9 Anal Penetration Positions: From Beginner-Friendly To Bold

Best anal sex positions for beginners

Before you go to butt sex-town, it’s important for the bottom (aka receiver) to feel relaxed and super turned on. It’s a good idea to start with anal masturbation before penetrating with a penis or dildo, as this’ll get the butt good and ready.

If you’re top (aka the giver), try fingering, rimming, or using a small beginner-friendly butt plug with your lover. Just don’t forget to use copious amounts of lube since the butt isn’t self-lubricating!

Once you’re prepped and ready, read up on how to have anal sex, and ease yourself into opening your backdoor with these anal penetration positions.

How to do it: The receiving partner lies down on their back, with their legs spread apart (or their knees tucked towards their chest for an added twist). The bottom can also try placing their feet on their partner’s shoulders. The giving partner lies in between the receiver’s legs, torsos touching, and enters them from this position.

Tips to make it better: Indulge in some dirty talk to turn the steaminess up a notch, or introduce some sex toys into the mix. If the receiving partner has a vagina, try simultaneously stimulating their G-spot with a love egg vibrator for some intense Os. The giving partner can combine it with a nice little vibrating butt plug for their own ass!

This means the sensations can pass through. And, hey, your partner gets to enjoy a nice eyeful of your ass, too.

How to do it: The penetrating partner sits (or lies) down in a slightly reclined position, offering their lap up as a seat. The receiving partner sits on top of the giver by straddling them while facing away from them. Think of it as giving your partner a very sexy lap dance… with some added benefits.

Tips to make it better: Introduce some edge-play and take control of the giving partner's orgasms by turning your bounces into slow grinds as you feel them get closer to the edge. Caress your own penis or masturbate your clit with a bullet vibrator while your partner stimulates your other erogenous zones, such as nipples.

The best anal penetration positions to try tonight

While the above two positions were specifically for newbies, the following can be enjoyed by people of all experience levels, so add them to your repertoire. Fair warning though: slippery orgasms ahead!

They will hug their waist in such a way that their bodies are pressed together. It’s a little like Doggy, except the top is holding the bottom close enough to caress their body, fondle the penis and balls, or rub the clit.

Alternative: If you’re looking for shallow penetration instead of deep thrusts, you can use a variation of the Love Tug (known as The Clapper because of the clapping sound it makes as the butt cheeks bounce on skin). Here, the top partner leans back on their hands with their knees spread wide and penetrates the receiving partner from this position, letting the latter control the pace.

Tips to make it better: Switch up the power dynamic by having the top partner wear a remote-controlled prostate massager (or vibrating anal beads, if they have a vulva or are pegging). While they thrust away, the bottom partner gets to deliver intense sensations to their lover’s anus.

If you’re a beginner to anal sex toys, check out our guides on how to use anal beads and prostate massagers.

The top partner kneels either side of their lover’s legs, assuming a push-up like position, and slides their penis or strap-on into their lover’s butt.

To deepen the angle, the giving partner can place one of their feet flat on the bed against the bottom partner’s head, or the receiving partner can push their ass up by placing a sex position wedge under their hips.

Tips to make it better: While the bottom partner enjoys getting their A-spot or P-spot stimulated, the top can join in on the fun with a nipple pump (and a cock ring if they have a penis) of their own. The receiving partner can also add some naughtiness to the mix by wearing an open-crotch thong for some easy access.

Have your partner assume the same position with both of you facing forward. Tug them against you ‘til you penetrate them with your penis or strap-on (which should also be slathered with lube!).

Tips to make it better: Let your free hands roam all over your partner’s body while you suck on their neck or earlobes, whispering filthy things to turn them on even more. If your partner has a vulva, you can up the ante by using a pussy pump on them. It’ll heighten all their sensations for extra pleasure.

They have their legs open, and their back touching their lover’s chest. Both partners face the same way.

To make it easier, you and your partner can kneel in upright positions, or just start with Doggy style, and lean back into the Airplane. The giving partner can lean back against one hand – or do this one on the couch for extra support. Since the bottom is riding the top here, the giving partner can easily reach around and tease their lover’s clit, penis, or balls.

Tips to make it better: If you’re the penetrating partner, don’t let all that access to your lover’s body go to waste. Enhance their sensations with some nipple suckers or tease their erogenous zones with a wand massager while keeping them blindfolded. (Don’t forget to have a conversation about limits and agree on a safe word beforehand!)

The top partner stands (or kneels) behind them and enters their ass from a side angle. If you’re using a hard surface, place a pillow or sex position wedge under the bottom partner to keep things soft and comfortable for them.

Tips to make it better: This position is perfect for experimenting with a little bondage. The top can add in a pinch of excitement by restricting the bottom partner’s movements with leg restraints and have them wear a ball gag or a blindfold to increase their feeling of submission. In case you do use a ball gag, make sure to have a non-verbal safe word in place!

If you’ve never had an anal orgasm before, this just might do the trick!

How to do it: The bottom partner gets on all fours, while the top partner kneels behind them with one foot placed firmly on the surface (or the floor, depending on your location of choice). The top partner then picks up one of their lover’s legs and places it on their raised knee, tilting their hips into a right angle in the process. Then, the top can drive slowly into their lover, maintaining full control.

Tips to make it better: Make this position even more powerful by having the giving partner wear a vibrating cock ring. Throw some edging into the mix, and you’ll both soon be on a fast-track to having some of the best orgasms ever!

If you’re new to edging, it’s an orgasm-delaying technique where you stop all stimulation when you get close to that O, cool down for a bit, and start up again. It builds up the anticipation, making your climax that much better when you finally tip over the edge.

Both of them are at almost right angles to each other, as the giving partner enters from behind while kneeling and straddling their partner’s bottom leg. Meanwhile, the receiver’s top leg wraps above the giver’s hip. Essentially, this position tangles the both of you together in the form of a pretzel.

Tips to make it better: Since the receiving partner has their arms free, this is a great chance for them to caress their lover’s nipples with a bullet vibrator. The receiving partner can also finger or stroke themselves for heightened pleasure.

How to have safe, sensual, and satisfying anal sex

Unlike vaginal sex, anal play of any kind needs more prep – both mental and physical. That’s because our butts don’t get wet on their own. Plus, they’re pretty delicate and need gentle stretching before they can fit a penis up there. So, prep.

• Clean yourself up by taking a bowel movement at least an hour before your play time and thoroughly washing your butt with warm water. While washing is a must, douching is completely up to you. If you find that your anal sex toys are often “dirty” after you’re done using them, anal douching might solve this problem by cleaning out the walls of your rectum. Just avoid doing it too often, as this can damage your intestinal wall.
• Drizzle on some anal lube, both on (and in) your hole and your toys, to make the slide easier and prevent any pain or tearing. You probably need more lube than you think.
• Get really turned on with foreplay. Then, either with an anal toy or your fingers, gently stimulate your anus until you feel stretched enough for penetration. Remember to go slow and take your time!
• Communicate with your partner about boundaries, limits, and safe words – especially if you’re planning to add some kink to your session.
• Use a condom to keep yourself safe from STIs. Remember to wash the penis or toy and switch condoms if you transition from anal sex to vaginal, as this can help protect you from UTIs.

Lovehoney forum user, Knotted_Couple, has the following advice to offer for butt play beginners:

“The essential point is to relax, lots of anal play to get the anal muscles to relax, the use of an anal lube is also essential, combine the use of anal toys before penetration is attempted, if you don't relax your muscles won't let you play.”