Woman On Top: A Complete Position Guide

Poles Apart Sex PositionCowgirl Sex Position

Part of owning your sexuality as a confident woman is being able to climb on top of your partner and ride him exactly how you want. Guys tend to love positions with the woman on top, partly because it takes the physical work off their shoulders and partly because the view is often incredible.

But these positions are just as great for women, since you control speed and depth. Many also give you easy access to your clitoris for extra stimulation. Bottom line: there's no good reason to skip getting on top, so try one or two of these woman-on-top positions the next time you're in bed together!

1. Cowgirl

This position is widely considered a staple — practically the counterpart to Missionary. Your man relaxes while you ride him, controlling pace, angle, and depth to maximize your own pleasure. Eye contact comes easily, and you can lean down to kiss him, giving him a great view, especially if you press your breasts together with your hands and arms.

Cowgirl works well because either partner can stimulate your clit. Try this: have your man rest his hand palm-down on his stomach, splitting his fingers between the middle and ring finger like a Spock salute. He slides his fingers around the base of his penis, and you grind against his knuckles as you ride.

Don't forget he can thrust from underneath too. If you're both into it, he can also reach around and stimulate your anus during Cowgirl.

Cowgirl Sex Position

2. Thigh Tide

Our next woman-on-top recommendation isn't as widely known, but it deserves to be. Thigh Tide looks like Reverse Cowgirl but with a distinctive twist — and that twist is exactly what makes it worth trying! To get into it, straddle your man as he lies down, facing away from him. Instead of keeping his legs straight, he bends one knee as shown above, and you straddle that thigh. As you ride, you can grind your clitoris against his thigh.

For extra leverage, grab his knee or leg with your hand as you grind.

Guide to Thigh Tide Sex Position

3. 69

If simultaneous giving and receiving oral appeals to you, you likely already know the 69 position. One partner lies down while the other lies on top, face down, facing the opposite direction — lining up each person's mouth with the other's genitals.

The 69 doesn't require the woman to be on top, but it certainly can work that way. Being on top may give you better control over penetration depth. Prop yourself up with your elbows or a pillow if that's more comfortable.

69 Position Full Guide with more positions

4. Lap Dance

The Lap Dance position looks exactly like it sounds! Your man sits on a chair or sofa with his thighs together, and you sit in his lap with your thighs outside his, controlling the pace. You can swivel and grind your hips while he grips them to assist.

Lap Dance can be tricky if you're especially short and your feet can't reach the floor, or your arms can't reach the chair beneath him. Leaning on a table in front of you can help.

Lap Dance Sex Position

5. Lotus

If you want a position that's deeply close but requires some flexibility, look no further. Have your man sit down with legs crossed. Then sit in his lap with your legs crossed too, ankles meeting behind his back, arms wrapped around his shoulders.

Lotus works best when you can freely swivel your hips, so certain body shapes or mobility limits might make it less pleasurable. You can also enjoy Lotus by simply focusing on the sensation of fullness, eye contact, and shared breath — a practice found in Tantric sex.

Lotus Sex Position Guide

6. Amazon

This woman-on-top position is fairly unusual, so pay close attention to the image. Your man lies on his back and draws his knees toward his chest. You then straddle the back of his legs, kneeling or squatting depending on your height, resting your butt on the back of his thighs or butt. He can wrap his legs around you while you rest your arms on his knees.

Amazon is all about bouncing, which should come fairly easily thanks to his bent knees, assuming you can comfortably get into position.

Guide to Amazon Sex Position

7. Crab

Here's another unusual one. Have your man lie flat on the bed. Position yourself on top of him with your legs extended forward toward his upper body and shoulders, feet resting on the bed. Lean back on your arms, hands resting on the bed behind you or on his legs — not on his knees.

To make Crab work, plant your hands and feet firmly on the bed and use them to lift your hips, or stay in place while your man pushes your butt up and down. Crab can be quite strenuous, so it's understandable if you can't hold it long.

Crab Sex Position

8. Jugghead

Your man is in for quite a rush with this one — a head rush, that is! In Jugghead, he lies on the ground with his legs propped on a chair, sofa, or ottoman, lifting his hips off the floor. You straddle him facing forward. You can sit upright or lean over him with your arms supporting your weight.

