This is the best time of day to have sex

Schedule it in

The series promises to teach us all a thing or two. Image: Getty

When it comes to intimacy and sex, almost everyone has a preference for morning or night, but research suggests there’s even more nuance going on in the bedroom, with some people having a specific hour of the day they consider to be optimal love-making time. 

Looking into when we prioritise pleasure and seek it out, new research from Lovehoney shows that among the 1000 sexually-active participants interviewed, the majority of us still prefer to have sex in the evening, with 61 per cent of participants saying late night hours are the best times, followed by early evenings. 

Just 10 per cent of participants said they preferred mornings to evenings, with late morning and early afternoon following in unpopularity. 

The least popular time of day for sex is lunchtime, which honestly kind of explains itself. If you’re not thinking about food or feeling full, your mind is likely on all of the other things you need to get done before the day is out, which makes it hard to focus on anything else. 

Like what you see? Sign up to our bodyandsoul.com.au newsletter for more stories like this.

Despite morning being among the least popular times of day to have sex, it was the preferred time for masturbation, according to the study. 

The research also found that two in five adults schedule sex on their to-do lists in a bid to ensure it doesn’t drop off in the relationship. Within the group, 49 per cent of planners were male, and 38 per cent were women. The most common age range among the male planners was aged 45-54, which correlates pretty neatly with the parenting years when sex can fall away from a relationship thanks to the never-ending exhaustion that comes from raising kids.  

Morning is among the least popular times of day to have sex. Image: Getty

While somewhat lacking in spontaneity, according to sex coach Cam Fraser, scheduling sex isn’t necessarily a sign that you’ve lost a spark, but rather shows an attentiveness to keeping the intimacy alive, explaining, “scheduling sex can demonstrate a commitment to your relationship, improve communication and guarantee quality time with your partner”.

He adds, “If sex is scheduled, it can give them and their partner something to build up to, to expect and prepare for... It may lead to more sexual excitement because you’re able to leverage a sense of anticipation and begin foreplay long before you get to the time that sex is scheduled in your calendar.” 

Fraser says that while a discussion of preference is helpful in any relationship, ultimately, it comes down to what works best for everyone involved. 

“Really, the ‘ideal’ time of day is when you and your partner feel like it. Find your own ideal.”

Originally published as This is the best time of day to have sex