Real, cited statistics on BDSM interest, fantasies, and practice, drawn from published studies and surveys.
The research, not the myths
Kink is far more common than most people assume. Here are 30 statistics on BDSM interest, fantasies and practice — every one drawn from a published study or large survey, with the source cited.
BDSM (bondage, discipline, dominance, submission, sadism and masochism) is one of the most fantasised-about and least-understood parts of human sexuality. The numbers below come from peer-reviewed research and nationally representative surveys.
1.8% of sexually active adults had taken part in BDSM in the past year — 2.2% of men and 1.3% of women (nationally representative survey, n=19,307).
46.8% of people had done at least one BDSM-related activity at some point in their life.
12.5% of people practise BDSM regularly, and 7.6% self-identify as a BDSM practitioner.
Among under-30s, 23% have already tried BDSM and 35% would like to try it.
21.7% of men and 20.6% of women have tied up or been tied up by a partner during sex.
29.5% of men and 34.1% of women have spanked or been spanked during sex.
25.8% of men and 21.8% of women have taken part in dominant/submissive role play.
Only 4% of women and 7% of men have never fantasised about any form of BDSM.
More than 75% have fantasised about bondage or physical restraint — the single most common BDSM fantasy.
65% have fantasised about receiving pain during sex, and 60% about giving it.
64.6% of women have fantasised about being dominated sexually, versus 53.3% of men.
59.6% of men and 46.7% of women have fantasised about dominating a partner — common enough to count as a 'typical' fantasy.
52.1% of women have fantasised about being tied up for sexual pleasure.
36.3% of women have fantasised about being spanked or whipped for pleasure.
48.7% of women reported domination fantasies, compared with 19.2% of men.
Spanking (~30%) is the most common BDSM-related practice, ahead of dom/sub role play (~24%) and restraint (~21%).
14% of women and 16% of men have playfully whipped a partner or been whipped.
Women report more BDSM fantasies of nearly every kind — roughly twice as likely to fantasise about bondage, and about four times as likely about masochism.
21% of American women prefer being submissive in bed (vs 4% dominant); 18% of men prefer being dominant (vs 10% submissive).
53% of Americans have some preference for dominance or submission, and 28% enjoy switching between both.
BDSM involvement in the past year was more common among men (2.2%) than women (1.3%).
Compared with a control group, BDSM practitioners were less neurotic, more extraverted, more open, more conscientious and higher in wellbeing (902 practitioners vs 434 controls).
Measured before and after real scenes, consensual BDSM increased partners' feelings of closeness and intimacy.
Practitioners in the dominant role had the most positive psychological profiles — leading researchers to call BDSM a recreational leisure activity, not a sign of psychopathology.
The Fifty Shades trilogy has sold more than 125 million copies worldwide.
Fifty Shades of Grey was the best-selling book of the 2010s in the US, with 15.2 million print copies sold.
The Fifty Shades of Grey film grossed about $571 million worldwide — one of the few R-rated films ever to pass $500 million.
19% of American women (and 6% of men) have read Fifty Shades of Grey.
FetLife, the largest kink and BDSM social network, reports over 12.6 million registered members.
Every figure on this page is attributed to a named, published source — peer-reviewed studies, nationally representative surveys, or reputable polling. Percentages reflect the samples and definitions used in each original study and are not always directly comparable. Feel free to cite this page; a link back is appreciated.
Last reviewed: September 2026 · BDSM Sex Guide
Real, cited statistics on BDSM interest, fantasies, and practice, drawn from published studies and surveys.