The 11 Most Popular Sex Positions to Try Tonight
Most couples settle into a go-to position the way they settle into a favorite couch - comfortable, familiar, and frankly a little predictable. There’s nothing wrong with a classic, but every so often your body starts craving something new. A different angle, a slower pace, a fresh dynamic.
The good news is that trying something new doesn’t take any planning. It just takes a little curiosity. Here are 11 popular sex positions worth exploring tonight, whether you’re in the mood for something romantic or something a little more raw.
11 popular sex positions and how to make them better
Whether you’re chasing G-spot stimulation, clitoral contact, or just a genuinely good time, there’s a position here for you.
1. Missionary
Missionary earns its classic status for a reason. The receiving partner lies flat on their back while the giving partner settles between their legs. The person on top can either press up on their hands for distance or drop to their elbows to bring their body closer for more skin-to-skin contact.
This face-to-face arrangement makes eye contact natural and effortless, which can heighten intimacy considerably. The closeness also makes whispered words - whether sweet or spicy - easy to deliver. Small adjustments to hip angle can shift sensation dramatically. The receiving partner can tilt their pelvis to change the angle of entry, while the giving partner can shift their hips slightly to target different internal spots.
Hot tip: Putting the Comfy Sleepers Intimacy Pillow underneath the receiving partner’s hips can tilt the pelvis into a more open angle, potentially increasing depth and easing access to internal stimulation.
2. The Pretzel
The Pretzel sits somewhere between Missionary and Scissoring. One partner lies on their side, lifts their top leg if comfortable, and the other partner straddles the bottom leg from the knees.
This arrangement can allow for rhythmic, controlled movement and penetration at a satisfying angle. The top partner can hold the floating leg for stability, or if kneeling gets uncomfortable, an easy variation has the bottom partner lying with legs over the side of the bed while the giving partner stands. Good lubricant makes this position considerably more comfortable and enjoyable for both people.
Hot tip: Water-based lubricant works with condoms and toys alike. Reapply whenever things start to feel like more friction than fun.
3. Edge of Glory
The receiving partner lies on their back at the edge of the bed, and the giving partner stands in front of them. This half-lying, half-standing dynamic gives the receiving partner a chance to fully relax while the giving partner uses the floor and their partner’s hips for leverage and rhythm.
Finding the right height is the main variable here. A support pillow under the receiving partner’s hips can raise the pelvis by a few inches, which may make the angle more comfortable and the sensations more satisfying for both partners.
Hot tip: If the bed is too low for comfortable standing penetration, a positioning wedge or rolled blanket under the hips can help considerably.
4. The Lotus
The Lotus is a close, slow, face-to-face position drawn from tantric practice. One partner sits cross-legged while the other sits on their lap, wrapping their legs around their partner’s waist. Arms around each other’s necks or waists complete the embrace.
The partner on top can rock or grind, which may provide internal stimulation while also keeping the couple physically very close. Eye contact is natural in this position, as is synchronized breathing and gentle face-touching. This one is ideal for couples wanting slow, connected lovemaking rather than energetic thrusting.
Hot tip: For people who prefer more friction, a small wearable vibrator can add stimulation without disrupting the closeness of the position.
5. The Starfish
The Starfish is exactly what it sounds like. One partner lies on their back with arms and legs spread, while the other partner gets on top - one leg under and one leg over the lying partner’s body.
The top partner can stay upright or recline so both partners’ genitals meet in the middle, which creates a sliding sensation that works for any gender or genital combination. For penetrative couples, this angle can target the G-spot and may produce more intense results with good communication and patience.
Hot tip: A massage wand vibrator with a long handle is easy to use in this position, even for the partner lying flat on their back.
6. The Cowgirl
The Cowgirl hands full control to the receiving partner. The giving partner lies back or sits down while the other straddles their hips, placing hands on shoulders or the surface behind for stability.
Unlike Missionary or Doggy Style, the person being penetrated controls the pace, the depth, and the angle entirely. This makes The Cowgirl a strong choice for anyone who knows what feels good for them and wants to pursue it without direction.
Hot tip: Spreading the knees wider can increase the depth of penetration. Placing a pillow or positioning wedge under the bottom partner’s hips can also support a better angle.
7. Reverse Cowgirl
Reverse Cowgirl is the same rider-on-top concept, but the receiving partner faces away from the lying partner instead. The giving partner lies with legs together while their partner saddles up facing the opposite direction.
This angle changes the internal sensation significantly. Keeping the torso upright tends to allow for deeper penetration. Tilting slightly forward can increase pressure against the G-spot or prostate, depending on anatomy. It’s a flexible position, rewarding little tweaks.
Hot tip: The reverse angle is particularly good for adding manual stimulation - the rider can easily reach between their legs while in motion.
8. Doggy Style
Doggy Style is a position where the receiver is on all fours and the giver is behind the receiver. This position works well for both vaginal and anal penetration, and tends to allow for deeper, more intense sensation than face-to-face positions.
The receiving partner can press back against the giving partner to control depth from their end. The angle often results in direct stimulation of the A-spot for vulva owners, or consistent prostate contact for those with prostates.
Hot tip: A mirror adds a visual element that many couples find engaging, since there’s no natural eye contact in this position.
9. Hard Press
Hard Press is a modification of Doggy Style where the receiving partner lies flat on their stomach rather than staying on all fours. Legs are pressed together instead of spread apart. The giving partner kneels on either side of the receiving partner’s hips and enters from behind.
The closed-leg position limits depth and shifts sensation toward the front wall of the vagina, which many people find produces more G-spot stimulation. The giving partner can push up on their hands for leverage or settle their weight more fully on their partner.
Hot tip: The Comfy Sleepers Intimacy Pillow can be placed under the receiving partner’s hips to tilt the pelvis upward, which may shift the angle and intensity of the experience.
10. Spooning
Spooning combines closeness and ease. Both partners lie on their sides facing the same way and the giving partner penetrates from behind.
This position works particularly well for lazy mornings, late nights, or whenever neither partner has the energy for something acrobatic. In the close-body contact position, the giving partner may reach around to touch the receiving partner’s chest, stomach, or genitals for additional sensation.
Hot tip: Spooning is a surprisingly good position for couples who want to incorporate blindfolds or light restraints - the partner in front can have their wrists loosely bound, but still be comfortable.
11. Lazy Sixty-Nine
Rather than lying on top of one another in a traditional 69 arrangement, both partners lie on their sides facing opposite directions. Each partner can use their mouth to give oral stimulation while receiving it simultaneously.
The side-lying approach removes the pressure of supporting body weight and works well for couples with a significant height difference. Both partners can curl slightly to bridge any gap, and the position tends to feel more sustainable than the traditional overhead version.
Hot tip: If your jaw or tongue tires during extended oral, a toy designed for clitoral or penile stimulation can step in and keep your partner satisfied while you catch a breath.
Trying something new doesn’t have to mean going far outside your comfort zone. Sometimes it’s as easy as changing an angle, trying a different orientation, or adding a positioning aid that changes the whole dynamic. Start with what sounds fun, talk along the way, see where the night takes you.