Sex Positions to Last Longer in Bed (2024 Guide)

Discover 12 best sex positions to help you last longer in bed. Learn step-by-step techniques and tips to improve stamina and pleasure.

sex positions to last longer

Premature ejaculation is a common problem among men ages 18 to 59. There’s some form of anxiety associated with it. A sense of dread

Will I be able to hold out this time? Will she be upset with me?

All of these questions can linger in your head during sex. 

Fortunately for you, there are ways to get around this problem. And it all starts with knowing which sex position to last longer you can use. 

Here are 12 of the best sex positions to help you last longer in the bedroom:  

Best Positions for Longer Lasting Sex

Illustration of a couple in a spooning position, with the text

1. Spooning

The step-by-step process:

  • You and your partner lie on your sides, facing the same direction. Then, press your front against her back as if you’re cuddling in a spooning position. 
  • Be the big spoon to her little spoon.
  • Let your partner slightly separate her legs apart. Then find her vagina using your hand as a guide. After that, penetrate her from behind. 

How it can help:

  • You can shift your focus elsewhere by grinding against her butt. Maybe even stimulate her clitoris using your fingers.
  • You can make her orgasm quicker. Therefore, making you feel at ease if you do climax earlier.
  • You can only do limited movements in this position. So you can’t put too much effort into your thrusts, thereby making it easier for you to hold back. 
  • Her G-spot can be hit easily by the shorter strokes. So overall, it makes it a satisfying experience for her. 

Overall difficulty:

Not that difficult from the start. The two of you only need to lie down as if you’re about to cuddle in your sleep. 

However, positioning the right angle can be a challenge. So, a hint of hip manipulation is needed to get things right the first time. 


Illustration of a couple in the side-by-side sexual position, with both partners lying on their sides facing each other, the man behind the woman, titled 'Side By Side' with a SexualAlpha watermark in the corner.

2. Side By Side

The step-by-step process:

  • This position shares some similarities with spooning. But instead of facing the same direction, you start by lying down facing each other. 
  • Then, lift your partner’s free leg and wrap it around your hip, giving you easy access to her vagina. 
  • And then, you could start penetrating her from the front.

How it can help:

  • You can hold your orgasms longer as you are not the one in control. Instead, you can focus on the sensations and stimulations of the experience. 
  • You limit your movements in bed.
  • Both partners can control how deep they can thrust unto each other. Therefore, making it both passive and active to the people involved. 

Overall difficulty: 

You are still lying comfortably in bed. So, you don’t need to whip out your acrobatic skills. 

Instead, focus on establishing proper communication with your partner. Talk things out. Know how to coordinate both of your movements and work as a team. 


Illustration of a couple in the Cowgirl position.

3. The Cowgirl

The step-by-step process:

  • Lie on your back.
  • Let your woman mount you. Straddle her hips to give her support. And insert your penis in an upright position. 
  • Have her ride you like a bull. And let her take control of the entire experience. 

How it can help:

  • You can have your woman focus all of the pleasure on herself. And as a result, it can limit the stimulations you feel in your body.
  • The position is all about the deep grind. It’s about making the woman have better stimulations on her clit. Then, all you have to do is to make your penis stay erect.
  • This position is excellent for putting the woman in charge. It’s also great for conditioning yourself. You can just lay back and relax. And focus on controlling your ejaculations in the process. 
  • Your partner also has control over how deep your penis can go inside. And as a result, stripping away your ability to force yourself onto your woman. Therefore, making it less likely for you to climax early. 

Overall difficulty:

You can take a breather with this one. Just lie comfortably in the bed. And let your partner do all the work for you. 

She’ll love the change of dynamics. And it’ll help add a different kind of atmosphere to the bedroom. 


Illustration of a couple in a non-penetrative missionary position. The man is on top of the woman, both wearing underwear, with the woman lying on her back and the man supporting himself with his arms. Text reads

4. Missionary (Non-Penetrative)

The step-by-step process:

  • Do the usual missionary style by lying on top of your partner. 
  • But don’t penetrate her. Do some stimulations instead. Rub your penis against her vulva to tease her. Make her want the experience. 

How it can help

  • The sensation you’ll experience on your penis puts focus on the back end. This part is much less sensitive than the front shaft. Therefore, making it easier to maintain your orgasms at a steadier pace. 
  • Your partner would love the position as it enables her to grind your shaft on her clit. 
  • And most importantly, there’s no penetration involved. Most men ejaculate quickly due to the sensations they feel on the walls of the vaginal canal. But without that sensation, you can make yourself hold out longer. 

Overall difficulty

Most forms of missionary sex are easy to maintain. It doesn’t matter how fit you are. It doesn’t matter how flexible you are. 

