Few things are more arousing than bondage. Whether it’s the thrill of restraining a partner or being immobilized, bondage can be a lot of sexual fun. But for bondage to be safe, you must do it correctly. If you don’t, you could injure yourself or someone else. To help you get started, I wrote a guide about the best bondage positions for women and men. Enjoy!
Note: BDSM/Bondage are advanced sex acts, and you must take great care when doing them. Any action you take upon the information on this website is strictly at your own risk, and we will not be liable for any losses, injuries, and damages. Learn more.
Table Of Contents
Why You Should Trust Us
Hi, I am M.Christian. I’ve been a member of the BDSM community for over thirty-five years. During that time, I’ve learned much, done a lot, and educated hundreds of people about the joys of kink.
I’ve especially done classes on the numerous pleasures and potential hazards of bondage. This experience makes me highly qualified to write about the best bondage tie-up positions for beginners and more advanced players.
Best Bondage Positions For Beginners:
The following beginner bondage positions are great and notably safe for anyone new to the delights of restraining or being restrained.
But take my advice and learn as much as you can about bondage safety, especially what you should or shouldn’t be using. For instance, buy only from BDSM community-approved sellers. The same is true for spending as much as you can afford. Affordability is fine, but cheap bondage gear is asking for trouble. Now, let’s get started with my bondage ideas!
Crab Tie
Let’s start with an excellent position for experienced and bondage newbies alike: Crab Tie. I like this bondage position as it allows the restrained person some degree of mobility. At the same time, it restricts their movements in a very erotic way. It’s also an effective sexual position, especially for mutual oral pleasuring.
This win-win bondage position is best with professionally made restraints. However, products designed for it can be hard to find. They’re also often expensive if you can find a set.
If you’re new to bondage, I recommend self-adhesive bandages instead of rope. I cannot rave about them enough. They can be wrapped around a person’s thighs, wrists, or elsewhere. I particularly like how self-adhesive bandages won’t ever get too tight.
This means there’s a lower risk of cutting off someone’s circulation. But that doesn’t mean you still shouldn’t be careful when restraining your partner with them.
How To Do It:
The Crab Tie is remarkably simple to get into. The same is true for how effortless it is to get out in an emergency.
Where to start is up to you and whoever you’re playing with. It can be either by binding the restrained person’s wrists to their ankle or elbow to their knee.
More than anything, don’t tie any of these bondage points too tightly. Otherwise, the bound persons’ elbows, wrists, or knees, might be injured. Ideally, there should be a pinky finger’s amount of room between their skin and what’s being used to bind them, a general rule for all bondage tie positions on this list.
Here’s a step-by-step guide for putting someone in the Crab Tie position.
- Begin by binding their left elbow to their left knee. Be sure to ask as many questions as possible about their comfort. If they aren’t feeling good about anything, release them immediately.
- Next, bind their left wrist to their left ankle.
- Then, all you need to finish the Crab Tie bondage position is to do the same for their right side.
Spread Eagle
There are many reasons why the Spread Eagle bondage position is a time-proven classic. For one, few can top it for providing access to the bound person’s genitalia. Their breasts and chests are also freely available for sexual play.
But it’s probably how effective the Spread Eagle bondage position is for completely immobilizing someone, which is why it remains so popular.
But there are a few things to remember when putting someone into a Spread Eagle position. The top priority is to ensure you can get them out in less than a second in an emergency.
Therefore, you should always have a pair of emergency shears. They are designed to remove clothing without puncturing the skin, perfect for getting someone out of a bondage scene as quickly as possible.
How To Do It:
Spread eagle is a straightforward bondage position to get into.
- First, restrain either a person’s right or left wrist.
- Move to their same-side ankle. If something goes awry, they can use their opposite hand to free themselves.
- With one wrist and one ankle immobilized, do the other ankle before binding the other wrist.
That’s all there is! But as with every bondage scene, never leave a bound person unattended. You should also periodically check in with them to ensure everything’s okay.
One of my favorite things about the Spread Eagle position is using it for sensory or breast play. Negotiate everything beforehand, whether it’s a blindfold, ice, clothespins, or anything else.
