Penis size

Most men do not think rationally about penis size.

Research has shown that men do not have a clear idea of the size of their own penis. Looked at from above, it appears shorter than it really is.
Men do not have a clear idea of what average is.

What's normal?

According to the Kinsey Institute, many American men mistakenly think the average erect penis is 25 cm (almost 10 inches) long, and worry that they do not measure up. Here are the results of three surveys.

Firstly, the University of California researchers measured the penises of 80 normal men and published their results in the Journal of Urology in 1996. They found that:

without an erection (limp), the average length was 8.8 cm (just under 3.5 inches)
the average flaccid (limp) penis could be stretched to 12.4 cm (about 4.75 inches)
the average length when erect was 12.9 cm (just over 5 inches).

Of the men studied, many had penises that were larger or smaller than the average. They also found that the length of the penis when limp does not predict the size when erect – smaller penises expand more when erect. So, the researchers found the average erect penis to be about 13 cm long, regardless of whether it is 5 cm or 10 cm long when it is limp.

Secondly, in 2001, the condom manufacturer Durex asked men visiting its website to take part in a penis size survey, and just under 3000 men responded. They measured themselves and reported the results to the website. The average erect length was 16.3 cm (6.4 inches), and the average circumference (measured round the penis at its widest point) was 13.3 cm (5.2 inches). It is difficult to know how reliable these measurements are – there might have been some wishful thinking involved. The survey also showed that a long penis is not usually thick. Durex says, “While the ‘mythical’ well-endowed man with a very long and very wide penis does exist, there are not that many of them about.”

Thirdly, a survey of research has produced the following information (European Urology 2008;54:1042-50):

when limp, an adult penis is between 7.6 cm and 13.0 cm long (3–5 inches approx)
when limp, the normal girth (i.e. measured round) of an adult penis is between 8.5 cm and 10.5 cm (3¼-4 inches approx)
when erect, the normal penis length is between 12.7 cm and 17.7 cm (5-7 inches approx)
when erect, the normal girth of an adult penis is between 11.3 cm and 13.0 cm (4½-5 inches approx).

Shoe size and penis size

It is a myth that men with large feet have larger penises; researchers have found no correlation (British Journal of Urology International 2002;90:586–7).

Lose a paunch

If you are carrying a few excess pounds on your abdomen, the first part (called the root) of your penis will be buried in the fat. This makes it look shorter than it really is. Losing weight will make the penis grow!

Penis enlargement

The shaft of the penis can be made thicker by injecting fat under the skin of the penis. The fat will have been removed by liposuction from another part of the body, usually the thigh or abdomen. The glans (the tip of the penis) stays the same size, and so it may look a bit out of proportion. The fat tends to be absorbed by the body, so the injections have to be repeated two or three times a year. The fat can sometimes form unsightly nodules, and there can be puckering of the skin and scarring.

Another method is dermal grafting. Strips of skin and underlying fat are removed from beneath the buttocks; the upper layer of skin is taken off and the rest of the tissue is implanted along the shaft of the penis under the skin. As a result, there may be some scar tissue along the shaft of the penis.

The penis can be made longer by a surgical operation in which the ligaments that attach the penis to the pubic bone are cut. This makes the penis hang down about 2.5–5cm (1–2 inches) further when it is limp, but the size of your erection will not be increased. Also because it no longer has the support of the ligaments, the erect penis will not point as high as before. The operation can be risky, because important nerves that carry sensation can be damaged and infection or bleeding can also occur, and unsightly scarring is common. If you are considering this operation, make sure that you find a reputable surgeon (look at the section on cosmetic surgery). This may be difficult, because not many surgeons are willing to do this operation, because of the problems associated with it.

A safer approach is to have a ‘suprapubic lipectomy’ to remove fat from the lower abdomen above the root of the penis. This makes the whole length of the penis more visible.

For more information, Dr Phil Hammond discusses Helix marks and penile enlargement in his Expert guide.

Written by: Dr Margaret Stearn
Edited by: Dr Margaret Stearn
Last updated: Thursday, June 10th 2010

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Comments on this article

Posted by Optional on 23/07/2010 at 04:45:12 am

my penis size only 4 inch with erection. what should i do to make my penis 7 inch long

Posted by no-comments on 12/07/2010 at 04:55:53 pm

my penis size is 16 cm so i want it to be more biger and longer so what i must to do ?

Posted by pardeep on 01/07/2010 at 04:09:29 pm

hi my penis size is too short,it is not erecting properly,their width and grith is also not good

Posted by mr.16 on 24/06/2010 at 03:43:43 am

im 16 years old im like 6;2 and my penis is 6 on soft and bout 10 or 11 fully erected but when i put a condom on i start to lose my erection why is that

Posted by Optional on 21/06/2010 at 09:26:16 pm

I also asked another question about losing weight compared to penis size earlier, but will my testicles hang further when i lose weight, will they hang more often. And i have also heard that the penis and testicles should hang about the same distance, even the penis further than the testicles- thats not true on me, is that ok?

Posted by Optional on 21/06/2010 at 08:53:09 pm

I am 16, a little below 5 inches. I'm about 5'6-5'7 and im 210-215lbs, now i've heard that some of my penis is hidden because of my fat. My question is since i started puberty when i was fat (still am) does that have any effect on my penis size, i mean is my penis not going to grow to its greatest potential because im fat- maybe too much of one chemical in my body due to being fat?- thanks

Posted by Optional on 13/06/2010 at 07:55:45 am

Thank u very much indeed for your educative and imformative website. Secondly i have a problem in 20yrs every night i dont feel sleepy till i do pre marital sex and too used to wake up each morning with a heavy erection and it will last for several minute, also i can get sexual arousal by mere seeing a woman.. I am very much worried that what will happen in future and my penis size has become smaller..please what can i do to avoid premarital sex.. I would be very greatful if you help me out of this...