The missionary position is a classic. And almost everyone gets the chance to experience it at least once with their partners.


Illustration of two people in a sexual position called The Cross, with a man lying on his side and a woman lying on her back, both partially dressed in underwear. The background features abstract shapes and the text 'The Cross'.

5. The Cross

The step-by-step process:

  • Start by lying on your side.
  • Then, have the woman lie on her back beside you. Move her torso at a 90-degree angle from your torso. And drape her legs over your hip area. Have her butt be exposed in front of your pelvis.
  • Then, slowly thrust forward. Enter the vagina with the help of your hips. And you’ve hit GOAL!

How it can help

  • This position limits your range of motion. So you can’t get too wild with it.
  • Your thrusts are also limited as your hips are mainly still. 

Overall difficulty

You can experiment with different kinds of angles in this position. So it’s not that stressful to do if you think about it. 


Illustration of two people demonstrating the Yab-Yum position, with one person sitting cross-legged and the other sitting on their lap, facing them.

6. The Yab-Yum

The step-by-step process:

  • The man starts by sitting on a comfortable surface. You could use the bed, or you could even use the floor for this one. 
  • And then, have the woman straddle your hips, facing you.
  • Then, slowly guide her as she enters your erect penis.

How it can help

  • You can’t thrust forcibly in this position. You need to maintain your sitting position upright. And your partner has to make sure she keeps her balance. 
  • This position is intimate as both partners have their faces in front of each other. As a result, you can see how your partner reacts to the pleasure you’re giving her. 
  • It can be hard to maintain this position for long periods. 

Overall difficulty

This one’s on the difficult side. The position itself can get awkward. And maintaining it may make you uncomfortable, especially if you have tight hips or hamstrings. 

Extending your ligaments can also be challenging if you’re not flexible enough. And if you have a significant gap in your height difference, then doing this position can be bothersome. 

But whatever it is, you can always give it a go if you want to try it out. No one’s stopping you. 

Just remember not to push yourself too much. The body has its limits. And sometimes, putting yourself to the breaking point is not worth the pleasure you’re about to experience. 


Illustration of a woman in a red bikini on top of a man in black shorts in a sexual position labeled 'Woman On Top.'

7. Woman On Top

The step-by-step process:

  • This position is straightforward. Simply lie on your back.
  • Then have the woman climb on top. Make sure her chest is adjacent to yours. 
  • Then begin penetration.

How it can help

  • Your thrusts are limited in their range of motion. 
  • Your partner can stimulate herself by grinding on your shaft with her clit.
  • She has most of the control during sex. So it’s all on her if she wants you to orgasm or not. 
  • She can go as deep as she wants. But still, restrict you from going too hard thanks to her body weight staying on top. 

Overall difficulty

It’s like the cowgirl all over again. You’re just chilling. Let your woman do the honors. 


Illustration of a couple demonstrating

8. The Throne Sit

The step-by-step process:

  • Start by sitting on a counter or a chair. 
  • Then have her stand with her back facing your direction. 
  • Then, put your hands on her hips, where you will slowly lower her down to your erect penis. 
  • Next, have her be in a seated position on your lap. And let her do all the grind. 

How it can help

  • Your woman can have a hold on the situation. She can go as deep as she wants. She can go as fast as she wants. It’s all on her.
  • Change your attention towards holding your orgasms longer. Make it an endurance test for yourself. Improve your stamina in the process. 

Overall difficulty

Are you perfectly capable of sitting on a chair? If so, then this shouldn’t be much of a problem.


Illustration labeled

9. The Lazy Dog

The doggy style is one of the most common types of sex positions there is. So here’s one variation to it called the “lazy dog.” Or some people like to call it the “prone bone.” 

The step-by-step process:

  • Have the woman lie flat on the floor, facing the direction of the surface.
  • Then, spread her legs slightly apart.
  • Mount on top of her as if doing the classic doggy style position.
  • And then, you can start penetrating her.

How it can help

  • You still get to enjoy it doggy style. But you can’t penetrate your partner that deep. Therefore, making it less simulating for your penis. And in turn, making it less likely for you to orgasm early. 

Overall difficulty

Knowing where to put your knees in this position can be troublesome. 

And, you have to know the right angles to position your partner in bed. Because sometimes, having her get too low can make penetration difficult for the man. 

So some things need considering if you’re “lazying around” with this option. 


Illustration of a couple performing the 'Standing Ovation' sexual position.

10. The Standing Ovation

The step-by-step process:

  • First, have your woman lie at the edge of a bed or counter. 
  • Then put a comfy pillow on her back. Position it near the top of her butt cheeks. 
  • Spread her legs wide open. And stand in front of her. 
  • Slowly enter her with your erect penis. And adjust accordingly to make sure both of you are in a comfortable spot. 

