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Threesome sex positions in porn are designed for a camera. In real life, the goal is different: keeping three people comfortable, connected, and involved, without anyone stranded at the edge of the bed wondering what to do with their hands. This guide covers 16 positions, from easy warm-ups to the sandwich and the daisy chain, with simple steps for each person, a comparison table, and roundups of the best FFM and MMF positions.
It’s written for adults who’ve already agreed to a threesome and talked about what’s on and off the table. If you haven’t had that conversation yet, start with our guide on how to have a threesome. We use FFM and MMF loosely here to mean two women and a man, or two men and a woman; our guide to threesome types explains what the letter order usually signals. Most positions work for any mix of genders, and where one needs a penis, a strap-on usually works too (our harness guide covers choosing one).
All 16 positions at a glance
Tap a position to jump to it.
| Position | Works for | Difficulty | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Kissing Triangle | Any | Easy | Warming up together |
| 2. Triple Spoon | Any | Easy | Slow starts and resting |
| 3. The Spectator | Any | Easy | Watching and being watched |
| 4. Royal Treatment | Any | Easy | Putting one person at the center |
| 5. Tag Team | Any | Easy | Long sessions and taking turns |
| 6. The Sandwich | Any | Medium | Full-body closeness |
| 7. Daisy Chain | Any | Medium | Everyone giving and receiving |
| 8. Spit Roast | MMF; FFM with a strap-on | Medium | Focusing on the person in the middle |
| 9. The Throne | Any | Easy | Pampering one person |
| 10. Double Straddle | FFM; any | Medium | Two partners facing each other |
| 11. Center Stage | Any | Medium | Closeness and eye contact |
| 12. The Train | Any | Hard | Experienced, energetic groups |
| 13. The Stack | FFM; any | Medium | Letting one person choose who to focus on |
| 14. Scissor Plus | FFM; FFF | Medium | Two women together, plus a third |
| 15. Double Penetration | MMF; any with toys | Hard | Experienced groups who’ve planned it |
| 16. Eiffel Tower | MMF; FFM with a strap-on | Medium | A standing take on the spit roast |
Before you start
- Talk it through. Agree who’s into whom and what’s on and off the table: specific acts, not vague comfort levels. It’s normal for a couple to keep some things just for each other, as long as the third knows. Our negotiation checklist walks you through it.
- Agree a stop signal. Any one of you can pause or end things at any time, with a safeword or a simple signal such as tapping the bed twice (useful when someone’s mouth is busy). Stopping isn’t a failure.
- Set up the space. A queen or king bed, or a mattress on the floor, gives three people room to move. Extra pillows help with angles and knees. Keep condoms, lube, water, and towels within reach so nobody has to go looking.
- Plan safer sex. Use a fresh condom or barrier every time you switch partners, including on shared toys, and never go from anal to vaginal sex without changing condoms. Recent STI tests help but don’t replace barriers (see the FAQ below).
- Stay sober enough to consent. A drink to relax is one thing; being drunk isn’t compatible with real consent.
- Warm up slowly. Nobody needs to be in a “position” for the first while. Kissing and touching in a loose tangle is how most threesomes start, and the Threesome pack in our truth or dare game can break the ice: pick two women and a man or two men and a woman, add your names, and every card says who does what, so nobody’s left out.
How to read the steps
Each position’s steps refer to Person A, Person B, and Person C. Person A is the one at the center or in the middle; B and C are the other two. They’re only labels: anyone can take any role, and swapping who’s Person A is the easiest way to keep things fair.
In the diagrams, Person A is blue, Person B is orange and Person C is green.
Beginner-friendly positions
These need no choreography. Start here, or come back to them whenever you need a breather.
1. Kissing Triangle
Works for: Any Difficulty: Easy Best for: Warming up together
How to do it
- Person A, B, and C: kneel on the bed facing inward, close enough that your knees almost touch, so you form a triangle.
- Kiss in pairs or all three at once, with your hands free to touch whoever’s closest.
- Anyone can lean back or sit on their heels to give the other two a moment together.
Why it works: it’s equal from the start. Nobody is the focus and nobody is waiting, and it’s an easy way to learn how each person likes to be touched before anything more.
Tip: put pillows under your knees, or sit cross-legged if kneeling gets uncomfortable. Treat it as the opening scene rather than the main event.
2. Triple Spoon
Works for: Any Difficulty: Easy Best for: Slow starts and resting
How to do it
- Person A: lie on your side in the middle.
- Person B: lie behind A, with your front against A’s back.
- Person C: lie in front of A, with your back against A’s front, or turn to face A for kissing.
