Guide to Shower Sex - Hot Tips & Positions
Shower sex sounds wonderfully simple. Add two people, warm water and a little attraction, and surely the shower does the rest?
Not quite. Sex in the shower can be playful, spontaneous and intimate, but water introduces a few practical challenges. Wet tiles can be slippery, water can wash away your body's natural lubrication, and that position that looked effortless in your imagination may suddenly require the balance of a professional gymnast.
The good news is that just a little preparation goes a long way. In this guide, you'll learn how to have sex in the shower both comfortably and safely, which shower-sex-positions are worth trying, why lube matters when you're surrounded by water, and which waterproof sex toys can join you under the spray.
What Is Shower Sex?
Simply put, shower sex is any sexual activity that takes place in a shower.
It can involve penetrative sex, oral sex, mutual masturbation, using a sex toy together or simply touching and teasing each other while you wash. It doesn't have to involve penetration at all, but everything around intimacy, touch and foreplay is part of shower sex.
Why Have Sex in the Shower?
Part of the appeal is the setting itself. Warm water, naked bodies and close physical contact can make an ordinary shower feel much more intimate.
The water can also create a different sensory experience. Warmth on the skin and the sound of running water can help make the moment feel more private and immersive.
One of the best parts about having sex in the shower is that it can be a fun change to your normal sex routine.
A shared shower can move naturally from washing each other's backs to kissing, touching and seeing where things go.
Safety Tips To Keep in Mind
There are a few things to keep in mind when you want to have shower sex. Slipping is the main one, so avoid balancing on wet edges. Shower gel, conditioner and lubricant on the floor can make it even more slippery. Good shower sex is less about attempting an ambitious pose and more about choosing stable positions where you both feel comfortable. Use the walls for stability.
Water also reduce lubrication rather than add to it. In fact, water wash away natural lubrication which can make genital contact or penetration feel less comfortable. If penetration starts to feel uncomfortable, don't assume adding more water will solve the problem. Reach for a lubricant instead.
Shower Sex Positions to Try
The Standing Doggy Style - From Behind
The receiving partner stands facing away and leans forward slightly, placing their hands against the wall. The other partner penetrates from behind. This can create a comfortable angle for vaginal or anal penetration while keeping four points of contact between both bodies and the floor or wall.
The Elevator - Oral Sex From Below
One partner stands while the giving partner sits on the shower floor in front of them. This makes it easy to focus on oral stimulation while also using hands for extra pleasure. The position works well for both cunnilingus and blowjobs. You can also add a small waterproof vibrator for clitoral or perineal stimulation. Try changing the speed, pressure and rhythm to find what feels best, and use the wall for support if needed.
The Ballet Dancer - Face to Face Against the Wall
Stand facing each other and use the wall for support while kissing and touching each others’ bodies. If your heights work well together, penetration may also be possible. One partner can lean the back against the wall and wrap one leg around the other partner, to help find the right angle. This position is also called “Ballet Dancer”.
Mutual Stimulation - Touch Each Other
Sometimes the easiest shower sex position involves no penetration at all. Stand close and use your hands to touch and stimulate each other. You get the shower sex without needing to solve the height, angle and balance puzzle of standing penetration.
The Best Lubes for the Shower
If you want the best shower sex where everything is smooth and comfortable, silicone lube is a must! It doesn't wash away so easily, so you can enjoy the glide for long.
5 Tips for Better Shower Sex
1. Don't Rely on Water for Lubrication
Yes, you are already wet. No, shower water does not replace lubricant. This is probably the most useful shower sex tip of all. Running water can wash away your body's natural lubrication, so keep a suitable lube nearby.
For shower sex (without any sex toys involved), we therefore recommend adding a silicone-based lube. This type of lube lasts longer under running water – but be careful not to use too much, as the floor can become extremely slippery. Shop silicone lubricants here.
