Scissors Position: Side-by-Side Guide

Quick Facts

What It Is: A face-to-face side-lying position where partners interlock legs like open scissors for shallow penetration and grinding
Also Known As: Scissoring, Side Scissors, Interlocked Legs Position, Leg Interlock Position
Difficulty: Intermediate (easy to set up; sustaining a rhythm takes a little practice)
Best For: Clitoral stimulation, sustained eye contact, intimate pacing, strap-on use
Why It Works: Interlocked-leg geometry keeps pubic bones in contact, delivering continuous clitoral pressure during the grinding motion
Common Challenge: Slipping out of rhythm (fix: slow down and use pressure-based grinding rather than thrusting)

What Is the Scissors Position?

The scissors position is a side-lying sex position in which both partners face each other at an angle with legs interlocked — one partner's thigh between the other's, bodies fitted together like the open blades of a pair of scissors. Shallow penetration combines with a grinding motion that keeps pubic bones in close contact, applying direct, rhythmic pressure to the clitoris. The face-to-face angle allows eye contact that very few side sex positions make this easy to sustain.

Why the Scissors Position Works

Interlocked-Leg Geometry Creates Contact

The defining feature here is structural. When legs interlock, the pelvis of each partner is pulled toward the other and angled slightly inward. That geometry is what keeps the pubic mound in continuous contact with the vulva throughout movement — direct clitoral pressure becomes a mechanical outcome of the position itself, not something that has to be manually arranged.

Grinding Over Thrusting

The shallow penetration angle means this position is not built for depth. Instead, partners rock or grind against each other, which creates consistent, rhythmic friction exactly where most receiving partners need it. The sustained surface contact of a grinding motion often delivers more reliable clitoral stimulation than deep thrusting does.

Face-to-Face at Rest

Because both partners are already facing each other, eye contact requires no awkward craning or repositioning. The chest-to-chest proximity also means kissing, whispering, and breath-synchronised pacing are all available without breaking the rhythm.

Low Demand, High Feedback

Neither partner carries the other's weight. Both are on their sides, which keeps physical effort low and attention available for what's actually happening between you.

How to Do It

Lie facing each other: Start on your sides, facing each other, close enough that your chests are nearly touching.
Interlock your legs: Slide one of your legs between your partner's. The typical arrangement is one partner's top leg over the other's hip, creating the open-scissors geometry at the pelvis.
Angle toward each other: Shift your hips slightly toward your partner until your pubic regions make contact. You are not lying parallel — there is a slight angle, like two blades meeting at a point.
Enter shallowly: The penetrating partner enters with a slow, shallow movement. This is not a position for full-depth thrusting; the geometry rewards a short, controlled entry.
Switch to a grinding motion: Once in position, both partners rock and press against each other rather than pulling back for thrust-and-return strokes. This keeps pubic-bone contact consistent.

Two partners lying on their sides facing each other with legs interlocked in the scissors position

Adjusting pressure and angle: Small shifts in how far your hips angle toward each other change the contact point noticeably. If clitoral pressure is inconsistent, try angling your pelvis slightly upward. If the position feels unstable, bring your top legs into closer contact so the interlock holds more securely.

Making It Work for You

Classic Scissors

Both partners lie on their sides facing each other, one leg slotted between the other's, bodies at a gentle angle. Movement is slow, pressure-led grinding. This is the base form and the easiest place to start.

Why it works: The standard interlocked angle puts the two pubic regions in consistent contact without requiring any strength or flexibility. It holds for long sessions.

Raised Hip Scissors

One partner places a firm pillow under their hip, raising the pelvis slightly. This shifts the contact angle and can intensify the pressure on the clitoris for partners where the standard geometry lands slightly off.

Why it works: A small change in vertical alignment can move the point of contact from general vulval pressure to more targeted clitoral contact. Worth spending a minute to find the right pillow height.

Hands-Free to Active

In the standard scissors geometry, both partners have one hand free — the top arm. The receiving partner can use that hand to add direct clitoral touch, guide a compact toy between bodies, or simply pull the other person closer. The penetrating partner's top arm has reach for the receiving partner's back, hip, or chest.

