Is a 6-Inch Penis Big? Here’s How It Actually Measures Up

If you Googled “6-inch penis” because you either have one or recently encountered one and now have questions, hi, welcome. Chances are, at least one of those questions is pretty obvious: Is a 6-inch penis big? Small? Average? And, perhaps more importantly, does any of that actually matter when you’re having sex?Here’s the thing: We have somehow managed to turn penis size into both a competitive sport and a personality trait, when in reality, bigger doesn’t automatically mean better. “Not everyone is into the stretch and fullness that can come with a big dick,” says Lisa Finn, a sex educator at Babeland. And despite what locker-room lore and approximately a million terrible jokes would have you believe, there isn’t some magic measurement that automatically makes someone good in bed. So while, yes, we are about to discuss exactly where six inches falls on the grand penis-size spectrum, there’s more to good sex than what a ruler has to say about it.Still, if you came here for the numbers, we’re not going to leave you hanging. Ahead, we’re getting into where a 6-inch penis falls compared to the average, whether penis size really matters, and which sex positions might be especially worth trying.Comparatively speaking, yes. According to a 2015 scientific review published in BJU International that looked at measurements from more than 15,500 men, the average erect penis length was 5.16 inches. Per the review, 68 percent of men measured between about 4.5 and 5.8 inches while erect. So yeah, a 6-inch penis is above average, statistically speaking.Of course, numbers only tell you so much. What someone considers “big” or “small” can be pretty subjective. For one thing, it’s not exactly a secret that larger penises tend to dominate porn, so if you consume a lot of adult content, 6 inches might seem smaller by comparison, says Carol Queen, PhD, staff sexologist at Good Vibes.The appearance or perception of penis size can also vary depending on overall body size, adds Finn. For example, “a short, thin person with a 6-inch dick may appear more well-endowed than a very tall, large person, despite having the same size.”And remember: Length isn’t the only measurement involved here. While penis size tends to be discussed in terms of length, girth can also play a significant role in how a penis looks and feels, says Queen. But does any of that actually translate to better sex? Well...So Does Penis Size Matter?Ah, the eternal question. Does penis size actually matter? The answer is no. And also: maybe! And: kind of—it depends!The only real truth of the matter is that, while there are absolutely some size queens (and kings and otherwise size royalty) out there for whom a big penis is a big deal, bigger is definitely not always better—sorry, porn lied to you.“For many people with vaginas, a penis can definitely be too long for comfort and may even cause pain when it strikes the cervix,” says Queen. Anecdotally, she adds, penis length seems to be more of a concern for penis-havers themselves than it is for their non-penis-having partners.“Some folks simply do not care about their partner’s size at all,” says Finn, citing a study by sex therapist Laurie Mintz, author of Becoming Cliterate, in which exactly zero participants—all women—mentioned penis size when asked about what was most important to them in bed. “Instead, responses included things like having a partner that communicates, makes them feel comfortable, and—yes—knows where the clitoris is.”So yeah, that old saying about how it’s not the size of the ship, it’s the motion in the ocean? There’s more than a bit of truth to it. A bigger dick does not equal better sex.Of course, if you are someone who prefers a well-endowed partner, more power to you! There is exactly zero shame in the size queen game, and everyone has the right to pursue the kind of sex that feels good to them. But what we all need to remember—lovers of big, small, and medium dicks alike—is that body-shaming of any kind simply isn’t it.Best Sex Positions for a 6-Inch PenisBecause a 6-inch penis is—technically—only slightly above average, there really aren’t any sex positions that are automatically on or off the table based on size alone. As always, what works best is going to depend a whole lot more on what actually feels good to everyone involved.Some partners may want deeper penetration, while others might find a full six inches a bit much. “If your partner wants more depth, a hit-it-from-the-back position, like doggy style or bent over a sex positioning pillow, can help to get the entire length of a 6-incher inside,” says Finn. “If they want less depth, a position that allows the partner to control the depth of the thrust, like cowgirl, could be a great option.”Of course, when we’re talking about the best sex positions for a 6-inch penis, we’re really only talking about penetrative sex. And penetration is very much not the end-all, be-all of satisfying sex, especially for people with vulvas.“Intercourse is not the primary source of high arousal and orgasm for most women/people with vulvas,” says Queen. More often, clitoral stimulation—whether that’s with toys, fingers, oral sex, or whatever else works for you—can play a much bigger role in sexual satisfaction than penis size alone.So, sure, experiment with positions and depth to figure out what feels best. Just don’t get so hung up on making the most of all six inches that you forget about everything else you can do in bed.