Pro Tip: An under-the-bed restraint system is perfect for the Spread Eagle position. You can also make things interesting with a vertical Spread Eagle or bondage equipment like the St. Andrew’s Cross.
Chair Bondage
Here’s a surefire way to prevent a person from going anywhere. Better yet, they’re immobilized in a wildly erotic way. Ideal for chest and breast play, newbies, or the very experienced, the legendary Chair Bondage position is as comfortable as it’s arousing.
I highly recommend using it with a remote-controlled sex toy. Your partner may squirm or arch their back, but there’s no escaping this position.
Does nipple play turn you or your partner on? It’s like the Chair Bondage position made for precisely that, made all the more exciting by placing the recipient in a seated position.
How To Do It:
Before doing anything, get yourself a comfortable and sturdy chair. Ideally, it shouldn’t have wheels or a detachable seat. Chairs with wheels might unexpectedly roll or fall over. Remove seats can become dislodged, making the position less fun and uncomfortable.
- Once you have a suitable chair, bind your partner’s ankles together.
- Move up to their thighs and then around their waist. As you do, listen to what the bound person says. Release them as soon as possible if they say anything is too tight, has joint pain, or is numb.
- After binding their waist, please do the same to their upper chest before restraining their wrists behind their back.
Wall Bound
As stylish as it’s erotically thrilling, the Wall Bound position is frequently challenging to get someone into. But if you’re willing to put more effort and thought into it, the results can be incredibly arousing.
For one, the bound person’s chest is fully exposed, which is why it’s a tried-and-true staple among people into nipple-play scenes.
Doubly-true for kinksters who get turned on by having their submissives freely available for everything and anything. That is, only what they both agreed would be fun to do.
It’s also one of those bondage positions not everyone can comfortably get into. Sometimes it’s joint or foot-related issues or mobility concerns. Hence, NEVER force someone to this or any other position.
Even if they can stand for a long time, clear the surrounding space of anything potentially harmful if they unexpectedly topple over. Place all sorts of pillows in front of and beside them. Better safe than sorry, as we bondage enthusiasts like to say.
How To Do It:
After ridding the area of every possible hazard and making a cushiony mountain around them, you can start getting your partner into this position.
The good news is the Wall Bound position doesn’t require a lot of bondage points to be enjoyable.
- Bind your partner’s wrists behind their back, and that’s all there is to it.
Simple though it might be, please resist the urge to tie them to an upright or the wall behind them. If they are and their knees suddenly buckle, they’d be seriously injured.
No one wants that. Have as much bondage fun as you want but always be safe and careful no matter what.
Pro Tip: You can use the shower as you can use its taps to bind your partner. But be careful with the slippery floor. (Please find the best shower sex positions in this article).
Wide Open/ The Mark
My last newbie’s position, the Wide Open/The Mark, needs a more than less experienced hand to be done safely. Not that inexperienced bondage players can’t enjoy this fascinating bondage position. It just needs a bit more care and caution to get into.
If you do, you’ll learn why Wide Open/The Mark is universally praised. Like how it provides complete and unfettered access to the restrained person’s genitals and chest. This position is additionally wonderfully photogenic and stylish, which is why it features so prominently in bondage fetish sites.
How To Do It:
Wide Open/The Mark requires the bound person to be reasonably limber, so it may not be comfortable for certain people.
To make it easier, try a few non-stressful stretching exercises. Though this position is often shown with someone’s legs pulled far back, it’s also pleasurable with them raised a small amount.
- Once they can comfortably bring their legs up towards their shoulders, gently bind their ankles to keep them in that position.
- If your partner is comfortable, tie or handcuff their wrists or arms to their lower calves. You can find more handcuff sex positions here.
More than any other beginner’s position, be prepared to release them at a moment’s notice. Therefore, using a gag is not a good idea, preventing the bottom from communicating should they be in distress.
Best Bondage Positions For Advanced Players
After trying and enjoying my easy bondage positions, it’s time to move to more advanced ones.
Hopefully, you’ve been furthering your bondage safety know-how, like keeping safety scissors ready or carefully negotiating how and what you will do – not forgetting the importance of universal consent. Everyone must know and agree on what’s about to happen. Equally, anyone can slow down or stop a bondage scene whenever they want.