A’s hands are free to touch C, and B and A can have penetrative sex from behind if that’s on your list. Or keep it to cuddling and touching.
Why it works: lying down takes all the effort out, and there’s skin contact everywhere. It’s a gentle start and a good place to rest between more active positions.
Tip: a pillow between the knees makes side-lying more comfortable. Rotate so everyone gets a turn in the middle, which is the coziest spot.
3. The Spectator
Works for: Any Difficulty: Easy Best for: Watching and being watched
How to do it
- Person A and B: have sex or make out in whatever position you like.
- Person C: watch from close by, give directions (“slower”, “kiss their neck”), or join in with your hands.
- Switch so everyone who wants a turn watching gets one.
Why it works: some people love being watched and some love watching. For a couple inviting a third, being watched by their partner can be a big part of the appeal. Our guide to voyeurism and exhibitionism covers that side of it.
Tip: make sure watching is a choice, not something that happens because someone got left out. Check in with whoever’s watching, and give them the power to call the next switch.
4. Royal Treatment
Works for: Any Difficulty: Easy Best for: Putting one person at the center
How to do it
- Person A: lie on your back, propped on pillows, and relax.
- Person B: kneel or lie at one side, or between A’s legs.
- Person C: take the other side or stay up near A’s head, kissing and touching.
- B and C give attention at the same time: kissing, touching, and oral.
Why it works: it’s the simplest way to put one person at the center, and the most common starting point for a reason. Everyone has something to do and nobody has to coordinate much.
Tip: Person A sets the pace, so agree a simple “slow down” signal first. For a gentler variation, B and C lie side by side and A moves between them, giving each attention in turn. Rotate so everyone gets the crown.
5. Tag Team
Works for: Any Difficulty: Easy Best for: Long sessions and taking turns
How to do it
- Person A and B: have sex in any position you like.
- Person C: rest, kiss, touch, or use a toy on either of them, then swap in when someone taps out.
- Keep rotating so each pairing gets time.
Why it works: it takes the pressure off choreographing three bodies at once, and gives everyone a breather. For longer sessions, or anyone who’d rather focus on one person at a time, it’s underrated.
Tip: agree before you start that you’ll rotate, so tagging in doesn’t feel like interrupting. “Want to switch?” is all it takes. Fresh condom on each swap.
Classic threesome positions
These are the positions most people mean when they talk about threesomes. Each takes a little more arranging, so agree who goes where before you get into it.
6. The Sandwich
Works for: Any Difficulty: Medium Best for: Full-body closeness
How to do it
- Person A: in the middle, lying on your side or standing.
- Person B: face A, front to front, for kissing and touching.
- Person C: behind A, with your front against A’s back.
It can be all full-body contact, kissing, and touching, or include penetrative sex with one partner. Penetration from both partners at once is Double Penetration, which needs much more preparation.
Why it works: it’s the most enveloping position there is for the person in the middle, and all three of you are touching the whole time.
Tip: lying on your sides is far easier than standing. Rotate who’s in the middle, and keep a hand free for the person behind you.
7. Daisy Chain
Works for: Any Difficulty: Medium Best for: Everyone giving and receiving
How to do it
- Everyone: lie on your sides in a loose circle, each person’s head near the next person’s hips.
- Person A gives oral to B, B to C, and C to A.
Why it works: everyone is giving and receiving at the same time, which makes it the most equal setup on this list. It’s best for groups where everyone is attracted to everyone.
Tip: it takes some arranging and necks tire quickly, so think of it as a moment rather than the main event. Pillows under your heads help. If you use dental dams or condoms for oral, set them out before you start.
8. Spit Roast
Also called: Double team Works for: MMF; FFM with a strap-on Difficulty: Medium Best for: Focusing on the person in the middle
How to do it
- Person A: get on your hands and knees in the middle of the bed.
- Person B: kneel behind A for penetrative sex (with a strap-on for FFM).
- Person C: kneel in front of A, who gives C oral.
Why it works: Person A gets both partners’ full attention at once, and the setup is simple: nobody needs to balance or hold a pose.
Tip: Person A controls the pace at both ends, and their mouth may be busy, so agree a hand signal for “stop” (tapping the bed twice works). A pillow under A’s chest or knees makes it easier to stay comfortable.
9. The Throne
Works for: Any Difficulty: Easy Best for: Pampering one person
How to do it
- Person A: sit on a sturdy chair, a sofa, or the edge of the bed.
- Person B: kneel on the floor in front of A.
- Person C: kneel beside A, or sit next to them, for kissing and touching.
- B and C share attention between them: kissing, touching, and oral.
