13 Foreplay Toys and Tools for Couples: Ideas, Safety & Consent

Foreplay does not need a shopping list, but the right toy can make it easier to slow down, communicate and explore sensations before or instead of penetration. The best foreplay toy is not the one with the boldest packaging. It is the one both partners actually want to use.

This guide keeps the original mix of vibrators, playful games, sensory toys and light bondage accessories, but adds the safety details that matter before you bring any of them into bed.

1. Couples Vibrators for Shared Stimulation

A couples vibrator can add external or internal stimulation during foreplay without requiring anyone to rush into penetration. Some models are designed for shared use during intercourse, while others work better as handheld or wearable toys.

Choose the toy based on where you want stimulation, how strong you want the vibration to feel and whether you prefer buttons, a remote or app control. Do not assume every couples vibrator fits every body in the same way.

2. A Riding Crop for Consensual Impact Play

A riding crop can introduce light impact sensations for couples who are curious about BDSM. Start gently, agree on where impact is allowed and avoid vulnerable areas such as the head, neck, spine, kidneys and joints.

If you are new to impact play, read our BDSM guide for beginners before increasing intensity. A crop should add controlled sensation, not become a test of how much discomfort someone can tolerate.

3. Edible Body Products

Chocolate body paint, flavored gels and other edible body products can turn touch into a playful tasting game. Check the ingredient list first if either partner has food allergies or sensitive skin.

Keep sugary products mainly on external skin unless the manufacturer specifically says the product is suitable for genital use. Fragrances, flavorings and sugar can irritate sensitive tissue. If you like the idea of edible clothing, our edible underwear guide covers the category in more detail.

4. Roleplay Prompt Cards

Prompt cards are useful when both partners want to try roleplay but do not know where to start. They can remove the pressure of inventing a scenario from scratch and give you something concrete to discuss.

Skip any prompt that makes either person uncomfortable. A card is an invitation, not a contract.

5. Date and Intimacy Cards

Not every foreplay tool has to be explicitly sexual. Date cards or conversation decks can build anticipation by creating a shared activity before the bedroom. Some couples find that a relaxed dinner, game or planned at-home date makes it easier to transition into touch naturally.

Choose cards that suit your relationship rather than forcing yourselves through prompts that feel artificial.

6. Handcuffs and Soft Restraints

Restraints can be exciting because they change who controls movement, but they require clear consent and a practical release plan. For beginners, padded cuffs with an easy-release mechanism are usually simpler to manage than rigid restraints or complicated rope.

Do not tighten cuffs until they cause numbness, tingling, unusual color changes or coldness. Never leave a restrained person unattended and keep keys or the release mechanism within immediate reach.

If restraint is part of a broader kink, our sexual kinks guide can help you discuss boundaries before the session.

7. Feather Ticklers and Sensory Teasers

A feather tickler or other soft sensory toy is an easy way to experiment with light touch across the neck, arms, thighs and torso. The appeal is contrast: barely-there contact can feel surprisingly intense when someone is already aroused.

Tickling can also become overwhelming quickly, so do not assume laughter always means “continue.” Check in if your partner is squirming or trying to pull away.

8. Sex Games

Card games, dice and board games can make it easier to suggest new activities without turning the conversation into a formal negotiation. Our sex games for couples guide has more ideas if you want a longer list.

The useful part is variety, not obedience to the game. Skip any instruction either person does not want.

9. Blindfolds

Removing sight can make touch feel more unpredictable, which is why blindfolds remain a popular sensory-play accessory. Use a comfortable blindfold that can be removed quickly and keep the surrounding area free of obstacles.

The person who cannot see should still be able to communicate clearly. Do not combine a blindfold with intense restraint or impact unless both partners already understand and want that combination.

10. Edible Lingerie

Edible bras, underwear and candy accessories add a novelty element to foreplay. Check expiration dates, ingredients and the condition of the product before wearing or eating it.

Because these products often contain sugar, treat them primarily as external novelty items. Wash residue from the skin afterward, especially before using other toys or moving to internal genital contact.

