Finding the right masturbation technique for you is like a fun little experiment. Though it’s most common for people to do so on their backs or stomachs, exploring new ways and places to touch yourself can make your orgasm even more intense. One surprising position that is having a moment right now? Masturbating while standing up.

While this may sound too strenuous for solo pleasure, there are those who insist it’s worth the challenge. In a recent TikTok video, content creator Ari Kytsya sought to normalize the sex position by writing, “Nobody on this airplane knows that I stand on my tippy toes when I flick the bean.”

Naturally, people filled the comment section with questions about leg cramps and how to do it without your knees buckling over, while others felt influenced to try it themselves. “Wait, we’re standing up?” one commenter asked. The answer? Absolutely yes.

Experts Featured in This Article

Anna Richards is a sex educator and the founder of FrolicMe, an erotic entertainment hub.

Suzannah Weiss is an AASECT-certified sex educator and the resident sexologist for Fleshy, a men’s sex-toy brand. She is also the author of “Subjectified: Becoming a Sexual Subject.”

The Benefits of Standing While Masturbating

The biggest benefit of standing while masturbating is the novelty of it all. If your body is accustomed to laying down while you masturbate, standing up will bring you a different experience.

“The way your muscles are clenched when you stand up may intensify or change sensations when you masturbate,” sex educator Anna Richards says. Plus, doing this may unlock other interests and desires. If you enjoy masturbating while standing, you may be more interested in standing partnered sex positions. “You will know your body and what angles, positions, and types of touch work for you best that way,” Richards adds.

Additionally, the standing position may also help you reach erogenous zones you may have otherwise neglected. For example, laying down may require you to focus exclusively on stimulating your clitoris, but when you stand up, you can spend more time on other areas that you may not touch otherwise — your nipples, your thighs, your neck, and more.

How to Masturbate While Standing Up

The good news is masturbating while standing is pretty similar to masturbating laying down. The only difference is that you have to be more aware of your balance. “You can hold on to the wall if you need to or even stand in a doorway so you have multiple walls to hold on to,” sex expert Suzannah Weiss recommends.

You may also find that standing up while masturbating makes using your hands a little bit more difficult. For this reason, Weiss recommends using a vibrator while you keep your legs pressed together. (But if you prefer to use your hands, NBD — just opt for standing in a straddle-like position instead.)

If you want to really set the mood, try standing masturbation in the shower. “One fun thing you can do is get a suction-cup dildo and suction it to the wall so that you can actually use it while standing,” Weiss says. “This is easiest with your back facing the wall, especially if you are bent down.”

Should We Be Standing While Masturbating?

While standing masturbation definitely has its perks, you should masturbate in whatever way feels best for you. Though it’s having a moment on TikTok, and it’s always fun exploring something new, if it doesn’t do it for you, then it doesn’t do it for you. At the end of the day, masturbation is all about experiencing pleasure in whatever way works best for you — whether that’s standing up, laying down, or something in between.

Taylor Andrews (she/her) is the balance editor at PS, specializing in topics relating to sex, relationships, dating, sexual health, mental health, travel, and more. With seven years of editorial experience, Taylor has a strong background in content creation and storytelling. Prior to joining PS in 2021, she worked at Cosmopolitan.