Posted by amit on 13/06/2010 at 12:35:54 am

penis size is small & during sex problam.

Posted by Optional on 12/06/2010 at 11:26:06 am

my penis is 4 inch.i want my penis long plz help

Posted by rohit on 11/06/2010 at 11:31:12 pm

i am married man i want that my penis should be some fat or long give me any sujjestion which i can done only at own house.

Posted by Optional on 07/06/2010 at 04:48:06 pm

wen my penis is hard its just 3haf inchs is ther nething 2 make it bigar

Posted by Optional on 06/06/2010 at 12:15:23 am

Thank u very much indeed for your educative and imformative website. Secondly i have a problem im 24yrs weight: 62.5kg penis size: 6.4 inches, i used to wake up each morning with a heavy erection and it will last for several minute, also i can get sexual arousal by mere seeing a woman Pls what can i do because Islam is totally against premarital sex.

Posted by settle on 31/05/2010 at 07:48:53 am

I really want to anlarge my penis.But i want you to tell me on what to do.

Posted by ali on 30/05/2010 at 02:48:44 am

my penis samal siz 5'' or no full erection please help me thaks

Posted by junaid on 29/05/2010 at 09:57:29 am

how possbile to lage penis

Posted by Bashar on 23/05/2010 at 03:51:19 pm

Posted by Optional on 18/05/2010 at 07:30:36 pm

what happends when your penis dosent grow is it normal or diffrent

Posted by Optional on 18/05/2010 at 12:25:30 am

penius is not fat. what can i do how can i increase penius width

Posted by Optional on 13/05/2010 at 08:23:31 am

my penis is only 6 centemeters and thin

Posted by Optional on 28/04/2010 at 07:12:04 am

sir,i didnt get any answer.i found only questions,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Posted by Optional on 27/04/2010 at 02:31:09 pm

My penis size is 4.2" (inch). I wanna to big and large it...Help

Posted by Optional on 12/04/2010 at 06:55:12 pm

My penis is only 1 inche and hard 4 inches can you please help me to it can grow

Posted by Optional on 29/03/2010 at 11:43:49 am

I'm 15, have a minute penis and it jolts up when it wants. I'm too afraid to tell anyone. I have never ejaculated (apart from having wet dreams) and want to know if there is a pill or something similar to make it grow... Im scared of going to the loo in case someone see's me and dread it when they do. Someone please help me...

Posted by rock on 28/03/2010 at 04:39:08 pm

i'm 21 my penis is long when i put my pants on , you can see my penis clearly because it's big what should i do with this ...

Posted by Optional on 19/03/2010 at 05:39:42 pm

where do you go to get a penis enlargment done.

Posted by Optional on 18/03/2010 at 02:59:16 am

how can i make my penis big????its only 2 inches pls.. reply

Posted by Optional on 14/03/2010 at 10:44:01 am

i am 16 years old and i have the smallest dick ever its only 1 inch when its soft and hard its almost 2 inches

Posted by williams on 23/01/2010 at 03:41:00 am

Im 14 yearz old and my penis havent grew but an inch from a 10 year old..

Posted by rahul on 19/01/2010 at 11:48:00 am

if skin layer of penis which covers the penis fully ,if its not as the same after age of 18 it can creates some problem while doing sex pls reply

Posted by X-tra Wide Problems on 16/01/2010 at 08:46:00 pm

My penis when limp is about 6'inches long and 5'inches in circumference. When errect it is 6 3/4 inches long and 8' inches in circumference. I am one that had the laser penile enlargement surgery and fat injections. Although the fat reabsorbed it is still abnormally wide. It's almost impossible to have intercourse because it's to painful for my wife and condoms won't stay on or are to tight and pop off. The Dr. who did the surgery refuses to do corrective surgery and my regular internal medicine Dr. won't touch me. I had a very small penis before the surgery and as I grew had to have proceedures to allow for growth because the Dr. cut off to much at birth. So I had the surgery which made me much larger but now I have other issues. Any suggestions on what course of action to take or should I just learn to live with it?

Posted by KNMS on 16/01/2010 at 08:24:00 am

hi am 23years old and i have 4cm when its not in position and 6,7cm when its erection,my weight is 90k and am doing my best to reduce some more in future.may i know what i can do to make it more longer because next year am going to get married and i don't want my wife to complain about it.so please guide me what should i do? operation? pills? surgery?

Posted by Masum on 13/01/2010 at 05:31:00 am

Sir, My penis is 6 inch. But I am not satisfy it. I need 10 inch my penis. Plese help me.

Posted by help on 31/12/2009 at 03:36:00 pm

hi im 16 and my penis is only 3cm long and when erect its 4.5cm im nnot overweight and when i got erect it hurts i dont want togo to a doctor becausde im too embarresed please is there anything wrong with me and also my puberty stage is over

Posted by random on 30/12/2009 at 01:06:00 am

hello sir, i am 14years old and my penis is 2in limp and about 4in erect. this article has made me a little bit more confident but im still curious that my penis is small, im wondering/hoping that it will grow as ive only just hit purberty, i still got a high voice and only a little bit of hair. but then my penis has not grown since i was about 5 or 6 and i get random erections even when im not aroused, like about 10mins after i wake up in bed. please reply and give me adive.

Posted by Roc on 20/12/2009 at 09:38:00 am

My penis is 23.5 cm long when fully and 10 cm when flaccid and my circumf i dont really know . Is that stil average. Females always complian bout my birdie by looking it.