# average penis size? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 3, 2003, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/average-penis-size/185976 "2003-07-03T07:44:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gutterhippo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gutterhippo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gutterhippo)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/average-penis-size/185976/1 "2003-07-03T07:44:52Z")
What exactly is the average penis size (erect and flacid) of an adult male? I’ve heard for an erect penis, it’s 6 inches, but I have heard some debate about how they got this figure. I always thought that it was from the tip of the erect penis to the top of the base of the penis, but I read somewhere that the 6 inch estimate actually came from measuring from the tip to the bottom base. Also, if there have been any surveys on penis size, have they found any cultural differences (i.e. do African American males really have longer penises than European Americans)? ---
**Author:** ![gutterhippo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gutterhippo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gutterhippo)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/average-penis-size/185976/2 "2003-07-03T07:46:00Z")
sorry, i meant “flaccid” (as in…limp) ---
**Author:** ![Headcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6bbea6/32.png) [@Headcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Headcoat)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/average-penis-size/185976/3 "2003-07-03T07:58:26Z")
[http://www.penissizedebate.com/](http://www.penissizedebate.com/) ---
**Author:** ![zen101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c68b51/32.png) [@zen101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zen101)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/average-penis-size/185976/4 "2003-07-03T08:26:36Z")
I measure from the anus to the tip. Much better sounding numbers if you do it that way. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/average-penis-size/185976/5 "2003-07-03T09:24:20Z")
I find that more interesting results can be obtained by measuring from the frenulum to the Needles Lighthouse (at the western tip of the Isle of Wight). ---
**Author:** ![aeropl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f05b48/32.png) [@aeropl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aeropl)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/average-penis-size/185976/6 "2003-07-03T10:37:14Z")
There’s been a few surveys done, but I don’t know how legitimate this one is: [The Definitive Penis Size Survey](http://www.sizesurvey.com/result.html) Other threads on this topic: [OK, that’s it: penis poll](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=114092) [What is average length of human penis?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=112639)[What is the average length of a man’s penis?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=83103) [what is the average…](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=58766) [Statistical distribution of penis size](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14898)[Race and Genital Size](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=100467) Oh, and don’t forget [Cecil’s take](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_193.html) on the race issue while you’re at it. ---
**Author:** ![aeropl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f05b48/32.png) [@aeropl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aeropl)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/average-penis-size/185976/7 "2003-07-03T10:54:00Z")
To save you time, the answer is “it depends which survey you read.” 6 inches ±1" is probably the most accurate figure you’ll find. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/average-penis-size/185976/8 "2003-07-03T11:59:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by zen101 \* > \*\*I measure from the anus to the tip. Much better sounding numbers if you do it that way. \*\* Whose anus? ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/average-penis-size/185976/9 "2003-07-03T12:52:36Z")
Whoever`s at the end (start?) of the daisy chain. ---
**Author:** ![Alereon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Alereon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alereon)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/average-penis-size/185976/10 "2003-07-03T12:55:46Z")
Measuring “from the anus to JUST BEYOND the tip” is known as the Adam Corolla method, as he popularized it via the Loveline radio and television program. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/average-penis-size/185976/11 "2003-07-03T12:56:40Z")
If you can push the buttons on the elevator while your hands are full, you may just be a little bit larger than average. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/average-penis-size/185976/12 "2003-07-03T14:18:30Z")
Quesiton is, when & how do they measure it? Didn’t the Johnsons measure johnsons by taking a measurement just before orgasm? ---
**Author:** ![japatlgt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df705f/32.png) [@japatlgt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/japatlgt)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/average-penis-size/185976/13 "2003-07-03T18:51:57Z")
Well, when I’m measuring my penis… ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/average-penis-size/185976/14 "2003-07-03T19:07:04Z")
Anybody here use the Penis Mightier? ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/average-penis-size/185976/15 "2003-07-03T19:13:22Z")
…than the sword? ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2003, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/average-penis-size/185976/16 "2003-07-03T19:19:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by zen101 \* > \*\*I measure from the anus to the tip. Much better sounding numbers if you do it that way. \*\* Use a metric tape and it will be even more impressive. One more reason for the US to go metric.