The time has come. You’re ready to start exploring your sexuality and after doing tons of research you found the one — the pink tentacle toy with the marbled aesthetic… but wait- how old do you have to be to buy sex toys?
Well, let’s cut to the chase because time is precious — in the United States there is no federal law that prohibits the purchase of sex toys limited to any age, however the general consensus is the legal age of 18. While there is no federal law, each individual state has it’s own laws in regards to age requirements, ranging from the ages of 18 to 21 years old.
The Legal Age Varies
The legal age to purchase sex toys ranges from 18-21 in the 50 states. Outside of the United States, the general consensus seems to range from 18 to 21 years of age, however, there are a few countries where the import, sale, distribution, and/or possession of sex toys is illegal. Some also do have strict laws on pornography, which could apply by extension to sex toys as they may fall under “pornographic materials”.
Disclaimer: Please note these are general guidelines, and there may be local variations or changes in laws. We advise you re-verify the information from official state resources or consult with legal professionals for the most updated and accurate details.
However, as of 6/25/2024, these are the laws for each individual state:
Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawai’i, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming
The legal age limit to purchase sex toys in these states is 18.
Alabama
Dildo’s are looking like a dildon’t in Alabama. Alabama’s Anti-Obscenity Enforcement Act bans the sale of sex toys, but not the possession. However, it seems a lot of businesses override this law by selling toys as “novelties” and “massagers”. As for the legal age, the magic number is 21.
Mississippi
The legal age limit to buy sex toys in Mississippi is 21.
Texas
The legal age limit to buy sex toys in Texas is 21.
Legality of Sex Toys In Different Countries
It may be beneficial to read about the pornography laws by region here as this information tends to correlate with other laws pertaining to sex.
Maldives
The production, sale, possession, or distribution of sex toys is illegal as it is considered to be “pornographic material”.
Mauritius
It is prohibited to bring sex toys into the country for sale without clearance, however, there’s no law explicitly prohibiting possession for personal use.
Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Morocco, Pakistan, Bahrain
Sex toys fall under “pornographic material” and are illegal and banned under Islamic law.
Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Cambodia
The production, sale, possession, and distribution of sex toys are illegal, as it’s considered “obscene material”. Enforcement varies country to country.
India
This one’s tricky. The Indian Penal Code states any material is deemed obscene if it is excessively lewd, designed to appeal to inappropriate sexual interests, or if its overall impact is likely to cause some form of corruption upon someone. In this case, import, production, sale, distribution or possession is illegal.
Bangladesh
The “Pornography Control Act” prohibits the use, sale, and marketing of sex toys.
There you have it. Whether you’re eyeing up a toy in the Yellowhammer State or curious about its legality in Saudi sands, the world of sex toys is a mix of legal nuances and cultural norms. Some places have strict bans while others are more open-minded. What you can purchase, and when, and where really depends on your location. Wherever your curiosity takes you, be sure to understand local laws before making your move. Happy exploring!
wow, that was really interesting, thanks for sharing this with us.
Funny how different the perception of sex toys is in different countries. Although it’s not funny at all that such actually “innocent” things like a sex toy must be banned.
I believe that in Islamic countries in particular (but also in “redneck areas” in the rest of the world), a little love and sexual satisfaction would also contribute to relaxation and peace in general :-)