54 Fun, New Sex Positions to Try if You're Feeling Adventurous in the Bedroom

HUMANS NEED SEXUAL variety, and when we’re under stress, we crave novelty even more. "When we're stressed, it’s often harder to feel desire or to stay in the moment, because our mind is distracted and wandering,” says Justin Lehmiller, Ph.D., Kinsey Institute researcher and member of the Men's Health Advisory Panel. “Trying something new can create this immersive experience that lets us be in the moment and raises sexual arousal."

Fortunately, bringing variety into your sex life is easy, even in a long-term monogamous relationship—and trying a new sex position can help you make it happen. “One cool thing about sex is that we are always capable of discovering new things that we like, even if we consider ourselves pretty experienced,” says sex educator Erica Smith. “Trying a new sex position is a fairly low-risk way to add some adventure and fun to your sex life.”

What are the best sex positions to try?

If you’re not sure where to start, this list of unique sex positions can give you some ideas. (Don't worry, we also included fan favorites like missionary, cowgirl, spooning, and doggy style.)

As for which position(s) you should try first, start by asking yourself what you're hoping to achieve by changing up your usual routine. This will guide how you approach this list of 54 sex positions, explains Ian Kerner, Ph.D., LMFT, sex therapist, and author of She Comes First and So Tell Me About the Last Time You Had Sex.

If your partner has a vulva and you’re looking for positions to help them orgasm, then you want to look for sex positions where you can manually stimulate your partner’s clitoris during penetration. “Most [vulva owners] are not going to be able to get highly aroused or have an orgasm unless there's some kind of clitoral stimulation happening,” Kerner explains.

Or perhaps you want to explore elements of BDSM (an umbrella term encompassing Bondage and Discipline, Dominance and Submission, Sadism, and Masochism). “Some of these positions are great for power play, where you can feel dominant or submissive,” Kerner says.

Some of these sex positions are fun to try for novelty's sake, but they’re not necessarily ideal for everyone. “Not every position is accessible to everybody, and that's completely okay,” Smith says. “Some positions may even require strength or flexibility that not everyone has. You're not missing out on anything if your body won't perform that way.”

If a sex position feels uncomfortable, don't overdo it. This isn’t a “push through the pain” situation. And remember—communication is key.

“Trying new positions should be fun, not stressful,” Smith says. “Communication is always important, especially when we're trying new things. Listen to each other about what's working and what isn't.”

If a position isn’t working, just switch to something else! There are plenty of positions here to choose from.

Sex Position: Stand and Deliver

Benefits: The giver (a.k.a. the partner who’s doing the penetrating) can enjoy the view of their penis or dildo thrusting.

Technique: The giver stands at the edge of a bed or desk while the receiver (a.k.a. the partner who’s being penetrated) lies back and raises their legs to their chest. The receiving partner’s knees are bent as if they're doing a "bicycling" exercise. The giver grabs their partner’s ankles and enters them. The giver should thrust slowly, as the deep penetration may be painful for the receiver.

Also try: The receiving partner can place their heels on the giver’s shoulders, which will help open their hips.

Hot tip: If you’re the giver, encourage your partner to play with their clitoris or penis in this position. Also, show them that they can control your penetration by flexing their thighs.

Sex Position: Face Off

Benefits: Allows for face-to-face intimacy; cozy for long sessions.

Technique: The giver sits on a chair or at the edge of a bed. The receiving partner faces the giver, wraps their arms around the giver’s back, and sits in their lap. Once in the saddle, the receiver can ride up and down on the giver’s shaft by pressing with their legs or knees. Want to go faster? The penetrating partner can grab the receiving partner’s buttocks to assist with lifting and bouncing.

Also try: The receiver can sit facing the giver on a rocking chair. Old wooden rockers on hardwood or stone floors provide extra movement.

Hot tip: There's lots of room for creativity in this position for stimulating erogenous areas of the upper body, head, neck, and face. If the receiver likes having their nipples licked, go for it!