BDSM
11 Bondage Sex Positions from Simple to Extreme!
Bondage is a very common kink -- it is the “B” in BDSM after all! Once you’re confident about how to play safe, try out the following fun bondage sex positions.
Bondage is a very common kink, and it's also one of the first things people tend to try when they’re considering getting kinky. (It is the “B” in BDSM after all!)
If you're here, it's probably because you're considering joining the group of kinksters who make bondage a regular part of their play. And that's great! Bondage can have a variety of benefits for your relationship and your sex life -- if you approach it correctly.
With that said, here are some bondage sex positions to get you started -- and some all-too-important info on safety considerations, negotiation and aftercare before you dive in.
READ: How to Tie Bondage Knots: A Guide for Beginners.
Bondage Safety Basics
Bondage comes with some serious safety considerations that often aren’t considered before play begins.
Here are some basic best practices to keep your bondage as safe as possible. Keep in mind, however, that bondage comes with some inherent risk, and all partners involved should understand and consent to these risks before diving in.
1. Talk About Bondage Before You Start
Before trying bondage, it’s important to spend time considering what you and your partner(s) are hoping to get out of it. Aligning your goals and desires is the only way to make sure the positions and play you choose will be the right fit for you.
You need to consider everything from your fantasies to your triggers before you start. For example, some people may react badly to having their hands tied behind their back or being blindfolded. That’s why every aspect of your play needs to be discussed and negotiated in advance. Are there any body parts you'd like to keep un-bound? Any body parts you want to emphasize? Sex acts you specifically want, or don't want, to engage in?
Discussing the scene in advance doesn't kill the mood -- it sets the stage for the safest, most fulfilling experience for everyone involved.
READ: The Basics of BDSM Negotiation.
When you’re considering adding bondage to the bedroom, don’t try it on a whim. Instead, start the conversation far enough in advance to consider every detail. This also helps build anticipation and helps you consider what fantasies you’d like to enact.
Try using tools such as bondage erotica to come up with ideas. Also, discuss your likes and dislikes in different potential scenarios before you dive into anything serious on your own.
2. Never Leave Someone Alone When They’re Tied Up
Once you start a bondage scene, it’s essential the rope bottom stay supervised until they’re untied. That means no quick bathroom breaks, and no running to get your phone or a glass of water.
Treat bondage play like a road trip: Attend to all of your basic needs before you start and keep essential items within arm’s reach.
3. Keep Safety Shears Next to You
Whenever you play with rope, you need to have safety shears on hand.
These are the same scissors EMTs use to cut off clothing -- the kind with rounded tips that can’t cut skin. In case of an emergency, you need to be able to get someone out of rope quickly, and sometimes untying won’t be fast enough.
4. Keep Everything You Need Within Reach
From water and snacks to inhalers or medication, never leaving a partner alone means having everything you need right there.
So, fill your water bottle before you play and consider what might be needed in an emergency. If someone has a medical condition that can become acute quickly, make sure whatever they need is right there.
READ: Water Bondage 101.
5. Make an Emergency Plan
A lot of things seem like a good idea -- and will maybe even go smoothly -- when everyone is conscious and playing along. But what if someone falls or passes out?
It's unsafe, and ill-advised for beginners, to put someone in a position that requires them to support their own weight -- for example, tying someone by the wrists and then attaching their wrists to a point above their head. What happens if that person is no longer able to hold their weight on their legs? Wrists and arms often can’t hold a body’s weight without injury, and someone could be in real trouble if they’re dangling by their wrists. Not only that, but it’s nearly impossible to cut them down and hold their body so they don’t fall further when you’re by yourself.
In short, don't shoot for bondage positions beyond your experience level; and always make a plan to handle any "What if?"s.
6. Only Use Tools Designed for Bondage
From body-safe rope to properly installed hard points, it’s important to use the right tools for the job.
Yes, bondage rope can be a little pricey, but there’s a reason for that: The rope you can get at the hardware store isn’t safe to use against skin. And the plant hooks in your ceiling aren’t designed to hold more than a pothos.
Don’t improvise when it comes to your bondage gear -- use the right tools or find a different way to play.
Once you’re confident about how to play safe, try out the following fun bondage sex positions.
Beginner Bondage Positions
1. Spread Eagle Bondage Position
![Spread Eagle Bondage Position. Person lying on bed with writs and ankles bound to corners of bed frame.]()
Most people are familiar with the Spread Eagle Position, but adding bondage to the mix can make it more exciting. By securing someone’s wrists and ankles to the four corners of the bed (whether they’re face up or face down), you can have complete access to the front or back of their body. The vulnerability this pose creates can make it very exciting for everyone involved, and it allows for a variety of sexy or kinky activities -- like with blindfolds or impact play.
READ: The Ultimate Guide to Impact Play.
One thing to remember: Whenever someone’s arms are above their heart, circulation can become a problem, so make sure to check in with the bound partner regularly. And make sure the restraints on wrists and ankles aren’t too tight. A good rule of thumb is to ensure you can fit one to two fingers between the bound partner's body part and the cuff. (An under-the-bed restraint system can help! It provides soft ties and adjustable restraints to help keep your captive safe and comfortable.)
