Titanium is usually considered a good choice for body jewelry for its anti-corrosive properties, but it is also much more affordable and physically durable than many of its best alternatives, among them high-grade gold and platinum. Frequently used as a material for surgical implants, titanium tends to remain sterile and is exceedingly resistant to corrosion under normal circumstances, making it especially good for fresh piercings, fluid from which tends to speed up the corrosion of nickel, low-karat gold, silver and some other materials. When these metals tarnish, or oxidize, material not unlike the rust from oxidized iron forms on their surface. When this "rust" is rubbed against a fresh piercing it can cause chronic irritation that can slow the healing process and even inflame the piercing to such a degree that it may become impractical. Sterile jewelry made from non-corrosive materials like titanium can help one to avoid this complication. Because titanium is also nickel-free, it carries a low risk of allergic reactions sometimes associated with low-grade gold and other alloys.

Some also find titanium's lightness preferable to the considerable weight of other sterile materials, such as stainless steel. This may not be a major consideration with most body jewelry, but low-gauge plugs, tubes or "flesh tunnels" may have a considerable weight, as may certain nipple rings or shields. Titanium is as strong as steel, but about forty percent lighter. Lighter still is plastic jewelry, but the allure of solid, metal jewelry and the obvious aesthetic differences between the two lead many to choose titanium as an alternative to a heavier material.

Jewelry of a higher (smaller) gauge may eventually bend when made of softer metals like gold, silver or platinum. With the relative expense of gold and other precious metals, this can prove a great disappointment following an investment in body jewelry. Titanium is strong enough that warping isn't really possible under conditions of normal wear. It's also less expensive than precious metals, making replacement affordable if necessary.

While titanium is more expensive than stainless steel or nickel, it's considerably cheaper than gold or platinum. Simple titanium body jewelry, like a barbell or ring, can cost as little as three or four dollars, though specialty items may be twenty dollars or more. Novelty stores that carry body jewelry, such as Spencer's or Hot Topic, tend to charge somewhat more than specialty stores and online retailers when dealing in titanium and other premium materials. As with all body jewelry, your best bet may be to search online rather than in a local store, especially if your location limits the choices available to you. Most professional body piercers will also sell jewelry, but you may be able to save money if you shop wisely and bring your own. That said, you need to be sure what you're getting is the real thing; titanium is not easily differentiated from cheaper, less sterile metals, and a third-party seller (such as one found through an auction site) may not always provide what they claim. Whenever possible, use a trusted retailer first, even if it costs a few dollars more.