Counted 2026-10-08 · 3,013 completed tests
Kink & BDSM statistics
BDSM statistics from 3,013 completed Cuffplay Kink Tests: power leanings, traits and archetypes. Each share below includes its count and denominator. These are test takers, not a population survey.
Key findings
- Power leaning: 62.2% (1,875 of 3,013) of completed tests leaned toward receiving control; 10.0% (302 of 3,013) leaned toward giving it. Link
- Dominant vs submissive ratio: Submissive-tagged results were 15.1% (455 of 3,013); Dominant-tagged results were 2.5% (76 of 3,013). The count ratio is 6.0:1. Link
- Switch tag: 37.8% (1,138 of 3,013) met the test’s near-middle power and role-flexibility rule. Link
- Top archetype: The Garden appeared in 26.1% (786 of 3,013) completed tests. Link
Source: completed Cuffplay Kink Tests since 2026-09-10; counted 2026-10-08. Method and limits.
Giving vs. receiving control
“Leans” means a power score beyond ±0.5 on the test’s −3 to +3 scale.
These are score bands, not identities. The stricter Dominant and Submissive tags below use different cutoffs.
Source: completed Cuffplay Kink Tests since 2026-09-10; counted 2026-10-08. Method and limits.
Gentle vs. intense sensation
A sensation score describes this test’s answer pattern; it cannot tell us what anyone wants in every setting.
Source: completed Cuffplay Kink Tests since 2026-09-10; counted 2026-10-08. Method and limits.
How common each trait is
A result can carry several traits at once, so these do not add up to 100%.
Power score below 0.7 in absolute value, with low role rigidity
Sensation score of +1.2 or higher
Power score of −1.5 or lower
Strong sensation-seeking while leaning toward receiving
Power score of +1.5 or higher
Strong sensation-seeking while leaning toward giving
Fewer than 30 results each, so not shown as figures: Primal, Scene-only, Service-top, Brat-tamer.
Source: completed Cuffplay Kink Tests since 2026-09-10; counted 2026-10-08. Method and limits.
Which archetypes come up most
Fewer than 30 results each: The Librarian. Archetypes not listed have not come up since 2026-09-10.
Source: completed Cuffplay Kink Tests since 2026-09-10; counted 2026-10-08. Method and limits.
Taking it alone or with a partner
Of the 2,196 results where the test taker said how they are exploring:
Source: completed Cuffplay Kink Tests since 2026-09-10; counted 2026-10-08. Method and limits.
Power leaning by exploration context
This breakdown only includes completed tests whose context was marked as exploring alone or with a partner. Each row uses that context’s total as its denominator; other or unstated contexts are excluded. It does not establish a difference between populations.
Exploring with a partner
Exploring alone
Source: completed Cuffplay Kink Tests since 2026-09-10; counted 2026-10-08. Method and limits.
Copyable data table
The same aggregate results in text form for checking and citing. Each percentage is the count divided by its displayed denominator. Traits can overlap.
| Measure | Count / total · share |
|---|---|
| Power: receiving | 1,875 / 3,013 · 62.2% |
| Power: middle | 836 / 3,013 · 27.7% |
| Power: giving | 302 / 3,013 · 10.0% |
| Sensation: intense | 1,858 / 3,013 · 61.7% |
| Sensation: middle | 940 / 3,013 · 31.2% |
| Sensation: gentle | 215 / 3,013 · 7.1% |
| Tag: Experimentalist | 2,276 / 3,013 · 75.5% |
| Tag: Intimate-first | 1,594 / 3,013 · 52.9% |
| Tag: Switch | 1,138 / 3,013 · 37.8% |
| Tag: Committed-dynamic | 804 / 3,013 · 26.7% |
| Tag: Sensation-seeking | 786 / 3,013 · 26.1% |
| Tag: Submissive | 455 / 3,013 · 15.1% |
| Tag: Rope-curious | 266 / 3,013 · 8.8% |
| Tag: Masochist-leaning | 257 / 3,013 · 8.5% |
| Tag: Service-bottom | 100 / 3,013 · 3.3% |
| Tag: Dominant | 76 / 3,013 · 2.5% |
| Tag: Vanilla-curious | 51 / 3,013 · 1.7% |
| Tag: Brat | 46 / 3,013 · 1.5% |
| Tag: Sadist-leaning | 36 / 3,013 · 1.2% |
| Archetype: The Garden | 786 / 3,013 · 26.1% |
| Archetype: The Current | 715 / 3,013 · 23.7% |
| Archetype: The Mirror | 710 / 3,013 · 23.6% |
| Archetype: The Explorer | 430 / 3,013 · 14.3% |
| Archetype: The Anchor | 187 / 3,013 · 6.2% |
| Archetype: The Compass | 75 / 3,013 · 2.5% |
| Archetype: The Artisan | 64 / 3,013 · 2.1% |
| Archetype: The Signal | 41 / 3,013 · 1.4% |
Source: completed Cuffplay Kink Tests since 2026-09-10; counted 2026-10-08. Method and limits.
Questions about these results
Are most people submissive?
This test cannot answer that for the general population. Among completed Cuffplay tests since 2026-09-10, 1,875 of 3,013 results (62.2%) leaned toward receiving control. The sample is self-selected.
What is the dominant vs submissive ratio in these results?
There were 455 Submissive-tagged results and 76 Dominant-tagged results among 3,013 completed tests: a 6.0:1 count ratio. These are strict tag thresholds, not a population estimate.
Does a Switch tag mean someone has no preference?
No. The test assigns Switch when the power score is near the middle and the role rigidity score is low. It is a test result, not a statement about every situation or partner.
For terminology, see our dominant, submissive and switch guide. To explore the vocabulary beyond these test scores, visit the kink library.
Method and limits
- Source: every completed Cuffplay Kink Test (including full and quick versions) since 2026-09-10, counted on 2026-10-08. Earlier results are excluded because the scoring changed on 9 September 2026.
- Self-selected sample: these are people who searched for and finished a kink test. They are not a random sample of any population, and the figures should not be read as how common these interests are in general.
- The figures come from our own instrument. A different test, with different questions and cut-offs, would give different numbers.
- One completed session is one result, including retakes; this is not a count of unique people. Tags may overlap. Power bands use ±0.5; Dominant and Submissive tags use ±1.5. The Switch tag also checks role rigidity.
- Counts under 30 are not shown. No figure on this page can be traced to an individual, and no answers are published.
How to cite
Cuffplay. “Kink & BDSM Statistics.” 3,013 completed test sessions from 2026-09-10 through 2026-10-08. Accessed 2026-10-08. https://cuffplay.com/kink-statistics.
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