Hog Tie
Howdy, pardner! Our next bondage position is another classic, sure to conjure up images of steamy, wild west bondage erotica. The Hogtie position is celebrated far and wide as a way to thoroughly restrain someone. Though it doesn’t grant much access to their body, few positions are better for immobilization fetishists.
Bondage rope is commonly used for this position mainly because it’s hard to find restraints built explicitly with it in mind.
That said, try and use as little rope as possible. Avoid the use of overly complicated knots, as well. The goal of bondage is not to show off or prevent someone from getting free. Focus instead on reducing discomfort and preventing injury.
How To Do It:
This is another position where stretching exercises can be of tremendous help.
- After your partner’s limbered up, bind their thighs and ankles together.
- This step is followed up by repeating the process with their wrists and elbows.
- If everything’s going well, try binding their shoulders next.
- Finish this bondage position by tying that shoulder loop to their ankle restraints. (No rope around their neck!)
Bottom’s Up/ LeapFrog
A much simpler position is the Bottom’s Up/LeapFrog. Simultaneously it’s effectively exposing the bound person’s ass and genitals. Why is it listed among my more advanced bondage positions? The answer is that the Bottom’s Up/LeapFrog can be challenging.
But as I like to say, it’s well worth the effort. A big bonus is it’s one of the best sex positions to hit the G-spot. This position is also great for domination and submission scenes.
It also doesn’t require using a rope. Yes, you heard me right. Unlike more than a few of my other bondage positions, plenty of gear is built for it.
The most common are spreader bars fitted with matching wrist and ankle restraints. As effective as they are comfortable, they can also be easily gotten out of.
How To Do It:
Another cool thing about the Bottom’s Up/LeapFrog position is how effortless you can get someone into it.
- Begin with the bound person getting down on all fours.
- From there, they must rest their head on something and then slide both arms between their legs.
- The only thing left is to bind their wrists and ankles together.
Once again, I recommend quadruple-restraint spreader bars over a rope. Besides how comfortable and safe they are for the bound person, they also take much less time to get into.
Pro Tip: For longer scenes, I’ve found a massage table headrest does wonders for reducing neck strain. A pair of strategically-placed pillows can also work. Be sure to attach the pillow to something, or they might end up on the floor and not supporting the bound person’s head.
Frog Tie
One more amphibian-themed bondage position is the aptly named Frogtie. You’ll be leaping from lily pad to lily pad over how sexually thrilling it can be.
More accurately, the person restrained by it won’t be going anywhere. Not even the briefest of bounces across the smallest of ponds.
The Frogtie position has more to croak about than merely making someone stay put. Because the bound person’s legs are kept optimally far apart, it’s outstanding for sex play.
And the benefits keep on coming. For one, it’s great for people with mobility concerns. The difference between it and some of my other bondage sex positions is this one only needs their arms behind their back. The bound person should also be able to spread their legs. But they don’t have to move them too far apart.
How To Do It:
Here’s how to get someone into this bondage position.
- First, bind the restrained person’s upper arms to their upper chest. This step typically requires a fair amount of fiddling to get right.
- Once the bound person’s arms are immobilized, restrain their thighs to their lower calves. Steer clear of attaching anything to the ankles because they are fragile and easily damaged.
If you find yourself struggling with it, try practicing with a pillow. Better yet, spend some quality time rehearsing it with a partner.
Fortunately, several bondage gear manufacturers sell restraints for this kind of position. If you can’t afford them, I find self-adhesive bandages are much less complex than rope.
Box Tie
Here’s an elegant and arousing bondage position that can be enjoyed by inexperienced or experienced people alike. I’m particularly fond of the Box Tie position, as it looks as good as it feels. Even better, it’s a rarity among BDSM positions as it balances arousing immobility with remarkable safety.
How safe is it? The answer is it’s a highly safe bondage position. For example, its only truly right point is the bound person’s forearms. Even so, there’s minimal risk of harm.
But there’s more to like about this bondage position. From breast or chest play to exhibitionism and all kinky points beyond, it’s a blast.
