Yes, put a condom on a sex toy whenever you share it or move it from an ass to a pussy, with a fresh one for each person and each switch. It matters most on jelly or TPE toys, which may be porous. Otherwise, solo with a nonporous toy, it's optional. Either way, wash the toy after.
This guide to condoms on sex toys is for consenting adults, any gender, any pairing, solo or together: when you need one, how to put one on a dildo, vibrator or strap-on, which lube to use, and what strokers need.
We don't sell condoms, but we'll tell you where to get them, free ones included.
What’s in this guide
- Do you need a condom on a sex toy?
- Why people put condoms on dildos and other toys
- Can sex toys pass on STIs? What the research shows
- Which condom and which lube
- How to put a condom on a dildo or vibrator
- Condoms on strap-ons
- Condoms with strokers and pocket pussies
- A condom never replaces cleaning
- Gloves, dental dams and toys a condom won't fit
- Where to get condoms
- What to pair with a condom
- Condoms on Sex Toys FAQ
- The takeaway
Do you need a condom on a sex toy?
Not always. It depends on who's using the toy, which holes it visits and what it's made of.
| Situation | Condom? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Sharing a toy with a partner | Yes, a new one for each person | Fluids on a shared toy can pass an STI to the next person (Planned Parenthood, NHS) |
| Moving a toy from ass to pussy or mouth | Yes, a new one, or wash the toy first | Anal germs in a vagina can cause vaginitis (Planned Parenthood); new condom between body openings (NHS) |
| Sharing a jelly, TPE, TPR, PVC or vinyl toy | Yes, or keep it to one person | May be porous and can hold germs even when washed (Planned Parenthood) |
| Silicone lube on a silicone toy | Only with a condom on | Silicone lube can damage a silicone toy (Planned Parenthood) |
| Solo, nonporous toy, one hole | Optional | Wash it after every use (Planned Parenthood) |
| Travel, or no sink nearby | Handy | Toss the condom, wash the toy when you can (our advice) |
| A stroker or pocket pussy | Rarely needed | Keep it a one-person toy (details) |
A condom never replaces washing. Whatever your row, the toy gets cleaned afterward (here's how).
Why people put condoms on dildos and other toys
Mostly so a toy can move between bodies, or between holes, with less coming along for the ride.
Sharing a toy with a partner
Planned Parenthood says body fluids on a shared toy can pass an STI to the next person, and a condom on the toy helps, as long as you change it before the toy touches anyone else. The NHS names chlamydia, gonorrhea and herpes among the STIs shared toys can pass on, and wants a new condom per partner, plus a wash between sessions.
Agree on house rules first: which toys get shared, when a fresh condom goes on, and when you were each last tested. The Yes No Maybe List helps.
Switching from anal to vaginal
Planned Parenthood is blunt: a toy that's been in an anus never goes into a vagina until it's washed or wearing a fresh condom, because germs from the anus can cause vaginitis. Cleveland Clinic gives the same rule, and New York City's health department adds mouths: a new condom every time you switch between oral, anal and vaginal sex.
That goes for solo play too. Anything in an ass also needs a base that can't slip inside, flared or with a handle that stays out (Planned Parenthood): see our flared base collection and, if you're new, our beginner's guide to anal training.
Porous toys
Planned Parenthood counts 100% silicone (not blends), hard plastic, stainless steel, aluminum and break-resistant glass as nonporous and easier to keep clean. Jelly rubber, PVC, vinyl, TPR, TPE, elastomer and silicone blends may be porous and can hold germs even if you always wash them. Share a porous toy only under a condom; giving it one owner is simpler. Shopping for a new one? Our best dildos guide is a good start.
Silicone lube, cleanup, travel and practice
- Silicone lube on silicone. It can damage the toy, so Planned Parenthood says to skip it unless the toy is wearing a condom.
- Cleanup and travel. Roll the condom off and most of the mess goes with it, handy when there's no sink nearby. The toy still gets washed.
