One of the important decisions when choosing a sex doll is the material. Currently, the 2 most popular options are TPE and silicone. You may have heard of silicone before, but what about TPE?

TPE (Thermoplastic elastomers) is a type of plastic that became extremely popular for sex dolls starting around 2018. Before the rise of TPE, silicone reigned supreme in the sex doll world, but ever since TPE sex dolls came out, they quickly exploded in popularity. Both materials have their pros and cons, and after reading this post, you’ll have a better idea of which one is right for you.

Firstly, TPE and Silicone are both hypoallergenic and safe for contact with the skin. Below is a comparison of the most important factors when it comes to sex dolls. However, take it with a grain of salt because every brand is different.

TPE vs Silicone Sex Doll Comparison Table

What Can We Conclude from this Table?

The table above gives a general overview of silicone vs TPE dolls (but isn’t always true because every brand is different). In short, TPE’s greatest advantage is its lower price and softer feel; these pros are enough to outweigh the cons for most people. Meanwhile, silicone dolls are more realistic, less prone to staining, and requires less maintenance (but are more expensive and firmer). The huge rise in TPE popularity is mainly due to its affordable price and softer material.

Price

TPE dolls generally sell for around $1000-$2500, while Silicone dolls sell for $2000-$5000+. New doll owners are more likely drawn to TPE due to its affordable pricing.

TPE wins in Price.

Durability

TPE and silicone sex dolls are both durable but it also depends on how they’re used. When taken care of properly, they can both last a long time. TPE’s advantage is its stretchiness, and ability to withstand pressure and reshape itself. Silicone material is more rigid, allowing it to withstand more physical damage, but lacks the ability to reform itself. Silicone usually has a longer lifespan because it’s non-porous (making it easier to maintain), degrades slower, and has tougher material. On average, silicone dolls last twice as long as TPE dolls before degrading, but note that silicone is harder to repair than TPE.

Silicone wins in Durability.

Softness

TPE is softer than silicone. However, it depends on the brand, and every brand is different. For some people, softness is more important than anything else on the list. In general, TPE feels better for cuddling, sleeping with, and sex. You can still do all these things with silicone, but some people find silicone to be uncomfortably firm. Basically, TPE feels better while silicone looks better (in terms of realism). However, everyone has different tastes. Some people think TPE is too soft, just like some people think silicone is too hard. Only taking softness into consideration, TPE almost always wins.

TPE wins in Softness.

Staining from Clothing

Because TPE is porous, it has a high chance of staining from clothing. The tiny TPE pores allows it to easily absorb anything placed on it such as oil and color dye. Therefore, TPE dolls are problematic for people who like dressing up their dolls in dark and bold colors. Silicone dolls are less likely to stain, but still can. If you want your doll to wear many different colors, silicone is generally a better option.

Silicone is less likely to stain from clothing.

Cleaning

Cleaning is an important issue when it comes to sex dolls. In general, TPE dolls are harder to clean because they’re not as water-proof as silicone dolls. Therefore, water tends to stay on TPE longer, which increases the chance of mold formation. TPE dolls are also porous so they cannot be sterilized. As long as great care is taken into drying all orifices and any wet areas, mold can easily be prevented on TPE dolls. Silicone, on the other hand, is much easier to clean and dry so mold is less of a problem (but still possible).

Silicone wins in Ease of Cleaning.

Realistic Face & Body

Both TPE and silicone dolls have realistic faces and bodies. In terms of the shape, they’re almost the same. The difference is the details on the surface. Due to the material, TPE tends to look more plain and cartoony simply because they can’t hold onto makeup. Nowadays, most silicone dolls have realistic paint on them, which creates texture, fine lines, veins, and more detail. The paint and makeup can last pretty long so they look more real. Meanwhile, TPE loses its makeup quickly and returns to the more plain look. Another difference is silicone tends to look overly shiny while TPE looks matte. Therefore, silicone has some appearance flaws as well.

Silicone wins in Realistic Face and Body.

Internal Heating Capabilities

Personally, I don’t recommend internal heating for either TPE or silicone. On paper, it sounds good but as of today, every brand’s heating system is still horribly primitive and doesn’t heat properly. TPE has a lower melting temperature than silicone so you really shouldn’t get a TPE doll with a heating system. There’s also other factors like increased bacterial growth with TPE and heat. Although silicone is better for an internal heating system, as mentioned before, the technology still isn’t good enough to justify the cost.

Silicone wins in Internal Heating Capabilities (but still isn’t recommended).

Maintenance

If you want your sex doll to last for years, you will have take proper care of her. This includes proper cleaning, handling, storage, and other tasks such as (oiling and) powdering. Because TPE is naturally oily, it gradually leaks oil over time, and has to be reoiled every few months. Silicone does not need to be oiled. Both can be powdered to make the skin smoother. Generally, a silicone doll is much easier to maintain. All it needs is cleaning/drying, powdering, and proper storage (no oiling). TPE requires the additional step of oiling and has to be dried more carefully to avoid mold/bacterial growth. While TPE isn’t too hard to maintain once you get the hang of it, life is easier with a silicone doll.

Silicone wins in Easier Maintenance.

Variety in Doll Choices

Back in the day, silicone dolls were the only option so it was either silicone, fabric, or inflatable. Then TPE came along and flooded the market with more variety than the previous 3 combined. Lately, silicone has made a comeback, resulting in an equal amount of variety.. Both TPE and silicone have large varieties of heads/bodies to choose from.

TPE and Silicone are equal in Doll Choices.

Conclusion

Overall, both materials have pros and cons. Even though silicone won in more categories, it comes down to which factors are more important for you. I still personally recommend TPE for a first-time doll owner because they’re more affordable and softer. The last thing you want is to spend $5000 on a high-end silicone doll, and then realize the doll life isn’t for you. As long as you know how to clean and take care of your doll, a TPE sex doll is fine for beginners.

Meanwhile, silicone dolls have many advantages such as more detailed faces and bodies, less prone to staining, less maintenance, and generally lasts longer. It comes down to your own personal preference and wallet. I will summarize it with points that I think are the most important for many new doll owners.

TPE is better than Silicone in/for: Price, Softness and Feel, Cuddling, Sleeping With, Sex

Silicone is better than TPE in/for: Longer Lifespan, Less Prone to Staining, Less Maintenance, More Realism/Detail

Ultimately, the choice is yours on what matters more to you. If you want a doll for cuddling and sex, TPE is probably better. If you want the most realistic-looking doll possible and less maintenance, then silicone is the way to go. As I said, both have pros and cons. TPE is usually better for people who like touching and holding their dolls while silicone makes a nice display or photography piece. Hopefully, this guide helped you make a more informed decision.

Do you like TPE or silicone sex dolls better? Leave your comment below!