How Many Types of Penises Are There?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPenis SizeBase-Head RatioCurvatureCircumcisionShowers/GrowersOther VariationsHealth Tips

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Penis Size

Base-Head Ratio

Curvature

Circumcision

Showers/Growers

Other Variations

Health Tips

Many different types of penis shapes and sizes fall within the definition of “normal.” These characteristics can be broadly described as:

There are other variations, some that you inherit and others that you acquire. While no two penises are alike, most fall within the broad definition of “normal.”

Nenad Cavoski / Getty Images

A Note on Gender and Sex TerminologyVerywell Health acknowledges thatsex and genderare related concepts, but they are not the same. To accurately reflect our sources, this article uses terms like “male," “man,” and “men” as the sources use them.

A Note on Gender and Sex Terminology

Verywell Health acknowledges thatsex and genderare related concepts, but they are not the same. To accurately reflect our sources, this article uses terms like “male," “man,” and “men” as the sources use them.

Differences in Penis Size

Though some people havelarge penisesand others havesmaller penises, the truth is there’s not as much difference in penis size as you might think.

Penis Length

The length of the penis is measured along the top side of the penis from the pubic bone to the tip of the penis head (glans). The measurement is done when the penis iserect(hard).

In terms of length, a 2015 study involving more than 15,500 men found that there’s not much variation in penis size. According to the researchers, the average length of a flaccid (soft) penis is 3.61 inches, while the average length of an erect penis is 5.16 inches.

This is far below what many men consider “normal.” A 2021 review from Clemson University found that many men have unrealistic notions about the size of their penises, assuming that 6 inches is “average.”

In fact, only about 5% of men have erect penises longer than 6.3 inches, and only about 5% have an erect penis shorter than 4 inches.

Does Race Influence Penis Size?While it is often assumed that Black men have bigger penises than White men, a 2018 study in theInternational Journal of Impotence Researchreported that the difference was actually quite small.Among a cohort of Black and White males in Brazil, the researchers confirmed that Black penises were larger on average, but the overall difference was only around 1/4 inch.

Does Race Influence Penis Size?

While it is often assumed that Black men have bigger penises than White men, a 2018 study in theInternational Journal of Impotence Researchreported that the difference was actually quite small.Among a cohort of Black and White males in Brazil, the researchers confirmed that Black penises were larger on average, but the overall difference was only around 1/4 inch.

While it is often assumed that Black men have bigger penises than White men, a 2018 study in theInternational Journal of Impotence Researchreported that the difference was actually quite small.

Among a cohort of Black and White males in Brazil, the researchers confirmed that Black penises were larger on average, but the overall difference was only around 1/4 inch.

Penis Girth

Penis girth is defined as the circumference of the penis measured at its widest part. The girth doesn’t necessarily correspond to the length of the penis. Some longer penises may have a smaller girth, while some shorter penises may have a wider girth.

There are also common misconceptions about the average girth of a penis. In the previously mentioned study of more than 15,500 men, the average girth of a flaccid penis was reported to be 3.6 inches, while the average girth of an erect penis is 4.59 inches.

In addition, there is often a wide variety in girth at different points of the penis shaft. Most penises are widest at the base and taper toward the top. But this is not always the case, with some penises narrower at the base and wider at the top (referred to as “cobra head” formation).

Base-to-Head Ratio

The base-to-head ratio describes the circumference of the penis shaft in comparison to the circumference of the penis head.

While there is broad variation in proportions, the base-to-head ratio falls into one of three general categories:

As with penis size, there is no base-to-head ratio that is “better” than others. Ultimately, personal preference factors into what is considered attractive or unattractive.

Differences in Penis Curvature

Some people think that an erect penis should stand straight like a flagpole, but the truth is that most erect penises curve slightly in one of four directions:

It is also possible to have an upward or downward curve with a left or right curve, although this is less common. In most men, the penile curve is usually less than 30 degrees in any direction.