- Practice. A dildo is a low-stakes place to practice rolling one on before you try it on a partner's cock.
What a condom can't do
Condoms lower risk; they don't remove it. The CDC says latex condoms cut the risk of disease but don't give absolute protection, and a condom that tears gets replaced on the spot. It also covers only the shaft: the base, the harness, the handle and your hands stay bare.
Can sex toys pass on STIs? What the research shows
They can, say Planned Parenthood and the NHS. The CDC's STI guidelines note that HPV can linger on sex toys, and that sharing penetrative toys is a possible route for infected fluids.
| Study | Who | What it found |
|---|---|---|
| Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2009 (Herbenick and colleagues) | 2,056 US women | 52.5% had used a vibrator; 7.4% of users had ever put a condom over one; 13.8% never cleaned theirs |
| Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2009 (Reece and colleagues) | 1,047 US men | 44.8% had used a vibrator; 20.2% of users never cleaned it |
| Sexually Transmitted Infections, 2014 (Anderson and colleagues) | 12 women | HPV on most vibrators after use, and on some right after cleaning |
| Online survey, 2017 (Wood and colleagues) | 1,435 people | 52.3% had used a sex toy; 21.7% had shared one with a partner |
| Sexually Transmitted Infections, 2012 (Schick and colleagues) | 3,116 women who have sex with women | 74.1% reported vibrator use; fewer than 25% used any barrier |
In the 2014 HPV study, researchers swabbed vibrators used by 12 women, 9 with HPV: it was on most of their toys after use, about half right after a wash with toy cleaner. A day later it was still on 2 of the 5 TPE vibrators that had tested positive after the wash, and on none of the silicone ones. That's viral DNA, not proof that anyone caught anything, but it's why a shared toy gets a fresh condom and a wash.
One honest caveat: no one has tested condoms on toys directly. The advice comes from health bodies and from studies like these.
Which condom and which lube
Toys wear the same condoms people do, and still get washed after. The material decides which lube is safe and whether it belongs on a shared toy.
| Condom material | Lube it takes | Latex allergy? | For shared toys? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Latex | Water-based or silicone, never oil | Skip it if either of you reacts | Yes |
| Polyisoprene | Water-based or silicone, never oil | Non-latex option | Yes |
| Polyurethane | Any; we'd skip oil | Non-latex option | Yes |
| Nitrile | Any; we'd skip oil | Non-latex option | Yes |
| Lambskin (natural) | Water-based or silicone | Non-latex | No: not recommended for STI prevention |
Sources: Cleveland Clinic, Planned Parenthood and the CDC.
Lube rules with a condom on
- Water-based works with everything. Planned Parenthood calls it a safe bet with any toy and any condom.
- Silicone works with any condom (Planned Parenthood), but on a silicone toy it goes only over a condom, and we'd keep it off the bare base.
- Never oil with latex or polyisoprene. Coconut oil, baby oil, massage oil, lotion and petroleum jelly all damage them (Planned Parenthood). A 1999 lab test in the Southern Medical Journal exposed latex condoms to baby oil for five minutes: on average they burst in just over 11 seconds, versus nearly a minute for unexposed ones. A 2014 lab test on 700 latex condoms (Disease Control Journal) tried petroleum jelly, vegetable oil, body lotion and baby oil: each lowered the pressure the condoms could withstand before bursting, while water-based lube changed nothing.
- Lube the outside, generously. Lube helps keep a condom from breaking or pulling off (Planned Parenthood), and the anus doesn't make its own (Cleveland Clinic).
Our shortcut for silicone toys: a non-lubricated condom plus your own water-based lube, and the silicone question never comes up.
For anal, JO Anal H2O (from $12.95) is a thicker water-based lube with no numbing agents, and its listing says it works with latex condoms and all toys. Elbow Grease H2O Maxxx (from $6.95) is another water-based lube listed as condom-safe. More in our lube collection.
