Let’s get real: some dudes have a hammer between their legs, some have a grain of rice, and most of us are somewhere in between. But here’s the caveat: An erection can level the playing field. 

Maybe that grain of rice has the potential to blossom into an impressively average-sized boner. You can’t judge a book by its cover, and you can’t judge a penis in its flaccid state. If you haven’t caught on, we’re talking about the grower vs. shower debate, which has divided dudes for centuries. 

Every man’s penis “grows” when it becomes erect. However, there are variances in how much some dudes’ penises grow with an erection. This is what separates growers from showers. 

In this article, we’ll see what science says about growers vs. showers, how to know which camp you fall into, and which type of penis is preferable.

What Does “Grower vs. Shower” Mean?

In slang terms, a “grower” is a guy whose flaccid penis becomes drastically bigger when he gets an erection. A “shower” on the other hand, refers to a dude whose erect penis size isn’t much bigger than his flaccid penis size.

In years past, deciding whether a dude was a grower or shower was totally subjective. But thanks to a team of dedicated researchers, we now have specific penis growth parameters: 

A grower’s penis increases by more than 56% when it goes from soft to hard, while a shower’s penis increases by less than 36%. 

These numbers were determined by a team of urologists who analyzed ultrasound scans on 225 men in both flaccid and erect states. They presented their findings at the 2023 European Association of Urology (EAU) Congress in Milan.

How to Know If You’re a Grower or a Shower 

To determine whether you’re a grower or shower, you’ll need a tape measure, a calculator, and your penis (obviously). Once you’ve got those handy, follow three simple steps.

1. Measure your flaccid penis
2. Measure your erect penis
3. Calculate the size increase as a percentage

If the size increase is more than 56%, you’re a grower. If the size increase is less than 36%, you’re a shower.

For example, if a dude’s softie is 3.5 inches and his boner is 6 inches, that’s a size increase of 71.4%, placing him safely in the grower category.

Side note: since you’re probably wondering, Medical News Today reports that the average flaccid penile length ranges from 2.8 to 3.9 inches while the average erect penile length ranges from 4.7 to 6.3 inches.

Ok, so you’ve determined whether you’re a grower or a shower. But an important question remains unanswered: what determines your penis’ growth potential?

What Makes You a Grower or a Shower? 

There are two primary factors that determine whether a guy is a grower or shower: genetics and penis elasticity. 

Just like some guys are tall or naturally muscular, your penis length potential is at the mercy of the genetic lottery. Either ya got it, or ya don’t.

In terms of elasticity, research suggests that the stretchiness of your penis’ fibrous tissue (known as the tunica albuginea) can determine whether you’re a grower or a shower.

“This makes sense as the collagen tissue is being stretched further,” said Dr Alonso-Isa. “So it could be that this tissue has more elastic fibers in men who are growers than those who are showers. But we need to do more research to prove this hypothesis.”

According to the 2023 study we referenced earlier, being a grower or shower has nothing to do with various factors like your age, weight, smoking history, or other comorbidities.  

Are Growers or Showers More Common?

A lot of dudes are under the assumption that they must either be a grower or a shower. But the reality is those labels don’t apply to most guys.

The most recent data from 2023 suggest that 24% of men are growers, while 25% are showers. However, the majority of men fell into a “gray zone” between the two categories. 

In other words, more than half of guys have a penis that gets somewhere between 36-56% bigger during an erection.

Is It Better to Be a Grower or Shower?

Professor Maarten Albersen, a urologist at the University of Leuven, Belgium, says there was likely no medical consequence to being either a shower or a grower. That said, doctors say it’s important to be aware of size fluctuations if they’re doing any medical work on your member.

“It is important to be able to predict if a patient is a grower or a shower as when we see them, they are usually in a flaccid state,” says Dr. Manuel Alonso-Isa. “If they grow a lot when they get an erection, it might mean they need a different surgical approach compared to someone who doesn’t grow much.”

That’s one doctor’s take—but what do the ladies have to say about penis growth percentages?

We ventured into the archives of Elite Daily to get a woman’s take on the grower vs. shower showdown, and our findings are thus: Showers are preferable, but “at the end of the day a hard seven inches is a hard seven inches.”

Of course, this particular blogger doesn’t represent the billions of women on planet Earth. Perhaps some women are amused by the pleasant surprise of a grower. Others may find themselves attracted to the “bulge” that showers are endowed with.

Whatever the case, it’s essential that your dick is fully functional so it can fulfill its potential when the time is right.