The degree of penile curvature is largely congenital (something you are born with) and is not of concern unless it causes pain or sexual dysfunction. Even so, some people regard excessive curves (greater than 30 degrees) as unsightly or embarrassing.

A 2018 study from Australia reported that 19% of men between the ages of 35 and 75 had a notable curve in their penis, usually under 30 degrees. Roughly a third had a curve greater than 30 degrees, while only a few reported curves of 60 to 90 degrees or greater.

While only 2% complained of pain or discomfort due to the excessive curve, one out of five said that it interfered with sexual intercourse, and one out of four thought that the curve was unsightly.

Penile Curvature vs. Peyronie’s DiseaseCongenital penile deviation describes the curve of the penis you are born with. This differs fromPeyronie’s disease (PD), a condition in which the penis will develop an abnormal curve in later life due to prior or cumulative damage to the penis shaft.PD is of concern as it can cause or complicateerectile dysfunction (ED)and lead to pain and discomfort during sexual intercourse.Studies suggest that between 0.5% and 13% of adult males experience PD at some time in their lives.

Penile Curvature vs. Peyronie’s Disease

Congenital penile deviation describes the curve of the penis you are born with. This differs fromPeyronie’s disease (PD), a condition in which the penis will develop an abnormal curve in later life due to prior or cumulative damage to the penis shaft.PD is of concern as it can cause or complicateerectile dysfunction (ED)and lead to pain and discomfort during sexual intercourse.Studies suggest that between 0.5% and 13% of adult males experience PD at some time in their lives.

Congenital penile deviation describes the curve of the penis you are born with. This differs fromPeyronie’s disease (PD), a condition in which the penis will develop an abnormal curve in later life due to prior or cumulative damage to the penis shaft.

PD is of concern as it can cause or complicateerectile dysfunction (ED)and lead to pain and discomfort during sexual intercourse.

Studies suggest that between 0.5% and 13% of adult males experience PD at some time in their lives.

Circumcision Status

Circumcisionis the surgical removal of the foreskin of the penis. As such, a penis can be categorized as either circumcised (foreskin removed) or uncircumcised (foreskin not removed).

In most cases, circumcision is an elective procedure, usually performed shortly after birth. However, some medical conditions require circumcision, including recurrentbalanitis(inflammation of the glans) orparaphimosis(where the foreskin is trapped behind the head of the penis).

Circumcision rates in the United States are falling as more people have reservations about doing a procedure that is not medically necessary.Others contend that having an uncircumcised penis increases sexual sensitivity, although there is no definitive evidence of this.

Being uncircumcised does not inherently pose any health risks. With that said, the increased moisture beneath the foreskin increases the risk offungal infectionsand certainsexually transmitted infections, particularly if proper hygiene is not maintained.

A 2016 study estimated that in the United States, about 71% of males are circumcised, though the rate of infant circumcision has declined in recent years.

“Showers” vs. “Growers”

In slang, a “shower” is a penis that does not increase significantly in size between its flaccid and erect state, while a “grower” is a penis that does.

The study further suggests that “growers” tend to be younger and have a slightly larger erect penis than “showers” (6.1 inches versus 5.15 inches). Even so, being a “shower” doesn’t mean that you will invariably have a smaller penis than a “grower,” or vice versa.

Other Variations in Penises

There are other ways that penises can differ from one person to the next:

How to Keep Your Penis Healthy

A penis can change as a man ages, not only its appearance but also its size and sexual function. Over time, a poor diet and lack of exercise can cause the buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries of your penis, reducing blood flow and causing the progressive deterioration of erectile tissues.

At the same time, injuries from sex or sports can cause scarring that reduces the elasticity of the fibrous sheath around the penis shaft. This may not only cause a minor loss in penis size but also increase therisk of Peyronie’s disease.

Among the things you can do to keep your penis healthy and avoid these and other problems:

Summary

Variations in penis size and shape are generally considered “normal” and of little concern unless they cause you pain or sexual problems. If you experience distress over the size or shape of your penis, speak with a healthcare provider to determine if your expectations are realistic or if you are in need of medical treatment.

22 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Veale D, Miles S, Bramley S, Muir G, Hodsoll J.Am I normal? A systematic review and construction of nomograms for flaccid and erect penis length and circumference in up to 15,521 men.BJU Int. 2015;115(6):978-986. doi:10.1111/bju.13010King BM.Average-size erect penis: fiction, fact, and the need for counseling.J Sex Marital Ther. 2021;47(1):80-89. doi:10.1080/0092623X.2020.1787279Alves Barboza R, Da Silva EA, Ruellas T, Damião R.Anthropometric study of penile length in self-declared Brazilians regarding the color of the skin as White or Black: the study of a myth.Int J Impot Res. 2018;30(1):43-7. doi:10.1038/s41443-017-0009-zSalter CA, Nascimento B, Terrier JE, et al.Evaluating the impact of penile girth discrepancy on patient bother in men with Peyronie’s disease: an observational study.J Sex Med. 2020 Aug; 17(8): 1560–1565. doi:10.1016/j.jsxm.2020.05.003National Health Service.Peyronie’s disease.Chung E, Gillman M, Rushton D, Love C, Katz D.Prevalence of penile curvature: a population-based cross-sectional study in metropolitan and rural cities in Australia.BJU Int. 2018;122 Suppl 5:42-9. doi:10.1111/bju.14605American Urological Association.Peyronie’s disease.MedlinePlus.Circumcision.MedlinePlus.Paraphimosis.MedlinePlus.Balanitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Trends in circumcision for male newborns in U.S. hospitals: 1979–2010.Morris BJ, Kriegert JN.The contrasting evidence concerning the effect of male circumcision on sexual function, sensation, and pleasure: a systematic review.Sex Med.2020 Dec;8(4):577–598. doi:10.1016/j.esxm.2020.08.011Mehta KS, Marfatia YS, Jain AP, Shah DJ, Baxi DS.Male circumcision and sexually transmitted infections - an update.Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS. 2021;42(1):1-6. doi:10.4103/ijstd.ijstd_20_21Morris BJ, Wamai RG, Henebeng EB, et al.Estimation of country-specific and global prevalence of male circumcision.Popul Health Metr. 2016;14:4. doi:10.1186/s12963-016-0073-5Yafi FA,, Alzweri L, McCaslin IR, et al.Grower or shower? Predictors of change in penile length from the flaccid to erect state.Int J Impot Res. 2018 Nov;30(6):287-291. doi:10.1038/s41443-018-0053-3Quattara A, Pare AK, Kabore AF, et al.Subcutaneous dorsal penile vein thrombosis or penile Mondor’s disease: a case report and literature review.Case Rep Urol.2019;2019:1297048. doi:10.1155/2019/1297048Belladelli F, Del Guidice F, Glover F, et al.Worldwide temporal trends in penile length: a systematic review and meta-analysis.World J Mens Health.2023 Oct;41(4):848–860. doi:10.5534/wjmh.220203Al-Thakafi S, Al-Hathal N.Peyronie’s disease: a literature review on epidemiology, genetics, pathophysiology, diagnosis and work-up.Transl Androl Urol. 2016;5(3):280-9. doi:10.21037/tau.2016.04.05Paulsen LH, Sørensen Bakke L, Jarbøl DE, Balasubramaniam K, Hansen DG.Associations between lifestyle, erectile dysfunction and healthcare seeking: a population-based study.Scand J Prim Health Care. 2020;38(2):176-183. doi:10.1080/02813432.2020.1753347Gerbild H, Larsen CM, Graugaard C, Josefsson KA.Physical activity to improve erectile function: a systematic review of intervention studies.Sex Med. 2018;6(2):75-89. doi:10.1016/j.esxm.2018.02.001National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Penile curvature (Peyronie’s disease).Morris B, Krieger JN.Balanitis and related inflammatory conditions affecting the penis. In:Urogenital Infections and Inflammations. Duesseldorf, Germany: GMS Publishing House; 2017. doi:10.5680/lhuii000027