Are you fascinated by the shibari, the Japanese art of bondage? If you are, the Box Tie is right up your kimono. While not as incredibly complicated as traditional shibari, it’s still fun.
How To Do It:
You can do the Box Tie bondage position with the subject standing or sitting. Saying that, resist the urge to start things off with them upright. Here’s the thing: many people find it difficult to maintain their balance when their hands are immobilized.
As great as this position is, you don’t want to start with your partner falling flat on their face. Even if they aren’t prone to losing their balance, all it takes is a tiny foot cramp, and over they go.
- Begin with them seated on the edge of a bed. Having them sit on your lap facing away from you may be easier. This lets you fine-tune their restraints for however long you want or need.
- When that’s done, you’re ready to loop another length of rope around what you’ve already done and your partner’s forearms.
The Box Tie position will be pretty and equally immobilizing if you’ve done everything correctly.
For the restraints, use bondage-approved rope and nothing else. Start by repeatedly looping it around their arms and chest. It’s a fine line between too tight and too loose, so practice will likely be required.
A more strenuous variant of the box tie is the reverse prayer position.
Bent Over (Spreader Bar)
If rear-entry play makes you or your partner grin like a maniac, this bondage position could be just the thing to tickle all your kinky fancies.
It’s made all the more impressive by only requiring the person about to be put into it to touch their toes. Though even they aren’t able to, there’s no reason why the Bent Over (Spreader Bar) can’t be adjusted accordingly.
If it’s penetration play, caning, flogging, paddles, or anything else involving someone’s ass, then this position’s got to be on your BDSM must-do list.
There’s so much to rave about it. The Bent Over (Spreader Bar) does what its name implies. That is, it’s as fantastic at keeping a person bent over as it’s at spreading and keeping them wide open.
What is up to you and your play partner. But take my word for it; there’s not much you can’t do with this kick-ass bondage position.
My only advice is to do it in an area without many hard or sharp objects. This position might be remarkably stable, but that doesn’t mean there’s zero chance a bound person will lose their balance and topple over.
Take a good, long look at your bedroom or playspace with an eye toward any potential hazards. If you find anything, move it far back or do what you can to make it less dangerous. Remember that pillows and cushions are a bondage fan’s best friend.
How To Do It:
Get this position rolling by having the person who will be restrained touch their toes. If they can stay that way for more than a minute or two, you should be okay to proceed.
While technically a bondage position, don’t try to immediately bind a person into it. You have to gradually get used to it, especially how dizzy people may feel during it.
- With enough practice, that shouldn’t be an issue. Then you can go about restraining your partner’s wrists and ankles.
- After that, you can graduate by attaching them together.
Cocoon/Mummification
All of these tied-up positions are great for restraining someone. But if you want to completely immobilize a person, the most effective way is to cocoon them.
You can buy high-quality and professionally made mummification gear or use a less expensive method.
I’m referring to good, old-fashioned plastic wrap. Cheap, flexible, and with the right amount of give, it’s been a bondage favorite for a very long time.
Cocoon/Mummification allows for sexual or sensual stimulation. The use of a Bluetooth-enabled vibrator is a good example. Flogging can also be enjoyable though it may take more force than usual because of the plastic wrap.
But its pleasure of being thoroughly restrained is why Cocoon/Mummification is such a famously fun bondage position.
Though it is not without its risks. The biggest is that the person in it may seriously overheat. Don’t forget that plastic wrap was designed to help preserve food, so it traps heat and moisture.
The upshot is people in this position should be carefully monitored. This includes providing them with fluids and keeping them cool. But even with these precautions, never leave someone in the Cocoon/Mummification for longer than a few minutes.
How To Do It:
It’s not difficult to restrain a person using plastic wrap. The most difficult part is positioning them so they won’t fall and injure themselves.
- A good method for mummifying someone is to have them stand at the foot of a bed, facing away from it. Before you do any wrapping, double-check the immediate vicinity. Look for anything that could injure your partner if they take a spill.
- That out of the way, start by wrapping their upper chest. Never wrap any higher than that or do anything to restrict their breathing. This first wrap is often tricky to do. Mostly it is because you have to hold one end in place while reaching behind your partner and back to their front.
