Counted October 12, 2026 · 5,547 completed tests
Kink & BDSM statistics
BDSM statistics from 5,547 completed Cuffplay Kink Tests: power leanings, traits and archetypes. Each share below includes its count and denominator. Based on the earlier 28-question Kink Test (results before October 12, 2026). Version 2 will have its own statistics page once enough results exist. These are test takers, not a population survey.
Key findings
- Power leaning: 62.5% (3,466 of 5,547) of completed tests leaned toward receiving control; 9.2% (508 of 5,547) leaned toward giving it. Link
- Dominant vs submissive ratio: Submissive-tagged results were 14.5% (802 of 5,547); Dominant-tagged results were 2.3% (129 of 5,547). The count ratio is 6.2:1. Link
- Switch tag: 38.5% (2,136 of 5,547) met the test’s near-middle power and role-flexibility rule. Link
- Earlier-version top archetype: The Garden appeared in 26.3% (1,460 of 5,547) completed tests. Link
Source: completed sessions of the earlier Kink Test, from 2026-09-10, taken before October 12, 2026. Counted October 12, 2026. 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 sessions of the earlier Kink Test, from 2026-09-10, taken before October 12, 2026. Counted October 12, 2026. 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 sessions of the earlier Kink Test, from 2026-09-10, taken before October 12, 2026. Counted October 12, 2026. 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: Scene-only, Brat-tamer, Service-top.
Source: completed sessions of the earlier Kink Test, from 2026-09-10, taken before October 12, 2026. Counted October 12, 2026. Method and limits.
Which archetypes came up most
These archetypes belong to the earlier test version. The current test shows seven portraits.
Fewer than 30 results each: The Librarian. Archetypes not listed have not come up since 2026-09-10.
Source: completed sessions of the earlier Kink Test, from 2026-09-10, taken before October 12, 2026. Counted October 12, 2026. Method and limits.
Taking it alone or with a partner
Of the 4,686 results where the test taker said how they are exploring:
Source: completed sessions of the earlier Kink Test, from 2026-09-10, taken before October 12, 2026. Counted October 12, 2026. 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 sessions of the earlier Kink Test, from 2026-09-10, taken before October 12, 2026. Counted October 12, 2026. 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 | 3,466 / 5,547 · 62.5% |
| Power: middle | 1,573 / 5,547 · 28.4% |
| Power: giving | 508 / 5,547 · 9.2% |
| Sensation: intense | 3,412 / 5,547 · 61.5% |
| Sensation: middle | 1,759 / 5,547 · 31.7% |
| Sensation: gentle | 376 / 5,547 · 6.8% |
| Tag: Experimentalist | 4,247 / 5,547 · 76.6% |
| Tag: Intimate-first | 2,905 / 5,547 · 52.4% |
| Tag: Switch | 2,136 / 5,547 · 38.5% |
| Tag: Sensation-seeking | 1,423 / 5,547 · 25.7% |
| Tag: Committed-dynamic | 1,381 / 5,547 · 24.9% |
| Tag: Submissive | 802 / 5,547 · 14.5% |
| Tag: Rope-curious | 478 / 5,547 · 8.6% |
| Tag: Masochist-leaning | 453 / 5,547 · 8.2% |
| Tag: Service-bottom | 182 / 5,547 · 3.3% |
| Tag: Dominant | 129 / 5,547 · 2.3% |
| Tag: Vanilla-curious | 91 / 5,547 · 1.6% |
| Tag: Brat | 88 / 5,547 · 1.6% |
| Tag: Sadist-leaning | 57 / 5,547 · 1.0% |
| Tag: Primal | 37 / 5,547 · 0.7% |
| Earlier-version archetype: The Garden | 1,460 / 5,547 · 26.3% |
| Earlier-version archetype: The Mirror | 1,364 / 5,547 · 24.6% |
| Earlier-version archetype: The Current | 1,256 / 5,547 · 22.6% |
| Earlier-version archetype: The Explorer | 797 / 5,547 · 14.4% |
| Earlier-version archetype: The Anchor | 326 / 5,547 · 5.9% |
| Earlier-version archetype: The Compass | 131 / 5,547 · 2.4% |
| Earlier-version archetype: The Artisan | 123 / 5,547 · 2.2% |
| Earlier-version archetype: The Signal | 82 / 5,547 · 1.5% |
Source: completed sessions of the earlier Kink Test, from 2026-09-10, taken before October 12, 2026. Counted October 12, 2026. 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, 3,466 of 5,547 results (62.5%) leaned toward receiving control. The sample is self-selected.
What is the dominant vs submissive ratio in these results?
There were 802 Submissive-tagged results and 129 Dominant-tagged results among 5,547 completed tests: a 6.2:1 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: completed sessions of the earlier 28-question Cuffplay Kink Test from 2026-09-10, taken before October 12, 2026. Version 2 results are not included. Results before September 9, 2026 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.” 5,547 completed test sessions from 2026-09-10, taken before October 12, 2026. Accessed 2026-10-18. https://cuffplay.com/kink-statistics.
The aggregate figures on this page are licensed under CC BY 4.0: reuse them freely with a link back.
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