How it can help

  • This position allows for deeper penetration. Therefore, giving you the chance to hit her G-spot more successfully. 
  • You can go as slow and fast as you want. So if you feel like ejaculating, you can stop at any time. Recover that stamina first. Then go at it again. 

Overall difficulty

Time and experience are needed for both of you to get used to this position. But once you get the ball going, it’s all smooth sailing. 

So don’t be afraid to explore. Expand on your options. Widen out your sexual experience. 


Illustration of a couple in an intimate position called

11. Taking A Kneel

The step-by-step process:

  • Have your woman lie on her back. 
  • Then spread her legs apart. 
  • Kneel upright and enter her missionary style.

How it can help

  • You’re in control in this position. So if things get too intense, you have the power to tone it down. Learn how to hold back your urges.
  • Kneeling for long periods can cause you to shift your focus on your legs. So at this point, the last thing you want to think about is ejaculating. 
  • You can’t do deep penetrations. Therefore, you can’t overstimulate your penis during sex. 

Overall difficulty

As mentioned, kneeling can be physically stressful. Yes, you can delay your orgasms. But maintaining this position does have its price on your body. 

So weigh out your pros and cons. Talk it out with your partner. Have yourselves reach the right compromise.


Illustration of a couple in the grinding missionary position.

12. The Grinding Missionary

The step-by-step process:

  • Let your woman lie on her back. 
  • Then, push her legs towards her upper torso. 
  • Position yourself in the usual missionary style. And start penetrating her, facing her direction. 
  • Don’t thrust! Just leave your penis inside of her. Let your hips do all the grinding. 

How it can help

  • Your partner can have combined stimulations making it easier for her to orgasm faster. Both penetration and clitoral stimulation can trigger orgasms. Thus, making it easier on yourself not to feel guilty if you ejaculate prematurely.
  • There are NO THRUSTS involved in this. So you don’t have to worry about overstimulating your penis too much. 

Overall difficulty

Again, another variation of a missionary position. So this is all elementary. 


How Sex Positions Can Help You Last Longer

Couple in an intimate embrace with text 'How Sex Positions Can Help You Last Longer'

Men are simple creatures. All sex positions we know are just the basics. 

But there’s more out there we can explore. You can experiment as much as you want with your significant other. And you can be as creative as you like. 

It’s all about testing the waters. It’s about going on an adventure. 

Finding the perfect position can help you last longer in bed. In addition, it can improve your overall sexual experience. And there are general reasons for that:

  • Your range of motion is limited. Therefore, preventing you from getting too overstimulated once penetration occurs. 
  • It’s not all about penetration and thrusting. Sometimes, all it takes is a little tease and touch to the sensitive parts of the body. 
  • Some positions are challenging to maintain and carry out. As a result, your focus may shift to that instead of hitting the jackpot
  • For some, you have total control. But it takes a bit of edging on your end. 
  • And finally, all focus is on your woman. The pleasure is about HER. So, this usually means you are less active in bed. There’s less vigor in your thrusts. And it’s all about making it more sensual. 

So, what are you just doing standing there?

Talk to your partner now. Make your sex lives less boring. Try out some new positions in the bedroom today. 

Discovering new sensations together is always a good bonding experience. You can succeed. You can fail. But most importantly, you can learn from it.

It’s all about having fun.

Don’t take yourself too seriously when trying out different sex positions. Sex isn’t life or death. You are bound to make a few mistakes. And that’s perfectly normal. 

We are all learning here. And you should always have that mindset intact for your betterment.  


Switching Sex Positions

Using more than one position within an encounter can increase both intimacy and pleasure. 

For example, making love can feel more intimate face to face.  But on the other hand, rear-entry might give stronger orgasms.

So why not do both? 

Face each other for a while and enjoy that intimate connection. Then, you can shift into the more physically arousing position.

Switching positions can offer you variety in the bedroom.

It makes the atmosphere more exciting. It makes the whole experience more spontaneous. And to top it off, it can spice up your sex life. 

Just remember not to overdo it. Women do love diversity. But too much of it can get tiring. 

Yes, it is tempting to go wild and crazy. But delaying your orgasm is not worth switching positions at every opportunity.

You need to cool down with it. Maybe stick to four or five per session. Then gradually increase the more stamina you get to muster. 


Physical Ability

Many sex positions require some degree of flexibility. And to some, physical strength is needed. 

So why not work on your fitness right now?

Get that gym membership ready. Work on your physical abilities. 

Overall physical health DOES impact your sexual health. So if you want to have the stamina, train yourself. Condition yourself first in the gym before diving to the comfort of your bedroom. 


