If you’ve recently bought your first butt plug, or you’re looking, you’ve probably got a million questions. Most importantly – how long is safe to leave it in?
If you research this, or read the leaflet that came with your plug, you’ll find that people say anything from 30 minutes to 12 hours is safe.
The real answer is that it depends on your experience, the type of plug you’re using, and how your body is responding to it.
In this guide we’re going to break down how long you should be wearing your plug as an absolute beginner – how to work your way up to wearing it longer, and what you should be watching out for.
How long should you leave a butt plug in?
If you’re a beginner
If you’ve never worn a butt plug before (which we suspect most people reading this article won’t have) – don’t try and go beyond 30 minutes. Get used to the sensation first, and build from there.
If you’ve got some experience
Up to 2 hours is generally fine – providing you’ve got the right plug and plenty of lube. Don’t push too far past this though.
If you’re very experienced
We’d recommend wearing your plug no more than three hours at a time. You should take regular breaks when wearing it – your risk increases if you try to stretch your wear beyond three hours.
Things to consider about length
The guidance that it’s OK to wear a butt plug for up to 12 hours is written for people who’ve been doing this for years and know their body’s signals well.
Now – it’s true that as we’ve said, risk increases beyond three hours. If you know your body is fine with wearing one for 12 hours and you don’t get any discomfort – I’m not going to tell you that you shouldn’t do that. It’s all about knowing what your body is comfortable with and how it reacts.
If you’re using a cheap plug, err on the side of caution and don’t wear it too long. Wearing a cheap plug for 12 hours will be very uncomfortable.
Small Butt Plug With Black Feathers
This petite, stainless steel butt plug is perfect for beginners. Easy to clean and small enough to get you started. The black feathers to accentuate the bottom add a sophisticated and sexy touch.
Why you need to limit the time you wear a butt plug
The anus and the rectum have a delicate mucosal lining. A butt plug rests continuously against it.
Temporarily this is fine, but over time, it will cause problems like reduced blood flow to the surrounding tissue. You can also experience what’s called sphincter inflammation, which means that the lining in your anus can get swollen and inflamed, which can make the plug hard or uncomfortable to remove.
In my opinion, the biggest problem is that repeated wearing of a butt plug for a long period of time can cause nerve desensitisation – which means that feeling in and around the anus is reduced.
This can mean that warning signals go unnoticed because your nerves are less sensitive and you don’t feel them. You can also get an increased risk of haemorrhoids and anal fissures with habitual extended wear, or irritation and small injuries to the lining of the anus, which can develop into ulcers. None of this is pleasant.
We don’t say any of this to scare you – wearing a butt plug is fun. But do it safely, and always make sure you’re not wearing it for too long. None of this stuff happens in a short session once in a while – but if you leave it in long enough, the risk becomes real.
Signs you need to take your butt plug out
You need to pay particular attention to these, because they matter more than any time limit. If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s time to take the butt plug out.
- Pain or building pressure – if you start to get uncomfortable in any way, or any part feels sore or uncomfortable, take it out.
- Numbness – if you stop feeling it clearly, that isn’t your body just getting used to it. It’s desensitisation, which over time can lead to unpleasant complications. Take it out.
- Bleeding – stop immediately. If it doesn’t resolve quickly after you remove the plug, see a doctor.
- Cramping, bloating or sudden urgency – I shouldn’t have to explain this, but if you need to go, then take the plug out and go.
- Difficulty removing it – the sphincter may have swollen around it. Stay calm, relax and remove it slowly.
Does the type and material matter?
Yes – significantly. The type of plug you choose directly influences how long you can safely leave it in.
Material
Non-porous, body-safe materials are essential for anything beyond a very short session – anything over an hour or so.
- Medical-grade silicone – soft and flexible; this is the best option if you want to wear for multiple hours.
- Stainless steel – non-porous and easy to clean. Heavier, but good for longer sessions once you’re used to it.
- Borosilicate glass – smooth and safe. Easy to clean and comfortable for long periods.
These are the only three materials I’d ever consider wearing for longer than an hour. Jelly, PVC or rubber butt plugs can be cheap, but they’re not for extended wear. They’re porous, can trap bacteria and often contain phthalates. They’re fine for a quick session – not for wearing all day.
You can, if you want to wear a PVC or rubber plug for longer, put a condom over it. This is also useful if you’re sharing plugs with a partner – because you can just change the condom when you swap.