2. Keep Your Feet on the Ground
When deciding how to have sex in the shower, stability should come before acrobatics. Keep at least one person's feet firmly on the shower floor and use the wall for support when needed.
Avoid leaning heavily on shower doors, taps, rails or soap dishes – they are obviously not made to bear body weight. If you want to do a position where lifting is involved, it’s better to save it for somewhere else with a softer landing.
3. Start With Touch
There is no need to rush towards penetration. You can use the shower as part of the foreplay. Kiss, wash one another, massage shoulders, touch sensitive areas or simply enjoy standing close together.
Taking your time gives your body a chance to become aroused before you try penetration. It also helps you work out which positions feel stable in your particular shower.
4. Bring in a Waterproof Vibrator
A waterproof vibrator can be brilliant for shower play, especially because penetrative positions in a shower do not always make clitoral stimulation easy. When using sex toys, you should add a water-based lubricant to your play.
Before bringing a toy under running water, check its product description or manual to make sure it is waterproof. "Water-resistant" and "waterproof" are not the same thing, so only submerge or expose a product to water according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Shop waterproof vibrators here.
5. Focus on Comfort
The best shower sex is usually flexible. Perhaps penetration feels awkward but oral sex feels fantastic. Maybe the shower becomes foreplay before you move to the bedroom. There is no requirement to finish what you started in the bathroom.
If something feels uncomfortable or the logistics become more work than pleasure, change position or change location. The point is to enjoy yourselves, not to complete an obstacle course.
The Best Sex Toys for Shower Sex
When shopping for shower sex toys, especially those with vibrations, the most important word to look for is waterproof.
Waterproof vibrators are particularly useful because they can provide strong external stimulation.
Whatever toy you choose, follow the manufacturer's cleaning and waterproofing instructions. And when you're pairing lubricant with a silicone toy, water-based lube is the safest option.
Tip: These toys are also perfect to use when showering on your own 😉
Enjoy Steamy Shower Sex Together
Great shower sex doesn't depend on mastering a complicated position. Warm water, close body contact, a stable stance, and perhaps a few accessories can make a much bigger difference.
Keep lube nearby and only bring genuinely waterproof toys under the shower. Then experiment with the positions and stimulation that work for you. And if your steamy shower session eventually moves somewhere softer and less slippery? That counts as shower sex too. Have fun!
FAQ About Sex in the Shower
If you are careful, then yes. The biggest bathroom-specific risk is slipping, so choose stable positions, keep the floor as clear as possible and avoid putting weight on fittings that are not meant to support you.
Yes. Water does not make condoms ineffective by itself. Use the condom correctly, make sure it stays in place and add compatible lube to reduce friction and the likelihood of slipping or breaking.
It is a very good idea to add lube. Water can wash away natural lubrication, so penetration may actually feel drier in the shower. Water-based or silicone-based lube can reduce friction. Choose according to the condom and toy materials you are using.
Silicone-based lube tends to stay slippery for longer around water, making it a popular choice for the shower. However, it should not be combined with silicone sex toys. Water-based lube is suitable for sex toys, but you may need to reapply it because running water can rinse it away.
No. Always check the manufacturer's description before taking a vibrator into the shower. A toy marked waterproof is made for greater water exposure according to its specific instructions. A product described only as water-resistant may tolerate splashes but may not be suitable for use directly under running water or for submersion.
The Standing doggy is a good place to start because it can give both partners plenty of control over their balance. The best position ultimately depends on your heights, mobility and the shower design. But stable and comfortable beats complicated every time.
Yes, and it’s actually a good place to explore anal play, since you can easily wash yourself afterwards. But make sure to use plenty of anal lubricant to reduce friction since the anus doesn’t produce its own lubrication, and water doesn’t really solve that problem. Make sure to go slow and stop if anything hurts.
No. Having vaginal sex in water does not prevent pregnancy. If pregnancy prevention is important to you, use an appropriate contraception. Condoms can be used in the shower and also help protect against sexually transmitted infections.
