The nose has a stronger link to penis size than shoe size, studies find

The studies challenged the long-held assumption that shoe size or height were better indicators.

The belief that a man’s shoe size, hand size, or height can reveal the size of his penis has been around for generations. But according to medical research, those popular myths simply don’t stand up to scientific scrutiny.

One of the most cited studies on the subject, published in BJU International, found no significant relationship between shoe size and penile length. A separate meta-analysis of more than 15,000 men led by psychiatrist Dr. David Veale likewise concluded that while taller men may have a slightly greater average penile length, the correlation is too weak to be a reliable predictor. Other studies have also found no meaningful association between penis size and hand size or body mass index.

Surprisingly, the body part with the strongest documented link isn’t found below the waist—it’s the nose.

A 2021 study published in Basic and Clinical Andrology by researchers from Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine examined 126 male cadavers to determine whether physical characteristics were associated with penile length. The researchers measured stretched penile length alongside several body measurements, including height, weight, and nose dimensions.

They found that nose size had the strongest statistical correlation with maximum stretched penile length among the traits they evaluated. Men with smaller noses had an average stretched penile length of about 10.4 centimeters (4.1 inches), while those with larger noses averaged about 13.5 centimeters (5.3 inches).

The findings attracted international attention because they challenged the long-held assumption that shoe size or height were better indicators.

In 2023, another study published in the journal Andrology reached a similar conclusion after examining 377 living men between the ages of 20 and 56. Researchers found that nose dimensions remained the strongest facial predictor of both flaccid and erect penile length. To test whether the association was unique, they also measured ear size but found no statistically significant relationship.

Scientists emphasize that the nose does not determine penis size. Rather, both structures are believed to be influenced by the same biological processes during fetal development.

According to the researchers, prenatal exposure to androgens—male sex hormones such as testosterone—plays an important role in shaping both facial features and genital development in the womb. Because the nose is largely formed before birth and changes relatively little in adulthood, it may reflect the hormonal environment that also influenced genital growth.

Researchers also caution against overinterpreting the findings. The studies describe a statistical association across groups of men, not a rule that applies to every individual. A larger nose does not guarantee a larger penis, just as a smaller nose does not necessarily indicate the opposite.

For doctors, the only clinically accepted way to estimate erect penile length remains the measurement of stretched penile length, not facial features or body proportions.

So while science has largely put to rest the myths about shoe size, hands, and feet, evidence from recent urological research suggests that if any external feature has a measurable connection to penis size, the nose appears to be the strongest one identified so far.

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