The Monkey Sex Position: How to Do It, Plus Wilder Variations

She hooks her ankles behind his back and pulls him in closer than closer, and for a second neither of you is thinking about the grocery list or the alarm set for 6 a.m. That is the whole point of the monkey. It takes the missionary you already know, folds her legs up against her chest, and turns a familiar angle into something that makes her gasp on the very first stroke. We have watched couples rediscover each other with this one position, and it starts with a single small change in how her body opens to his.

The monkey sex position is a close, man-on-top position where the receiving partner lies on their back and draws both knees up toward their chest while the penetrating partner kneels or leans in from above. The pulled-up legs shorten the vaginal canal and lift the hips, which creates a snug, deep angle that plain missionary never quite reaches. Think of it as missionary that decided to stop being polite.

Here is what makes it special. When her thighs press up against her body, everything tightens. He feels held. She feels every inch of the stretch and the friction along the front wall where the nerves live. The face-to-face closeness stays, so you keep the kissing, the eye contact, the ragged breathing shared an inch apart. Couples often tell us the first thing they notice is how loud the room suddenly feels, because there is nowhere to hide when you are this close.

If you like the intensity of a folded-in angle, you will probably also love the deeper lean of the knot position, which plays with a similar tight, wrapped feeling.

To do the monkey position, the receiving partner lies back and lifts both knees toward the chest while the penetrating partner kneels close and enters from above, supporting her thighs against his torso. It takes about ten seconds to get into and no athletic skill at all. Here is the slow build, the way it actually feels best.

Start warm, not rushed.

Do not jump straight to the fold. Kiss her first. Let her lie back on the bed with her hips near the edge or over a cushion. When her breath already comes quick and she is greedy for more, that is your cue.

Lift and tilt.

Have her draw both knees up toward her shoulders, shins loose. He kneels between her thighs and slides a hand under her lower back to angle her hips up. A position pillow tucked under her hips does this job for you and saves the ache the next morning.

Enter slow, then find the rhythm.

He leans forward, chest to her folded legs, and enters gradually. That first slow push is where you both should pause. Let her adjust. Then let the pace build from her hips, not his ego. When she starts pressing up to meet him, she is telling you to speed up without saying a word.

Stay face to face.

The magic of the monkey is closeness. Keep your foreheads near, keep kissing, keep watching her come undone. This is not a position to look at the ceiling.

The monkey feels deep because raising the hips and folding the legs shortens the vaginal canal and tips the pelvis, so the penis meets the front wall and the deepest point at the same time. Less distance plus a steeper angle equals more pressure exactly where it counts. It is simple geometry doing very filthy work.

That front-wall contact is why so many people feel a G-spot response here. The pressure is constant instead of glancing, building a slow heat that climbs with every stroke. Add the psychological charge of being pinned open and watched, and the body responds to both at once. Novelty matters too. Research suggests that couples who keep introducing variety report higher long-term sexual satisfaction, a pattern explored in this Psychology Today look at sexual novelty. A position you have never tried is novelty you can feel tonight.

If deep penetration is your thing, you may also want to steal ideas from our guide to the best sofa position for deep penetration, which uses furniture the same way the monkey uses a cushion.

The best monkey variations are the funky monkey, the spider monkey, and the crazy monkey, ranging from beginner-comfortable to advanced-adventurous. Each one keeps the folded-leg core but changes who moves and how far the angle bends. Start soft and climb the list as your confidence grows.

Variation	Difficulty	Best For	The Feel
Classic Monkey	Beginner	First-timers, cozy nights	Deep, close, face to face
Funky Monkey	Easy	She wants control of the thrust	Grinding, she sets the pace
Crazy Monkey	Intermediate	Couples craving intensity	Tighter fold, sharper angle
Spider Monkey	Advanced	Thrill-seekers with strength	Gravity-defying, bold, playful

The Funky Monkey

She lowers herself onto him and uses her legs to drive the rhythm, stealing back control while he lies still and lets her ride. It flips the power just enough to make him ache for it. A wedge under his hips gives her a cleaner angle to work.

The Crazy Monkey

Her knees press harder into her chest and he leans in deeper, curving the angle until every stroke lands where she is most sensitive. This is the one that turns slow moans into begging. Keep a hand on her hip so she feels anchored while the world goes blurry.

The Spider Monkey

The daring cousin. She balances on her shoulders in a supported near-headstand while he stands and holds her steady, an upside-down thrill that trades comfort for pure adrenaline. Only try this on a soft surface, only when you both feel strong, and stop the second anything strains. For most couples this stays a once-in-a-while fantasy, and that is exactly what makes it hot.

You make the monkey more comfortable by supporting the hips with a firm cushion, keeping her legs loose rather than rigid, and communicating about depth as you go. Comfort is not the opposite of hot here. It is the thing that lets you stay in the position long enough to actually finish.

The single biggest upgrade is a dedicated cushion. Pillows from the bed flatten and slide. A shaped support wedge holds the tilt so her hips stay lifted without her core doing all the work, which means she can relax into the feeling instead of bracing against it. If you want to add restraint or a fuller setup, a bedroom kit layers in more play without losing the angle.

A few quiet rules keep it sweet. Trim the depth at first and let her guide how far. Keep her knees soft so nothing pinches. And talk. A whispered faster or a hand on his chest says more than any manual. For a slower on-ramp, our slow-burn foreplay ideas pair perfectly with a night built around one deep position.

Yes, the classic monkey position is genuinely beginner-friendly because it builds on missionary, needs no flexibility, and lets both partners stay face to face while they figure out the angle together. Skip the spider monkey until later and the entry version is one of the easiest ways to add real depth to your routine.

New couples like it because nothing about it feels like a stunt. You already know missionary. You are just folding her legs and tilting her hips, then paying attention. Start with a cushion, keep the pace unhurried, and let the first few minutes be about finding the sweet spot rather than chasing a finish. If you are still building confidence in the bedroom, our roundup of creative positions to try gives you a gentle menu to explore next.

Is the monkey sex position safe?

The classic and funky monkey are safe for most healthy couples because they put no strain on the joints. The advanced spider monkey involves an inverted, balanced pose and carries real injury risk, so attempt it only on a soft surface, with a spotter grip, and stop immediately if anything strains.

Does the monkey position hit the G-spot?

For many people, yes. Lifting the hips angles the penis toward the front vaginal wall where G-spot tissue sits, creating steady pressure that a flat missionary angle usually misses. A cushion under the hips increases that contact.

Do you need a pillow for the monkey position?

You do not strictly need one, but a firm cushion or support wedge makes a big difference. It holds the hip tilt so the receiving partner can relax, deepens the angle, and lets you stay in the position longer without aching.

What is the difference between the monkey and spider monkey?

The monkey is a comfortable man-on-top position with the receiver on their back and knees folded up. The spider monkey is an advanced inverted variation where the receiver balances on their shoulders in a supported headstand. Same family, very different difficulty.

The monkey proves you do not need a gymnastics badge to change the entire feeling of a night. One small fold, one lifted hip, one cushion in the right place, and the position you have done a hundred times becomes something you both remember on the drive to work the next day. Start slow, stay close, and let the depth do the talking. The rest, you will figure out with your mouths an inch apart.

Position Support Built for Nights Like This

Cushions, wedges and chairs that hold the angle so you can hold each other. Swipe to find yours.