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Updated Mar 06, 2025In a Sex Rut? Spice Up Your Sex Life With These 25 Sex Positions
Some of these moves are straight from your favorite sexy movies and romance books.
Photo: Getty Images; Design: Natalie Romine
by Elana Lyn Gross
Updated Mar 14, 2025
It's easy to fall into a sex rut. Whether you're not having sex as often as you'd both like or you are doing the same positions every *single* time, you can revitalize your sex life by adding some new sex positions to your repertoire. From twists on tried-and-true classics that date back to the Kama Sutra to standing, sitting, lifted and side sex positions that can help you build intimacy and recreate scenes from your favorite sexy movies and romance books, we've rounded up different sex positions for maximum pleasure. (You're welcome.)
1. Sex Position: Missionary
What it is: The receiver lies on their back and the giver lies on top facing them.
Why you'll love it: This classic position will never go out of style. It's comfortable for both partners and the receiver can change the pressure by moving their leg angle. You can make eye contact, kiss and add sex toys to the mix.
2. Sex Position: Legs Up Missionary
What it is: The receiver lies on their back and lifts their legs. The giver kneels over them with their hands on either side of the receiver. The receiver puts their legs on the giver's shoulders.
Why you'll love it: This sex pose allows for deep penetration, eye contact and making out.
3. Sex Position: Reverse Missionary
What it is: The giver lies on their back and the receiver lies on top of them facing them.
Why you'll love it: It's comfortable for both partners, and the receiver has more control to change the pressure and speed.
4. Sex Position: Standing Missionary
What it is: Partners stand face-to-face.
Why you'll love it: It's a good position for shower sex or having sex against a wall. Partners can lock eyes, kiss and touch each other's erogenous zones.
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5. Sex Position: The Erotic V
What it is: This sex move can be done on a bed or an elevated surface like a table. It can also be a standing sex position, if you're both v flexible. The receiver spreads their legs in a "V" position. The giver can kneel or stand depending on where they're getting busy.
Why you'll love it: This versatile sex pose allows for deep penetration and can be a sitting, standing or lying down position if you're looking to mix things up.
Photo: Stocksy
6. Sex Position: Ballet Dancer
What it is: This is like the standing missionary sex move, except the receiver wraps their legs around the giver's waist.
Why you'll love it: Partners can look at each other and kiss.
7. Sex Position: Upstanding Citizen
What it is: In this lifted up sex position, the giver sits on a bed, chair or couch and the receiver straddles them. The giver stands and can walk to the bedroom...or wherever you both want to go.
Why you'll love it: This one is popular in a lot of romantic movies and books.
8. Sex Position: Table Top
What it is: The receiver sits or lies down on the edge of an elevated surface like a table, desk or kitchen counter and the giver stands at the end of the surface.
Why you'll love it: The receiver can move their legs to change the pressure. The giver can stimulate the receiver's erogenous zones. This one is also popular in movies. Think people rapidly pushing everything off a desk or table in the heat of the moment.
9. Sex Position: Over the Counter
What it is: The receiver leans on a table, countertop or desk facing away from their partner. The giver stands behind them.
Why you'll love it: You've definitely seen this standing sex position in movies and television shows. The giver has their hands free and can touch the receiver. Next time you initiate sex, keep in mind that this is a popular choice for a quickie.
10. Sex Position: Stand and Deliver
What is it: In this standing sex position, the receiver stands in front of the giver and bends down to touch their toes. The giver stands behind them. TBH, it's giving bend and snap. IYKYK.
Why you'll like it: It can be more comfortable than lying down and can be done in and out of the bedroom.
Photo: Stocksy
11. Sex Position: Downward Dog
What it is: Yogis rejoice! The receiver goes into downward dog and the giver stands behind them with their hands on the receiver's hips.
Why you'll like it: It delivers a head rush and allows for deep penetration.
12. Sex Position: The Lotus
What it is: In this seated sex position, the giver sits cross-legged and the receiver sits in their lap facing their partner and wraps their legs around their waist.
Why you'll love it: You can kiss, hug and maintain eye contact.
13. Sex Position: Face-Off
What it is: The giver sits at the edge of a bed, couch or chair with their feet on the ground. The receiver sits on their partner's lap facing them and straddles their legs around their partner's waist.
Why you'll love it: You can kiss, hug and massage each other.
14. Sex Position: Butterfly
What it is: The receiver lies on the edge of the bed with their legs hanging off. The giver stands at the side of the bed. The receiver can lift their legs up and rest them on their partner's shoulders.
Why you'll love it: This position allows for eye contact, deep penetration and the receiving partner can touch themself.
15. Sex Position: Doggy Style
What it is: The receiver gets on all fours on their hands and knees and the giver stands or kneels behind them. The receiver can use cat and cow yoga poses to change the pressure.
Why you'll love it: The giver can touch the receiver's erogenous zones for maximum stimulation. The position also makes it easier to change the pressure to find something that feels good for both people. This sex position can be done on the floor if the couple is so passionate that they can't make it to the bedroom. Think sex in front of a fireplace.
16. Sex Position: Cowgirl
What it is: The giver lies down on their back with their knees up. The receiver kneels on top of them with their knees on either side.
Why you'll love it: The receiver has more control over the speed and pressure.
17. Sex Position: Cowboy
What it is: The receiver lies on their back with their knees up and the giver kneels on top of them with their knees on either side.
Why you'll love it: You can kiss and gaze into each other's eyes for maximum intimacy.
18. Sex Position: Reverse Cowgirl
What it is: This is just like cowgirl or cowboy, except the person on top faces their partner's feet.
Why you'll love it: If you're in the mood for bath sex, this is a safe sex move to try. The person on top can hold the side of the bathtub for support.
19. Sex Position: Spooning
What it is: You're probably familiar with spooning. When you're spooning, the "big spoon" can penetrate or touch the "little spoon."
Why you'll love it: It's a good choice for people who like to cuddle and can involve manual stimulation or penetration.
20. Sex Position: Facing Spooning
What it is: In this side sex position, the giver and receiver lie on their sides facing each other.
Why you'll love it: This position allows people to kiss, hug and touch each other. It doesn't need to include penetration.
Photo: Stocksy
21. Sex Position: Scissoring
What it is: One partner lies down and the other sits up and leans back. The partner who is lying down puts their right leg on their partner's shoulder and their partner puts their right leg over their partner's left leg. Both partners rub their genitals against each other.
Why you'll love it: This position is good for manual stimulation or penetration.
22. Sex Position: Sitting Down and Kneeling Oral Sex
What it is: The receiver sits on the edge of a bed, couch or chair and the giver kneels down in front of them with their knees on a pillow.
Why you'll love it: This can be comfortable for both people.
23. Sex Position: Standing Up Oral Sex
What it is: The receiver stands and leans back against a wall or door. The giver kneels in front of them.
Why you'll love it: This can be done in other rooms of the house and the shower.
24. Sex Position: Sideways 69
What it is: Both partners lie on their side and perform oral sex.
Why you'll love it: It can be more comfortable than the classic 69 position, so you can extend the sex sesh.
25. Sex Position: Mutual Masturbation
What it is: Partners lie on their sides facing each other and touch each other or touch themselves while looking at each other. They can also use sex toys.
Why you'll love it: This is a good option if you're in a long-distance relationship. There are even specific long-distance sex toys you can use to spice things up.
