Rabbit Vibrator — Get Closer Glossary

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WHY PEOPLE USE IT

The rabbit is designed around the most common route to orgasm for people with a vulva: combined internal and clitoral stimulation at the same time. Rather than requiring two hands or two toys, the rabbit provides both in one. Most models allow the speed and pattern of the internal shaft and clitoral arm to be controlled independently. Because bodies differ in the distance between vaginal opening and clitoris, fit varies significantly between individuals and between toy designs, and finding a model that aligns well for your anatomy makes a real difference. Some people use the clitoral arm only, without insertion, as a shaped external vibrator. Rabbit vibrators are not typically suited to partnered penetrative sex, as the arm occupies the space where a partner would be.

HOW POPULAR IS IT

The rabbit had its defining cultural moment in the late 1990s. A 1998 episode of Sex and the City featuring the Rabbit Pearl drove a surge in sales that made it the most talked-about sex toy of its era, and Ann Summers sold over a million rabbit vibrators in the first year after launching their website in 1999.

Through the late 90s and early 2000s the rabbit was the dominant consumer sex toy, the default gift and the first purchase for a generation of buyers. The category has since been joined by suction toys, app-controlled devices, and a much wider range of vibrator styles, which has spread market share more broadly. Even so, rabbit vibrators account for around 25% of vibrator sales today, making them the second most popular vibrator type, and a 2017 US survey found 10% of women currently owned one. Lovehoney sells enough batteries in a year to power their bestselling rabbit for 15 million minutes.

HISTORY

The rabbit vibrator was created in Japan in 1983 by Vibratex, with the first model going on sale in 1984. Its unusual design was a direct response to Japanese obscenity laws that prohibited sex toys shaped too closely after human anatomy. To comply, manufacturers produced vibrators in bright colours with animal-shaped features, including beavers, turtles, kangaroos, and rabbits.

The Rabbit became the most popular of these models. The animal design turned out to have an unintended advantage. The protruding ear-shaped arm, added to satisfy regulators, sat naturally against the clitoris during use, making the rabbit the first widely available toy to offer simultaneous internal and external stimulation in a single device. Vibratex later refined the design by adding a ring of rotating beads in the shaft just above the base, which rotated against the vaginal walls during use. This updated model was named the Rabbit Pearl, and it became the definitive version.

The toy remained a niche product until August 1998, when the Sex and the City episode The Turtle and the Hare aired in the United States. In it, Charlotte becomes so attached to her Rabbit Pearl that her friends stage an intervention. The Rabbit Pearl had been the best-selling toy at The Pleasure Chest in New York when HBO researchers visited looking for a product to feature, and Vibratex supplied the show directly. Sales surged immediately after broadcast, and copycat designs from other manufacturers appeared within months.

The design has since been widely imitated and refined. Modern rabbits vary the angle and flexibility of the clitoral arm, replace the traditional ear shape with broader fins or curved pads, and offer far more control over independent motor speeds. Rotating beads remain a common feature but are no longer universal, with many newer models replacing them with additional vibration motors along the shaft.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Fit is the most important factor. The distance between the base of the shaft and the clitoral arm determines whether the arm actually reaches the clitoris during use, and this varies between models. Flexible or adjustable arms accommodate a wider range of bodies than rigid ones. Look for independently controlled motors so the internal and external settings can be adjusted separately. Body-safe silicone is the preferred material. Rechargeable models are more reliable than battery-powered ones for sustained use. Avoid very cheap models, which tend to have weak clitoral arms that bend away under light pressure rather than maintaining contact.

TRUSTED BRANDS

We-Vibe, Lelo, and Je Joue are well regarded for build quality and motor strength. Vibratex, who made the original Rabbit Pearl, continue to produce rabbit-style vibrators.

WHERE TO BUY IT

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Available from most adult toy retailers online and in store. Reputable brands include We-Vibe, Lelo, Lovehoney, and Je Joue. Mid-range models from established retailers offer significantly better motor quality and fit than budget options. Prices typically range from around $40 at the low end to $150 and above for premium models.

Rough prices as of June 2026.

HOW TO LOOK AFTER IT

Cleaning
Clean after every use with mild soap and warm water or a toy cleaner spray. If the toy is waterproof, it can be rinsed directly. If it has a charging port or seam, wipe with a damp cloth instead of submerging.

Lubricant
Do not use silicone-based lubricant with silicone toys. Water-based lubricant is safe with all materials.

Storage
Store in a pouch or cloth bag away from other toys. Check the clitoral arm joint periodically, as this is the most mechanically stressed part of the toy.