Boost Your Mental Health With These 15 Sex Toys For Masturbating

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Whether we admit it or not, we’ve all had ups and downs with our mental health. It’s completely normal: we live in a stressful world (we lived through a pandemic for crying out loud!). 

Thankfully, we have made huge strides towards normalising conversations about our mental wellbeing over the last decade.

And while there’s no shortage of advice about how to manage stress (ever heard of meditation and exercising regularly, honey?) there is one habit we’re yet to openly admit to turning to for some relief.

If you haven’t guessed it already, I’m talking about masturbating. That’s right – flicking the bean, rubbing one out, jerking off. Whatever you want to call it. 

Although most of us (85% to be precise) masturbate at least weekly, a survey by sex toy company So Divine and erotic platform Ersties finds, less than half (42.5%) of us talks about it. What’s more, 28% of people feel that masturbation is openly discussed.

Look, I know what you’re thinking: that’s private! Why would I talk about it? Well, because it has huge benefits for our mental and physical health. 

As well as a smorgasbord of research proving that having an orgasm can boost our mental and physical wellbeing, lots of us are masturbating precisely for that reason!

Six in 10 (60%) people say masturbation was important to their overall mental and physical wellbeing, So Divine’s research shows. Meanwhile, 38% says masturbating helps them with stress relief, and a further 32% say it helps. them sleep.

So to mark Mental Health Awareness Week 2026, I asked the experts just why masturbation is so important for our mental wellbeing, and found 15 of the best sex toys for masturbation.

What are the mental health benefits of masturbating?

Not to state the obvious here, but we all know masturbating feels pretty darn good. But it’s not just about that.

“Masturbation can have a range of mental health benefits because it creates an opportunity for emotional regulation and body connection,” explains Cat, head of creative, community, and education at porn platform Ersties.

“It may help people sleep better, improve relaxation, reduce stress and can even be used as a form of meditation when approached mindfully.”

Research shows that having more orgasms is linked to higher self-esteem, lower stress, and more effective life coping skills. 

But mindful masturbation, or shifting the ‘goal’ away from having an orgasm to touching yourself without pressure, can also be particularly beneficial for mental health, Cat highlights.

“By paying closer attention to how the body and mind respond during masturbation, people may uncover unmet needs, tension, emotional triggers or areas where they want to grow in confidence and communication,” she says.

Best sex toys for masturbating

Whether you’re a regular wanker (in the best way), or we’ve convinced you of its many perks, I’ve found 15 sex toys to help you on your solo play voyage. 

While most of the toys on this list are for people with vulvas (the orgasm gap still exists, after all), I’ve included a couple for penises, too.

I’ve also included options suitable for beginners, to more experienced players.

How I tested the best sex toys for masturbating

Having written about sex for the last six years, I’ve tested many a pleasure product in my time.

To find the best ones for using solo, I, well, used them solo – all in the name of work, you understand. For each toy, I considered whether it was best used with a partner or by myself, as well as how easy it would be to test out different kinds of stimulation.

As always, I also took into account their material, power, waterproof rating, sound levels, and ergonomics.

How to integrate masturbation into your wellness regime

We might do a face mask, yoga, or meditate to unwind. But if you’re curious about integrating masturbation into your wellness routine, Cat has offered her top tips.

No goal

“For people wanting to integrate it into a wellness routine, the biggest advice is to remove the goal oriented mindset,” she says.

“Don’t focus on whether you orgasm or whether you’re doing it ‘right’.”

Get curious

“Focus instead on curiosity, touch and noticing how your body feels,” Cat adds. “Some people find it helpful to create a calming environment with music, low lighting or by putting their phone away to reduce distractions.”

Reflect

“It can also help to reflect afterwards,” Cat explains. “Mindful masturbation is ultimately about learning what your body likes, dislikes and needs without shame.

“Treat it as an act of self-awareness and self-kindness rather than performance. This can help people build a healthier and more accepting relationship with both their body and their sexuality.”