22 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Veale D, Miles S, Bramley S, Muir G, Hodsoll J.Am I normal? A systematic review and construction of nomograms for flaccid and erect penis length and circumference in up to 15,521 men.BJU Int. 2015;115(6):978-986. doi:10.1111/bju.13010King BM.Average-size erect penis: fiction, fact, and the need for counseling.J Sex Marital Ther. 2021;47(1):80-89. doi:10.1080/0092623X.2020.1787279Alves Barboza R, Da Silva EA, Ruellas T, Damião R.Anthropometric study of penile length in self-declared Brazilians regarding the color of the skin as White or Black: the study of a myth.Int J Impot Res. 2018;30(1):43-7. doi:10.1038/s41443-017-0009-zSalter CA, Nascimento B, Terrier JE, et al.Evaluating the impact of penile girth discrepancy on patient bother in men with Peyronie’s disease: an observational study.J Sex Med. 2020 Aug; 17(8): 1560–1565. doi:10.1016/j.jsxm.2020.05.003National Health Service.Peyronie’s disease.Chung E, Gillman M, Rushton D, Love C, Katz D.Prevalence of penile curvature: a population-based cross-sectional study in metropolitan and rural cities in Australia.BJU Int. 2018;122 Suppl 5:42-9. doi:10.1111/bju.14605American Urological Association.Peyronie’s disease.MedlinePlus.Circumcision.MedlinePlus.Paraphimosis.MedlinePlus.Balanitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Trends in circumcision for male newborns in U.S. hospitals: 1979–2010.Morris BJ, Kriegert JN.The contrasting evidence concerning the effect of male circumcision on sexual function, sensation, and pleasure: a systematic review.Sex Med.2020 Dec;8(4):577–598. doi:10.1016/j.esxm.2020.08.011Mehta KS, Marfatia YS, Jain AP, Shah DJ, Baxi DS.Male circumcision and sexually transmitted infections - an update.Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS. 2021;42(1):1-6. doi:10.4103/ijstd.ijstd_20_21Morris BJ, Wamai RG, Henebeng EB, et al.Estimation of country-specific and global prevalence of male circumcision.Popul Health Metr. 2016;14:4. doi:10.1186/s12963-016-0073-5Yafi FA,, Alzweri L, McCaslin IR, et al.Grower or shower? Predictors of change in penile length from the flaccid to erect state.Int J Impot Res. 2018 Nov;30(6):287-291. doi:10.1038/s41443-018-0053-3Quattara A, Pare AK, Kabore AF, et al.Subcutaneous dorsal penile vein thrombosis or penile Mondor’s disease: a case report and literature review.Case Rep Urol.2019;2019:1297048. doi:10.1155/2019/1297048Belladelli F, Del Guidice F, Glover F, et al.Worldwide temporal trends in penile length: a systematic review and meta-analysis.World J Mens Health.2023 Oct;41(4):848–860. doi:10.5534/wjmh.220203Al-Thakafi S, Al-Hathal N.Peyronie’s disease: a literature review on epidemiology, genetics, pathophysiology, diagnosis and work-up.Transl Androl Urol. 2016;5(3):280-9. doi:10.21037/tau.2016.04.05Paulsen LH, Sørensen Bakke L, Jarbøl DE, Balasubramaniam K, Hansen DG.Associations between lifestyle, erectile dysfunction and healthcare seeking: a population-based study.Scand J Prim Health Care. 2020;38(2):176-183. doi:10.1080/02813432.2020.1753347Gerbild H, Larsen CM, Graugaard C, Josefsson KA.Physical activity to improve erectile function: a systematic review of intervention studies.Sex Med. 2018;6(2):75-89. doi:10.1016/j.esxm.2018.02.001National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Penile curvature (Peyronie’s disease).Morris B, Krieger JN.Balanitis and related inflammatory conditions affecting the penis. In:Urogenital Infections and Inflammations. Duesseldorf, Germany: GMS Publishing House; 2017. doi:10.5680/lhuii000027

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Veale D, Miles S, Bramley S, Muir G, Hodsoll J.Am I normal? A systematic review and construction of nomograms for flaccid and erect penis length and circumference in up to 15,521 men.BJU Int. 2015;115(6):978-986. doi:10.1111/bju.13010King BM.Average-size erect penis: fiction, fact, and the need for counseling.J Sex Marital Ther. 2021;47(1):80-89. doi:10.1080/0092623X.2020.1787279Alves Barboza R, Da Silva EA, Ruellas T, Damião R.Anthropometric study of penile length in self-declared Brazilians regarding the color of the skin as White or Black: the study of a myth.Int J Impot Res. 2018;30(1):43-7. doi:10.1038/s41443-017-0009-zSalter CA, Nascimento B, Terrier JE, et al.Evaluating the impact of penile girth discrepancy on patient bother in men with Peyronie’s disease: an observational study.J Sex Med. 2020 Aug; 17(8): 1560–1565. doi:10.1016/j.jsxm.2020.05.003National Health Service.Peyronie’s disease.Chung E, Gillman M, Rushton D, Love C, Katz D.Prevalence of penile curvature: a population-based cross-sectional study in metropolitan and rural cities in Australia.BJU Int. 2018;122 Suppl 5:42-9. doi:10.1111/bju.14605American Urological Association.Peyronie’s disease.MedlinePlus.Circumcision.MedlinePlus.Paraphimosis.MedlinePlus.Balanitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Trends in circumcision for male newborns in U.S. hospitals: 1979–2010.Morris BJ, Kriegert JN.The contrasting evidence concerning the effect of male circumcision on sexual function, sensation, and pleasure: a systematic review.Sex Med.2020 Dec;8(4):577–598. doi:10.1016/j.esxm.2020.08.011Mehta KS, Marfatia YS, Jain AP, Shah DJ, Baxi DS.Male circumcision and sexually transmitted infections - an update.Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS. 2021;42(1):1-6. doi:10.4103/ijstd.ijstd_20_21Morris BJ, Wamai RG, Henebeng EB, et al.Estimation of country-specific and global prevalence of male circumcision.Popul Health Metr. 2016;14:4. doi:10.1186/s12963-016-0073-5Yafi FA,, Alzweri L, McCaslin IR, et al.Grower or shower? Predictors of change in penile length from the flaccid to erect state.Int J Impot Res. 2018 Nov;30(6):287-291. doi:10.1038/s41443-018-0053-3Quattara A, Pare AK, Kabore AF, et al.Subcutaneous dorsal penile vein thrombosis or penile Mondor’s disease: a case report and literature review.Case Rep Urol.2019;2019:1297048. doi:10.1155/2019/1297048Belladelli F, Del Guidice F, Glover F, et al.Worldwide temporal trends in penile length: a systematic review and meta-analysis.World J Mens Health.2023 Oct;41(4):848–860. doi:10.5534/wjmh.220203Al-Thakafi S, Al-Hathal N.Peyronie’s disease: a literature review on epidemiology, genetics, pathophysiology, diagnosis and work-up.Transl Androl Urol. 2016;5(3):280-9. doi:10.21037/tau.2016.04.05Paulsen LH, Sørensen Bakke L, Jarbøl DE, Balasubramaniam K, Hansen DG.Associations between lifestyle, erectile dysfunction and healthcare seeking: a population-based study.Scand J Prim Health Care. 2020;38(2):176-183. doi:10.1080/02813432.2020.1753347Gerbild H, Larsen CM, Graugaard C, Josefsson KA.Physical activity to improve erectile function: a systematic review of intervention studies.Sex Med. 2018;6(2):75-89. doi:10.1016/j.esxm.2018.02.001National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Penile curvature (Peyronie’s disease).Morris B, Krieger JN.Balanitis and related inflammatory conditions affecting the penis. In:Urogenital Infections and Inflammations. Duesseldorf, Germany: GMS Publishing House; 2017. doi:10.5680/lhuii000027

