One of the most amazing things about sex is that the possibilities are endless. There are countless ways to partake in pleasure and unite body and mind with another person (or multiple people, if that tickles your fancy).
NapLab is dedicated to understanding all the ways people choose and enjoy mattresses, so we have been conducting research to gather juicy insights into the sex lives of Americans. For this round, we surveyed adults across the country to pin down the most popular sex positions in every U.S. state.
Here are our findings:
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</center>What Is the Most Popular Sex Position in the United States?
The most popular sex position in America overall is doggy style, with 29.4% of participants choosing it as their favorite. What is the doggy style sex position? Doggy style involves one person bent over, usually on their hands and knees, while another enters from the rear (though not all sex has to be penetrative). Here’s a little taste of other popular sex positions by state, ranked by the percentage of people who prefer them:
- Missionary (21.68%): A classic, the missionary sex position involves partners facing each other with one on top of the other.
- Cowgirl (19.33%): The cowgirl sex position involves one participant straddling the other while facing upward. Here are some other top-notch sex positions that put one partner on top.
- Standing (4.9%): There are many ways to have sex while standing — these standing sex positions will keep you on your toes.
- Face-Sitting (4.7%): This is pretty self-explanatory — it is also known as queening or kinging (depending on who is on the throne).
- Reverse cowgirl (4.7%): Reverse cowgirl is similar to cowgirl, except the person on top faces away from the other participant. What a view!
- Spooning (4.63%): The spooning sex position is typically a rear-entry position where participants “spoon” each other, or one contours their body against the other, facing the same direction. It tends to be a more tender, intimate sex position, but there are variations to spice it up.
- Sixty-nine (3.89%): Probably the most joked-about sex position. Like the number 69, the participants’ positions are mutually inverted, with each person’s mouth near the other’s genitals for oral sex. The concept dates back to ancient Roman times and is depicted in the Kama Sutra, called “congress of a crow.”
- Lotus (3.42%): The lotus sex position was inspired by a yoga pose of the same name. The receiving participant sits on the other partner’s lap, facing them, with their legs wrapped around each other. It is a Tantric sex position that can fuel intimacy, passion, and closeness.
- Butterfly (3.42%): The butterfly sex position involves one partner lying on the edge of a bed or another surface while the other stands and enters between the legs. It is considered a comfortable and highly stimulating position.
Keep in mind that the most popular sex position might not be the best fit for you, and there’s no shame in that. Sex is a splendid spectrum that’s unique to each person — different strokes for different folks.
Which U.S. States Have the Most Sex?
Now that we have explored the most popular sex positions in America, let’s talk about the states that have the most sex. Earlier this year, we conducted a survey to determine the most sexually active states in America based on sex frequency. According to our findings, Alaska came in first with an average of 2.8 times per week!
That is nearly triple the American average of once every four or five days. Why does Alaska have so much sex? During our outreach, we learned that Alaska’s cold temperatures and rural environment contribute to an abundance of bonking in the Last Frontier.
Sex Positions to Try
If you want to spice up your sex life and experiment with positions beyond the marvelous menagerie we explored here, feel free to indulge in these collections of sex positions:
- 56 Fun Sex Positions for Adventurous Couples
- 60 Sex Positions for Couples to Try in 2025
- 69 Sex Positions to Put on Your Bucket List Immediately
- 8 G-Spot Sex Positions for Deep Penetration and Intense Orgasms
The best sex positions for someone can change from day to day, especially for those with a menstrual cycle or those experiencing menopause. It can be a fun and fulfilling journey to discover new ways to enjoy each other as bodies and desires evolve.
NapLab’s Mattress Mission
As mentioned above, NapLab is committed to helping people select the best mattress for every aspect of life. As sex and mattresses have been bedfellows since the dawn of humanity, we enjoy learning about sexuality in America and around the world. Feel free to peruse some of our past sex-related studies for your learning enjoyment:
- Which U.S. States Last the Longest in Bed?
- The Best Sex in America: Which States Are the Most Satisfied?
- Which Countries Are the Most Promiscuous?
Another fun aspect of sex is that it can be done almost anywhere with some creativity and spatial awareness (let’s avoid committing any crimes or disturbing anyone’s peace). However, we believe that having sex in the comfort of your own bed is truly unparalleled, especially if your mattress is “supportive” of your coital conquests. So, what is the best mattress for sex?
We tested over 350 mattresses across 43 data points, including bounce, edge support, pressure relief, and cooling. With these deep insights, you can choose a mattress that supports both sex and sleep positions. There’s nothing quite like that sweet, blissful sleep that follows passion, especially on a bed that meets all your relaxation needs.
Methodology
Based on an original survey of 1,490 Americans conducted by NapLab. Respondents were asked two questions: “What is your favorite sex position?” and “In which state do you live?”
| In which state do you live? | What is your favorite sex position? |
| Alabama | Doggy Style |
| Alaska | Doggy Style |
| Arizona | Doggy Style |
| Arkansas | Missionary |
| California | Cowgirl |
| Colorado | Doggy Style |
| Connecticut | Cowgirl |
| Delaware | Doggy Style |
| Florida | Missionary |
| Georgia | Doggy Style |
| Hawaii | Doggy Style |
| Idaho | Cowgirl |
| Illinois | Doggy Style |
| Indiana | Doggy Style |
| Iowa | Doggy Style |
| Kansas | Doggy Style |
| Kentucky | Doggy Style |
| Louisiana | Doggy Style |
| Maine | Doggy Style |
| Maryland | Cowgirl |
| Massachusetts | Missionary |
| Michigan | Doggy Style |
| Minnesota | Doggy Style |
| Mississippi | Doggy Style |
| Missouri | Doggy Style |
| Montana | Missionary |
| Nebraska | Doggy Style |
| Nevada | Doggy Style |
| New Hampshire | Doggy Style |
| New Jersey | Doggy Style |
| New Mexico | Doggy Style |
| New York | Cowgirl |
| North Carolina | Missionary |
| North Dakota | Missionary |
| Ohio | Doggy Style |
| Oklahoma | Doggy Style |
| Oregon | Doggy Style |
| Pennsylvania | Missionary |
| Rhode Island | Doggy Style |
| South Carolina | Cowgirl |
| South Dakota | Cowgirl |
| Tennessee | Missionary |
| Texas | Doggy Style |
| Utah | Doggy Style |
| Vermont | Doggy Style |
| Virginia | Doggy Style |
| Washington | Missionary |
| West Virginia | Missionary |
| Wisconsin | Doggy Style |
| Wyoming | Missionary |
Breakdown of America’s Favorite Sex Positions
| # | Sex Position | Count | Percentage |
| 1 | Doggy Style | 438 | 29.4% |
| 2 | Missionary | 323 | 21.68% |
| 3 | Cowgirl | 288 | 19.33% |
| 4 | Standing | 73 | 4.9% |
| 5 | Face-Sitting | 70 | 4.7% |
| 5 | Reverse Cowgirl | 70 | 4.7% |
| 7 | Spooning | 69 | 4.63% |
| 8 | 69 | 58 | 3.89% |
| 9 | Lotus | 51 | 3.42% |
| 10 | Butterfly | 50 | 3.36% |
Source
NapLab