Latex allergy and non-latex condoms
Most condoms are latex (Planned Parenthood), and Mayo Clinic says touching latex products, condoms included, is the most common cause of latex allergy. Reactions run from itching or hives to sneezing and wheezing, and at worst anaphylaxis, a 911 emergency (Mayo Clinic). If either of you reacts, switch to polyurethane, polyisoprene or nitrile condoms (Planned Parenthood, Cleveland Clinic), and to nitrile gloves.
Skip these
The CDC's condom rules carry straight over to toys:
- Two at once. One condom at a time.
- A used condom. Never reuse one.
- Spermicide. Nonoxynol-9 can cause irritation.
- Old or wallet-worn condoms. Check the date, store them somewhere cool and dry, and toss any that feel sticky, dry or stiff (Cleveland Clinic).
How to put a condom on a dildo or vibrator
Can you put a condom on a dildo? Easily, with the same moves the CDC describes for a penis:
- Check the date. Expired condoms are more likely to break (Cleveland Clinic).
- Open the wrapper carefully with your fingers.
- Set it on the tip, rolled side out, and pinch the air out of the tip.
- Unroll it fully down the shaft.
- Lube the outside (see the lube rules).
- Hold the rim as you pull out, so the condom leaves with the toy.
- Change it for every person and every hole.
- Toss it, then wash the toy.
Fit for big, long or textured toys
Nobody has studied condom fit on toys, so this is our practical advice, built on Planned Parenthood's fit tips for a penis: start with a regular condom; if it slides or bunches, try one labeled small or snug; if it strains or looks ready to tear, size up.
- Wide toys. Our Dr. Mason 9 Inch Dildo and the Dr. Shepherd 8 Inch Dildo are both 2 inches wide: try a condom on before the night you need it.
- Long toys. On a toy as long as the 9-inch Dr. Mason, a condom may stop short of the base, so wash the bare end before it changes hands or holes.
- Textured toys. The King Cobra Silicone Dildo runs 1.3 to 1.8 inches across with a scaled shaft. A condom won't hug every ridge, so add lube and check it hasn't bunched.
Vibrators, rabbits, wands and suction toys
A condom on a vibrator goes over the shaft, same as on a dildo. Our practical notes, since no study covers these:
- The buzz still comes through, a little softer.
- Buttons and charging ports stay bare. A condom doesn't make a toy waterproof.
- Rabbits: cover the shaft. The clit arm stays bare, so wash it.
- Wands, suction and air-pulse toys and eggs can't wear one. Clean them by their instructions, as Planned Parenthood advises for every toy.
More in our best rabbit vibrators guide and the vibrator play with a partner entry.
Condoms on strap-ons
Should you use a condom on a strap-on? Yes, whenever the dildo goes into more than one person or more than one hole. That covers every pairing: women with women, men with men, pegging and everything in between. With trans and nonbinary partners, call their body parts by the names they use.
- Seat the dildo in the O-ring until the base sits snug.
- Roll the condom down the shaft to the ring, so the ring doesn't pinch it.
- Lube the outside, generously for anal.
- Check it after position changes.
- New receiver or new hole, new condom, plus a wash (Planned Parenthood, NHS, New York City's health department).
Before you strap on, get an enthusiastic yes, pick a stop word and add a non-verbal signal, like two firm taps. Check in as you go, stop the moment either of you wants to, and save time for aftercare: water, a cuddle, a quick debrief.
A condom doesn't cover the straps, ring or base. Our advice: clean the harness the way its maker says and wipe the ring between partners. The Her Royal Harness Regal Empress ($84.95) comes with 1.5, 1.75 and 2 inch O-rings to match your dildo; the Vedo Diki ($105.95) kit pairs a vibrating silicone dildo, 7.5 by 1.5 inches, with a harness and a remote. Browse more strap-ons and harnesses.
