This guide to the best male masturbators contains affiliate links. You can get 20% off at Lovehoney UK and Lovehoney US using the code SEXTOYREVIEW20 – Be sure to check out our other sex toy discount codes.
Let’s start with an obvious truth: men masturbate. If you can think of an object with a hole in it then the chances are that someone, somewhere, has stuck their dick in it (or at least tried to). From DIY solutions involving pringles tubes, to hollowed out fruit and couch cushions, the commitment to improvisation has been impressive, if slightly concerning.
Thankfully, since the late 90s/early 2000s, sex toys for men have grown to become pretty mainstream and easily available. With the tap of a button you can now buy all types of male masturbators which are designed to be safe, hygienic, and significantly more effective than whatever questionable workaround might have been attempted in the past.
Male masturbators range from simple, disposable sleeves to fully automated, hands-free devices and even realistic sex dolls.
If you’re not sure what the differences are between the types of male masturbators, or what is likely to be the best male masturbator for you, this guide breaks it all down in a way that should be fairly simple to understand. Here goes!
Best Male Masturbators: Our Picks At A Glance
We’ve tested everything from basic sleeves and Fleshlights to suction toys, rotating masturbators and fully automatic strokers. There isn’t one male masturbator we’d recommend to absolutely everyone, so these are our current picks for each type depending on what you want from it.
Type | How It Works | Best For | Price Range | Effort Level | Our Pick |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sleeves (Disposable) | Soft, stretchy material used manually | Beginners, travel | £ | Low | |
Sleeves/Strokers (Reusable) | Textured internal canal, used by hand | Everyday use | £-££ | Medium | |
Rotating Masturbators | Manual sleeve with added rotation | Automatic stimulation | ££-£££ | Low | |
Vibrating Masturbators | Manual sleeve with added vibration | Extra stimulation without going fully automatic | ££ | Medium | |
Suction-Based Toys | Air pressure / vacuum-style sensation | Intensity & variety | ££–£££ | Low | |
Automatic Strokers | Fully automated stroking machine | Those that want hands-free stimulation | ££–£££ | Low | |
Milking Machines | Repetitive automated motion via larger devices | Advanced users, full automation | ££££ | Very Low | |
Sex Dolls (Torso / Full) | Physical realism and full-body interaction | Immersive experience | £££–££££ | High |
Some categories overlap. An automatic masturbator might also vibrate, thrust, use suction or connect to an app, so don’t get too hung up on labels. The important question is what kind of stimulation you want and how much work you want to do yourself.
Disposable Masturbator Sleeves
Disposable sleeves are the cheapest and simplest male masturbators. They’re soft, stretchy and designed for short-term use, making them useful for travel or if you just want to try a stroker without spending much.
The best-known example is the Tenga Egg which we reviewed here.
They’re cheap and require virtually no maintenance, but they offer less structure and sensation than a good reusable stroker and aren’t particularly cost-effective if you plan to use one regularly.
For most people, I’d skip straight to a reusable sleeve unless budget or portability is the priority.
Reusable Manual Masturbator Sleeves/Strokers
This is probably what most people picture when they think of a male masturbator. Fleshlights, TENGA Flip toys and simple masturbator cups all fall into this category.
They usually contain a soft, textured canal made from silicone, TPE or another flexible material. Add plenty of lube, then either move the sleeve manually or hold it still and thrust into it.
We’ve tested quite a few; the Arcwave Pow, which is a good example of a discreet, reusable silicone masturbator sleeve, the best-selling Fleshlight Flight Pilot and the very effective Fleshlight x Lovehoney Masterstroke as well as the TENGA Flip Zero and Orb.
A good reusable stroker is still one of the best choices for regular use. They’re relatively affordable, easy to store and give you complete control over speed and pressure. The downside is simply that you have to do the work yourself, and porous materials such as TPE need particularly careful cleaning and drying.
These are the most common type of male masturbator and a solid upgrade from disposable options. If you’re planning to use something regularly, this is a good option.
Electronic Masturbators
Electronic masturbators add motors to do at least some of the work for you. Depending on the toy, that might mean vibration, rotation, suction… Anything that feels good, really.
At the simpler end, toys such as the Arcwave Zing add vibration, while the Arcwave Orbit rotates around the penis. The One Suction Stroker adds suction, and the Blowmotion Suction Vibrating Masturbator combines suction and vibration.
Automatic Strokers
Automatic strokers take things a step further by actually creating the stroking movement for you. Rather than simply adding vibration, suction or rotation to a masturbator, these use a motorised mechanism to move the sleeve up and down the penis, meaning they can do most or all of the work themselves.
The best automatic masturbator we’ve tried is the Lovense Solace Pro. It uses a motorised thrusting mechanism to move a sleeve up and down. It can be controlled through the Lovense app and includes a mount for hands-free use.
It certainly isn’t discreet, and we found it awkward to use simply lying down and holding it. Mounted with the included desk mount, or positioned so the outer machine stays still while the thruster moves, it’s a completely different experience. Most importantly, we preferred it to other electronic masturbators we’ve tested and actually wanted to keep it.
