Among American women aged 18 to 60, 52.5% report that they’ve used a vibrator at some point in their lives.
Key Statistics To Know:
- 52.5% of American women have used a vibrator at some point in their lifetime, while 47.5% reported never having used one before. [1]
- 52.6% of American women who have purchased a vibrator did so before the age of 23. [6]
- Among American women, 20.1% report using a vibrator alone for masturbation during the past month, 11.4% report doing so during the past year, and 14.8% report doing so more than one year ago. [1]
- 81% of women who own a vibrator say they wish they would have gotten one sooner than they did. [6]
- Globally, the sex toy market was valued at $32.7 billion as of 2022 — that same year, women made 59.56% of the global purchases of sex toys (including vibrators). [3]
- Among women aged 18 to 81 who reported using sex toys, 54.53% reported using a variety of types of vibrators. [5]
- Among women who own a vibrator, 39% said they bought it because they wanted to spice up their sex life. [6]
In this article, we’ll explore how many women use vibrators (and how often), whether they like them (and why) as well as which types of vibrators women prefer to use, and the features they seek the most.
How Many Women Have Used Vibrators
- 52.5% of American women between the ages of 18 and 60 reported using a vibrator at some point in their lives, and most (71.5%) reported “having never experienced genital symptoms associated with vibrator use.” [1]
- 47.5% of American women between the ages of 18 and 60 years old reported never having used a vibrator before. [1]
- 86% of women who have sex with other women reported using a vibrator by themselves or with another female partner. [2]
- 52.6% of American women who have purchased a vibrator did so before the age of 23, while 14.3% did so before the age of 18. [6]
- 15.6% of American women who have purchased a vibrator did so in their twenties between the ages of 23 and 25 years old, while 10.3% were between the ages of 26 and 29, 8.3% were between the ages of 30 and 39, and 6.3% were age 40 or older. [6]
About half of adult women have ever used a vibrator, though vibrator use is more common among women who have sex with women.
In general, sex toy use is higher among sexual minorities, who tend to be a bit more sexually explorative.
How Often Do Women Use Vibrators?
- Among American women between the ages of 18 and 60, 20.1% report using a vibrator alone for masturbation during the past month, 11.4% report doing so during the past year, and 14.8% report doing so more than one year ago. [1]
- Among American women aged 18 to 60, 9.9% report using a vibrator during sexual intercourse during the past month, 9.8% report doing so during the past year, and 17.6% report doing so more than one year ago. [1]
- Among American women between the ages of 18 and 60, 10.2% report using a vibrator during sex play or foreplay with a partner, within the past month, 10.6% report doing so within the past year, and 20.1% report doing so more than one year ago. [1]
Women are more likely to use a vibrator alone during masturbation than during foreplay or sexual intercourse with a partner.
It is possible women feel uncomfortable or self-conscious with a partner, so may limit their use.
Some women worry a partner may find their vibrator use problematic, though many partners are happy to introduce tools in the bedroom to increase pleasure.
Other women may prefer different types of stimulation (such as oral sex) with a partner versus during masturbation.
Do Women Enjoy Using Vibrators?
- 81% of women who own a vibrator say they wish they would have gotten one sooner than they did. [6]
- Globally, the sex toy market was valued at $32.7 billion as of 2022 and is expected to increase 8.5% annually from 2023 to 2030. In 2022, women made about 59.56% of the global purchases of sex toys (including vibrators). [3]
- One study found that vibrator use is associated with greater sexual satisfaction and sexual communication among women who use vibrators both with a partner and alone, compared to those who only use a vibrator alone or don’t use vibrators at all. [4]
- Among women aged 18 to 81 who never owned a vibrator, 22% said that it was because they had “no idea where to start or what one to buy” while 11% said they’d be “embarrassed to own one.” [6]
- Women aged 18 to 81 were asked what intimidates them about vibrators and 31% responded that they “don’t know how they work” and 26% were worried that their partner “will think less of” them, while another 17% said their partner said they don’t like vibrators. [6]
Considering the cultural stereotype that women don’t like sex as much as men, it is ironic that most sex toys are marketed towards women and women are the primary users!
Most vibrator users are happy with their purchase, particularly those who use it both alone AND with a partner.
However, even in the 2020s, some women remain worried or embarrassed about vibrators, particularly focused on their partner’s feelings (real or imagined).
Yet sexual communication and satisfaction are enhanced with vibrator use in a relationship, so working through these concerns may be beneficial for many partnered women.
Which Types Of Vibrators Do Women Use?
- Among women aged 18 to 81 who reported using sex toys, 54.53% reported using a variety of types of vibrators. [5]
- Among women aged 18 to 81, just 1.37% reported using household items (e.g. an electric toothbrush or showerhead) as a sex toy, while another 1.45% reported using food items (e.g. a carrot, banana, or cucumber). [5]
- The top vibrator features sought by women who use them (respondents could select more than one): [6]
- Body-safe materials: 18%
- Strong motor: 18%
- Easy to use: 18%
- Waterproof: 13%
- Discreet: 11%
- Recommended to them: 7%
- Highly reviewed: 6%
- Cute shape, cute color: both 5%
- Aside from the Womanizer (a clit sucker), 4 out of the top 5 most popular sex toys at Adam & Eve are rabbit vibrators. [7]
- The 8th and 9th most popular sex toys at Adam & Eve are vibrating wand massagers. [7]
There are many different styles of vibrators and personal preferences really matter!
Nonetheless, it appears that rabbit-style vibrators are among the most popular, likely because they feature both clitoral and vaginal/G-spot stimulation.
Different areas of the female genitalia are innervated by different nerves, and on average, the more nerves stimulated, the higher the pleasure and satisfaction.
Why Do Women Like Vibrators?
- Among women aged 18 to 81 who own a vibrator, they bought it because [6]:
- Vibrator use is associated with greater sexual function among women [1], and women who have positive beliefs toward vibrator use also report higher index scores “related to arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain (indicating less pain).” [8]
Overall, women enjoy vibrators because they feel good!
Considering pleasure is one of the main points of sex, vibrators can be a helpful addition to many bedrooms across the world.
Sources:
- Prevalence and Characteristics of Vibrator Use by Women in the United States: Results from a Nationally Representative Study
- Prevalence and characteristics of vibrator use among women who have sex with women
- Sex Toys Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Vibrators, Penis Rings, Anal Toys, Dildos), By Type (Male, Female), By Distribution Channel (E-commerce, Specialty Stores, Mass Merchandizers), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 – 2030
- Picking up good vibrations: Discrepant vibrator use, sexual functioning, and sexual well-being in women with male partners
- A cross-sectional survey of sex toy use, characteristics of sex toy use hygiene behaviours, and vulvovaginal health outcomes
- We Surveyed A Thousand Women About Their First Sex Toy: Here are the Surprising Results (Minna)
- Adam & Eve: The Most Recent Statistics On Sex Toys
- Beliefs About Women’s Vibrator Use: Results From a Nationally Representative Probability Survey in the United States
