50 best workout songs for motivation, according to fitness instructors

Tracey Anne Duncan

October 31, 2024 at 11:21 PM·4 min read

Listening to music when you exercise can make you feel more energetic. (Brooke Schaal Photography / Getty Images) — Listening to music when you exercise can make you feel more energetic.

On days you don't feel like working out, music can help get you motivated. Whether you're looking for music for walking or need a beat to get you hyped for a more intense gym session, this list of the best workout songs will have something for you.

Don't believe that rocking out while you exercise will help you burn more calories? Research shows that tunes really do boost a workout. A study from 2006 found that music can make you feel less fatigue and overall more comfortable while exercising. And a review from 2021 found music is one of the least expensive and most accessible ways to make you perform better while exercising.

TODAY.com spoke with trainers and other fitness connoisseurs and asked them to share their favorite workout songs. Below is a list of 50 of their top 50 picks, plus a few freebies for fun.

Stephanie Mansour, Personal Trainer and TODAY Fitness Contributor

“Good as Hell” by Lizzo
“Crazy in Love” by Beyoncé
“Jumpin’ Jumpin’” by Destiny’s Child
“Stronger” by Britney Spears
“That’s What I Like” by Bruno Mars
“Once in a Lifetime” by Flo Rida
“Where’s the Love” by Hanson
“Dear Future Husband” by Meghan Trainor
“Cold Heart” by Elton John
“A Whole New World” by Brad Kane and Lea Salonga

“I view my workout music as my own personal pump up time,” Mansour tells TODAY.com. “It makes me feel more confident about myself, about my body. I like really listen to the words and like the energy of the singer.”

Rebecca Kennedy, Peloton Instructor

“Alive” by Gorgon City & Pax
“Make it Happen” by Rufus du Sol
“A Deeper Love (Sam Halabi remix)” by Aretha Franklin
“Dreams and Nightmares” by Meek Mill
“Gypsy Woman (Gianni Coletti KeeJay Freak Remix)” by Crystal Waters
“Stop this Flame (MK REMIX)” by Celeste
“Dancing on My Own” by Robyn
“Awa Ni (JAMES HYPE REMIX)” by The Knocks featuring Kah-Lo
“People Aint Dancing” by Billen Ted featuring Kah-Lo
“My High” by Disclosure featuring Slowthai
“San Frandisco” by Dom Dolla

“I need a beat! Songs that make you feel something, I love a deep house track that gets my heart rate up, makes me want to dance, and while I love lyrics, I genuinely crave the way these songs make me feel,” Kennedy tells TODAY.com via email.

Denis Morton, Peloton Instructor

“The Pot” by TOOL
“Digital Love” by Daft Punk
“Thunderstruck” by AC/DC
“Open Your Eyes” by Snow Patrol
“Clubbed to Death (Kurayamino Variation)” by Rob Dougan
“Pumpin’ Blood (Chainsmokers Remix)” by NONONO
“Pennywise Tribute” by Bassnectar
“Ruff Ryders Anthem” by DMX
“‘Till I Collapse” by Eminem
“Legend” by The Score

“The beat, the build, the lyrics — whatever musical element speaks to us, it can create an arc for us to follow into the movement and the moment and inspire us to move beyond our expectations,” Morton tells TODAY.com via email.

Jess Sims, Peloton Instructor

“Friday (Dopamine Re-edit)” by Friday featuring Mufasa & Hypeman
“Texts Go Green” by Drake
“Blessed” by Shenseea featuring Tyga
“KEEP GOING” by DJ Khaled
“He wasn’t Man Enough” by Toni Braxton
“Grrrls” by Lizzo
“Fantasy” by Mariah Carey
“B*tch Better Have my Money” by Rihanna
“Show Me Love” by Robin S.
“Break my Soul” by Beyoncé

“In the moments of self-doubt, I pray for my girl Rihanna to come remind me who I am,” Sims tells TODAY.com in an email. And “KEEP GOING” helps her do just that. “I literally sing the words out loud to ‘keep going’ through the toughest moments of my workout,” Sims says.

Ash Pryor, Peloton Instructor

“Remember This” by NF
“I Am Here” by P!NK
“Don’t Let Me Let Go” by Dillion Francis &ILLENIUM featuring Evan Gia
“Bikini Bottom” by Ice Spice
“Pick up the Pace” by BIG K.R.I.T.
“Dancin” by Kash Doll
“Better in Color” by Lizzo
“Gladiator” by Zayde Wolf
“Got to Be Real” by Cheryl Lynn
“Red Eye” by Justin Bieber and Troy Boi

“Taking your mood and what you need into consideration are both important factors when choosing workout music because the playlist can impact how effective you will be,” Pryor tells TODAY via email.

Rad Lopez, Peloton Instructor

“Cold Hearted II” by Meek Mill
“Spectrum (Say My Name) Calvin Harris Remix” by Florence + The Machine
“Hasta Que Dios Diga” by Anuel AA, Bad Bunny
“Mr. Carter” by Lil Wayne and JAY-Z
“Mayback Curtains” by Meek Mill, featuring Nas, John Legend, Rick Ross
“Midnight City” by M83
“Efecto” by Bad Bunny
“Quevedo” by Bizzarrap & Quevedo
“Nazareno” by Farruko
“Frozen” by Lil Baby

“There is absolutely no doubt that music can drive a workout, the mood of the workout and the overall enjoyment of it, too,” Lopez tells TODAY.com in an email.

Don’t feel like picking and choosing? Don’t worry. Check out this this playlist of all the songs.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com

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