Tunnel plugs and hollow butt plugs: what they do and how to choose one

A tunnel plug looks like an ordinary butt plug with the middle taken out. The outside has the familiar taper, neck and base, but a channel runs straight through from the tip to the base. Once it is in, the hole stays open: you can look inside, pour lube through it, slide in a finger or a slim toy, or simply enjoy the feeling of being held open. This guide explains how a hollow butt plug differs from a solid one, how to read the sizes, which materials behave how, and how to wear one safely. All the models we mention are in our tunnel plugs section.

Why men use a hollow butt plug

People buy a tunnel butt plug for very different reasons, and the reason decides which model fits best.

• The gaping look. A clear plug shows the inside of the hole, which is the whole point for many couples and for anyone who likes to film or watch.
• Stretching and training. Because the plug holds the sphincter at a fixed width without filling the rectum, it is a calm way to get used to a diameter before moving on to bigger toys.
• Play through the opening. Lube, a bullet vibrator, fingers or a slim dildo can go through the channel while the plug stays in place.
• Lube and fluids. You can top up lube during a long session without taking the plug out, and some men pour in other fluids as part of their play.
• Fisting preparation. Many men use tunnel plugs between sessions on the way to fisting. Our guide fisting for beginners covers that route step by step.

Outer diameter and inner opening: how to read the sizes

A hollow plug has two widths that matter. The outer diameter is the widest point of the bulb: that is what your sphincter has to pass, and it decides whether the plug suits you. The inner opening is the channel: it decides what fits through, and how much of the inside you see.

The neck is the third number people forget. Your sphincter closes around the neck while you wear the plug, so a wider neck means a constant stretch rather than a short one on the way in. Some manufacturers only give a circumference; divide it by 3.14 to get the diameter.

If you already wear a solid plug comfortably, start with a tunnel plug of about the same outer diameter. It will feel larger, because the walls are firmer around the channel and the plug does not compress the way a solid silicone one does.

Tunnel plugs compared

Measurements are the manufacturers' figures. Where the inner opening is not given, expect a channel of roughly a third to half of the outer width.

Materials: silicone, TPE, TPR and light-up models

Silicone, as in the Hive Ass Tunnel, is non-porous, keeps its shape and is the easiest to clean. Use a water-based lube with it, because silicone lube can damage a silicone toy.

TPE and TPR are softer and give a little as the plug passes the sphincter, which many beginners find easier. They are slightly porous, so keep the plug for your own use and replace it once the surface turns sticky or cracks. PerfectFitBrand asks for water-based lube only.

Clear models in TPE or rigid plastic are made for the view. Hard acrylic gives no flex at all, so size it more carefully than a soft plug.

Light-up tunnels such as the Light-Tunnel have a removable LED in the base that lights the channel in blue, red or white. Take the LED out before you wash the plug.

Steel is rarely used for tunnel plugs, because a hollow metal plug is heavy and hard to size. If you like the weight of metal, look at our steel butt plugs instead.

How to insert a tunnel plug

• Empty and rinse first. Our guide how to use an anal shower explains the gentle way, and the right equipment is under douches and enemas.
• Warm up with fingers or a smaller plug for ten to fifteen minutes. A hollow plug is firmer than it looks.
• Use plenty of anal lube, on the plug and on you, and put some inside the channel as well.
• Push gently and breathe out as the widest part passes. Stop and wait whenever you feel resistance; never force it.
• Once the bulb is in, the sphincter closes around the neck and the flared base keeps the plug from going further.

To remove it, relax, breathe out and pull slowly by the base while you bear down slightly. Add lube around the base if it drags.

Wearing time

Keep your first sessions to fifteen to twenty minutes. With experience, an hour or two with breaks in between is a sensible limit for a plug that stretches you. Do not sleep in a tunnel plug, and take it out straight away if you feel pain, numbness, a sharp sting or see any blood. Swelling of the rim after a long session is a sign to rest for a few days.

Double tunnel plugs

A double tunnel plug, like the PerfectFitBrand Double Tunnel Plug, has two tapered sections joined by a narrow waist with one channel running through both. The sphincter rests around the waist, so the opening is held from inside and outside at the same time. It is meant for men who already wear a single hollow plug without trouble.

Combining a tunnel plug with a plug harness

Searches for a male butt plug harness usually come from two wishes: keeping a plug in place while you move, and combining a plug with a cock ring. The PerfectFitBrand Armor Tug Lock does both: a cock ring and ball strap joined to a plug, so the ring holds the plug in position. Leather body harnesses are worn for the look and do not hold a plug by themselves. With any harness, keep the straps snug but not tight, and never wear a hollow plug under a strap that pushes it deeper than the base allows.

Related plugs people ask about

Weighted anal beads and plugs. Beads with a metal core, like the XR Brands Weighted Anal Balls, give a heavier pull with every movement. They are large, so they suit experienced players. More shapes are under anal beads.

Rosebud pumps. A rosebud pump uses suction to make the rim swell outward. The XR Brands Rosebud Cylinder combines a pump cylinder with removable silicone beads; the hand pump and hose are sold separately. Pump in short rounds, release the pressure slowly and stop at any pain.

The biggest plugs. If size is what you are after, the widest tunnel plug in this guide is the Sono No.51 at 7.1 cm. Solid plugs go much further: see our XXL plugs and the stretching plugs for fisting training. Work up in steps with a training set rather than buying the biggest size straight away.

Regular plugs. For a solid plug, a pink gem butt plug or a classic shape, browse all butt plugs.

Cleaning a hollow plug

The channel is the part people forget. Wash it straight after use with warm water and mild soap, push a soft bottle brush through the tunnel, rinse until the water runs clear and finish with a toy cleaner. Let it dry with the opening upright so no water stays inside, and store it away from latex and from other toys.

Frequently asked questions