What Is the Average Penis Size—and Can You Do Anything About It?

You might have wondered once or twice in your life whether your penis is bigger or smaller than average. Although size shouldn’t make any difference in being able to have a fulfilling and active sex life, sometimes the embarrassment of feeling like you aren’t “normal” can prevent men from seeking medical help for common, preventable conditions, like erectile dysfunction (ED) or premature ejaculation. 

However, by definition, most men do have normal-sized penises that fall within the average ranges of length, girth, and curvature, making it likely that yours does too. Although, if you’re unsure, we outline how to measure your penis properly below. And, if you do happen to fall within the smaller-than-average range and want to do something about it, we also discuss a few different ways to increase the size of your penis.

Study results of the average penis size

There are a lot of myths surrounding penis size, such as the belief that the size of your hands or feet is proportionate to the size of your penis. But, that’s all they are – myths – as there are no studies to back them up. 

However, it’s not just old wives’ tales that have perpetuated false beliefs, there have also been a lot of inaccurate studies that have perpetuated false information, including a 1960s report published by Alfred Kinsey, a sexologist at the Kinsey Institute. The results of the study stated that the average penis length was over 6 inches long. However, during the study, participants were simply given stamped postcards, which they had to hold against their erect penises and mark how long it was before mailing it back. Unsurprisingly, the study was proven to not have met the standards of a scientific study. 

A later study, published in 2015 in the British Journal of Urology International, which included over 15,521 male participants found that the average penis size was actually 5.16 inches (13.12 cm) when erect and 3.6 inches (9.31 cm) when flaccid. 

Despite the results of the Kinsey study being disproved, they still influence popular culture today as many men believe that the average penis size is longer than six inches. Unfortunately, this leads to a lot of unrealistic expectations and the belief that perfectly normal penises are below the average size. 

How to properly measure your own penis

Although it might seem easy, measuring your penis is not as straightforward as it sounds. In order to take an accurate measurement, use a measuring tape and place it from the pubic bone at the base of the penis, where it attaches to the body, to the tip in order to get the length. In order to get the girth or width of the penis, gently wrap the measuring tape around the thickest part of the shaft.

Other than satisfying your curiosity, finding out the length and girth of your penis is also important to ensure you use the correct condom size. If you use a condom that is too loose, it may fall off during sex, and if it’s too tight, it could cut off the blood supply and be very uncomfortable and it might cause the condom to burst.

Procedures and other things that can be done to increase penis size

If you find that after measuring your penis, its length and/or girth are smaller than the average measurements, there are a few penis enlargement procedures that can increase its size, both surgically and non-surgically.

Surgical penis enlargement procedures

One way to surgically increase the length of the penis is with suspensory ligament release surgery, which is when a surgeon cuts the ligament that attaches the penis to the pubic bone. By releasing the ligament, the penis is suspended, similar to the suspension on a bridge, which makes the penis appear longer. However, this type of surgery isn’t recommended as it can understandably affect the direction of your erection.   

Another surgical option is inserting penis implants. By inserting implants under the skin, the penis is given a thicker appearance. However, this option can lead to scarring of the skin and curvature of the penis. The procedure could also affect your ability to get an erection.  

Non-surgical penis enlargement procedures

There is also a non-surgical injectable penis-enlargement option which is safe and done in-rooms. The penis enlargement procedure only takes an hour and involves the injection of dermal fillers just below the penile skin, similar to the injection of dermal fillers into the lips and cheeks. This procedure lasts about six months after which time the filler gets absorbed into the body so it’s a lot less risky and invasive than a surgical option.