When choosing the right condoms for you and your partner, you might come across a lot of information about condoms. There are many different aspects you would want to take into consideration. Like what material you would prefer or what type of thickness you should choose.
Latex, lambskin, high tech materials, extra thin, extra strength, even flavored are just some of the different types of condoms you’ll find at your local drug store or online.
There are also different measurements associated with condoms. There is the condom length, thickness, circumference and width as well. Condom width is a pretty critical aspect of a condom.
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How wide it is will help to determine how well it will fit on your penis. Many people are confused as to exactly how condom width is measured though. Some people wrongly presume that the condom width is its diameter when the condom is blown up or in use. This is not the case.
Condom Width (Nominal Condom Width)
To measure a condom width accurately, you must lay the condom flat and measure it from side to side, as you can see on the picture below.
Measuring Condom Width
As the width is measured when the condom is unrolled and lying flat this means that the width is equal to half of the circumference.
If you want to compare the width to condom diameter here is the calculation:
Flat width = Circumference/2
Circumference = 2*π*r
Flat width = π*r = π*diameter/2
Flat width ≈ 1.57*diameter
If you search for this information on a condom package, or look it up on a manufacturer website, often the term nominal condom width will be used. This is the term usually used in the industry and it’s the base width or width at an open end of the condom, which you measure like I described above.
Condom Length
If you measure a condom from the base to the top with it fully rolled out, you are getting the condom length.
To get a clearer picture how these condom measurements are taken check out the video below by Pasante Healthcare. Fast forward to 9:38 and you’ll first see how the condom thickness is measured, followed by the Condom Length Gauge and right afterwards at 9:51 you’ll see how condom width should be measured.
These parts are particularly important to prove the point of this post, but the whole video is definitely worth watching, especially if you’re interested to learn more about the condom manufacturing process.
Key points:
condom width – measured from side to side when condom is unrolled and lying flat (uninflated) condom circumference = 2 x condom width
Regardless of how condoms are measured, it’s recommended that you try out a few brands and sizes before settling on the right one for you and your partner. While the packaging may give indications to the size of the condom (eg. large or snug-fitting), many manufacturers still don’t display the exact condom width measurement and you won’t really know how a condom will fit you until you try it on.
Since every man’s penis is different, not every condom will fit every penis. Remember that a good condom should fit like a glove. It should be tight enough that it doesn’t fall off during use, but still comfortable enough that it doesn’t hinder your pleasure.
Read more on how to find your best fit or check out the condom calculator tool.
Featured image: Bigstock
Peter started condom-sizes.org in 2011 after realizing what a difference using a proper condom size really makes! In 2012 he published an e-book called 'How to Find Your Perfect Condom' which is still available on
Thank you so much for this site, it’s been a real education for me! My boyfriend doesn’t like wearing a condom as he says they’re tight and uncomfortabIe and he can’t feel much during sex, even when he orgasms. I’ve been trying to buy him larger sizes and the information here has given me lots to think about, I’m very pleased and impressed :-*
Regards
Stacey
thank you, Stacey, that’s kind of you. I’m really glad you found it useful
A question about the ratio of circumference to width
shouldn’t it be circumference= 3.14 x width (since circumference of a circle= 2x pi x r)
I’m not trying to find faults but would genuinely like to know
since replacing 2 with 3.14 would make a huge difference in the condom i need
Hi Sam. that’s a common misconception. The thing is that condom manufacturers measure the width when the condom is lying flat. you can see that in the video above. so the formula that you mention doesn’t apply here. let me know if youme to further clarify it
I think the misconception lies in the fact that when you say “lying flat” you actually mean , ” unrolled condom , lying flat”, because lying flat could also mean the condom as it comes out of the packge, still circular, lying flat on the table.
excellent suggestion Mark, I’ve updated the text, thanks a lot!
Pete
Do you have any idea why the condom industry uses the term nominal width?
I looked up “nominal” in the dictionary and it says it means “a dimension stated or expressed but not necessarily corresponding exactly to the real value.”
Also, why not just give the girth of the condom in the sales information? The girth of an erect penis is easy to measure and can then be used for in comparing with the girth of the condom to determine whether the condom will be a good fit. There would be no need for doubling the nominal width to get a comparison with the girth of the erect penis. and there would be no confusion as to what nominal width means.