโre the outlierโeven when youโre not.
Porn vs. Reality
The penises we see most often belong to performers in studio porn or on OnlyFans, and we know theyโre big. Thatโs kind of the point. Porn performers arenโt chosen at randomโtheyโre cast, and size is often a factor.
And letโs be clear: thereโs nothing wrong with porn itself. Itโs a great tool for exploring sexuality, especially for queer people who might not have safe or accessible ways to experiment in real life. Many porn entertainers have been part of Natural Pursuits, and their work deserves respect. But when it comes to size, porn isnโt a documentaryโitโs fantasy.
Many assume the industry standard is 7 to 12 inches, but thatโs not the case. Studies suggest the actual average for male adult film actors is around 6.5 inches (16.5 cm). Thatโs above averageโlanding in the top 5%โbut itโs also shorter than people assume.
The truly massive ones? Theyโre extremely rare, even in porn. The difference is that, unlike in real life, theyโre put front and center.
Why the Focus on Length?
The focus is on length mainly because thatโs what we have the most data on. But thereโs way more to a penis than just its length.
Penises vary in girth, color, shape, and curvature. Some curve, some have a thicker base or head, and some have visible veins or skin variations. None of these are abnormalitiesโthey’re just natural variations in human anatomy.
Thereโs also the grower vs. shower factor. Some penises appear small when flaccid but expand significantly when erect, while others stay relatively the same size. And foreskins? Thereโs a lot to unpack there, but thatโs a conversation for another day.
Closing Thoughts
Penis size has been mythologized, scrutinized, and exaggerated for as long as weโve been talking about bodies. But despite all that attention, most people today have fewer real-life reference points for comparison than at almost any other time in history.
We Used to See Each Other Naked More Often
Before the modern era, nudity was a routine part of daily life. In many cultures, communal bathing was common, military barracks housed soldiers in close quarters, and even workplaces exposed people to each otherโs bodies.
During the Industrial Revolution, workers in some industries, like steel mills and mining, would shower together at the end of a shift, giving them a more realistic sense of the natural range of penis sizes.
Today, private bathrooms, gym shower stalls, and cultural shifts toward modesty mean that most people only see their own penis, those of their partners, or whatโs shown in media.
Media Gives Us a Distorted Picture
Because we donโt see many flaccid or erect penises in day-to-day life, the ones we do see are the ones chosen for spectacle. Social media, porn, and viral content have made penis size more visible than ever, but only in a highly selective way. The biggest ones get attention, get reposted, and get remembered.
In short, we now see more penises than at any other time in historyโbut from a narrower sample than ever before.
Why So Many People Feel Smaller Than Average
Itโs no surprise that so many people assume their very normal penis is below average. When all the reference points you see are above average, it skews your perception of whatโs typical.
At the end of the day, your dick is just one part of you. And chances are, itโs doing just fine.
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