Strapless and double-ended strap-ons
A strapless strap-on has a bulb the wearer holds inside their pussy and a shaft for their partner. Our advice: cover the shaft, keep the bulb to one wearer, wash both ends. The Mighty Rider ($110.95) has a shaft 5.2 inches insertable and 1 to 1.3 inches wide, rated IPX7 (submersible). The Ergo-Fit ($127.95) has an inflatable bulb and a 5.6-inch insertable shaft, 1.5 inches wide, rated IPX5: rinse it, never soak it. Both listings say water-based lube only.
Toy and a cock at the same time? Each gets its own condom (double penetration). Pegging 101 covers the whole scene, the strap-ons entry covers the basics, and the Kink Test couples match reveals only shared yeses.
Condoms with strokers and pocket pussies
Can you use a condom with a pocket pussy? You can, but a stroker that's yours alone rarely needs one. Think toothbrush: one owner. What the makers say:
- Tenga: its UK support page says a condom can stretch the life of its single-use cups, which are hard to clean, and that the lubes it supplies and recommends are all water-based. Its UK blog adds that a condom makes cleanup simple and is good practice, but reduces sensation, and a hard grip can tear one.
- Arcwave: its FAQ and Ion manual don't mention condoms at all; they say to wash the silicone sleeve after every use: toy cleaner works, and so does soap and water. Our Arcwave Ion 2 review goes deeper.
- Everyone else, including sleeve-in-a-case strokers: follow the maker's own care card.
Why one owner? Many sleeves are TPE, which Planned Parenthood lists among materials that may be porous and can hold germs even if you always wash them. Our Tenga Egg listing calls its TPE sleeve porous outright.
Want a condom in there anyway, for practice, cleanup or stretching a single-use cup?
- Roll it on as usual.
- Lube twice: water-based on the condom and inside the sleeve.
- Go easy. Expect less sensation, and don't squeeze so hard it tears.
- Check it's still on when you pull out, then wash the sleeve anyway.
Eggs are officially single-use, per our Tenga Egg listing. The Tenga Flip Zero ($109.95) flips open so you can clean every surface and let it dry. More in our best pocket pussies guide and pocket pussies and strokers.
A condom never replaces cleaning
Every toy gets washed after every use, condom or not:
- Condoms tear and slip, and they cover only the shaft.
- Porous materials can hold germs even if you always wash them (Planned Parenthood).
- Neither step is perfect alone. In the 2014 study above, HPV DNA was still on some vibrators right after cleaning, so shared toys get both.
How to clean a toy:
- Roll off the condom and toss it.
- Wash the toy in mild soap and water after every use and before it touches another person (Planned Parenthood, NHS), following the directions that came with the toy, especially anything with a motor.
- Rinse, then air-dry it completely before storing.
Foam makes it painless: JO Refresh Foaming Toy Cleaner ($15.95) goes on, sits 60 seconds and rinses off. Its listing says it's fine on most toy materials, latex, rubber and silicone included, and that a cleaner keeps toys clean between uses but isn't sterilization.
Gloves, dental dams and toys a condom won't fit
Condoms are for shafts. For everything else:
- Fingers and hands: latex or nitrile gloves (Planned Parenthood). For fisting, the NHS says latex gloves and plenty of water-based lube. See gloves on our Kink List.
- Mouths on a pussy or ass: a dental dam, or a latex or polyurethane condom with the tip and bottom cut off, slit down one side and laid flat (CDC). Use a new one every time; Rimming 101 has more.
- Toys a condom won't fit: wands, suction and air-pulse toys and eggs get cleaned by their own instructions.
Where to get condoms
We don't sell condoms. Planned Parenthood says they're sold pretty much everywhere: drugstores, supermarkets, convenience stores, vending machines and online, and many health centers hand them out free. You don't need ID or a prescription. Do sex shops sell condoms? Some do. Wherever you buy, match the material to your lube and the size to your toy, and wash the toy after.
Not sure what you're into yet?
Our Kink Test has a card for strap-ons. Swipe yes, maybe or no, get your kink archetype, then invite a partner to see only what you both want. Free, private, no sign-up.
