Few activities are as beneficial for your overall health as exercise, and some activities are better for burning calories than others. Knowing what exercise burns the most calories is important so you can figure out which activities to maximize for weight loss and improved health and fitness.
In this article, we’ll cover 60 serious contenders for the title of “exercise that burns the most calories.” We’ll rank them according to the estimated number of calories burned in an hour and explain how different types of exercise can help you burn more calories.
1. Jumping rope – estimate of 1000 calories in an hour
2. Running – estimate of 876 calories in an hour
3. Swimming – estimate of 784 calories in an hour
4. HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) – estimate of 783 calories in an hour
5. Cycling – estimate of 680 calories in an hour
6. Racquetball – estimate of 598 calories in an hour
7. Elliptical – estimate of 590 calories in an hour
8. Stair climbing – estimate of 545 calories in an hour
9. Rowing – estimate of 534 calories in an hour
10. Aerobics – estimate of 517 calories in an hour
11. Volleyball – estimate of 504 calories in an hour
12. Basketball – estimate of 492 calories in an hour
13. Kickboxing – estimate of 492 calories in an hour
14. Football – estimate of 490 calories in an hour
15. Step aerobics – estimate of 471 calories in an hour
16. Hiking – estimate of 465 calories in an hour
17. Cross-country skiing – estimate of 452 calories in an hour
18. Weightlifting – estimate of 440 calories in an hour
19. Yoga – estimate of 430 calories in an hour
20. Rock climbing – estimate of 430 calories in an hour
21. Pilates – estimate of 396 calories in an hour
22. Dance – estimate of 396 calories in an hour
23. Skipping – estimate of 369 calories in an hour
24. Body combat – estimate of 357 calories in an hour
25. Water aerobics – estimate of 357 calories in an hour
26. Badminton – estimate of 357 calories in an hour
27. Tai Chi – estimate of 342 calories in an hour
28. Boxing / sparring – estimate of 342 calories in an hour
29. Resistance band training – estimate of 295 calories in an hour
30. Table tennis – estimate of 295 calories in an hour
31. Walking – estimate of 295 calories in an hour
32. Zumba – estimate of 294 calories in an hour
33. Circuit training – estimate of 279 calories in an hour
34. Track and field – estimate of 263 calories in an hour
35. Sprints – estimate of 244 calories in an hour
36. Gardening – estimate of 244 calories in an hour
37. Squash – estimate of 244 calories in an hour
38. Calisthenics – estimate of 209 calories in an hour
39. Softball – estimate of 163 calories in an hour
40. Baseball – estimate of 162 calories in an hour
41. Lawn mowing – estimate of 153 calories in an hour
42. Golf – estimate of 153 calories in an hour
43. Cleaning house – estimate of 131 calories in an hour
44. Racing – estimate of 131 calories in an hour
45. Horseback riding – estimate of 131 calories in an hour
46. Paddle boarding – estimate of 116 calories in an hour
47. Fishing – estimate of 116 calories in an hour
48. Kayaking – estimate of 103 calories in an hour
49. Bowling – estimate of 103 calories in an hour
50. Archery – estimate of 97 calories in an hour
51. Walking the dog – estimate of 97 calories in an hour
52. Frisbee – estimate of 81 calories in an hour
53. Horse shoe – estimate of 81 calories in an hour
54. Beach Volleyball – estimate of 81 calories in an hour
55. Ice skating – estimate of 81 calories in an hour
56. Touch football – estimate of 81 calories in an hour
57. Treadmill – estimate of 65 calories in an hour
58. Cooking – estimate of 65 calories in an hour
59. Driving – estimate of 65 calories in an hour
60. Yoga Nidra – estimate of 32 calories in an hour
Obviously, some exercises burn more calories than others. Generally, the higher intensity exercises (like running and HIIT) burn more calories than lower intensity ones (like yoga). However, even low-intensity exercises like yoga can have a significant impact when done consistently and for longer periods of time and can help burn additional calories even after your workout ends.
Furthermore, factors such as how often and how intensely you exercise and how much you weigh can also affect how many calories you can burn. After all, someone who weighs more is going to burn more calories doing the same activity than someone who weighs less.
So if you’re looking for an exercise that will burn the most calories, consider one of these 60 serious contenders. With the right amount of effort and consistency, you can see impressive results.