The Handy 2 takes a slightly different approach. It’s smaller and quieter than the Solace Pro, with a sleeve that’s strapped onto the moving mechanism rather than sitting inside a larger housing. It can be controlled using the buttons on the toy or connected via WiFi, with support for synced interactive content. We found it easier to hold one-handed than the Solace Pro, although the standard sleeve didn’t provide the same level of sensation and a mount isn’t included. It’s a more discreet option if size and noise matter, and has better potential for a VR set up, but of the two we’d still choose the Solace Pro overall.
The Autoblow AI Ultra is another option if you want serious automation. It’s mains-powered, allows you to adjust stroke speed and depth, has remote controls and a synced content library all included in the purchase, and you can change or upgrade the internal sleeve. However, it’s substantially heavier and feels much more like using a machine.
Our pick: Lovense Solace Pro for the best overall automatic masturbator experience, the Handy 2 if content syncing is your thing, Autoblow AI Ultra if you specifically want mains power.
Milking Machines
You’ll be unsurprised to hear that, at £850 a pop, we don’t actually own a milking machine; as types of male masturbators go, these sit firmly in the ‘advanced’ category – but are definitely worthy of a mention.
Milking machines are designed for fully automated, repetitive motion; ie, you stick your cock in it and it automatically masturbates for you. They’re typically big, powerful, and very niche.
This is not beginner territory, but there is a very dedicated audience for this type of product.
Sex Dolls & Realistic Toys (Torso, Lower Body & Full)
At the far end of the spectrum of types of male masturbators, you have realistic sex dolls. These range from partial designs (butt, torso, lower body) to full-size dolls, and focus on physical realism rather than just sensation.
Although we certainly wouldn’t have room for a full-sized sex doll, we have reviewed the Tantaly Britney 2.0 Torso Doll. The experience sits somewhere between masturbating with a sleeve and full sex. With a bit of imagination, it leans closer to the latter.
Types include:
- Torso dolls (compact, easier to store)
- Lower body / butt models
- Full-size dolls (the full experience, for better or worse)
The obvious trade-off is practicality. They’re expensive, heavy, require somewhere to live and take considerably more effort to clean and maintain than a stroker.
If realism is the priority, though, nothing else in this guide really offers the same experience.
Use STR12 for 12% off at Tantaly.
What Is The Best Type of Male Masturbator?
There isn’t one male masturbator that’s best for everyone, but choosing gets much easier once you decide what you actually want from it.
For a simple first toy or something you can use regularly without much fuss, I’d choose a good reusable stroker such as a Fleshlight, TENGA Flip or Arcwave Pow.
If you want more sensation without giving up manual control, look at vibrating, suction or rotating masturbators.
If your priority is having the toy do the work for you, I’d now choose the Lovense Solace Pro from the automatic toys we’ve tested. The Handy 2 and Autoblow AI Ultra are other strong options which do a similar job.
And if what you really want is realism rather than convenience, that’s where torso toys and sex dolls come in.
You don’t need to start with the most expensive or technologically complicated option. Work out whether you care most about sensation, automation, realism, discretion or price, and choose from there.
Don’t forget, you can get 20% off at Lovehoney using the code SEXTOYREVIEW20; check out our other sex toy discount codes.
FAQ: Male Masturbators
A male masturbator is a sex toy designed to simulate the sensation of sex or oral stimulation. Most are soft, textured sleeves used manually, but there are also automatic, suction-based, and fully hands-free options.
Yes, as long as you use them properly. Always use lubricant, clean them after use, and let them dry fully before storing. Purpose-built toys are far safer and more hygienic than any improvised alternatives.
Yes. In almost all cases, lubricant is essential. It improves comfort, reduces friction, and makes the experience significantly better. Water-based lube is usually the safest option for most toys.
A stroker (or sleeve) is used manually by moving it up and down, while an automatic or electronic masturbator uses motors, suction, or vibration to create movement or stimulation for you. Automatic toys are more hands-free, but usually more expensive.
Most masturbators should be rinsed with warm water after use, cleaned with a dedicated toy cleaner or mild soap, and then left to dry completely. Proper drying is important to prevent bacteria or mould, especially with reusable sleeves.
You can read our guide to cleaning sex dolls here.
Disposable sleeves are designed for one or a few uses, while reusable masturbators can last months or even years with proper care. Higher-quality materials generally last longer.
It depends what you’re looking for. If you want a more hands-free, immersive experience, they can be worth the investment. If you prefer something simple and low maintenance, a manual sleeve is often enough.
Sex dolls are more about realism than convenience. They can be a very immersive experience, but they’re also more expensive (though you can buy them at a discount using a coupon code), take up more space, and require more maintenance than other types of toys.
Some types of male masturbators are waterproof, but not all. Always check the manufacturer’s instructions. Even if a toy is waterproof, you’ll usually still need lubricant, which doesn’t always pair well with water.
A simple reusable sleeve (like the Arcwave Pow or a Fleshlight-style toy) is usually the best starting point. Disposable options like the Tenga Egg are cheaper, but not as effective long term.
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