What American singles are planning for holiday hook-up season

Half of Americans who will be visiting home for the holidays plan to have sex in their childhood bedroom (52%), according to new research.

A new survey looked at what the holiday season has in store for the love lives of 2,000 single Americans aged 18-40.

With 39% of those surveyed visiting home, twice as many of these respondents will attend holiday gatherings solo rather than with a date (44% vs. 21%).

Those who will be going alone primarily said they want to enjoy the gatherings on their own (27%), while others only want to bring serious people to these gatherings (23%) and avoid the awkwardness that comes with bringing a date around (18%).

The survey conducted by Talker Research for LELO found that two-thirds of those surveyed agree that the holidays are the most romantic time to be intimate.

Forty-one percent of singles tend to hook up with people just as often, if not more, during the holiday season compared to other times of the year.

Even though many will be visiting their family during the holidays, one in seven want to sneak in a hook-up or date while they’re there.

Out of the later holidays, results showed that New Year’s Eve leads as the favorite festive day for hook-ups (14%).

To make the most of it, a third of singles plan to get frisky. Although most respondents who have these plans said they’ll go for someone they already know (58%), a quarter are looking forward to a sexy rendezvous with a stranger (26%).

According to respondents, some old flames will be rekindled: nearly a third expect to hear from an ex this holiday season (29%) and one in five plan to be the one to text their ex (21%).

Still, respondents are learning from their mistakes, as 29% have hooked up with someone during the holidays and regretted it later.

Even more, 42% have experienced a breakup during the holidays and half of these respondents regret the relationship that led to it.

Eight in 10 of those who have made hook-up mistakes and will be looking for a sensual experience this holiday season said they’ll try to avoid those mistakes this time around.

To do so, respondents will “not cling to expectations or past memories and be open to other people's perspectives more,” “be more upfront about what I want in a casual relationship” and “set our boundaries right from the beginning.”

But being intimate doesn’t always have to include others: 22% of respondents admit they sometimes bring sex toys when visiting family during the holidays.

Of those who have previously brought a sex toy with them, 46% said someone found it; but 42% of those respondents did not feel embarrassed.

"Although 25% have never used a sex toy during the holidays, but are open to the idea, this speaks to a shift in how singles and couples approach intimacy — with curiosity and a desire to bring joy and exploration into the season,” said Luka Matutinovic, chief marketing officer at LELO. “Holidays are a time for everyone to celebrate their unique journey of connection and pleasure. That's why we encourage exploring ways to deepen intimacy and joy during the holidays, showing that pleasure can be a meaningful part of the celebration — whether for yourself or with a partner."

Thinking about their love lives over the past year, the average single American has had two relationships: one casual hook-up and one serious relationship. However, a third of respondents have regretted these interactions.

How will these heartaches affect them in the new year? Forty-two percent plan on prioritizing serious relationships in 2025, but another one in seven admit they want to keep things casual.

Some of the major love lessons they’ll take with them into the new year are “that I’m a great partner and I deserve someone just as great as me,” “love is a wonderful yet confusing thing” and to “let things go at their own pace, don't rush things.”

"As we step into 2025, it's time to shift the focus of love and intimacy from expectations to what truly brings pleasure,” said Matutinovic. “Whether exploring new ways to connect with a partner or prioritizing self-pleasure, your goals should feel exciting, not overwhelming. Intimacy is about discovery — of yourself, your desires, and the experiences that make you feel alive. Let 2025 be the year to celebrate pleasure, set boundaries that empower you, and embrace the love you deserve in all its forms."

LOVE LESSONS AMERICANS WILL TAKE INTO 2025
● Let things go at their own pace, don't rush things
● If you don't feel it in your heart then don't pursue
● Go with your gut. If something is wrong, listen to it
● Always listen to my partner and nurture her needs no matter what
● To look out for my own heart and interest and not fall for someone right away, just because I’m lonely during the holiday seasons
● Don't be with someone that makes you feel like you can't be yourself
● Not to give my heart out so easy
● That I’m a great partner and I deserve someone just as great as me
● Don't bring past relationships into the present
● Make sure you fully trust them/Don't date people who miss their ex
● Be strong and confident
● Not every relationship has to last forever
● Find love that's real and doesn't play games
● Love is a wonderful yet confusing thing
● That just because someone doesn’t want to be with you, doesn’t mean no one wants to be with you
● People make time for what they want. If they wanted to they will
● Get to know someone before falling so hard for that person
● Never go to bed angry with one another

Survey methodology:
Talker Research surveyed 2,000 singles 18-40; the survey was commissioned by LELO and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between Nov. 9 and Nov. 14, 2024.

We are sourcing from a non-probability frame and the two main sources we use are:
● Traditional online access panels — where respondents opt-in to take part in online market research for an incentive
● Programmatic — where respondents are online and are given the option to take part in a survey to receive a virtual incentive usually related to the online activity they are engaging in
Those who did not fit the specified sample were terminated from the survey. As the survey is fielded, dynamic online sampling is used, adjusting targeting to achieve the quotas specified as part of the sampling plan.

Regardless of which sources a respondent came from, they were directed to an Online Survey, where the survey was conducted in English; a link to the questionnaire can be shared upon request. Respondents were awarded points for completing the survey. These points have a small cash-equivalent monetary value.

Cells are only reported on for analysis if they have a minimum of 80 respondents, and statistical significance is calculated at the 95% level. Data is not weighted, but quotas and other parameters are put in place to reach the desired sample.

Interviews are excluded from the final analysis if they failed quality-checking measures. This includes:
● Speeders: Respondents who complete the survey in a time that is quicker than one-third of the median length of interview are disqualified as speeders
● Open ends: All verbatim responses (full open-ended questions as well as other please specify options) are checked for inappropriate or irrelevant text
● Bots: Captcha is enabled on surveys, which allows the research team to identify and disqualify bots
● Duplicates: Survey software has “deduping” based on digital fingerprinting, which ensures nobody is allowed to take the survey more than once
It is worth noting that this survey was only available to individuals with internet access, and the results may not be generalizable to those without internet access.