Most Popular Kinks & Fetishes Among Adults

The Difference Between a Kink and a Fetish

A kink is a sexual interest or activity that can enhance arousal, but it isn’t necessary for someone to enjoy sex or feel satisfied. A fetish, on the other hand, usually describes an interest that is more central, sometimes even essential, for arousal or sexual fulfillment. 

That difference often shows up in how consistent the interest is: kinks tend to shift with mood, life stage, or curiosity, while fetishes are typically more persistent, and long-lasting. Kinks also more commonly revolve around activities or dynamics, like roleplay or dominance, whereas fetishes often center on objects, body parts, or certain materials. Because of that, many people might have a long list of kinks they like to explore, but fewer fetishes. 

How to Stay Safe! 

Staying safe when exploring kinks starts with clear consent, honest communication, and knowing exactly what everyone is agreeing to. Before trying anything new, especially intense or risky kinks, you should spend real time reading expert opinions, detailed instructions, and firsthand educational resources instead of relying on porn or guesswork. Taking in-person workshops led by experienced practitioners is one of the best ways to learn proper technique, limits, and awareness in a controlled setting. It’s also important to accept that some kinks carry a high risk of permanent damage and are generally not recommended, including blood play, knife play, and similar activities that break skin or can cause lasting harm. Knowing when not to try something is just as important as knowing how to try it.

List Of Common Kinks

The list below covers some of the most common kinks among adults, ranging from light sexual interests to actual fetishes. 

Roleplay
Roleplay is a sexual activity where partners act out specific characters, scenarios, or power dynamics to create arousal. Common sexual roleplay scenarios are doctor & patient, teacher & student, maid & boss, etc. To know if roleplay turns you on, ask yourself whether imagining a specific character, situation, or dynamic feels more exciting than straightforward sex, whether pretending to be someone else (or being with someone who is) heightens your arousal, and whether anticipation and storytelling play a big role in what excites you. People practice roleplay by choosing clear roles in advance, deciding on a basic scenario or script, using clothing or props that support the characters, and staying in character during dirty talk, commands, or behavior that fits the chosen roles.

Dirty Talk
Dirty talk is using explicit or suggestive language to increase arousal during sex. To know if dirty talk turns you on, ask yourself whether hearing or saying sexual words makes you aroused and helps you to reach orgasm. Some people like describing what they want, others enjoy being told what their partner is thinking, and some are turned on by praise, commands, or explicit descriptions.

Podophilia
Podophilia is a sexual fetish focused on feet, where feet are a primary source of arousal rather than just an added detail. It’s more commonly known as a foot fetish, and you may also see it called foot worship or foot play. To figure out whether this genuinely turns you on, ask yourself if feet alone can spark arousal, if you’re drawn to specific features like soles, toes, arches, or smell, and whether feet intensify desire more than other body parts. People typically practice podophilia by touching, kissing, massaging, licking feet.

Sadism and Masochism
Sadism and masochism are part of the umbrella term BDSM and centers on giving and receiving pain as a source of arousal. Sadism refers to being turned on by causing pain to another person, while masochism refers to being turned on by receiving it; together they’re often grouped under S&M. To understand whether either resonates with you, ask yourself if the idea of pain increases arousal and whether you’re more excited by being in the active role or the receiving role. People typically practice sadism and masochism through spanking, impact play and using certain toys and tools.

Impact Play
Impact play is striking the body in controlled ways to create physical sensation and psychological intensity. To know if impact play excites you, ask yourself whether anticipation before a strike makes you horny, and whether sharp or heavy pain increase your sexual arousal. People practice impact play by using hands or tools to deliver strikes to specific body areas, often building intensity gradually, varying speed and force, and combining physical impact with verbal direction or role-based dynamics to shape the experience.

Anal
Anal refers to the stimulation or penetration of the anus. People typically practice anal by incorporating fingers, toys, or penetration into sexual activity, often starting externally and then moving to deeper stimulation, adjusting depth, pace, and intensity based on what feels pleasurable.

Sensory Deprivation
In sensory deprivation arousal comes from reducing or removing one or more senses to intensify physical and mental sensations. It’s also known as sensory play, deprivation play, or sensory restriction, and it’s often used to heighten the submissive’s body and arousal awareness. To decide if this appeals to you, ask yourself whether not being able to see, hear, or move makes erotic sensations feel stronger, and whether giving up sensory input helps you stay present in your body. You can reduce your senses by wearing a blindfold, earplugs, a posture collar and by using rope bondage to restrict movement.

