The findings come from a private New York clinic’s survey of around 3,300 US adults, which included approximately 500 women asked about anatomy and attraction. Respondents with a penis provided self-reported measurements for both flaccid and erect length, while the study also collected views on confidence, partner reactions, and cultural emphasis. This article summarizes the core results and the broader implications for sexual wellbeing and social pressure.
Study overview and methodology
Sample and measures
The survey relied on voluntary responses to collect self-reported numbers for erect length and related questions about perception and satisfaction. Average values and state-level breakdowns were calculated from these reports. Because the data is participant-supplied rather than clinically measured, the authors present the results as a reflection of how people report their bodies and feelings, rather than an objective anatomical census. The study therefore functions as a window into both physical claims and the psychology surrounding genital measurements.
Self-reporting caveats
Self-measurement introduces known biases: the survey itself notes that many men tend to overstate size, with an estimated 67% overreporting when asked directly, while 28% admit they underplay measurements in social contexts. The report also lacked sufficient responses from several sparsely populated states (including Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming), which means national maps are incomplete in places and should be read with that limitation in mind.
Key findings: averages and state differences
National averages and state leaders
Across the sample the study found an average self-reported erect length of 6.34 inches, and that penises grew on average 3.09 inches from flaccid to erect. At the state level, the top five mean figures were led by Iowa (7.13 inches), followed by South Carolina (7.04), Arizona (7.01), New York (6.72), and Indiana (6.68). The smallest averages reported were in Nebraska (5.41 inches) and Colorado (5.51 inches). Those state-by-state differences emerge in self-reports and may reflect sampling patterns as much as anatomy.
Partner feedback and personal measurement habits
Many respondents said their partners notice or comment: roughly 73% reported a partner had commented on size, with partners most often describing it as “just right” (about 56%), while smaller fractions said partners called it “too big” (12%) or “too small” (5%). Most participants had checked their measurements before (88%) and a large majority felt confident about their size (82%), even though more than half admitted to comparing themselves with others (57%).
Perceptions, identity and what really matters
LGBTQ+ perspectives and anxiety
The study also compared experiences across sexual identities. Gay men were more likely to report pre-intimacy anxiety over size, with 47% saying it affects their confidence compared with 36% of straight men. Gay respondents were also far likelier to compare themselves visually and socially—84% versus 45% of straight men—which the authors link to community norms and exposure rather than anatomy alone. Preferences differed too: while a majority overall prioritized girth, gay men in this sample were more likely to say length matters more than girth.
What people value in sex
Despite intense cultural focus on dimensions, respondents largely prioritized relational and skill-based qualities. The top answers when asked what matters most in bed were emotional connection (63.9%) and chemistry/compatibility (63.5%), while physical attraction scored lower and penis size ranked last at 8.1%. An overwhelming 96% said being a skilled lover was more important than size, and around 89% felt society places too much emphasis on measurements.
In sum, the survey paints a picture of a culture fixated on numbers but a population that actually values intimacy and competence. Clinicians and commentators quoted in the report argue that the fixation on inches is largely social performance—people inflate figures or hide them—while what sustains relationships is emotional and sexual skill. Those findings suggest public conversations could shift toward wellbeing, confidence, and communication rather than measurements alone.