If you want to turn the standard Spread Eagle Position up a notch, attach the rope bunny's arms and legs above their head. For safety and adjustability, use a separate piece of rope for each limb so you can adjust or untie as needed.
And if you want to learn some new rope work, try a taught line hitch for securing the legs. This is essentially a slipknot, which you usually want to avoid in bondage. But in this instance, it will give you a ton of flexibility to lengthen or shorten the rope holding your partner’s legs so you can make the position more or less extreme at will.
2. Chair Bondage Position
![Chair Bondage Sex Position: Person sitting in a chair is bound by ankles, wrist and throat and is wearing a blinfold and gag]()
Reminiscent of the classic "damsel in distress" popularized by Betty Page, one of the first ever fetish models, the Chair Bondage Position is a fabulous entry-level bondage sex position.
Because the bound person is sitting, this position is easy to maintain. However, it can limit sexual access unless you use bondage furniture or a chair modified with a hole in the seat. There is still plenty of fun to be had without genitals, though! This position can work for oral sex or a variety of forms of kink.
As an entry-level sex position, it can also go well with more mild sensation play, providing a full kink experience that’s still beginner-friendly.
An easy way to achieve this position with furniture you likely already have is simply tying your rope bunny's wrists to the arms of a chair and tying their ankles to the legs of the same chair. If you go this route, be sure to check in advance that your chair is sturdy enough to withstand whatever activities you plan to try.
For this position, try some using some simple bondage rope or secure your partner using wrist and ankle cuffs.
READ: Bondage 201: What to Do After You Tie Up Your Partner.
3. Armbinder Gag Bondage Position
![Armbinder Gag Sex Position: Person with arms bound above head and gagged with binding material]()
Tying the arms behind the neck creates instant vulnerability, and is also easier on the shoulders than having your hands tied at your lower back. The Armbinder Gag position is fantastic because it doesn’t require a great deal of flexibility, but it still takes away control.
A fun addition is to add a gag -- which can be built into the position if you’re using rope or can be added separately if you’re using other forms of bondage.
A gag can be an exciting sensation, as filling someone’s mouth is incredibly intimate. It also adds drool to the mix, which can be part of the fun.
When you’re gagging someone, ensure you establish non-verbal safewords (AKA "safe signals") in case the bound partner needs to stop play.
4. Bound Doggy Style Position
If you’re already a fan of the doggy style sex position, why not spice it up with some bondage?
Start with someone on all fours—just like the doggy style you’re used to—then enforce the position with bondage. Tie their wrists together and secure them to the headboard (or a leg of the bed, if you’re playing on the floor) and then use a spreader bar to keep their ankles apart. It'll look something like the Leapfrog Bondage Position or the Bound Love Triangle Position, pictured below.
![Bound Love Triangle Position: The receiving partner lays on their knees with their hands tied to their ankles at their sides. The penetrating partner stands behind them with their legs on the outside of the receiving partner's and penetrates them from behind.]()
The Bound Love Triangle Position.
![Leapfrog bondage position: A bound partner sits on their knees with their hands in-between their legs, tied to their ankles. A ball gag is in their mouth.]()
Leapfrog Bondage Position.
If you want some extra security, you can also attach a spreader bar to the bed's headboard or footboard, depending on which direction would prevent them from sliding.
Finally: enjoy! This is a great position for spanking, sex toys or even penetration (maybe with a strap-on?) if you’re agile enough to dodge the spreader-bar bound ankles.
READ: 8 Hot Sex Positions That Are Better With a Spreader Bar.
1. Shrimp/Forced Bow Bondage Position
![Shrimp Tie Bondage Position. A person is bent over, sitting with their legs crossed, while rope connects their neck to their ankles. This rope is pulled tight to force the bound person into a deep bend.]()
The Shrimp, AKA or Forced Bow, bondage position is similar to the Hogtie in that it is harder to maintain than it looks. Designed as a torture position, it requires the bound partner to bend over, which restricts their breathing. For this reason, it’s vital to check in frequently with the restrained partner and to let them out before they are too uncomfortable or too short of breath. This position isn't designed to be held for a long time!
One of the useful things about this position is that you can secure someone when they’re sitting up and then tip them over for access to their ass and genitals. Because this position keeps the legs out of the way, it’s more intercourse-friendly than a Hogtie.
Bondage rope can help you achieve this position easier.
2. Bent Over Bondage Position
![Bent Over Bondage Position. Person standing, bent over with wrists bound to ankles.]()
Want to test your balance and flexibility? Try holding a bent-over position during sex or kink play. You can do this in a wide stance, like in the downward-facing dog yoga position, or a narrow stance with your hands near your feet. If needed, using an ottoman or sex furniture (like the Liberator Flip-Ramp) can provide an elevated surface to provide a gripping point for better balance.