Lingerie
A lot of people get aroused by seeing their partner wear lingerie or by wearing lingerie themselves.

Nylon Kink
A nylon kink is a sexual interest where arousal is linked to nylon fabrics, most commonly stockings, pantyhose, tights, or sheer socks. The appeal often comes from the look, texture, stretch, or shine of the material rather than nudity itself. To see if this genuinely turns you on, ask yourself whether nylon alone can trigger arousal, if touching or seeing the fabric changes your level of desire, and whether specific details, such as sheen, tightness, seams, or how nylon feels on skin, stand out to you sexually.

Breath Play
Breath play is a sexual interest where arousal comes from restricted breathing or the sensation of limited airflow during sex and is often combined with other aspects of BDSM. To understand whether this turns you on, ask yourself if the idea of not being able to breathe for a short amount of time turns you on. People practice breath play by choking or using leather BDSM collars. (Always make sure your partner is still able to breathe)

Praise Kink
A praise kink is a sexual interest where arousal comes from receiving or giving verbal approval, affirmation, or admiration during sex. Common examples are “good girl” or “good boy”. To tell if this genuinely turns you on, ask yourself whether being complimented helps you orgasm or increases your sexual desire and arousal.

Bondage
Bondage is a part of BDSM where arousal comes from restraining the partner's body or being restrained. Common toys used to restrain a consenting partner are handcuffs, shibari rope, bondage collar and under the bed restraints.

Orgasm Control
Orgasm control is a sexual activity where arousal comes from delaying, denying, or directing when and how your partner orgasms. People usually practice orgasm control by intentionally stopping stimulation before orgasm, setting rules around when the orgasm is allowed, extending arousal over longer periods, or placing one partner in charge of deciding if and when orgasm happens, making control itself the main source of excitement.

Breeding Kink
A breeding kink is a sexual interest where arousal comes from the idea of impregnation or being impregnated and the risk of pregnancy. It’s also commonly called breeding play, impregnation kink, or fertility kink, and it exists largely on a psychological level even when pregnancy is not actually intended. People typically practice a breeding kink through dirty talk, roleplay, creampies and when taken to the extreme by having unprotected sex.

Consensual Non-Consent
Consensual non-consent (CNC) is a sexual dynamic where arousal comes from acting out scenarios that feel non-consensual, while all participants have already consented to the scenario ahead of time. It’s also known as rape play, and it focuses on power, loss of control, and intense psychological immersion. To understand if this turns you on, ask yourself whether being overpowered or overpowering is arousing, if resistance or struggle adds excitement rather than fear, and whether the fantasy works even when you know it’s planned. People typically practice CNC by clearly defining roles and scripts beforehand, then engaging in scenes where resistance, commands, restraint, or verbal refusal are part of the erotic structure, making the illusion of non-consent the central driver of arousal rather than physical sensation alone.

Age Play
Age play is a roleplay where consenting adults adopt different age roles as part of arousal. It’s also called age regression play, age progression play, or DDLG / MDLG / ABDL in some communities. To understand if age play appeals to you, ask yourself whether stepping into a younger or older role turns you on, or whether taking on responsibility or authority is what excites you.

Cuckolding
Cuckolding is a kink where one partner gets turned on by their partner having sex with someone else, usually while they watch, listen, or get told about it afterward. It’s also called cuckold play or hotwife kink. To figure out if this actually turns you on, ask yourself whether jealousy makes you harder instead of angry, if the idea of being compared to someone else excites you, and whether feeling sidelined, inferior, or excluded fuels arousal rather than killing it. People usually practice cuckolding by setting clear roles, who has sex, who watches or waits, and who’s in charge, then building the experience around watching, hearing details, imagining it, or being deliberately left out.

Public Sex
Public sex is a kink where the arousal comes from having sex in places where there’s a real chance of being seen, with the risk of being caught being the turn-on. To know if this actually turns you on, ask yourself whether the thought of someone walking by makes you more aroused, if secrecy and adrenaline intensify desire, and whether the excitement drops when privacy is guaranteed.

Humiliation & Degradation 
Humiliation and degradation is a kink where arousal comes from being verbally or psychologically put down, shamed or humiliated. The arousal often comes from the specific wording and the fact that another person has dominance over you. To figure out if this actually turns you on, ask yourself whether insults or demeaning language increase arousal instead of hurting your mood.

Hosiery
Hosiery is a kink where arousal is tied specifically to nylon-based legwear like stockings, pantyhose, tights, or thigh-highs, often more than nudity itself. To know if this really does it for you, ask yourself whether seeing legs in stockings immediately sparks sexual arousal, if touching nylon is arousing on its own, and whether certain details, sheerness, seams, tightness, or worn fabric, stand out more than the body underneath.