The right furniture makes all the difference for comfort here — too tall or too short, and it feels awkward instead of pleasurable. He might also get a headache if you stay in this position too long as blood rushes to his head, so feel free to switch things up.

Jugghead Sex Position Guide

9. Back Seat Driver

If Lap Dance (position #4 above) doesn't work because you're too short, try this variation instead. Your man spreads his legs while seated, and you sit between his thighs or resting slightly on them. Back Seat Driver makes it a bit easier to support yourself, either on the surface beneath you or with your hands on his thighs.

Even though your movement is limited here, your man can pull your hair or scratch your back if that's something you enjoy.

Back Seat Driver Position

10. Bouncing Spoon

You don't need special furniture for most of these. Picture your man sitting on the floor against a wall, with you in his lap, shoulders leaning against his chest. He lifts your hips with his hands, which is where the "bouncing" comes from.

Your man needs his butt positioned far enough from the wall to leave room for your legs and feet.

Read: How to have sex against a wall (13 positions).

This isn't too difficult if you're short. Unfortunately, if your bodies don't align well, it might not be worth the discomfort.

Guide to Bouncing Spoon Position

11. Mastery

Mastery is a fun position to try while your man watches TV or plays video games. Simply straddle him as he sits, lining up your bodies for penetration. Facing each other allows for deep kisses, hair pulling, or chest touching, and your back stays free for him to rub or scratch too.

This position is fun because you don't even need to get fully undressed. Wear a skirt or dress and push it up; he can undo his pants or wear loose shorts he can work around if removing them entirely isn't necessary. To lean into a female dominant sex position, bind his wrists so he can't move them.

Mastery Sex Position

12. Side Ride

Among woman-on-top positions, this one definitely has a twist. Have your man lie down, then rest on top of him facing sideways. Bend your knees, resting your feet in front of you while leaning back on your arms.

Side Ride is fairly restrictive. Your man may be able to thrust up from below while your own hip movement stays limited.

Side Ride Sex Position

13. Side Saddle

Easy to confuse with Side Ride, but the two are quite different. Your man lies on his back while you sit on his penis facing away, knees bent, feet flat on the bed beneath you, hands resting on his thighs.

Not everyone has the flexibility to make Side Saddle pleasurable, but it's worth trying if you're after something new.

Side Saddle Sex Position

14. Acrobat

Feeling agile and adventurous? This one might suit you. In Acrobat, your man lies on his back while you lie on top of him, similar to the Full Nelson position. The trick is bending your knees and leaning all the way back so your upper body rests on his.

It's understandable if this feels tough to pull off — real flexibility is required, and it can strain your knees. But if you manage it, your breasts and clit stay free for stimulation.

Acrobat Sex Position

15. Betty Rocker

This position isn't too demanding. Start with your man lying down, then straddle him facing away. Lower your body, bending your knees and tucking them to your sides, forearms resting on the bed outside his thighs. He can then grab your butt or hips and rock your body.

Betty Rocker is ideal for any guy who's a fan of butts. Leaning too far forward, though, might hurt his penis — try leaning up on your arms instead. It's also an easy switch into Reverse Cowgirl if this one gets too tiring.

Betty Rocker Position

16. Big Dipper

Most woman-on-top positions let the man relax, but not this one! Big Dipper gives him quite the arm workout as he rests his feet straight ahead on furniture like a chair, ottoman, or step, arms extended straight behind him to prop up both your bodies. You straddle him with feet flat on the floor, arms around his waist.

Big Dipper only works if your man has genuinely strong arms to hold himself up. You'll also need furniture at the right height that won't shift under your weight — and even then, there's a chance of tumbling, so be careful.

Important: make sure your man doesn't fully straighten his knees here, or he risks injury.

Movement is limited once you're in position too. He might lift his hips, or you can move together, but avoid pushing his body down too forcefully.

Big Dipper Sex Position

17. Pearly Gates

Think of this as somewhat like Spooning, except instead of lying on your sides, your man lies on his back with you on top. Both of you bend your knees slightly, yours resting on top of or outside his. Plant your feet on the bed for stability and let him handle all the thrusting.

Pearly Gates suits vaginal or anal penetration equally well. Either of you can touch your breasts or clit. What we love most about this one is how intimate it feels — your man can whisper sweet or sexy words in your ear. It does take some stamina to hold, though.

