All sizes

Condom size is not an S, M or L label — it is a number in millimetres. This category holds 96 variants and the millimetre ladder runs from 45 to 72 mm, so you can choose by measurement rather than by the wording on the box.

If you have been buying "standard" condoms and they never quite fit, the reason is usually that standard is not a number anyone publishes.

What the millimetre figure means

It is the nominal width: the width of the condom laid flat. Because a condom is a tube, that width is roughly half its circumference. Two brands here print it — MY SIZE covers 45, 47, 49, 53, 57, 60, 64, 69 and 72 mm, and MISTER SIZE runs the same ladder under labels from XS (47 mm) to XXXL (69 mm). That shared number is what makes them comparable, whereas an XL label on its own tells you nothing.

How to measure

You need a tape measure, or a strip of paper and a ruler. Measure the circumference of the erect penis at its thickest point and halve the result — that figure in millimetres places you on the ladder above. If you land between two numbers, comfort decides: too narrow is uncomfortable and harder to unroll, too wide slips. The range also includes a test set of three sizes with a measuring tape, which settles the question in one purchase.

When an XL label is not enough

Some brands describe size instead of stating it: XL, Extra Large, XXL. These are not harmonised between brands, so one maker's XL need not match another's. Once you know your number, shop by millimetres; if you are just starting out, descriptive labels are a usable starting point but not a precise one.