buying-guides
Ordering from Bad Dragon for the First Time: Everything You Need to Know
15 December 2023 · 6 min read
Bad Dragon is the best-known maker of premium fantasy silicone toys, and ordering from them for the first time is a slightly different experience from buying on Amazon or from a mainstream retailer. Here's what to expect from start to finish.
The Ordering System
Bad Dragon operates primarily as a made-to-order manufacturer, not a stocked goods retailer. When you order, your toy is made specifically for your order. This means:
- Longer delivery times than standard retail (see wait times section below)
- Genuine customisation options at the point of ordering
- No returns on custom orders (they'll address manufacturing defects, but "changed my mind" isn't covered)
They also maintain a "clearance" section of previously made in-stock items and occasional sales. Buying from clearance is much faster — you're getting a toy that already exists.
The Sizing System
Bad Dragon uses Small (S), Medium (M), Large (L), and Extra Large (XL) sizing for most products. Importantly, these are actual dimensions — they publish the specific insertable length, diameter, and other measurements for each size of each product on the product page.
Before ordering, go to the specific product page and read the measurements for each size. Do not guess based on S/M/L alone — the measurements vary significantly between products. A Medium in one toy may be considerably larger or smaller than a Medium in another.
Compare the published dimensions to what you already know works for you. If you're uncertain, size down rather than up — you can always try a larger size in a future order, but a toy that's larger than you're comfortable with is less useful.
Customisation Options
When ordering a custom toy, you'll typically have choices across:
Firmness — Soft, Medium, and Firm options are available for most products. Soft is more flexible and more forgiving at larger sizes; Firm delivers more pressure and holds shape more rigidly. Medium is the most common choice for general use.
Colour and finish — a wide range of base colours, secondary colours for marbled or split pours, and finish options (some surfaces are given a slightly different texture). This is where a lot of the artistic appeal of Bad Dragon toys lies — the colour combinations can be striking.
Cum tube — an optional internal channel that allows water-based fluid to be expelled during use. An add-on feature.
Suction cup — an optional flared suction cup base. Adds hands-free positioning capability to toys that otherwise just have a flat base.
Wait Times
Made-to-order wait times vary with demand. Historically, 4–8 weeks has been typical; during peak periods this has extended considerably. Bad Dragon has generally improved their production capacity and transparency about wait times over recent years.
Check their current estimated wait times (published on the website) before ordering if timing matters.
Shipping and Discretion
Bad Dragon ships internationally (though shipping costs to Europe and Australia are meaningful). All orders arrive in plain, unbranded packaging — the outside of the parcel does not indicate what's inside. Payment appears on statements under a different name (check their website for the current statement descriptor if this is a concern).
The Community Aspect
Bad Dragon has an active customer community (forums, social media, Discord) where people share photos, reviews, and colour requests. Browsing community posts is a useful way to see what specific toys and colours actually look like in hand, which is much more informative than the product photos.
See also: Bad Dragon Wait Times, Bad Dragon Discreet Shipping, Creature Cocks Buying Guide
