Look, even when you think you’ve tried all positions known to human kind, there’s always a new way to reinvent the wheel. The menu isn’t strictly limited to missionary, cowgirl, doggy, and spooning. There are more configurations than you might think, especially once you consider oral, anal, and romps with multiple people, too. There’s a whole world of pleasurable possibilities out there. Aren’t you curious?
Even if you’re perfectly happy sticking to your tried-and-true favorites, a little novelty can be exciting. Switching things up floods your system with dopamine, the feel-good hormone that kicks cloud nine sex up to ten.
Whether you’re taking on a different role, exploring kink or new acts, or upgrading from easygoing positions to more adventurous endeavors, the opportunities to breathe new life into your sexcapades are truly endless. If you’ve found yourself in an unexpected rut or deep into a dry spell, that’s all the more reason to expand your horizons.
Ready for your sex life to blossom? Try these 35 sex positions with your partner, friend with benefits, or fling, and thank me later.
P.S. Not sure how to bring this up in bed? Blame it on Bustle. Try, “So, I was reading this article, and it had some pretty fun ideas…”
Modified Doggy
How It Works: Start in traditional doggy and then lower down to your elbows. Or if you’re not a doggy fan, start laying on your stomach with a pillow under your hips, then slowly raise up to get the right angle.
Why It’s Great: If you like the feeling of sex from behind but find doggy a little too much, this is an awesome modification. It’s more intimate, less rough, but still incredibly intense.
The Double Dip
How It Works: OK, so it looks confusing — but just think of this as doggy style with an extra partner underneath.
Why It’s Great: Talk about something for everybody — with one lucky partner in the middle is getting both doggy from behind and a more intimate connection with the person laying down. Just make sure to mix it up so everybody can try.
Woman On Top
How It Works: Have your partner lean against the wall or couch, then climb on top of them. For more intensity, have them lift their knees up to help draw you closer.
Why It’s Great: This cowgirl variation puts you in control, but it feels a little more intimate and intense than traditional cowgirl. It’s great if you like taking charge but can find being on top a little awkward or distant.
The Crab Walk
How It Works: While your partner takes on a “crab walk” position (just like gym class), you should do the same — then slowly edge your way just above them and lower down.
Why It’s Great: This position looks a little weird but feels great, even if it can take a second to get into. You get an unusual and sexy view of each other and, once you get it right, you can relax and enjoy.
In A Chair
How It Works: While your partner sits in a chair, face them and straddle their lap.
Why It’s Great: The closeness makes this a prime position for dirty talk or something more romantic — and a chair lets you bring this position all over the house.
Weak In The Knees
How It Works: While one of you lays back in a comfortable position, the other should (carefully) straddle your face. Either of you can control the pressure — or you can take turns.
Why It’s Great: Sometimes you want the attention all on one partner. This is a sexy, intense position that let’s you really focus. Use your fingers, tongue, or even a toy.
Doggy Oral
How It Works: Another variation of doggy that works for a threesome, but this time you’re also going down on the person underneath.
Why It’s Great: If you want to give and receive, this is a perfect position for you. If you thrive on intensity, add this to your repertoire.
Reverse Standing
How It Works: Standing near a wall (or something else to help you balance), lift one leg up slightly while your partner enters you from behind.
Why It’s Great: If you like the idea of sex standing up but you’re a little nervous, this variation gives you stability — and one free hand for clit-play, if you like.
The Sofa Brace
How It Works: Kneeling toward the edge of the couch, drape your torso over the arm for support while your partner enters you from behind.
Why It’s Great: This variation of doggy is useful for exploring outside the bedroom. Plus, it gives you some support along with all of that intensity.
X Marks The Spot
How It Works: Lay on your back and rest your legs against your partner while they stand. As they enter you, cross your legs at your knees or ankles — however feels comfortable.
Why It’s Great: This is really intense for you, while your partner gets a tighter fit. Play around with different leg positions to find which works best for both of you.
Doggy Style
How It Works: Lean on all fours, with your partner behind you. You can experiment with how wide your knees are to find different intensities.
Why It’s Great: This classic gives you G-spot and clitoral stimulation, if you add your hand. It’s animalistic and intense, but in a way that a lot of people love.
Coital Alignment Technique
How To Do It: This is an easy variation — think missionary but with a twist. For this position, start in missionary but hike your knees up, to help bring your pelvis more into alignment with your partner.
Why It’s Great: The alignment of this position is great for clitoral stimulation, which can make missionary a lot more exciting — plus, it’s a great one for staying cozy under a blanket.
Sideways Straddle
How It Works: Give yourself a few tries with this one, because it might take a little while to get comfortable. While your partner lays down, face away from them and straddle one thigh. Slowly lower yourself down and guide them inside of you.
Why It’s Great: It’s a totally unusual position that puts you in control, while giving your partner a great view. Don’t be afraid to use lube for a slipperier experience.
Face-To-Face
How It Works: Facing your partner with your hips slightly higher than theirs, wrap your top leg over them as you guide them inside you.
Why It’s Great: It’s romantic, intimate, and maxes out both physical and emotional connection.
The Voyeur
How It Works: A great threesome position for beginners, one pair enjoys doggy style while the third person just sits back to watch — with their favorite toy, of course.
Why It’s Great: You can rotate through so everybody gets a turn, but it’s perfect for people who like to watch or want to ease their way into group sex.
The Cross
How It Works: While your partner lays on their side, lay perpendicular to them and hook your knees over their hips. Shimmy closer and guide them inside of you.
Why It’s Great: Perfect for a lazy Sunday morning, this position gives you a unique view of each other as well as the opportunity for deep penetration. Add in your favorite toy for some great clitoral stimulation.
