How to Tell If a Guy Has a Boner: 20 Signs & Turn-Ons to Get Him Hard

If you’re wondering whether or not a guy is turned on by you, then look no further than his hard bulge. Here’s how to tell if a guy has a boner.

There are a lot of reasons guys would get a hard-on. But to be completely honest with you, sometimes it’s difficult to tell if a guy has a boner. It just happens. However, it does give you a little confidence boost knowing they have an erection when you’re around. That’s why knowing how to tell if a guy has a boner is a great skill.

It’ll help you not only feel great about yourself, but it’ll also allow you to maneuver around them in a way that’s not awkward. Knowing the signs when a guy has a boner will also be really helpful in knowing if he likes you and is into you at all.

What exactly gives a guy a boner?

Obviously, guys get a boner when they are turned on. But have you ever thought about what that actually means? Like, what exactly is the process that gives him a hard-on? [Read: Why do men get random boners? The science behind their untimely erections]

For men, they are stimulated by erotic stimuli, and it immediately activates the parts of their brains that give them a boner. It can just be something visual – like porn – or some actual touching and fooling around. And unlike women, a man’s ability to get sexually aroused can exist completely independent of a relationship.

Back to the visual aspect of his arousal. As soon as a guy sees anything lust-inspiring, it registers in his brain and he becomes turned on – not just physically, but also psychologically.

It is easier for men to get turned on than for women, especially when they are young. Males under the age of 40 can get aroused pretty easily which leads to their high sex drive *well, for most guys*.

High testosterone levels is the cause of this, although each guy has differing levels naturally. [Read: How to turn a guy on without touching him – a guide to tantalize]

The science of getting a boner

Okay, now let’s get into the nuts and bolts *no pun intended* of the science behind a guy getting a boner – for those of you who might have slept their way through health class in school!

As mentioned above, this whole process starts with some sort of visual or physical stimulation *hopefully you*.

When a guy is sexually aroused, the blood vessels in his dick relax, open up, and allow blood to come in. Then, this blood gets trapped under high pressure. This is what causes a boner. Then, once he stimulates his hard-on enough, he will cum – and that, believe it or not, is controlled by the nervous system. [Read: Why it seems like men just don’t care]

What turns a guy on so he gets a boner

In order to know how to tell if a guy has a boner, you first need to know what exactly turns a guy on – in other words, HOW he gets a boner.

1. Your appearance

As was mentioned earlier, men are very visual creatures. They can get turned on just by closing their eyes and imagining something that is sexually arousing.

But when you are right in front of them, they will rely on YOU for visual stimuli. So, pay special attention to how you look. Did you do your hair? Did you put makeup on? Did you shower today? *okay, that was just for a laugh – hopefully you all shower!*

All jokes aside, your appearance is a huge turn-on for him. And if he likes what he sees, he will no doubt get a boner because of it. [Read: 18 physical turn-ons for men that arouse all guys in seconds]

2. Your smell

Closely related to how you look, how you smell is also important. The joke about showering above isn’t just a joke. Shampoo, soap, and just the smell of a clean person can be a turn-on for almost anyone. Really, who wants to get physically intimate with someone who smells bad? Almost no one!

Beyond shampoo and soap, you can also use perfume, body lotion, or spritzer to make yourself smell good. Some of those even have pheromones in them.

Pheromones are the chemicals that cause arousal in all human beings. So, if you’re wondering how to tell if a guy has a boner, just make sure you smell in a way that he can’t resist you! [Read: What are pheromones? The scent of sex and the role they play in attraction]

3. Things you say

Yes, this is a broad statement. In other words, “things you say” can mean just about anything! First off, make sure what you say is positive. No one likes a Debbie Downer. Guys want to feel good around a girl. If you are complaining and being overly negative, then that will not turn him on. [Read: 60 dirty and seductive things to say to a guy to turn him on]

So, watch what you say to him. Be happy, flirty, outgoing, and nice. As the saying goes, “You can attract a lot more flies with honey than vinegar.” Keep in positive, and he will be much more likely to get turned on and get a hard-on around you.

4. Porn

Everyone knows that guys like porn! In fact, some are addicted to it *sadly*. There’s nothing inherently wrong with watching porn as long as it doesn’t become a bad habit.

Porn gives the guy very strong visual images to get turned on from. Some couples even watch porn together so they can both get aroused at the same time – and then end their porn-watching session with a little fun of their own.

5. Your enthusiasm

Guys don’t like being with someone who isn’t very interested in being with them. They are human too – they feel aroused when you are enthusiastically attracted to them. We like people who like us! [Read: The 30 best subtle, flirty and overly sexual flirting tips for girls to make any guy horny]

Now, that’s not to say that you should go around and make a fool of yourself by shouting your attraction for him from the rooftop. But it is helpful to tell or show him that you are very excited to be there with him in the moment. That will turn him on and help you tell if the guy has a boner.

6. Flirting

Flirting is a way that humans show each other that they are sexually interested. Sometimes flirting is just a fun way to tease someone, and other times it’s a deliberate attempt to show the person they want to be sexual with them.

Regardless of the reason for flirting, it is a turn-on for guys. This kind of goes hand-in-hand with being positive with your words and expressing enthusiasm for him. [Read: How to tell if a guy likes kissing you and is turned on by it]

7. What you wear *or don’t wear*

Going along with visual cues and stimuli, what you wear will turn a guy on and help you give him a boner. And of course, you can tell if he’s hard around you too!

He probably won’t get very excited if he sees you in dirty sweat pants and looking like you just rolled out of bed.

