Sex positions
Best Sex Positions for Couples: 16 to Try, Sorted by What You Want
The best sex positions for couples, sorted by mood – intimacy, her pleasure, lazy days, standing and adventurous – with pictures and simple tips.
By the Spicy Couples team · · 5 min read
What makes a sex position "the best"?
There's no single best sex position – there's the best position for what you want right now. Sometimes that's closeness and eye contact, sometimes it's her pleasure, sometimes it's a lazy Sunday morning, and sometimes it's trying something completely different.
That's why this guide is sorted by goal rather than ranked from one to sixteen. Each position links to an illustrated, step-by-step guide. And if you can't decide, our random sex position generator will pick for you.
A few universal tips before we start:
- Pillows are your best friend. One pillow under the hips changes the angle of almost any position.
- Change one thing at a time. The easiest way to discover new favourites is to adjust a position you already enjoy.
- Talk. "Slower", "there" and "like this?" make every position better.
Best sex positions for intimacy
When you want to feel close: lots of skin contact, eye contact and kissing.
1. The Lotus Blossom
He sits cross-legged, she sits in his lap and wraps her legs around his waist. Face to face, chest to chest – one of the most intimate positions there is. It asks for a little flexibility, so go slowly. Full guide.
2. The Catherine Wheel
Both partners sit facing each other with legs wrapped around one another, leaning back on their arms. Slow, rocking and full of eye contact. Full guide.
3. The Whisper
He lies on his side, she wraps her legs around his waist. You're close enough to whisper – which is exactly the point. Full guide.
4. The Curled Angel
A spooning variation where she curls up and he holds her from behind. Cosy, tender and perfect for mornings. Full guide.
Best sex positions for her pleasure
Positions where she controls the angle, depth and pace – which for many women makes all the difference.
5. The Reverse Cowgirl
He lies on his back, she sits on top facing away and sets the rhythm. Grinding back and forth often feels better than bouncing. Full guide.
6. The Spider
Both partners sit facing each other, leaning back on their hands, and move together. It looks complicated but is surprisingly easy – and she controls the movement. Full guide.
7. The Amazon
He sits on a low, sturdy chair, she sits on him with her feet on the floor and controls everything. Very intimate – her thighs will feel it the next day. Full guide.
8. The Classic (with a twist)
The familiar face-to-face position, with one change: a pillow under her hips. That small tilt changes the angle completely. Full guide.
Best sex positions for lazy days
Low effort, high reward – perfect when you're tired but still in the mood.
9. The Curled Angel or spooning
Lying on your sides, one partner behind the other. You can stay like this for a long time, and it's easy to add caresses.
10. Afternoon Delight
She lies on her back, he lies on his side, her legs over his hips. Relaxed, comfortable and a great position to switch from. Full guide in the app.
11. The Sideways Samba
A side-lying position from behind that's easy on the knees and the back. Full guide in the app.
Browse all close and intimate positions.
Best standing and spontaneous positions
For the against-the-wall moments – in the kitchen, the shower or the hallway.
12. From Behind (standing)
She stands, he stands behind her. Use a wall, a counter or the edge of the bed for support. Full guide.
13. The Butterfly
She lies back on a table or the edge of the bed, he stands and lifts her legs. The height of the furniture matters – try a few until it fits. Full guide.
14. Doggy Style
The well-known kneeling position, endlessly adjustable: she can lower her chest to the bed or he can stay still while she moves. Full guide.
15. The Snail
She lies on her back with her knees drawn to her chest, he kneels. A deep, intense angle – start slowly. Full guide.
See all standing positions and kneeling positions.
Best positions for adventurous couples
16. Something completely different
If you've tried everything above, it's time for the advanced positions: acrobatic, playful and guaranteed to make you laugh at least once. Our guide to Kamasutra positions explains where many of their names come from.
How to make any position better
- Build up first. Great sex starts long before the first position – see our foreplay ideas.
- Play a game. A few rounds of Truth or Dare or our spicy questions set the mood better than any position.
- Switch it up. Two or three positions in one evening keeps things exciting.
- Try role play. A new character makes even a familiar position feel new – read our guide to role play.
- Stop if it hurts. Discomfort is a signal to adjust, add a pillow or switch.
FAQ
What is the best sex position for couples?
It depends on what you want. For intimacy, try the Lotus Blossom or the Catherine Wheel. For her pleasure, woman-on-top positions like the Reverse Cowgirl or the Amazon. For lazy days, spooning or Afternoon Delight.
What are some different sex positions to try?
The Spider, the Amazon (on a chair), the Butterfly (at the edge of a table or bed), the Whisper and the Snail are great ways to try something different without needing much flexibility.
What are the best sex positions for beginners?
The Classic with a pillow under the hips, spooning, the Reverse Cowgirl, Doggy Style and the Whisper are easy to get into and easy to adjust.
How many sex positions are there?
There's no fixed number – most positions are variations of a few basic ones. Our illustrated guide covers 90 positions in seven categories.