Why it works: it’s like the Royal Treatment, but upright. Person A can see everything and reach both partners, and the two attending can easily swap places.
Tip: put a cushion or folded towel under anyone kneeling on the floor. Take turns on the throne.
10. Double Straddle
Works for: FFM; any Difficulty: Medium Best for: Two partners facing each other
How to do it
- Person A: lie on your back.
- Person B: straddle A’s hips, for penetrative sex or grinding.
- Person C: straddle A’s face, facing B, and receive oral from A.
- B and C: you face each other, so you can kiss and touch.
Why it works: all three of you are giving and receiving at once, and the two straddling partners get to be together too. It’s a favorite for FFM where the two women are into each other.
Tip: Person C keeps their weight on their knees and holds the headboard or wall, so A can breathe easily and move their head away. Agree that A taps C’s thigh to pause. Our face sitting guide has a diagram and more on breathing safety.
11. Center Stage
Also called: Lap dance Works for: Any Difficulty: Medium Best for: Closeness and eye contact
How to do it
- Person B: sit on a sturdy, armless chair or the edge of the bed.
- Person A: sit on B’s lap, facing B or facing away, for penetrative sex or grinding.
- Person C: kneel in front of A, or stand behind B, kissing, touching, or giving oral.
Why it works: Person A is the center of attention from both sides, and facing away from B means A and C get plenty of eye contact.
Tip: Person A keeps their feet on the floor to control the pace and take weight off B’s legs. Swap who’s on the lap.
12. The Train
Works for: Any Difficulty: Hard Best for: Experienced, energetic groups
How to do it
- Person B: at the front, on your hands and knees.
- Person A: kneel behind B, for penetrative sex.
- Person C: kneel behind A, using your hands, a toy, a strap-on, or penetrative sex.
Why it works: Person A, in the middle, gives and receives at the same time, which is the whole appeal.
Tip: it’s hard because three people have to keep their balance and a shared rhythm, so kneel on the bed rather than standing, and go slowly. Person C keeps their hands on A’s hips for balance, and you agree who leads the rhythm. Fresh condoms and plenty of lube.
13. The Stack
Works for: FFM; any Difficulty: Medium Best for: Letting one person choose who to focus on
How to do it
- Person B: lie on your back, near the foot of the bed.
- Person A: lie on top of B, face to face, kissing.
- Person C: kneel or stand at the foot of the bed and move between A and B, with hands, oral, or penetrative sex with either.
Why it works: A and B stay close and connected the whole time, while C gets to alternate between them. It’s popular for FFM where the two women are stacked.
Tip: Person A takes their weight on their elbows and knees so B can breathe and move. Person C changes condoms whenever they switch between A and B.
Configuration-specific positions
These depend more on who’s involved and what’s on your yes list, so check they fit your trio before you try them.
14. Scissor Plus
Works for: FFM; FFF Difficulty: Medium Best for: Two women together, plus a third
How to do it
- Person A and B: lie facing each other with your legs interlocked so your genitals press together (scissoring), and move together.
- Person C: kneel behind or beside either of you, kissing, touching, or using a toy.
Why it works: it lets two women be together while the third person stays physically involved, rather than watching. It works just as well for three women.
Tip: scissoring is harder than it looks. A pillow under one person’s hips helps the angle, and it’s fine to switch to hands or a toy whenever you like.
15. Double Penetration
Works for: MMF; any with toys Difficulty: Hard Best for: Experienced groups who've planned it
How to do it
- Person A: in the middle, either on your side in the sandwich, or straddling B.
- Person B: in front of A, for vaginal sex (or using a toy).
- Person C: behind A, for anal sex (or using a toy).
Any mix of genders can do this with toys or strap-ons, and many people start with one partner and a toy.
Why it works: for people who want it, the feeling of fullness and being the focus of both partners at once is intense, and it’s one of the most common threesome fantasies.
Tip: Person A on top, straddling B, has the most control over depth and pace. Talk it through in advance rather than deciding mid-scene.
16. Eiffel Tower
Works for: MMF; FFM with a strap-on Difficulty: Medium Best for: A standing take on the spit roast
How to do it
- Person A: stand and bend forward at the hips, hands resting on the bed or on C.
- Person B: stand behind A for penetrative sex (with a strap-on for FFM).
- Person C: stand, or sit on the edge of the bed, in front of A, who gives C oral.
- B and C: reach over A and high-five. The shape you make is where the name comes from.
Why it works: it’s the spit roast standing up, which suits partners who’d rather not kneel, and the high-five tends to make everyone laugh, which is no bad thing.
