Silicone, Glass, Metal and More – Sex Toy Material Comparison
By Admin / June 9, 2026 / No Comments / Advice
Texture, temperature, toxicity
Get the lowdown on which sex toy material will make your pulse race (and which ones to skip entirely).
Walk through any sex toy section – physical or online – and you’ll quickly notice that toys come in a bewildering range of materials. Soft and squishy, firm and smooth, cool and glassy, warm and flexible. Each material has a genuinely different feel, set of maintenance requirements, and safety profile. Choosing the right one isn’t just about what looks appealing; it affects how a toy feels in use, how long it lasts, and whether it’s actually safe for your body.
This guide covers the most common materials you’ll encounter, honestly.
The Most Important Concept: Porous vs. Non-Porous
Before getting into specific materials, this distinction matters most.
Non-porous surfaces are smooth at a microscopic level — bacteria, bodily fluids, and pathogens can’t get trapped inside the material. These toys can be fully sterilized.
Porous surfaces have microscopic holes or channels where bacteria can hide, even after washing. These toys can be cleaned but never truly sterilized — meaning trace amounts of bacteria or mold can survive between uses.
For anything going inside your body, non-porous is the standard worth aiming for.
Medical-Grade Silicone
Best for: Vibrators, dildos, plugs, wearable toys — basically the workhorse of the industry.
The Pros
Medical-grade silicone is soft, flexible, and has a pleasantly skin-like feel that many people find more comfortable than rigid materials. It’s completely non-porous, hypoallergenic, and one of the safest materials available. It warms to body temperature quickly, which contributes to a more natural sensation.
Silicone toys are easy to clean with soap and water, and non-motorized silicone toys can be fully sterilized by boiling or running through the dishwasher. They’re durable — a quality silicone toy, properly cared for, can last many years.
Silicone also takes texture well, which is why most anatomically-shaped or textured toys are made from it.
The Cons
Higher-quality medical-grade silicone costs more to manufacture, so the cheapest toys on the market often use lower-grade silicone blends. True medical-grade silicone is odorless and non-sticky; if a “silicone” toy has a strong smell or feels tacky, it may be a blend rather than pure silicone.
The other limitation: silicone-based lubricants will degrade silicone toy surfaces over time. Always use water-based lube with silicone toys.
Temperature Play
Silicone warms to body temperature but doesn’t hold cold or heat the way glass and metal do…not the ideal choice if temperature play is your focus.
Summary
Safety: ★★★★★
Feel: ★★★★☆
Temperature play: ★★☆☆☆
Durability: ★★★★★
Ease of cleaning: ★★★★★
Borosilicate Glass
Best for: Dildos, G-spot wands, temperature play enthusiasts.
The Pros
Borosilicate glass — the same material as laboratory glassware and Pyrex cookware — is completely non-porous, completely smooth, and one of the most hygienic materials available. It can be sterilized by boiling, dishwasher, or bleach solution.
The unique feature of glass is its relationship with temperature. Glass holds both heat and cold very well. Warming a glass toy in warm water before use produces a noticeably different (and for many people, highly pleasurable) sensation. Chilling it in cold water opens up a completely different world. Temperature play is a genuinely distinct form of stimulation, and glass is the most accessible entry point for exploring it.
Glass also has zero drag. It’s one of the smoothest surfaces you’ll encounter, which requires less lube than softer materials and produces very different sensation during use.
The Cons
Glass is firm and inflexible — there’s no give at all. Some people find this uncomfortable, particularly for prolonged use or if they’re newer to penetrative toys. It’s not the most forgiving material for beginners.
Glass toys also need to be inspected before every use. Even hairline cracks can create sharp edges. A chipped or cracked glass toy should be disposed of (wrapped carefully). Borosilicate glass is very durable and doesn’t shatter easily under normal use, but it’s not indestructible.
Price point tends to be higher than silicone for comparable quality.
Summary
Safety: ★★★★★
Feel: ★★★★☆ (very smooth; rigid)
Temperature play: ★★★★★
Durability: ★★★★☆
Ease of cleaning: ★★★★★
Stainless Steel
Best for: Dildos, plugs, kegel balls — particularly for users who want weight and firmness.
The Pros
Stainless steel is one of the most durable materials in the industry. A well-made stainless steel toy will outlast virtually everything else in your collection. It’s completely non-porous, easy to sterilize, and compatible with any lubricant.
Like glass, stainless steel excels at temperature play — it holds heat and cold even better than glass, and the transition from ambient temperature to body temperature during use is a distinct sensation in itself.
Steel also has appreciable weight. For some toys — particularly plugs — that weight is part of the point. It produces a different kind of fullness that lighter materials can’t replicate.
The surface is completely smooth and requires very little lube to use comfortably.
The Cons
Steel is rigid and unyielding — even more so than glass. It’s not a beginner material for most people, and the firmness can be uncomfortable for anyone not already comfortable with penetration.
Weight, while a feature for some, is a drawback for others. A steel toy is considerably heavier than a silicone equivalent — not ideal if you want something lightweight.
