What Is Shore Hardness?
Shore hardness is a standardised measurement of a material's resistance to indentation. A device called a durometer presses into the material and returns a number. The higher the number, the harder the material.
But the scale matters. Silicone toys typically use two different Shore scales, and confusing them leads to bad purchases.
Shore 00 measures very soft materials. Think gummy bears, gel insoles, and ultra-soft silicone. This scale runs from 0 (barely holding shape) to 100, where the two scales overlap and Shore A starts measuring the harder end of the same materials.
Shore A measures soft to medium-hard materials. Think rubber bands, pencil erasers, and car tyres. This scale runs from 0 to 100, with a partial overlap in the lower range where very soft Shore A materials share territory with the upper end of Shore 00.
A 30 on the Shore 00 scale is very different from a 30 on the Shore A scale. Shore 00-30 is pillow-soft. Shore A30 is closer to a car tyre. If a manufacturer lists "30" without specifying the scale, the number tells you almost nothing.
The Common Firmness Levels for Silicone Toys
Most premium silicone manufacturers offer between three and four firmness options. Here is how they break down.
Shore 00-20: Extra Soft
This is the softest practical formulation for a silicone toy. It feels almost gel-like, with extreme squish and minimal resistance. Toys at this firmness struggle to hold their shape. A dildo in 00-20 will flop under its own weight unless it is very thick.
Extra-soft silicone is rarely used for insertable toys. It shows up mostly in packers and very specialised products where realism of feel matters more than functionality. In a dildo, this firmness is difficult to insert and provides almost no pressure against internal sensitive spots.
Shore 00-30: Soft
Shore 00-30 is the most common "soft" option in the silicone toy industry. It has about the same squish as a fresh gummy bear. It compresses easily under pressure and feels yielding against the body.
This firmness works well for medium to large toys where the sheer volume of material provides enough structure. It is also popular for toys with pronounced textures, because the softness softens the sensation. For beginners or people who find firm toys uncomfortable, 00-30 is often the sweet spot.
The trade-off is that thinner toys in 00-30 can be floppy. A slender dildo may struggle to hold its shape during use, requiring more effort to guide.
Shore 00-50: Medium
Shore 00-50 is noticeably firmer. It still compresses, but takes more force. The texture is similar to a stale gummy bear with more resistance and less immediate give.
Most body-safe silicone toys land in this range. It provides enough structure for thin toys to hold their shape, enough squish for comfort, and enough firmness for texture to register during use. It is the default choice for manufacturers who offer only one firmness.
Shore A10: Firm
Shore A10 represents a significant jump in firmness. It still has some give, but nowhere near the compression of 00-50. A toy at A10 holds its shape completely, with very little flop even in slender designs.
This firmness works well for smaller toys that need structural rigidity, for users who prefer pronounced pressure, and for prostate or G-spot targeting where a firmer surface creates more focused stimulation. The trade-off is that A10 can feel unforgiving if the toy is large or angular.
Beyond A10: The Harder End
Some manufacturers offer Shore A20, A30, or even harder silicones. These are uncommon in dildos because the material starts feeling rigid rather than realistic. They appear mostly in bondage gear, plugs with narrow necks, and certain specialty products.
How Firmness Interacts With Design
Hardness does not exist in isolation. It interacts with every other aspect of a toy's design.
Thicker toys feel harder at the same Shore rating. A 00-50 dildo that is 5 cm thick will feel noticeably firmer than a 00-50 dildo that is 2.5 cm thick, because you are compressing more material. This is why manufacturers often recommend stepping down one firmness level for larger toys.
Texture is amplified by firmness. Bumps, ridges, and ribs that feel subtle at 00-30 become pronounced at 00-50 and demanding at A10. If the toy has aggressive texture, softer is usually better.
Knots and bulbs behave differently. A firm knot creates a distinct popping sensation during insertion and removal. A soft knot compresses and slides through more easily, which some users prefer for comfort.
Thinner toys need firmer silicone. A slender dildo in 00-30 may be too floppy to use effectively. The same dildo at A10 holds its shape and delivers consistent pressure.
Why TPE Cannot Match Silicone on Hardness Consistency
This is where the material difference becomes visible.
TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) is often described as "softer" or "more realistic" than silicone, and in a fresh-from-the-box comparison, that can be true. TPE can be formulated to very low durometer values that feel plush and skin-like.
But TPE does not hold its hardness over time.
TPE is a thermoplastic. It softens with heat, hardens with cold, and degrades with exposure to body oils, lubricants, and repeated washing. A TPE toy that feels perfectly firm on day one can feel noticeably softer, tackier, or even greasy within months. The plasticizers that give TPE its softness migrate to the surface over time, changing the material's mechanical properties.
Silicone, particularly platinum-cured silicone, does not do this. Its cross-linked polymer structure is chemically stable. A Shore 00-30 platinum silicone toy feels the same on year three as it did on day one. The hardness is locked in during curing and does not drift.
This stability is not a minor advantage. It means that when a manufacturer specifies a Shore rating for a platinum silicone toy, you can trust that number. With TPE, the number you see on the package describes a material that will not stay that way.
Why Material Choice Affects Hardness Consistency
The ability to formulate silicone precisely across the Shore 00 and Shore A scales is one of the reasons premium manufacturers choose it over TPE.
Platinum-cured silicone can be tuned to within a few points on the durometer scale. A manufacturer can create a 00-35 formulation that sits between standard soft and medium, or an A08 that is slightly softer than the typical firm option. This precision allows for intentional design decisions that are not possible with TPE, which comes in broader, less consistent hardness grades.
The Practical Implication
What this means for you: when a manufacturer specifies a Shore rating, that number carries different weight depending on the material. With platinum-cured silicone, the rating describes a stable property that will not drift over the toy's lifespan. With TPE, the same number describes a snapshot that will shift within months.
This is why experienced buyers prioritise manufacturers who use platinum silicone and publish their Shore ratings. The combination of precision formulation and long-term stability means the product they test is the product they keep. A 00-50 toy from a reputable silicone manufacturer still feels like 00-50 three years later.
Quick Reference
If you are shopping for a silicone toy and the manufacturer does not list a Shore hardness, ask. Here is a quick reference for what each rating means in practice.
|
Shore Rating
|
Feels Like
|
Best For
|
Trade-Off
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
00-20
|
Gel, almost no resistance
|
Packers, specialised soft toys
|
Too floppy for most insertable use
|
|
00-30
|
Fresh gummy bear
|
Beginners, textured toys, large designs
|
Thin toys may flop
|
|
00-50
|
Stale gummy bear
|
Most users, most designs
|
Default choice for single-firmness brands
|
|
A10
|
Firm rubber, limited squish
|
G-spot / prostate targeting, slim toys
|
Can feel unforgiving on large toys
|
|
A20+
|
Rigid, minimal give
|
Bondage gear, narrow plugs
|
Feels artificial in dildos
|
One more thing: if the manufacturer uses TPE, the Shore number is worth checking but treat it as a starting point. The material will change. If they use platinum silicone, the number is a promise.
The Takeaway
Hardness is not a luxury feature. It is a functional variable that changes everything about how a toy performs. Two toys with identical dimensions and different Shore ratings are essentially different products.
The best manufacturers design around hardness, choosing a durometer that matches the toy's shape, size, and intended use. They test it, they specify it, and they tell you what it is.
That level of specificity is only possible with a material that stays consistent. Platinum silicone gives you that. TPE gives you a number that expires.
The next time you look at a toy, look past the size and shape. Ask what Shore rating it is. That number will tell you more about how it actually feels than the product photos ever will.
