Dildo - Stats and Facts | HotCherry.com

Let’s talk about dildos, the most famous, most popular, and oldest sex toy in the world. It comes in so many options; you’ll be amazed by the possibilities. It is an object of curiosity, an object of pleasure, and an object of sexual gratification, and it is no wonder that close to half of the US female population owns this exciting sex toy. Please check out the interesting facts and statistics on dildos and dildo use we’ve prepared for you!

The Invention of the Dildo

The oldest known dildo-shaped artifact is estimated to be about 28,000 years old. It is a polished stone dildo that is about 8 inches long and about 1.2 inches thick and was discovered in an archeological site in the Hohle Fels Cave in Germany. The dildo is made from siltstone, and based on the researcher’s conclusions, it was a well-used object.^[1]

FUN Fact: Phallic objects have been an object of worship over the years; phallic architecture is prominent in antiquity and modern times.

Dildo Stats

Let’s take a closer look at some dildo statistics:

The global sex toy market reached a staggering value of about $34 billion in 2021^[2], and it is projected to rise to $80 billion by 2030.
In 2023, the estimated US sex toy market reached an estimated value of around $11 billion.
The average annual US dildo market is estimated to be valued between $500 million and $1 billion.
In 2022, over 163 million people in the USA own a sex toy; the majority of these are women, and over 56% own more than 5 sex toys.^[3]
In 2021, 21% of all sex toys sold in the USA were dildos, with vibrators having a 41% of the market share ^[4]

According to compiled data from different sex toy retailers, the annual sex toy sales are as shown in the chart^[5]:

Where People Shop for Dildos?

Adults shop for sex toys across various channels. While many sex toys like vibrators can be purchased even in general stores, dildos are more of a specialty item and are almost primarily sold through online and retail front sex toy stores. Here are the main channels where people shop for sex toys:

Specialty Online Sex Toy Stores – 32% of people buy their sex toys from online sex toy stores
General Online Retailers/Amazon – 32% of people shop for sex toys from Amazon and similar general online retailers
Pharmacy – 24% of people purchase sex toys from pharmacies
Brick-and-Mortar Sex Toy Stores – 31% of people buy sex toys at brick-and-mortar sex toy stores

Please note that the percentages are based on estimates from different sources, and customers don’t exclusively shop from a single channel^[6]

Dildo Popularity

While we can never have an accurate impression of the exact dildo sales, as this varies per personal preference, age, gender, and place of residence, we can use some of the user preferences to gain some insight into the popularity of dildos in the USA.

The dildo is the most popular sex toy for Americans, followed by vibrator, bondage accessories, and male masturbators.^[5]

Most popular dildo sizes

Average Size

The average size dildo seems like the most common choice for US shoppers. A dildo that is about 5 to 7 inches in length and about 1.3 inches in diameter seems to be the go-to choice for many because of its versatile applications.

Large Size

Many US shoppers prefer the larger-sized dildos, like the models that are 8 inches in length and over. However, based on our market data research, these are favored by more experienced users.

Most Popular Dildo Manufacturers

Based on the popularity of different dildo models, we can conclude what are the most popular dildo manufacturers. Again, please note that we’ve compiled this data based on user info, sales data, and other metrics:

The foremost manufacturer is Pipedream, one of the oldest, most innovative, and largest sexual wellness product manufacturers based in Ohio. The company was founded in 1973 as a family-run business, and they’ve grown to offer a vast product portfolio.

Another top-rated sex toy manufacturer whose dildo models usually rank very high on the list of popular and most-sold dildos is Doc JohnsonThe global sex toy market. It is an American company that has grown into one of the largest sex toy companies in the world. It was established in 1976 and is based in North Hollywood, California.

Fun Dildo Facts

Let us share some fun facts related to dildos. Please note that while the dildo may not be your preferred sex toy, over 50% of US women pick the dildo as their sex toy of choice:

The word “dildo” started to be used around the 1400s, originating from the Latin “dilitare,” which means “to open wide
Dildos come in various “animal” shapes, most often like dolphins, cats, teddy bears, penguins, and even tentacles.
The first silicone dildo was invented in 1965 by a man who suffered from paralysis and could not have sex with his partner.
There are prominent 17th-century novels and poetry devoted to dildos.
Europeans prefer dildos more than Americans.
Girth is often more important than length when it comes to dildo preferences.
70% of men say they are not intimidated by their partner’s dildo or vibrator.
It is illegal to sell sex toys in Alabama.^[7]
Californians tend to buy more dildos than other US states; Washington and Oregon are on this list as well.^[8]
Sex toy sales tend to spike during economic hardships.