How to Compliment a Guy's Appearance

Written by John Keegan | Edited by Nihal Shetty

Last Updated: February 21, 2025 Fact Checked

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So you’ve got your eye on a guy because of his beautiful body or his sharp style, but how do you let him know? Compliments are a great way to show a guy that you appreciate him, as well as build up some chemistry in a relationship, especially at its early stages.^{[1]
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John Keegan
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Expert Interview} If you’re looking for the best compliments to let a guy know you think he’s attractive over text or in-person, we’ve got you covered. Here’s our complete guide on how to compliment a guy’s appearance.

This article is based on an interview with our dating coach, John Keegan. Check out the full interview here.

1

“You’re really cute!”

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A simple compliment can make any guy’s day. Just letting a guy know that you like what you see is the right move for building up some fantastic chemistry. Try out one of these handy and simple compliments:^{[2]
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John Keegan
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- “You’re handsome.”
- “I think you’re beautiful.”
- “Hey, gorgeous guy!”

2

“You’re super striking.”

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Your guy will love knowing that he makes an impression. You don’t necessarily need to get into the specifics of what makes a guy attractive to you—just let him know that his looks have caught your attention. These casual compliments can start a really nice conversation:^{[3]
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John Keegan
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- “You sort of shine.”
- “I’ll be honest: your looks really caught my eye.”
- “You’re good-looking enough to stand out in any crowd.”
- See how other wikiHow readers like to compliment the men in their lives in wikiHow's "What are the best compliments you can give to a guy?" forum.

3

“I love your smile.”

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Complimenting your guy’s smile will make him incredibly happy. If a guy’s smiling, it usually means that he’s feeling pretty good, which makes for the perfect opportunity to let them know that he looks good too. Try saying something like:^{[4]
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- “You look so sexy when you laugh.”
- “Seriously, you’ve got the smile of a movie star!”
- “You just have to smile for me to melt.”

4

“Have you been working out? You look good.”

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Let your guy know his hard work is paying off. He’ll absolutely love you admiring his physique. Point out how sexy his arms look in the t-shirt he’s wearing, compliment his abs the next time he takes off his shirt, or tell him how perfectly his jeans have been fitting lately. Try one of these compliments:
- “I see you’ve been going to the gym, handsome.”
- “Your arms look great.”
- “Looks like that work you’ve been putting in the gym has been paying off.”

5

“You have beautiful hair.”

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Some guys are proud of their hair, so let him know he should be. A beautiful guy with beautiful hair deserves to know that he’s appreciated. Best of all, a compliment about a ^{[5]
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Research source}guy’s hair is a pretty casual way of letting them know that you like how he looks. Any one of these compliments is a great option:
- “Your haircut looks great on you!”
- “I really like how you’ve been growing out your hair.”
- “Your new haircut has you looking like such a snack.”

6

“You’ve got such cute ears!”

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Get a little quirky with your compliments. Giving a guy a hyper-specific compliment can make him laugh and feel flattered at the same time—and that’s definitely a winning combo. You might try saying something like:
- “I know it’s a little weird, but you have great-looking feet.”
- “You have a great jawline.”
- “You could cut something with those cheekbones!”

7

“I love watching you walk.”

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How someone moves is a key part of their attractiveness. Most people aren’t aware of how they look when they’re moving, so letting a guy know that he looks good doing it gives your flirting more originality and punch. Say something like:
- “You’ve got a sexy swagger.”
- “You move with so much class.”
- “I can tell you’re a great dancer just by watching you!”

8

“You have great style!”

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Your guy will love hearing that his clothes caught your eye. Clothes are part of our identity, and telling a guy that you like the way he dresses goes beyond just a simple comment about his appearance—it can also show him that you appreciate the person that he is. Say something like:^{[6]
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- “That shirt looks great on you!”
- “Your glasses make you look like Clark Kent.”
- “I gotta say that I wish I dressed half as well as you.”

9

“You have really soulful eyes.”

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Everyone knows the eyes are windows to the soul. Giving a guy a compliment about his eyes can make him feel seen and appreciated in a way that other compliments just don’t accomplish. This kind of compliment can foster a deeper connection between you two. Say something like:^{[7]
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John Keegan
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- “You have intelligent eyes.”
- “I could look at your eyes for hours.”
- “Your eyes sparkle.”

10

“When God made you, he was seriously showing off.”

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Pick-up lines may be cheesy, but they’re also funny and cute. Using a pick-up line can show the cutie you’ve got your eye on that not only are you into him and his looks, but you’ve also got a personality of your own. If your guy has a good sense of humor, he’ll love one of these classic pick-up lines:^{[8]
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- “Are you an artist? You’re so good at drawing me in.”
- “If you were a taser, you’d be set to ‘stun.’”
- “I believe that honesty is the best policy, so to be completely honest, you’re the sexiest man I’ve ever seen.”

11

“I love every part of you.”

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Sometimes it’s okay to just lay it all out on the line. If you’ve developed a closer relationship with a guy, letting him know that you think he’s beautiful from head to toe can show him how much you care. Put yourself out there! Try something like:
- “I could look at you all day.”
- “Everything about you is gorgeous.”
- “Just seeing you is a total treat.”

Join the Discussion...

What are the best compliments you can give to a guy?

WikiLorisCatcher846

Truth is I've never really had a bf before, but I have a huuuuge crush on this one guy in my class. I'm a little bit awkward and tbh have never been that good at flirting, but I really want him to know that I'm interested so he doesn't get away. I'm not trying to scare him away, so what are some good compliments that I can tell him in text or in person to make him into me too?

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Tips

A compliment is always a nice thing, but use them in moderation. If you’re just getting to know a guy, coming on a little too strong with too many compliments can ruin some of the excitement.^{[9]
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John Keegan
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Although it’s not about his physical appearance, one of the most meaningful compliments you can offer a guy is simply saying, “You’re a great listener.” This can make him feel really appreciated.^{[10]
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John Keegan
Dating Coach

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