Have Some Self Care

Not taking care of yourself can make just as much of an impact outside of your bedroom. Your overall health does affect your performance. It’s not all about lasting longer. 

Your general lifestyle can create waves of difference in your life.

Whether from a balanced diet or a good exercise routine. Or from habits such as smoking and alcohol consumption. It can all make an impact on your health one way or another. 

Erectile dysfunction can happen to anyone out there. It’s just as much as premature ejaculation.

However, changing lifestyle choices may help you prevent yourself from encountering such troubles in the first place. It can even give you stronger erections.

So make small strides right now! Motivate yourself to change for the better.

Make sure you get all the support you need. Don’t let your body tire out on you first. Have yourself take action beforehand.


Focusing on Her

Keep in mind that not many women can orgasm from sex ALONE. So there has to be some more effort and oomph put into it. 

So make sure you always start with foreplay. 

Kiss them.

Finger them. 

Play with their nipples. Go down on them. 

Do as much as you can to stimulate her. Tease her mind. Dive deep into her fantasies. 

Women tend to need more work to get themselves going. And it’s your responsibility to make sure she gets what she wants in the end. 


Do A Little Experimenting

The human body has several sensitive areas. However, you may not have found every single one your woman has. 

Both men and women have numerous erogenous points in their bodies. It’s not only limited to their genitals.

To some, getting caressed on the back of their neck feels good. It could even be a turn-on if a partner massages that particular area.

Others? Having their ears licked or nibbled can make them go crazy. Some even like it on the lower back. Or even at the back of the knee and so on. The list is endless. 

Many studies suggest that women are all unique in their sexuality. 

The nipples, for example, can be sensitive to a few women out there. Some even reach orgasm after their partners stimulate that area. So it all just depends on a woman’s preferences. 

Here’s the deal: It’s easy to assume that a woman’s pleasure point is between her legs. But that is not accurate at all.

So explore her body. Find new pleasure points. Experiment with her a little.

Many women can have stronger orgasms with clitoral stimulation. But to some, they much prefer vaginal stimulations instead. 

Whatever the case is, just ask your partner. There’s no harm in having her open up about these things. 

Also, don’t force her to open up to you. Let her take her time. Tell her that you’re willing to listen. Keep yourself open to the possibilities. 

There are many ways to please a woman’s body. So in the meantime, do a little exploring. 

Yes, trying new things can be fun. But it can even be more fun if you have the chance to do it with someone else. So, be a man and have that conversation with her!


Bad Experiences Can Happen and Are Normal

Sexual frustration can sometimes occur. And it’s all part of the territory. Sometimes you may be in the mood. But it could be different for your partner. 

For example, she might’ve gotten a cold that night. Or it could be from the stress of her work. Or maybe she’s just not feeling it at the moment. 

Sexual urges are complicated. There are a lot of factors to consider. That’s why it’s vital to be more sensitive and understanding. 

If this scenario ever happens to you, then don’t worry. It’s not the end of the world.

Your relationship is not in trouble. And it surely doesn’t mean that you’re unattractive. However, there could be some other lingering issues in the works.

So don’t take it too personally. It could just be the body going through some hormonal changes.

A good relationship sometimes has one put the other’s needs first.

It’s not that they’re selfish. It’s just that sometimes special attention is desired.

If you think about it, this dynamic is healthy for the relationship. Couples who do this can have a better quality of life as partners. And it can also increase one’s attachment to the other. 

You see, it’s not all about intimacy. Sometimes, all it takes is a little bit of care. Show some appreciation. Show some encouragement

Now, don’t get angry if your partner says NO to you.

Sometimes, it can be uncomfortable for her. So when she says no. Then take it as a no. 

You’ll have a hard time getting laid if you become upset. So don’t be too hard-headed about it. Take a step back. Then put things into perspective. Don’t pick fights when you’re in the heat of the moment. 

Commit to improving yourself next time. And let those mistakes linger on as lessons in your life.


Final Thoughts

In the end, all you have to do is not overthink.

Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to perform better. Sex is not all about having the best stamina. It’s about making a connection. It’s about communication.

If you can’t hold out, then try better next time.

Get your body gradually used to the prolonged periods. Then, condition yourself for the experience. Sooner or later, you’ll get used to the grind. And in no time, you’ll be able to embrace your inner SEX MACHINE

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Dainis Graveris

Over last 4 years Dainis have helped millions of people through his advice on this site (200+ guides and 1M+ visits/monthly). His work & advice has appeared on sites like: Healthline, Vice, Cosmopolitan, Men's Health, WomensHealthMag, MindBodyGreen & more. Read More.

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