Spooning
How It Works: Both you and your partner lay on the same side and cuddle up into the classic spoon position. Then use toys, fingers, lube and anything else that strikes your fancy.
Why It’s Great: This position is an unusual mix of being very intimate while also allowing penetration from behind. You can cuddle up to enjoy the feeling of closeness, and then focus on the G-spot and clitoral stimulation.
Lotus
How It Works: While your partner sits cross-legged, slowly lower down on top of them, then wrap your arms and legs around them.
Why It’s Great: Need a hug? This position might take some time (and lube) to get into, but when you get it right it’s cozy AF.
Blow Job
How It Works: Assume the doggy position but facing your partner, rather than facing away from them.
Why It’s Great: A literal spin on a classic, this setup gives your partner a new view.
The Plow
How It Works: In traditional missionary, have your partner slowly (very slowly) pull one of your knees up and over their shoulder. If that feels comfortable, add the other.
Why It’s Great: The intimacy of missionary but way deeper and more intense? Yes, please.
Modified 69
How It Works: Rather than approaching the 69 position with one of you on top, try both laying on your side.
Why It’s Great: The typical 69 can be an awkward position to hold. This variation is way more comfortable, so you both can actually relax into it.
Doggy With Vibrator
How It Works: In the classic doggy position, either one of you can add your favorite toy.
Why It’s Great: It kicks the intensity of rear-entry sex up a notch, adding a buzzier vibe (literally).
The Butterfly
How It Works: Laying on your back with your legs resting on your partner’s chest, gently press on their shoulders with your ankles. At the same time, they should have their hands on your hips to help lift you up.
Why It’s Great: This position requires some strength and practice, but it’s sexy as hell when you get it right. The unique angle stimulates you in a new way.
Cowgirl Kiss
How It Works: Two couples both get into the cowgirl position, but facing in opposite directions. This gives you the opportunity to get close and have some crossover or just watch, if that’s what you’re into.
Why It’s Great: If you’re new to sex with another couple, this is a great position to help you get used it. The cowgirls can lean over to kiss and play, but you can also stay separate.
The Bridge
How It Works: With your feet flat on the bed, hike your hips into the air while your partner raises to a high kneeling position.
Why It’s Great: This is a fun position to break up missionary and try something a little unusual. Plus, their hands are perfectly placed for a little clitoral stimulation. .
Advanced Crab Walk
How It Works: When you’re in the crab walk position, slowly raise one leg up onto your partner’s shoulder. If that feels comfortable, add the other.
Why It’s Great: This is an advanced position, so you can feel like totally accomplished and sexy AF if you nail it. Just be liberal with the lube (and the patience).
Three-Legged Dog
How It Works: Standing with your legs slightly spread, lift one leg up and around your partner’s hip as they guide themselves inside of you. If your height difference makes this difficult, one person can stand on something secure.
Why It’s Great: It’s an adventurous position, but because you’re face-to-face it still feels intimate. Just be sure to stay close to a bed if you’re not used to balancing like this.
The Splitter
How It Works: In missionary, your partner should kneel as you lay one leg on their chest. If you’re not particularly flexible, take this slowly.
Why It’s Great: This position flows well after missionary and creates a totally unusual angle for penetration.
Center Of Attention
How It Works: It’s all happening. The partner in the middle is penetrated vaginally from below, anally from behind, and the fourth player gets to watch it all. The person laying down could even rest their head in the voyeur’s lap.
Why It’s Great: A totally intense group sex position, this allows for various levels of involvement, so one person gets a lot of attention, while another is treated to an elaborate show. And, of course, you can rotate at your leisure.
Mirrored Spoon
How It Works: With two couples in the classic spooning position, you can lay as close together or as far apart as you want, depending if you want a voyeur-type feel or for everyone to get involved.
Why It’s Great: Another position that lets you ease into group sex, this allows for tons of sexy eye contact — and a little crossover, if you want.
The Butterfly
How It Works: As you lay flat on the bed, have your partner lift your hips to meet them while they stand.
Why It’s Great: This is the perfect position for when you’re feeling lazy but your partner isn’t. After all, it’s your partner who ends up doing most of the work, not you. All you have to do is lay down and receive.
Standing Over The Edge Of The Bed
How It Works: With your partner standing behind you, bend over the edge of the bed and have them penetrate you from there.
Why It’s Great: Not only is this the most stable of all the standing sex positions, but it allows for some kinky modifications as well. If you want to give this position a bit of domination, then ask your partner to hold your hands behind your back or use handcuffs.
Bathroom Banger
How It Works: The partner being penetrated bends over the bathroom counter or sink, using the surface to hold themselves still as their partner enters them from behind.
Why It’s Great: Ideally you would do this position in front of mirror so you can see your and your partner’s face at the same time for an even hornier experience.
Standing Rear Entry
How It Works: Bend over while standing in front of your partner. From here, you can use the floor (if you can reach) or your knees for support. Then, once you’re comfortable, have your partner enter you from behind.
Why It’s Great: Not only is it an effective anal sex standing position, but the upside-down perspective your partner’s forceful thrusting makes for an exciting, almost animalistic experience.
Standing 69
How It Works: With your partner standing, have them lift you, flip you upside down, so you’re both performing oral sex on each other in the standing position.
Why It’s Great: Just like a classic 69, this modification lets you both be pleasured at the same time with an added element of excitement. (Plus, hey, you can count it as a workout.)
The post 35 Sex Positions To Try Beyond Missionary, Cowgirl, & Doggy appeared first on Bustle.