So, pay attention to your clothes. This doesn’t mean that you need to dress like a slut. In fact, you probably shouldn’t because guys like mystery. And when you let it all hang out, they already see it. You want to look respectful, but attractive. [Read: How to be sexy, look sexy, and feel sexy without ever trying too hard]

8. Dirty talk

If you’re wondering how to tell if a guy has a boner, sometimes, all it takes is reading the situation. Dirty or sexual talk can turn a guy on and make him hard in seconds.

But be careful here – you don’t want to come across as too easy or that you will just give your body away for nothing. If you are in a relationship with him, dirty talk is fine, and it can be a real turn-on for him. [

However, if it’s someone you don’t know very well – or have never met – then dirty talk could give him the wrong impression. And that impression would be an open invitation to have sex with you in the next meet. So, be sure you are aware of YOUR intentions before you engage in any sexual talk. [Read: How to talk dirty to a guy and arouse him with the sexiest words]

How to tell if a guy has a boner and is really turned on by you

If your purpose is to make a guy horny and turn him on, then it would be extremely helpful to know if you’ve succeeded. And since most guys won’t just blurt out that they have a boner – thank goodness – knowing how to tell if he has one will come in handy.

Just because their pants cover their crotch doesn’t mean you won’t be able to tell what’s hiding beneath. Pay close attention to these signs to tell a guy has a boner and remember them the next time you’re curious if you’ve turned him on. [Read: 15 For sure signs that a guy is getting turned on by being around you]

1. He’s covering his crotch

If he’s got a hand or item or really anything over his crotch without having a specific reason for it to be there, he probably has a boner. This is particularly true if he’s wearing sweatpants or loose-fitting jeans.

2. He’s keeping you away from his area

Sometimes, having a boner is embarrassing for a guy. Therefore, he’ll try to do anything he can so you don’t know he has one. And that includes making sure there’s no way you feel it. So he’ll keep you at arms’ length and even move away from you if you’re getting too close to that area.

3. You’re being physically intimate with him

Wondering how to tell if a guy has a boner when you’re making out and rolling around in bed or on the couch with him? Then he probably has a boner.

When a guy is being physically intimate, he’s most likely turned on and hard already! And if you feel horny, he probably does too and that means he’ll pop a boner. [Read: Dry humping and the virgin’s guide to experiencing orgasms without sex]

4. He’s telling you how turned on he is

Guys won’t really tell you they have a boner.

However, some will voice the fact that they’re really turned on by you. That should be enough to help you imagine how hard he is. If he finds it important enough to talk about, then he’s probably feeling it in his pants. [Read: How to make a guy horny and rock hard just by sitting next to him]

5. You’re touching him more than usual

This doesn’t even have to be in a sexual manner. If you just started seeing him and you’re holding hands and even sitting on his lap and being touchy-feely in general, it may cause him to get a boner.

This is especially true for younger men, but it can happen to all. If you’re wondering how to tell if a guy has a boner, you should know that just the excitement of someone new touching them – even in a non-sexual way – can be enough to get a guy hard and horny. So be aware of your actions. [Read: How to give a guy an erection – 20 subtle moves that instantly make him hard]

6. You can see a bulge

Some pants just can’t hide a boner no matter what – and that also depends on how big the guy is. You may just be able to see his boner in his pants even if he’s unaware you can.

When there’s a bulge in his crotch that wasn’t there before, he has a boner. Either that, or his pants have bunched up in a way that makes it look like he has a major boner. Wait for him to move around and see if it remains. If it does, it’s most likely a boner.

7. He keeps adjusting himself

Believe it or not, boners aren’t really comfortable to have in restricting clothing. This will cause a guy to shift around and even adjust himself openly when you’re around.

If he keeps fidgeting and adjusting his crotch area, he most likely has a boner. [Read: How to turn a guy on without being obvious and leave him desiring you]

8. He moves to sit with his knees up

This is something a guy will do to hide the fact that he actually has a boner. When he randomly sits with his knees up, it could be because he’s trying to conceal something in his pants. However, some guys just find this comfortable. Therefore, you can’t solely rely on this sign to tell if a guy has a boner.

9. His hands are in his pockets

Another way guys try to hide their boners is by holding it down with their own hands. However, this would look far too obvious if he did it on the outside of his pants.

So in order to be conspicuous, they shove their hands in their pockets as a means to control their raging manhood. If he’s had his hands in his pockets for a while – especially if it’s become inconvenient to do so – he probably has a boner. [Read: How to turn on a guy – 25 seductive moves to turn him on instantly]

10. You can feel it against you

This happens mostly when you’re on his lap or even dancing with him. Boners are, well, hard. So it will be pretty obvious that he has one when you can feel it against you. If you’re that close to him, though, it’s no wonder he has one!

11. He’s just woken up

This doesn’t happen every single time – especially for older men. But it still does every now and then. If a guy has just woken up, he could have a boner.

The only way to know for certain is to put this sign together with more of them in order to tell for sure. [Read: The stiff facts about his morning wood and why he gets it]

12. You’re trying to give him one

If you’re being really flirty and sexy in general, the guy probably has a boner.

This is especially true if he likes you and you know it. Depending on the guy, it won’t take much to get him going. Therefore, if you’re actively trying to turn him on and give him a boner, you probably have succeeded.

[Read: 33 sexy ways to seduce a guy who’s not yet yours and hook him hard]

Knowing how to tell if a guy has a boner definitely has its perks. And now that you know how to make a guy hard, and recognize a boner when you see or feel one, just use these signs to your advantage the next time you’re seducing a guy!