Veale D, Miles S, Bramley S, Muir G, Hodsoll J.Am I normal? A systematic review and construction of nomograms for flaccid and erect penis length and circumference in up to 15,521 men.BJU Int. 2015;115(6):978-986. doi:10.1111/bju.13010

King BM.Average-size erect penis: fiction, fact, and the need for counseling.J Sex Marital Ther. 2021;47(1):80-89. doi:10.1080/0092623X.2020.1787279

Alves Barboza R, Da Silva EA, Ruellas T, Damião R.Anthropometric study of penile length in self-declared Brazilians regarding the color of the skin as White or Black: the study of a myth.Int J Impot Res. 2018;30(1):43-7. doi:10.1038/s41443-017-0009-z

Salter CA, Nascimento B, Terrier JE, et al.Evaluating the impact of penile girth discrepancy on patient bother in men with Peyronie’s disease: an observational study.J Sex Med. 2020 Aug; 17(8): 1560–1565. doi:10.1016/j.jsxm.2020.05.003

National Health Service.Peyronie’s disease.

Chung E, Gillman M, Rushton D, Love C, Katz D.Prevalence of penile curvature: a population-based cross-sectional study in metropolitan and rural cities in Australia.BJU Int. 2018;122 Suppl 5:42-9. doi:10.1111/bju.14605

American Urological Association.Peyronie’s disease.

MedlinePlus.Circumcision.

MedlinePlus.Paraphimosis.

MedlinePlus.Balanitis.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Trends in circumcision for male newborns in U.S. hospitals: 1979–2010.

Morris BJ, Kriegert JN.The contrasting evidence concerning the effect of male circumcision on sexual function, sensation, and pleasure: a systematic review.Sex Med.2020 Dec;8(4):577–598. doi:10.1016/j.esxm.2020.08.011

Mehta KS, Marfatia YS, Jain AP, Shah DJ, Baxi DS.Male circumcision and sexually transmitted infections - an update.Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS. 2021;42(1):1-6. doi:10.4103/ijstd.ijstd_20_21

Morris BJ, Wamai RG, Henebeng EB, et al.Estimation of country-specific and global prevalence of male circumcision.Popul Health Metr. 2016;14:4. doi:10.1186/s12963-016-0073-5

Yafi FA,, Alzweri L, McCaslin IR, et al.Grower or shower? Predictors of change in penile length from the flaccid to erect state.Int J Impot Res. 2018 Nov;30(6):287-291. doi:10.1038/s41443-018-0053-3

Quattara A, Pare AK, Kabore AF, et al.Subcutaneous dorsal penile vein thrombosis or penile Mondor’s disease: a case report and literature review.Case Rep Urol.2019;2019:1297048. doi:10.1155/2019/1297048

Belladelli F, Del Guidice F, Glover F, et al.Worldwide temporal trends in penile length: a systematic review and meta-analysis.World J Mens Health.2023 Oct;41(4):848–860. doi:10.5534/wjmh.220203

Al-Thakafi S, Al-Hathal N.Peyronie’s disease: a literature review on epidemiology, genetics, pathophysiology, diagnosis and work-up.Transl Androl Urol. 2016;5(3):280-9. doi:10.21037/tau.2016.04.05

Paulsen LH, Sørensen Bakke L, Jarbøl DE, Balasubramaniam K, Hansen DG.Associations between lifestyle, erectile dysfunction and healthcare seeking: a population-based study.Scand J Prim Health Care. 2020;38(2):176-183. doi:10.1080/02813432.2020.1753347

Gerbild H, Larsen CM, Graugaard C, Josefsson KA.Physical activity to improve erectile function: a systematic review of intervention studies.Sex Med. 2018;6(2):75-89. doi:10.1016/j.esxm.2018.02.001

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Penile curvature (Peyronie’s disease).

Morris B, Krieger JN.Balanitis and related inflammatory conditions affecting the penis. In:Urogenital Infections and Inflammations. Duesseldorf, Germany: GMS Publishing House; 2017. doi:10.5680/lhuii000027

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