Tip: bending forward is hard on Person A’s back and neck, so use a bed at the right height, and move back onto the bed as soon as anyone’s legs tire.
Best FFM threesome positions
For two women and a man, the best positions let the two women be together as much as they each want, rather than both focusing on the man. If the women aren’t into each other, the Royal Treatment and the Stack still work well.
- Double Straddle: the two women face each other over the man, so they can kiss and touch while all three of you give and receive at once.
- Scissor Plus: the women are together and the man joins with hands, kissing, or a toy, which keeps the focus on the women.
- Royal Treatment: easy for any combination, and easy to rotate so each of you gets the center.
- The Stack: the women lie one on top of the other and the man alternates between them, so both get attention.
- Daisy Chain: everyone gives and receives oral at once, for trios where everyone’s into everyone.
Best MMF threesome positions
For two men and a woman, most positions put the woman at the center, with a partner at each end. Agree beforehand whether the two men are sexual with each other; these work either way.
- Spit Roast: the classic. The woman gets both men’s full attention, and it’s simple to set up.
- Eiffel Tower: the spit roast standing up, for partners who’d rather not kneel.
- The Sandwich: maximum closeness, from full-body contact to penetration with one partner.
- Double Penetration: for experienced trios who’ve planned it, with plenty of lube and constant check-ins.
- Royal Treatment: the easiest start, with both men focused on her.
Keeping everyone included
- Rotate the center. The most common complaint after a threesome is someone feeling left out. Taking turns as Person A fixes most of it.
- Give the “odd one out” a role. Whoever isn’t in the main action can kiss, touch, direct, use a toy, or watch by choice. Nobody should be waiting with nothing to do.
- Don’t let it become a couple plus an audience. If you’re a couple with a third, make a point of not drifting back into your usual routine together. The third is a full participant, not a guest.
- Check in out loud. “Still good?” or “Want to switch?” costs nothing.
- It’s fine to stop early. If it stops being fun for anyone, that’s the end of the scene, not a failure.
Want to add some kink? Restraints or a power dynamic can work in a threesome too, as long as all three of you have agreed to it; our scene planner helps you plan it step by step, and our beginner toy guide and other gear guides cover the kit. If you’re a couple playing with another couple rather than a single person, see our guide to swinging for beginners.
Aftercare
Whatever positions you end up in, finish with aftercare for all three of you: water, cuddles, a shower, whatever each person needs. It’s easy for a couple to look after each other and forget the third, so check in with them too. Our aftercare plan helps you agree it in advance, and our threesome guide covers the morning after, including checking in with the third and handling any jealousy.
Try it together
Frequently asked questions
What is the best threesome position for beginners?
The Royal Treatment: one person lies back while the other two kiss, touch, and give oral at the same time. It needs no coordination, keeps everyone involved, and is easy to rotate so each person gets a turn at the center. The Kissing Triangle and Triple Spoon make good warm-ups before it, because they let everyone get comfortable touching before anything more.
What is the sandwich position in a threesome?
In the sandwich, one person is in the middle, face to face with one partner and with their back against the other, usually lying on your sides or standing. It can simply mean a lot of full-body contact and kissing, or include penetrative sex with one or both partners. With both, it's the most advanced setup there is, so go slowly, use plenty of lube, and stop at any discomfort.
What are the best FFM threesome positions?
For two women and a man, the Double Straddle, Scissor Plus, Royal Treatment, the Stack, and the Daisy Chain all work well. They let the two women be together as much as they each want, rather than both focusing on the man, and most give everyone something to do at once. Which suits you depends on who's attracted to whom, so agree that before you start.
What are the best MMF threesome positions?
For two men and a woman, the classics are the Spit Roast, the Eiffel Tower, the Sandwich, Double Penetration, and the Royal Treatment. Most put the woman at the center with a partner at each end, so agree in advance whether the two men are sexual with each other or not. Double Penetration needs the most preparation: lots of lube, a slow warm-up, and constant check-ins.
How do you make sure no one feels left out in a threesome?
Rotate who's at the center, and agree before you start that you'll take turns, so switching in the moment doesn't feel awkward. Keep hands and mouths involved even when two people are having sex, give anyone who's resting a role (kissing, touching, watching, or directing), and check in out loud. If one person keeps ending up on the edge, pause and change position.
Do you need condoms in a threesome if everyone is tested?
Testing lowers the risk but doesn't remove it. Results only cover infections picked up some weeks before the test, and standard tests don't check for everything. Many people still use condoms and barriers, with a fresh one every time you switch partners, and always between anal and vaginal sex, even with the same person. A doctor or sexual health clinic can help you decide what makes sense.