Why it works: The position's natural stability means you do not need to brace yourself, which frees both partners to contribute actively to each other's stimulation rather than just maintaining position.

A line worth stating plainly: if the scissors geometry is not clicking immediately, say so. Small adjustments to leg placement and hip angle make a real difference, and verbal check-ins get you there faster than guessing.

Related Side Positions

This interlocked-leg position belongs to the family of side sex positions that prioritise ease of entry and sustained contact over depth or exertion. Close relatives worth knowing:

Spooning — same-direction side-lying with rear entry. Where scissors faces you toward each other, spooning turns you the same way; more back-of-neck intimacy, less eye contact and clitoral contact.
Pretzel — a twisted variation that angles the receiving partner's hips for deeper penetration while keeping the side-lying base. More complex geometry, more depth, less grinding contact.
T-Bone — perpendicular positioning with the receiving partner on their back. Different access angles and a more passive receiving experience than scissors.
Corkscrew — a spiralling side position that shifts angle and pressure points while both partners stay on their sides. Good variation once scissors feels familiar.

Featured in: If clitoral stimulation is the priority, best positions for clitoral stimulation covers the full range of positions where direct pressure on the clitoris is built into the mechanics rather than added as an afterthought. For the broader category of low-effort side-lying options, comfortable side sex positions is worth bookmarking.

The Best Sexy Positions Bottom Line

The scissors position earns its place in a side-lying repertoire through one specific mechanical advantage: the interlocked-leg geometry keeps pubic bones in contact throughout, which means clitoral stimulation is built into the position rather than requiring a separate workaround. The face-to-face angle adds sustained eye contact and easy kissing without any repositioning. It is not a high-intensity position — it rewards patience and pressure over speed and depth.

Our take: What makes scissors genuinely distinct from other side-lying positions is that the clitoral pressure comes from the structural arrangement itself, not from an added hand or toy. That changes the dynamic: both partners can stay focused on rhythm and connection rather than coordinating extra stimulation simultaneously. For partners who want grinding mechanics, eye contact, and direct clitoral contact all in one configuration without anyone having to work hard to maintain it — scissors is the one.

Frequently Asked Questions

What actually happens in the scissors position — is it real penetration or just grinding?

The scissors position combines both: partners lie facing each other at an angle with legs interlocked, allowing shallow penetration alongside a grinding motion. The interlocked-leg geometry keeps pubic bones in contact throughout, which delivers direct clitoral pressure rather than relying on depth alone. It is a real penetrative position, though it prioritises surface friction and clitoral stimulation over deep thrusting.

How does the interlocked-leg geometry create clitoral pressure?

When legs are interlocked like open scissors, both partners' pelvic regions are drawn close together and angled toward each other. The grinding motion that the position naturally encourages keeps the pubic mound in near-continuous contact with the clitoris, applying rhythmic pressure without requiring a free hand or a toy. The shallow penetration angle means the penetrating partner's pubic bone stays close to the receiving partner's vulva throughout movement.

Is the scissors position good for couples with a large size difference?

It adapts fairly well. Because the position relies on grinding rather than thrusting depth, a large size difference affects it less than many other positions. Height differences at the hip level can be evened out by adjusting how far partners angle toward each other, or by placing a firm pillow under one partner's hips. Communication about what's actually making contact helps dial in alignment quickly.

Can the scissors position work with a strap-on?

Yes. The mechanics are the same: partners face each other with legs interlocked, one partner wearing the harness. The grinding motion works identically, and the clitoral pressure on the receiving partner functions exactly as it does with a biological penetrating partner. A well-fitted harness and sufficient lubrication are the main practical considerations.

How do you maintain eye contact without straining your neck in scissors?

Both partners are already facing each other in scissors, so eye contact is natural rather than something you have to engineer. The main strain risk is trying to lift or crane the head. Resting your head on a pillow at a height that lets you look straight ahead — rather than up or down — keeps the neck relaxed. Many couples find that a folded pillow under each head is enough for comfortable, sustained eye contact throughout.