It doesn’t meaningfully impact the advice we’ve given here though – you should limit the time you’re wearing these butt plugs.
Size and shape
The bigger it is, the shorter time you can wear it safely. A bigger plug means more pressure on the sphincter and surrounding tissue, and things go wrong faster. If you want to wear for extended periods, go smaller than you think you need to.
A plug with a slightly wider neck is often more comfortable over time — it lets the sphincter rest rather than clench. If you’re just starting out, a beginner kit gives you options to find what works.
Vibrating vs non-vibrating
Vibration accelerates muscle fatigue. Vibrating butt plugs are fun, but they’re not for wearing all day.
Can you sleep with a butt plug in?
Most sexual health professionals say no, and it’s good advice, especially for beginners.
When you’re asleep, you can’t monitor your body’s signals. Pain, numbness, urgency – all muted. You also shift positions throughout the night without realising it.
There’s also the question of gas – while a plug won’t create a full seal and will allow some gas to escape, it won’t allow all of it to escape – so you might wake up feeling pretty bloated and unpleasant. You fart in your sleep, even if you don’t realise it!
Some experienced users do sleep with a plug in without problems. They’ve built up to it gradually and know their body well. If you’re new to this, overnight wear isn’t where you start.
If you do decide to try it: use a small silicone plug, lube up very well before bed, and make sure the base sits comfortably when lying down.
How to safely wear a butt plug for longer
If you’ve been wearing a plug for a while and want to take it longer, there are a few things you should consider.
Use a lot of lube – and keep reapplying it.
The anal canal doesn’t self-lubricate (anyone who’s tried anal sex dry will tell you how uncomfortable it can be!) so use more lube than you think you need. Take it out periodically to reapply lubricant.
Water-based lubricant is best for silicone toys – silicone-based lubricant is best for metal or glass.
Build up to it gradually
Start with 10 – 15 minutes, and increase a little each session until you can go without pain for a few hours. Don’t jump straight to wearing it all day because that will cause you problems.
Take breaks too – remove the plug every hour, reapply lube, give youself a few minutes. This helps to reset the pressure and blood flow.
Make sure it’s comfortable
Underrated advice, but it’s so important – it’s unlikely the first and only plug you buy is going to be the one you find most comfortable. You’ve got to try a few before you find one that you think is most comfortable for you.
Just because you can tolerate it doesn’t mean it’s comfortable. If you’re grimacing or experiencing pain when you take it in and out, it’s the wrong plug for you for extended wear.
Don’t go out when you’re getting used to it
You might need to take it out quickly, so you need to be somewhere where you can do that. Don’t try to do anything silly like take it on a plane or drive 200 miles with it in if you’ve never worn one before.
And set a timer too – 30, 60, 90 minutes. Check in with your body honestly at that time. If it needs to come out, then it needs to come out.
Clean your butt plug
We shouldn’t have to mention this – but clean it before and after every session. Warm water with antibacterial soap or a dedicated toy cleaner. This is non negotiable – a dirty plug shouldn’t be going anywhere near your butt.
You may also want to take a shower and give yourself a clean beforehand as well.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Some people do, but it is not recommended, especially for beginners. If you want to work towards longer sessions, build up gradually rather than jumping to all-day wear.
Most professionals advise against it. When you are asleep you cannot monitor your body signals. If you are experienced and choose to try it, use a small silicone plug with plenty of lube.
Sphincter inflammation, reduced blood flow, mucosal lining damage, and over time, higher risk of haemorrhoids or fissures. If it feels stuck or painful to remove, take it out slowly and carefully. See a doctor if symptoms do not resolve.
No. Numbness is a warning sign. If you stop feeling the plug clearly, the nerves are being overstimulated. Remove it and do not reinsert until sensation fully returns.
Pain, pressure, numbness, urgency, cramping, or difficulty removing it. Also: when you have hit your time limit for your experience level, even if you feel fine.
Hugely. The anal canal produces no natural lubrication. Friction is the main cause of irritation and soreness. Use more than you think you need and reapply after breaks.
Warm soapy water (make sure you use an antibacterial soap) or an antibacterial sex toy cleaner. Do not skimp on cleaning because the anus harbours some pretty nasty bacteria. Not only is a dirty butt plug disgusting but it is also likely to lead to infection.