What to pair with a condom
We don't stock condoms, but these five make condom play smoother.
| Pick | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| JO H2O water-based lube | Any toy, any condom | from $12.95 |
| Pjur Original Bodyglide | Silicone lube for covered toys | $31.95 |
| Curious Harness and Dr. Shepherd Dildo | A strap-on that wears a condom | $68.95 and $51.95 |
| Arcwave Pow Stroker | An easy-rinse stroker for one | $68.95 |
| Tenga Egg Standard 3-Pack | Single-use strokers | $19.95 |
1. JO H2O Personal Lube: works with everything
One bottle to own from this whole page: a water-based lube. Its listing calls JO H2O latex-condom compatible and safe for silicone and every other toy material. It glides like silicone without turning sticky and rinses off easily. Planned Parenthood notes water-based lube absorbs into skin, so keep the bottle close. From $12.95 for 2 oz.
2. Pjur Original Bodyglide: silicone glide for covered toys
Tired of reapplying? This concentrated silicone lube is extra long-lasting, needs only a few drops and doesn't turn sticky. Its listing names latex, polyurethane and polyisoprene condoms as compatible. On a silicone dildo it goes over a condom only (Planned Parenthood), and we'd keep it off the bare base. $31.95 for 100 ml.
Get the Pjur Original Bodyglide here.
3. Curious Harness and Dr. Shepherd Dildo: the condom-ready strap-on
The Strap-On-Me Curious Leatherette Harness ships with two belt sizes (one XS to M, one L to XXL), straps that adjust at the waist and thighs, and a double stretchy silicone O-ring that, per its listing, takes any dildo. The second belt works as a pair of handcuffs. The Dr. Shepherd 8 Inch Dildo is harness compatible: silicone, 7.5 inches insertable and 2 inches wide. Its shaft is posable, and its base has a suction cup. At that width, test your condom size first, and wash the dildo after. $68.95 for the harness, $51.95 for the dildo.
Get the Curious Leatherette Harness here.
Get the Dr. Shepherd 8 Inch Dildo here.
4. Arcwave Pow Stroker: rinses clean, stays yours
A stroker of your own that's easy to clean beats a condom inside a shared one. The manual Pow has nothing to charge: a release valve builds suction as you stroke, and the textured CleanTech silicone sleeve tightens during use and rinses out quickly. Dual entry, about 7.1 by 2.75 inches, waterproof and submersible per its listing. $68.95.
5. Tenga Egg Standard 3-Pack: no sharing question
A stroker you use once skips the condom question. Each egg hides a super-stretchy TPE sleeve (porous, its listing says) in a polypropylene shell, and the listing calls them officially single-use, for water-based lube only. Three textures per pack: Wavy, Starry and Cubic. $19.95.
Get the Tenga Egg 3-Pack here.
Condoms on Sex Toys FAQ
Do you put condoms on sex toys?
Yes, when you share a toy, especially a jelly or TPE one that may be porous, or move it from an anus to a vagina or mouth: a new condom for each person and each switch, as the NHS advises. Solo with a nonporous toy, it's optional. Wash the toy either way.
Why do people put condoms on dildos?
Mostly to share them: Planned Parenthood says fluids on a shared toy can pass an STI, and a condom helps if you change it between people. Others switch from anal to vaginal, cover a porous toy, use silicone lube on silicone or want easy cleanup. The toy still gets washed.
Can you put a condom on a dildo?
Yes. Check the date, set it on the tip, pinch the air out and unroll it all the way down, as the CDC describes for a penis, then lube the outside. If it strains on a wide dildo, size up (our advice, from Planned Parenthood's fit tips). Wash the toy after.
Can you put a condom on a vibrator?
Yes, over the shaft, the same way as on a dildo. Our practical note: the buzz comes through, a little softer. A condom doesn't make buttons or charging ports waterproof, so clean the toy afterward by its instructions. Wands, suction and air-pulse toys and a rabbit's clit arm can't wear one at all.
