Are Men Attracted to Muscular Women? Our Readers Weigh In

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We asked hundreds of readers if women with muscles are attractive

Co-authored by Devin McSween

Last Updated: August 1, 2025 Fact Checked

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Do men find muscles on women attractive?

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Reasons Men Like Muscular Women

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Reasons Men Dislike Muscular Women

The results are in! We polled wikiHow readers to find out what they think about muscular women, and if they think a bit of bulk is hot or not. If you’re ready to get all of your burning questions answered, keep reading. We’ll uncover if your fellow readers like muscular women and go over the different reasons why men might find muscles attractive or unattractive.

Are muscular women attractive to men?

Reader Poll: We asked 781 wikiHow readers if they find muscular women attractive, and 54% said no. [Take Poll] But, the results are close! Many guys prefer softer figures that are more conventionally “feminine,” while plenty of guys like women with a muscular physique (including some muscle tone to big, bulging muscles).

Section 1 of 3:

Do men find muscles on women attractive?

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Some men like muscular women, while others may not. Ultimately, what a man finds attractive about a woman just comes down to his personal preference! While there are a lot of men who like women who have soft figures and no muscle definition, there are plenty of guys who dig muscles. Some guys go weak at the knees for women with a bodybuilder’s physique—who have big, muscular arms, strong, broad shoulders, and jacked legs (aka: a muscle mommy). Other guys may prefer strong and athletic-looking women with just a bit of muscle definition.
- For men who like muscular women, many are divided on how much muscle they consider attractive. Big, bulging muscles aren’t super common for women to have, which is why some guys can find them a bit polarizing.

Section 2 of 3:

Reasons Men Like Muscular Women

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Dating coach Alessandra Conti says people are visual creatures, so it’s completely natural for men to find women who work out and take care of their bodies attractive.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Alessandra Conti
Celebrity Matchmaker & Dating Coach

Expert Interview} Plus, having a toned physique or big muscles means a woman exercises and hits the gym regularly, which suggests she’s healthy and strong. Becoming fit and muscular can also make a woman more confident, which most guys find super hot.^{[2]
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A muscular build suggests a woman is dedicated and disciplined. According to fitness trainer Laila Ajani, it’s very difficult for women to put on the same muscle mass as men. Getting any sort of definition comes from years of hard work and dedication.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Laila Ajani
Fitness Trainer

Expert Interview} So, lots of men look up to and admire women who can get a toned physique. This indicates that she’s a diligent, determined, and competent person, which are all positive and attractive traits.
- Plus, when it comes to love, this can suggest a muscular woman is just as committed and devoted to her relationship as she is to working out!
Shared interests are a big part of attraction and compatibility. So, it’s no surprise that plenty of guys who like to exercise also have the hots for muscular women! She’s likely to have a lot of the same hobbies as him, whether she’s his workout buddy at the gym or his teammate on the soccer field, which they can definitely bond over.^{[4]
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Muscular women can come across as powerful, self-assured, and competent, which lots of guys find attractive. A strong woman can take care of herself and her man, making him feel calm and protected. Plus, plenty of guys find it simultaneously thrilling and comforting when their girl is stronger than them!

Section 3 of 3:

Reasons Men Dislike Muscular Women

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Muscles can make women appear less feminine. While what’s considered feminine differs from person to person, a conventionally “feminine” woman is typically described as having a soft, curvy body with little muscle definition. Some guys simply prefer women who have this figure over a harder and more muscular physique.^{[5]
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- Like we mentioned above, attractiveness is subjective and just comes down to what someone prefers. Being soft and conventionally feminine isn’t “better” than being toned and muscular, and vice versa.
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Big muscles can suggest a woman prioritizes the gym over everything. While a woman’s dedication to growing muscle is an attractive trait to most guys, some men may see this as a lifestyle mismatch. If a woman is so committed to becoming muscular, she might not have well-rounded interests or a lot of time to hang out with her guy. In some cases, it could be her sole focus or even suggest an unhealthy obsession.
- If a woman is very big and muscular, some guys may suspect that she’s taking enhancements to get her physique. This can be a turn-off or red flag, especially if a guy is really into weight-lifting.
Plenty of guys want to be bigger and stronger than their partner so they can properly protect her and seem more “manly” next to her. So, some guys who are on the leaner side may find it uncomfortable or emasculating if their girl has more muscles than they do.