Pearly Gates Sex Position Guide

18. Reverse Cowgirl

Last but not least, another woman-on-top favorite. In Reverse Cowgirl, you straddle your man as he lies down, but facing away from him. Brace yourself on his legs for stability if needed. This position adapts well to different body types and doesn't demand much flexibility.

Reverse Cowgirl is all about grinding your hips back and forth or swiveling them. Don't forget to stimulate your clitoris if there's room to do so!

Reverse Cowgirl Position

How to Have Sex On Top

Beyond the woman-on-top positions listed above, some additional advice might help.

First, none of these girl-on-top positions need to be executed perfectly. You may need to tweak them to fit your body, flexibility, or any injuries. Pillows can help a lot here, and memory foam sex pillows hold their shape well, making them useful in virtually any on-top position.

Psst, grab more tips for riding on top.

Many women initially struggle with knowing what to actually do while on top. There are a couple of approaches. Squatting or resting on your feet with bent knees lets you bounce up and down — this is the Asian Cowgirl position. Or, if bouncing isn't comfortable, swivel and grind your hips instead. Grinding works especially well for clitoral stimulation.

Related: 9 Clitoral Stimulation Techniques For Intense Orgasms

Since many of these positions put you in control, they suit BDSM play or dominating your man nicely.

Plenty of woman-on-top positions work just as well for anal sex as for vaginal penetration. You might even experiment with double penetration using your partner's penis alongside a toy.

Of course, you can always add your hands and mouth into the mix when possible to enhance things further. And while it might seem like the woman does all the work, your man can often thrust upward in several of these positions too.

Beyond doubting your own skill, riding on top can also feel vulnerable since it puts your body on full display. But that's actually one of the things men love most about these positions. If you need a confidence boost before trying a position where you're on top, check out this article with 10 Tips To Feel Super-Confident In Girl On Top Positions.

Finally, remember that a penis naturally curves upward, so if you're facing away from your man and his penis gets forced downward — like in the Betty Rocker position — it could hurt him. Make sure to talk about sex and what feels good to maximize pleasure for both of you.

Few things feel as powerful or satisfying as riding your man. Once you get the hang of being on top and find your favorite positions, you might not want to go back to anything else!

Resources

Better Sex Through Mindfulness by Dr. Lori Brotto is a great read on why staying present — rather than stuck in your head — matters during sex, whether or not you're on top.

Frequently Asked Questions About Girl on Top Positions

FAQ #1 – How can I be more confident when riding on top?

First, remember that almost any position with you on top is visually a huge win for your man. Second, there's no single "correct" way to have sex, on top or otherwise — experimentation and connection matter far more than technical perfection. Finally, remember these positions exist for your enjoyment too, so focus on what feels good to you!

If all else fails, fake it until you make it — act confident even if you're not quite feeling it yet. And if confidence still feels out of reach, check out this guide on how to ride your man with confidence.

FAQ #2 – What do I do in girl on top positions?

Generally, you'll either:

• Bounce up and down, easier when squatting, especially if your man has thicker thighs supporting your booty.
• Rock, grind, or swivel, tucking and rolling your butt with your hips and legs doing most of the work — not a full-body movement.

Which approach works best depends on the specific position and your own physical ability. You can stick with one method the whole time if it feels right, or start with grinding and shift to bouncing as you get closer to orgasm.

Related: How To Orgasm Every Time For Women

Hip and butt movements like twerking can also add some fun.

Your Angle – Angle matters a lot. Try leaning forward or backward to find what feels best for both of you in these girl-on-top positions.

Your Hands – Figuring out what to do with your hands can also feel confusing while on top. Some of the positions above include specific hand suggestions that may or may not work for you, while others leave plenty of room to improvise. Rest your hands on his chest, shoulders, or under his armpits, or keep them at your sides or thighs — though that means missing out on extra pleasure. Sometimes being on top frees up a hand to rub your clit, which means even more pleasure!

FAQ #3 – Should I avoid woman on top positions if my man is smaller than me?

Not at all! It's extremely unlikely you'd hurt your man by being on top. You might want to keep more weight on your own legs than on his body, but this worry is usually driven by anxiety rather than actual risk. And don't stress about how you look — ask most guys, and they'll tell you they love seeing their partner on top, especially when she's confident!

November 30, 2020