Make sure any steel toy you purchase is described as solid stainless steel, not chrome-plated. Plating can chip or wear down over time. Solid steel is a lifetime purchase if maintained properly.
Summary
Safety: ★★★★★
Feel: ★★★★☆ (extremely smooth; very firm and heavy)
Temperature play: ★★★★★
Durability: ★★★★★
Ease of cleaning: ★★★★★
Hard ABS Plastic
Best for: Vibrators, bullet vibes, external stimulators.
The Pros
ABS plastic is a rigid, non-porous plastic used in the vast majority of affordable vibrators. It’s body-safe, easy to clean with soap and water, and takes vibration very well — the hard surface transmits vibration differently than silicone, producing a sharper, more pinpointed sensation that many people prefer for external stimulation.
It’s also the most budget-friendly body-safe option. Many excellent starter vibrators are made primarily from ABS plastic.
The Cons
ABS is not suitable for boiling, dishwasher cleaning, or bleach sterilization — the electronic components won’t survive it. Soap and water is the correct cleaning method.
The rigid surface has no flexibility, which can feel uncomfortable for internal use for some people. Most ABS toys are designed for external use or have a silicone coating on any insertable portions.
Summary
Safety: ★★★★☆
Feel: ★★★☆☆ (rigid; great for external vibration)
Temperature play: ★☆☆☆☆
Durability: ★★★★☆
Ease of cleaning: ★★★★☆
Jelly, Rubber, and TPE/TPR
Best for: Honestly — be cautious here.
The Reality
These sex toy materials, often sold as “jelly,” “rubber,” “cyberskin,” “ultraskyn,” or under various brand names, are porous. That’s not a technicality; it means bacteria and other microorganisms can live inside the material even after washing. They cannot be sterilized.
Some older-formulation jelly toys also contain phthalates, chemical plasticizers that have raised health concerns and are now banned in children’s toys in many countries. Toy manufacturers are less regulated, and while many brands have moved to phthalate-free formulas, it’s not universal.
If You Own or Want These Materials
- They feel very soft and realistic, which is why they remain popular
- Use a condom over the toy every single time. This creates a protective barrier and makes cleanup much easier
- Replace them regularly, especially if the surface becomes sticky, develops an unusual smell, or the color changes, these are signs the material is off-gassing or degrading
- Do not share them without a condom barrier
TPE and TPR (thermoplastic elastomer/rubber) are softer porous materials used in a lot of mid-range “realistic” toys. They’re generally considered safer than older jelly formulas, but the porosity issue remains.
Summary
Safety: ★★☆☆☆
Feel: ★★★★☆ (very soft and realistic)
Temperature play: ★☆☆☆☆
Durability: ★★☆☆☆
Ease of cleaning: ★★☆☆☆
How to Choose: A Simple Framework
Your first toy: Medical-grade silicone is almost always the right answer. It’s safe, durable, versatile, and widely available at every price point.
Temperature play: Glass or stainless steel, depending on whether you prefer a lighter or heavier feel.
Realistic texture and maximum softness: TPE/TPR is common, but commit to always using a condom and replacing the toy periodically.
For long-term investment: Glass and stainless steel are essentially lifetime purchases if cared for properly.
On a tight budget: Hard ABS plastic vibrators offer great performance at low cost and are completely body-safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell if a toy is really medical-grade silicone? True medical-grade silicone is odorless (or very lightly scented when new), non-tacky, and firm enough to spring back to shape. If a “silicone” toy smells strongly chemical or feels sticky on the surface, it’s likely a low-grade blend. Buying from reputable retailers and brands reduces this risk considerably.
Is “phthalate-free” enough to make a jelly toy safe? It removes one concern, but the porosity issue remains regardless of the phthalate content. Even a phthalate-free porous toy can’t be fully sterilized. The condom-plus-regular-replacement approach is still the right practice.
Does sex toy material affect how vibration feels? Yes, significantly. Hard materials like ABS plastic transmit vibrations as a sharp, localized buzz. Softer silicone tends to diffuse vibration more broadly. Neither is better, they’re just different sensations, and preference is highly personal.
Are there sex toy materials I should just avoid entirely? PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is one worth avoiding. Many older-generation jelly toys were made from it and it’s highly porous and potentially contains harmful plasticizers. If a toy doesn’t list its material clearly, that’s usually a reason to look elsewhere.
Sex Toy Materials – The Short Version
- Silicone: Safest all-rounder, great feel, easy to clean. Use water-based lube only.
- Glass: Incredible for temperature play, ultra-smooth, inspect before every use.
- Steel: Durable, heavy, excellent temperature play, lifetime investment if solid stainless.
- ABS plastic: Budget-friendly, non-porous, best for external vibration.
- Jelly/TPE/TPR: Popular soft feel, but porous. Always use with a condom.
When in doubt, silicone is where to start. The other sex toy materials are worth exploring once you know more about what you enjoy.
Curious about cleaning the materials you now own? Check out our full cleaning guide: [Must-Know Cleaning Hacks: Keep Your Toys Safe and Sparkling].