11. Discreet Vibrators

A compact or discreet vibrator can be useful for teasing because it is easy to control and move between external erogenous zones. Some models look like jewelry or everyday objects, but discretion should not become an excuse to involve strangers in sexual activity.

Use wearable or remote-controlled toys in private or in situations where everyone affected has consented. Public sexual stimulation around nonconsenting people is not part of responsible toy use.

12. Massage Candles

A purpose-made massage candle can combine scent, warm oil and touch. Use only a product specifically designed to melt into massage oil at a skin-appropriate temperature. Ordinary household candles may burn much hotter and can contain waxes or fragrances that are not intended for skin contact.

Test a small amount on your own wrist or forearm before applying it more broadly. Keep hot products away from genitals, broken skin and areas with reduced sensation.

13. Foreplay Dice

Foreplay dice are simple: one die suggests an action and another suggests a body area or duration. They are useful for couples who enjoy spontaneity but still want an easy way to veto anything they do not like.

If the dice tell you to do something uncomfortable, reroll. The toy creates ideas; it does not override consent.

How to Choose a Foreplay Toy

Before buying, decide what sensation you actually want. Vibration, pressure, temperature, restraint and sensory deprivation are very different experiences.

• Stimulation: external, internal, impact, sensory or massage.
• Controls: buttons, remote or app.
• Material: check the manufacturer’s exact disclosure instead of relying only on broad phrases such as “body-safe.”
• Cleaning: follow the manufacturer’s instructions, especially for powered or mixed-material products.
• Lubricant: confirm compatibility with both the toy and any condoms being used.
• Accessibility: consider grip size, reach, button placement and whether a partner can easily stop the toy.

Foreplay Is About Arousal, Not a Timer

There is no universal number of minutes that foreplay should last. Some people want a long buildup. Others prefer direct stimulation quickly. A better question is whether both partners feel physically and emotionally ready for whatever comes next.

Foreplay can also be the main event. Oral sex, massage, mutual masturbation, toys and sensory play do not have to be treated as a waiting room before penetration.

Consent Makes Every Foreplay Toy Better

Talk before introducing restraints, impact toys, blindfolds, app control or recording. A surprise vibrator can be playful in an established context where that kind of surprise is already welcome, but a new activity should never be sprung on someone who has not agreed to it.

If verbal play is part of your warm-up, our sexual communication guide has ideas for keeping the conversation playful without ignoring boundaries.

Lubricant Can Be a Foreplay Tool Too

Lubricant is not only for penetration. A small amount can change the feel of hand stimulation, external toy use and massage. The important part is compatibility. Water-based lubricant is widely compatible, while silicone lubricant may not suit every silicone toy. Follow the toy manufacturer’s instructions instead of assuming one lubricant works with everything.

With latex condoms, avoid oil-based products because oils can weaken latex. If you are combining a toy, condom and lubricant, check all three products rather than only one.

Clean Foreplay Toys According to Their Construction

Foreplay toys range from washable silicone vibrators to fabric cuffs, leather accessories, edible products and powered devices. They should not all be cleaned the same way.

Remove batteries or disconnect charging cables before cleaning powered products when the instructions require it. Do not boil, soak or put a toy in a dishwasher unless the manufacturer explicitly says the complete product can handle that treatment. Waterproofing also does not automatically mean every component should be soaked.

Wash shared toys between users and before moving them between body sites. Condoms on compatible toys can make sharing easier, but use a fresh condom for a new person or body site.

Low-Cost Foreplay Ideas Work Just as Well

You do not need to buy thirteen products. A playlist, a planned massage, a blindfold you already own and can use safely, a conversation game or a small external vibrator can be enough to change the routine.

The goal is attention and variety. Spending more money does not guarantee better foreplay, and a toy that sits unused because nobody enjoys it adds less value than a simple activity you both look forward to.

Fun Before the Fun: The Takeaway

Foreplay toys work best when they give you more ways to pay attention to each other. A small vibrator, a blindfold, a deck of cards or a massage product can all be effective if the sensation fits the person using it.

You do not need all 13 categories. Pick one idea, talk about it and notice how your partner responds. Curiosity and communication will usually take you further than a crowded toy drawer.

FAQs About Foreplay Toys