Should you use a condom on a strap-on?
Yes, whenever the dildo goes into more than one person or hole. Seat it in the O-ring, roll the condom down to the ring and lube the outside. A new receiver or a new hole means a new condom and a wash, as Planned Parenthood and the NHS advise.
Can you use a condom with a pocket pussy or stroker?
You can, but a stroker that's yours alone rarely needs one. Tenga's UK support page says a condom can stretch the life of its single-use cups, and its blog notes condoms reduce sensation. Many sleeves are TPE, which Planned Parenthood says may be porous, so keep a stroker to one person.
Do you need a condom on a sex toy if you use it alone?
Not with a nonporous toy that stays in one hole and gets washed after every use. You do need a new condom, or a wash, before a toy goes from your anus to your vagina: Planned Parenthood warns that germs from the anus can cause vaginitis.
Can you get an STI from a shared sex toy?
Yes. The NHS names chlamydia, gonorrhea and herpes among the STIs shared toys can pass on, and a small 2014 study (Sexually Transmitted Infections) found HPV DNA, not proof of infection, on some vibrators even after cleaning. A new condom per person plus a wash lowers the risk, though condoms never give absolute protection (CDC).
Do you need a new condom when switching from anal to vaginal?
Yes, or wash the toy first. Planned Parenthood says a toy that's been in an anus shouldn't go into a vagina until it's washed or freshly covered, since anal germs can cause vaginitis. The NHS says a new condom between body openings, and New York City's health department includes mouths.
What lube can you use with a condom on a sex toy?
Water-based or silicone: Planned Parenthood says both are safe with any kind of condom, but silicone lube goes on a silicone toy only over a condom. Never use oil with latex or polyisoprene: a 1999 lab test (Southern Medical Journal) found five minutes of baby oil dropped a latex condom's average burst time to just over 11 seconds, from nearly a minute.
Can you use silicone lube on a silicone toy with a condom on it?
Yes. Planned Parenthood says to skip silicone lube on silicone toys unless they're wearing a condom, because the lube can damage the toy. Keep it on the condom and off the bare base. Our shortcut: a non-lubricated condom with water-based lube, and the question never comes up.
What size condom fits a big dildo?
Start with a regular condom. Size up if it strains or looks ready to tear; try one labeled small or snug if it slides or bunches. That's our take on Planned Parenthood's fit advice for a penis. Our Dr. Shepherd and Dr. Mason dildos are 2 inches wide, so test one first.
Do you still need to clean a sex toy if you used a condom?
Yes, every time. Condoms tear and cover only the shaft, and Planned Parenthood says porous materials can hold germs even when washed. A small 2014 study (Sexually Transmitted Infections) found HPV DNA on some vibrators even right after cleaning. Wash the toy in mild soap and water, following its instructions.
What condom should you use if you're allergic to latex?
Polyurethane, polyisoprene or nitrile, the non-latex options Planned Parenthood and Cleveland Clinic point to. Skip lambskin on shared toys: Cleveland Clinic says natural condoms aren't recommended for STI prevention. Mayo Clinic notes the most serious latex reaction is anaphylaxis, which is a 911 emergency.
Do sex shops sell condoms?
Some do, but AdultLuxe doesn't. Planned Parenthood says condoms are sold in drugstores, supermarkets, convenience stores, vending machines and online, and many health centers give them out free, with no ID or prescription needed. Pick the material for your lube and the size for your toy.
The takeaway
Condoms on sex toys come down to three rules: a new condom for each person and each hole, water-based or silicone lube (never oil on latex or polyisoprene), and a wash after every use, condom or not. Next, read Pegging 101, stock up from our lube collection or browse the Kink List. Cover what you share and wash what you use.
Every order ships discreetly from the US, free over $75.
Maya Sterling, AdultLuxe editorial. Read our editorial standards.