Voyeurism
Voyeurism is a sexual interest where arousal comes from watching other people being naked or having sex, usually without being directly involved.

Exhibitionism
Exhibitionism is a sexual interest where arousal comes from being seen while naked or while having sex, with the excitement coming from exposure and attention. To figure out if this really turns you on, ask yourself whether being observed makes you more aroused, if showing your body feels exciting rather than awkward, and whether the idea of an audience makes sex feel more intense. People usually practice exhibitionism by having sex where others can see, exposing themselves to a willing viewer, using mirrors or cameras, performing for a partner, or setting up situations where the goal is clearly to be watched and desired rather than to stay private.

Urophilia 
Urophilia is also commonly called watersports, pee play, or golden shower, is a kink that involves peeing on someone or including pee into play. To know if this actually turns you on, ask yourself whether the idea of urine triggers arousal instead of disgust, if the smell, warmth, or act itself feels erotic in your head, and whether the taboo or power element is what makes it hot.

Nipple play
Nipple play is a sexual activity where arousal comes from touching, pinching, sucking or licking the nipples during sex or foreplay.

High Heels
High heels are a sexual interest where arousal comes from wearing them, walking in them, seeing them worn, or touching them. People usually practice a high heels kink by keeping them on during sex, using them to emphasize dominance or submission, focusing visually on legs and feet while having sex, or making heels part of teasing, stripping, or control scenarios where they’re clearly meant to be looked at and desired.

Wax play
Wax play is a sexual activity where arousal comes from hot wax dripping onto the skin, mixing pain, anticipation, and control. It’s also called candle play or wax kink, and the turn-on is about heat, contrast, and not knowing exactly where the wax will land. People usually practice wax play by dripping specialized and safe melted candle wax onto areas of the body during sex or foreplay, controlling height, rhythm, and placement so the wax becomes the main focus while the person receiving it reacts, waits, and stays turned on by the buildup.

List of Less Common Kinks

Furry Kink – people live it out by wearing animal costumes or partial gear, adopting a fursona, flirting or role-playing in character, showing off the suit, grinding, teasing, or having sex while staying in that animal-human role the whole time

Mummification – instead of just tying someone up, this kink is lived out by fully wrapping the body in plastic, tape, or fabric, locking movement down completely so the person can’t move, then using teasing, touch, voice, or presence to keep them turned on while they’re stuck and helpless.

Temperature Play – this kink gets lived out by using hot and cold sensations such as ice cubes and hot stones on the body on purpose, teasing nerves with contrast, dragging out reactions, and letting temperature changes mess with arousal.

Blood Play – people live this kink out by deliberately bringing blood into a sexual scene, usually through controlled cuts, needles, or skin-breaking tools.

Electrostimulation - this kink is lived out by using electrical devices to send controlled shocks through the body, dialing up intensity, placing electrodes where reactions are strongest, and getting off on muscle jolts, loss of control, and the sharp, buzzing sensation hitting while someone is already turned on.

Auralism – this kink is lived out by getting turned on by sounds, like moaning, breathing, wet noises, dirty words, or listening in while others have sex, with the focus fully on hearing reactions and voices rather than touching or watching.

Spectrophilia - this kink gets lived out through fantasy and imagination, where someone gets turned on by the idea of sexual contact with ghosts, spirits, or supernatural beings, often using roleplay, storytelling, dreams, or mental scenarios to treat an unseen presence as a sexual partner rather than relying on physical touch.

FinDom - this kink is lived out by one person taking control of another person’s money, where the turn-on comes from sending cash, paying bills, buying things on command, or being drained financially, with power, control, humiliation, and obedience being the focus rather than physical sex.

Cock and ball torture - this kink is lived out by deliberately stressing, squeezing, hitting, or controlling the penis and testicles, using hands, or tools to create pain and pressure.

Fisting - this kink is lived out by using an entire hand for penetration instead of fingers.

Katoptronophilia – this kink involves using mirrors during sex or masturbation, setting them up to watch yourself or your partner the whole time, locking eyes with your own reflection, posing, performing, and getting off on seeing your partner / yourself in the mirror.

Needle Play - this kink is lived out by intentionally inserting needles into the skin.

Quirophilia – this kink is lived out by fixating on hands, where arousal comes from looking at them, touching them, watching finger movement, veins, grip, or how hands control and handle a body, with hands becoming the main focus during sex. 

We hope this list of common kinks was interesting !