Healthy, active living has never been more popular, and when it comes to finding workouts that burn the most calories, you’ve got plenty of options. With so many classes and formats out there, though, figuring out which one fits your goals can get overwhelming.
If calorie burn were the same across all exercises, choosing would be easy. But it doesn’t work that way. How many calories you burn comes down to two things: how long you work out and how hard you push. Longer sessions at a steady pace add up. Higher intensity in the same amount of time pushes the number even further.
Age, body composition, and daily activity level also play a role. Younger people and those with more muscle tend to burn more. People who move a lot throughout the day add to their total without much extra effort.
There’s no right number of calories to hit in a single workout. Your target depends on your goals. If weight loss is the aim, burning around 500 to 1,000 calories a day may help you drop about a pound per week, though diet is a big factor too. More than anything, pick workouts you’ll actually stick with, and rotate your routine so things stay fresh.
Here’s a look at seven popular workout classes, ranked by potential calorie burn. Results vary based on body weight, effort level, and fitness.
1. Barry’s Bootcamp: Up to 1,000 Calories
This military-style class blends treadmill intervals with strength training and can burn up to 1,000 calories in a single session. It works well for people who like mixing running with lifting at a fast pace. Pricing varies by city, with classes costing more in major metros.
2. Tabata: Up to 900 Calories Per Hour
Tabata is a HIIT format built around short, intense bursts. The typical structure is 20 seconds of work followed by 10 seconds of rest, repeated across multiple cycles. It can burn up to 900 calories per hour and builds solid conditioning over time.
3. Orangetheory: 500 to 1,000 Calories in 60 Minutes
Orangetheory has built a solid following around its structured HIIT format. A 60-minute class can burn anywhere from 500 to 1,000 calories, since the intervals keep your heart rate up throughout. The afterburn effect also means you keep burning calories after you leave.
4. CrossFit: One of the Workouts That Burns the Most Calories
CrossFit’s daily workouts mix sprinting, Olympic lifting, rowing, and functional movements, coming in at around 800 calories per hour. A 2014 study measured one popular workout, “Cindy,” at about 13 calories per minute. Regular training also builds strength, agility, and overall conditioning.
5. Boxing: 500 to 800 Calories Per Hour
Boxing burns between 500 and 800 calories per hour while also improving coordination, balance, stamina, and posture. Because it combines cardio drills with strength-based work, you get a full-body workout in one session.
6. SoulCycle: 500 to 700 Calories Per Class
SoulCycle pairs high-energy music and coaching with rhythm-driven cycling. A typical class burns between 500 and 700 calories. Tap-backs, climbs, and upper-body movements keep things varied, and many riders say it feels more like moving to music than grinding through a workout.
7. Body By Simone: Around 600 Calories Per Hour
Body By Simone combines high-impact dance cardio with resistance and toning work, burning roughly 600 calories per hour. Since the format is movement- and music-driven, it tends to appeal to people who find standard gym routines a bit dull.
Final thoughts
The highest-calorie workouts share two things: high intensity and sustained effort. However, the best workout for you isn’t the one with the biggest number on paper. It’s the one you’ll actually show up for. Consistency over time does more than any single great session, so pick something you can see yourself doing regularly. For more ideas, check out the Health & Fitness section. For calorie burn research, the American Council on Exercise is a solid reference point.