- Now that’s all sorted out, proceed with wrapping them around their chest once or twice. As you do, gradually move down their body until you reach their waist. Never leave the person you’re mummifying unattended. Especially when you get to this point, they may find it hard to keep their balance.
- Now, carefully ease them onto the bed. Having them lay on a blanket is also a good idea. This way, when it’s time to center them, you only need to pull the blanket rather than struggle with a fully mummified person.
- You’re almost finished. All that’s necessary now is to wrap your partner from their waist to their ankles before moving them to the center of the bed.
As I said, don’t keep someone mummified for very long. Use a pair of safety scissors when it’s time to get them out. They are remarkably fast and efficient, which is another reason why they should always be at the ready.
Pro Tip: Here’s a great tip to make the first wrap much easier. Instead of trying to juggle all those moving parts, ask your partner to trap the roll’s leading edge between their right arm and their torso. Trust me. It will make getting them into this Cocoon/Mummification far less frustrating.
Shrimp/Forced Bow
A beautifully elaborate and intricate bondage position, the Shrimp/Forced Bow is as pretty as it’s excellent for restraining someone. However, you must perform the Shrimp/Forced Bow position carefully and cautiously, mainly because it will take longer than expected to put a person into it.
So while you are learning to do the Shrimp/Forced Bow position, take frequent breaks and don’t leave a person in it for long.
How To Do It:
A great thing about this position is that it doesn’t use many knots. That said, it can be challenging to arrange it correctly.
- Start by finding your rope’s center point. Place it behind your partner’s neck, loop it down to their waist, and then around their back. Never put a rope or anything else around or go from the front to the back of their neck.
- Once you’ve made your initial loops, it’s just a matter of continuing them until you’ve restrained their arms, legs, and so forth. Do not tie or make any knots until the very end.
Stay in constant communication with your partner. If they are distressed or uncomfortable, use your safety scissors and cut them free. You may not want to, particularly if you’ve spent a while getting them into it. Even so, no bondage scene is worth putting someone at risk.
Over The Chair/Over The Moon
Rounding up my list of these beginners and advanced bondage positions is this ornate but arousing chair-based one.
Equally enjoyable for penetration or impact play scenes, the Over The Chair/Over The Moon is another visually appealing position. In other words, it looks as good as it feels.
It can also be quite comfortable. You’ll still need to keep tabs on whoever is bound by it. Please pay special attention to their breathing. I say this because some people have reported that laying on a chair puts pressure on their diaphragm.
Using a rope is fine and dandy for restraining someone in the Over The Chair/Over The Moon position. The disadvantage is it requires extra time and effort.
To make it easier and quicker, consider using restraints as well. I’m also a big fan of Velcro strips for this position. They are fast, secure, and can be removed in the blink of an eye. Make them everything you’ll need for a safe and enjoyable bondage scene.
How To Do It:
- Have your partner or playmate lie down over a chair. Use wrist restraints if you have them.
- From there, bind each of their forearms to the chair, followed by the same with their lower thighs.
- Run the rope around their lower and upper chest. Putting a person into this bondage position concludes with using rope to connect those chest loops to their ankles.
Wrapping Up
Restraining or being restrained by someone can be fun, exciting, and arousing. I encourage everyone to try tied-up sex positions at least once because it can be a real sexual game-changer, opening you and your partner to new worlds of exciting pleasure.
But bondage is not without its risks. So whether you are merely interested or wildly enthusiastic, before tying your first knot, learn all you can about doing it safely.
Like with other rope bondage positions, please keep in mind the bondage ties should not be too tight, restricting the blood flow or causing nerve damage. You should easily fit a finger between the rope and the skin. And you need to release the sub immediately if they feel numbness or pain!
Primary Sources
1. MasterClass. Guide to Bondage: 10 Bondage Positions for Beginners (July 2021)
2. Pleasure Mechanics. Erotic Bondage Safety
3. MedicalNewsToday. What To Know About Bondage Sex (February 2022)
And one more time, you’re doing these BDSM positions at your own risk!
Thanks for reading my guide to the best bondage sex positions!
M.Christian
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