Quick Answer
Shore hardness is a number that shows how firm a material is, measured with a durometer. Silicone toys use two scales: Shore 00 for very soft, squishy materials and Shore A for firmer, rubber-like ones. For most dildos, Shore 00-30 is a soft, beginner-friendly feel and 00-50 is the common medium. A10 and above is firm, with very little give. The two scales overlap, so check which scale a number uses: 00-30 is pillow-soft, while A30 is closer to a car tyre.
Most people shopping for a dildo compare size, shape and color. Firmness gets far less attention, even though it decides how a toy feels, how comfortable it is, and how forgiving it is for a beginner. Firmness has a measurable number behind it, and once you know how to read it, you can compare toys properly.
What Is Shore Hardness?
Shore hardness is the standard way to measure how hard or soft a material is. A durometer takes the reading, and a higher number means a harder material. A Shore hardness rating has no unit. It's a number with a scale name attached, such as "Shore 00-30" or "Shore A10".
Shore Hardness Scale: Shore 00, Shore A and Shore D
The Shore system has several scales, each built for a different range of materials:
-
Shore 00: very soft materials such as gummy bears, gel insoles and ultra-soft silicone.
-
Shore A: soft to medium-hard materials such as rubber bands, erasers and car tyres.
-
Shore D: hard materials such as rigid plastics.
Each runs from 0 to 100, and the scales partly overlap at the low end. That's where the confusion starts. A rating of Shore 00-30 is pillow-soft, while Shore A30 is closer to a car tyre. The number only means something alongside its scale. Most silicone toys sit on the 00 scale or the low end of the A scale, which is why you'll rarely see Shore D mentioned for a dildo.
How Is Shore Hardness Tested? (Durometer and Shore Hardness Tester)
A Shore hardness tester is called a durometer. You press its small spring-loaded indenter into the material. The harder the material, the less the indenter sinks in, and the higher the reading. Different durometers are made for each scale, so you read a Shore 00 material on a Shore 00 durometer and a Shore A material on a Shore A durometer.
For a valid reading, test a flat sample thick enough (around 6 mm or more), not the curved, tapered shape of a finished toy. That's why a rating describes the silicone formulation, not how one toy feels in your hand. A thicker, larger toy can feel firmer than a slim one in the same material (more on this below).
You can't measure Shore hardness at home with a finger press, so choose a brand that publishes its rating and compare using the chart below.
Shore Hardness Scale for Silicone Toys: The Common Firmness Levels
Shore 00-20: Extra Soft
Gel-like and very squishy. A toy at this level flops unless it's thick, and it's hard to insert. You'll mostly find it in specialised soft pieces.
Shore 00-30: Soft
This is the most common "soft" option, with a squish similar to a fresh gummy bear. It's a good choice for beginners and for large or textured toys. The trade-off is that thin versions can be floppy.
Shore 00-50: Medium
Firmer than 00-30, with more resistance, and a feel closer to a stale gummy bear. It's the default for brands that offer only one firmness, and it suits most users and most designs.
Shore A10: Firm
A significant jump in firmness, with little give. It suits slim toys and targeted prostate or G-spot work, but it can feel unforgiving on anything large or angular.
Beyond A10: The Harder End
From around Shore A20 upward, material is rigid with minimal give. You'll find it mainly in bondage gear and narrow plugs, and it tends to feel artificial in a dildo.
How Firmness Interacts With Design
Shore hardness is only one factor. Size, thickness and texture all change how a given rating feels.
-
Thickness: a 5 cm thick toy at 00-50 feels firmer than a 2.5 cm one in the same material, because there's more material resisting pressure. For larger toys, consider stepping down one firmness level.
-
Texture: firmness amplifies texture. Veins and ridges feel much more pronounced in a firmer material and softer in a softer one.
-
Shape and curve: a sharply curved toy needs enough firmness to hold its geometry; see What the Curve Is For.
-
Construction: some toys combine two firmness levels in a single piece. See our dual-density silicone guide.
If you're still deciding on size, start with our dildo size guide for beginners.
Why TPE Cannot Match Silicone on Hardness Consistency
TPE is a softer, blended material, and its hardness isn't stable. It can drift over time because of heat, oils, washing and plasticizer migration, so a toy that feels one way when new can feel different months later.
You may also see Shore hardness quoted for TPU, polyurethane (PU) and urethane materials. Those are rated on the Shore A or Shore D scales, so you can't compare their numbers directly with a Shore 00 silicone rating. When you compare toys across materials, make sure you're comparing the same scale, and ask how the material holds its hardness over time. Our platinum silicone vs TPE and PVC guide goes deeper.
Why Material Choice Affects Hardness Consistency
Platinum-cured silicone holds its hardness. It's also tunable within a few points, which lets a manufacturer target a specific firmness such as 00-35 or A08, and expect the finished toy to match. If you want the full chemistry, see our platinum-cured silicone deep dive.
The Practical Implication
For a buyer, the firmness on the listing is the firmness you'll still have in a year, as long as you look after the toy. Heat, oils and harsh cleaners change materials over time, so follow the silicone care guide.
Silicone Shore Hardness Chart: Quick Reference
-
Shore 00-20: gel-like, almost no resistance. Best for packers and specialised soft toys. Trade-off: too floppy for most insertable use.
-
Shore 00-30: fresh gummy bear. Best for beginners, textured toys and large designs. Trade-off: thin toys may flop.
-
Shore 00-50: stale gummy bear. Best for most users and most designs; the default for brands that offer a single firmness. Trade-off: firmer than 00-30, with more resistance.
-
Shore A10: firm rubber, limited squish. Best for G-spot and prostate targeting and slim toys. Trade-off: can feel unforgiving on large toys.
-
Shore A20 and above: rigid, minimal give. Best for bondage gear and narrow plugs. Trade-off: feels artificial in dildos.
FAQ
-
What is Shore hardness?
Shore hardness measures how firm a material is, using a durometer. A higher number means a harder material.
-
What is the difference between Shore 00 and Shore A?
They are two different scales. Shore 00 covers very soft materials like gels, and Shore A covers firmer, rubber-like materials. They overlap at the low end, so Shore 00-30 is pillow-soft while Shore A30 is much firmer.
-
What Shore hardness is best for a beginner dildo?
Shore 00-30 is a common soft, forgiving choice for beginners and for larger or textured toys. Shore 00-50 is the common medium. Thin toys at 00-30 can feel floppy, so size and shape matter too.
-
Does Shore hardness have a unit?
No. It's a dimensionless number, read together with its scale, such as Shore 00-30 or Shore A10.
-
How do you test Shore hardness?
With a durometer, a spring-loaded tool whose indenter presses into a flat sample of the material. Each durometer reads one scale, such as Shore 00 or Shore A.
-
What is the Shore hardness of silicone?
It depends on the formulation. Silicone sex toys are usually made from soft formulations rated on the Shore 00 scale up to the low end of Shore A, while firmer silicone rubbers sit much higher on Shore A.
-
Why does thickness change how firm a toy feels?
A thicker toy has more material resisting pressure, so the same Shore rating can feel firmer. A 5 cm thick 00-50 toy feels firmer than a 2.5 cm one, which is why we suggest stepping down one firmness level for larger toys.
The Takeaway
Firmness is one of the most overlooked parts of choosing a toy, and it's one of the easiest to get right once you can read the numbers. Check which scale a rating uses, remember that 00 and A are not the same, adjust for the size of the toy, and choose a material that keeps its hardness over time.
Related guides:
