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What music pumps you up while exercising? The walking music you choose may impact the effectiveness of your workout. Researchers have studied the link between different types of music and exercise, and they have found that tunes within specific BPM (beats per minute) ranges can help you reach your exercise goals.

Selecting music based on BPM will help you keep in rhythm as you walk. Different workouts will call for a different BPM range. You might also choose songs with varying BPMs for parts of your workout, from warmup to cooldown.

BPM Benefits

In a research review published by the American Council on Exercise (ACE), Carl Foster, PhD, of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Exercise and Health Program, explained a principle called entrainment, or synchronization.

Our bodies like to move to the beat of the music, and when walking, we want to step in time with the rhythm. Maintaining a regular rhythm makes it easier to maintain the proper workout intensity and keep your heart rate monitor humming.

Choose music with a BPM that correlates to your target walking pace. The faster the beat, the more your walking pace increases and the harder you work.

Choosing a BPM

Choosing walking music for your playlist in different BPM ranges allows you to vary the tempo of your music to match the goal of different workout phases.

Your warmup should include motivational tunes that fall into a lower BPM range (90-115 BPM). Songs around 100 BPM include "Crazy in Love" by Beyoncé and "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Once you are warmed up, increase the tempo. A good moderate walking BPM ranges from 120 to 140. "Move" by Little Mix (120 BPM), "It's My Party" by Jesse J (130 BPM), and "Applause" by Lady Gaga (140 BPM) are great tunes for days when you want to keep your workout moderate.

Experienced walkers may increase to 145 BPM to reach a more brisk pace. For running, choose music in the range of 147 to 169 BPM.

More Walking Music Benefits

The music you choose for your walking workout provides other benefits that can help to make your workouts more effective. The tunes you jam out to through your audio player can have a powerful impact, says Costas Karageorghis, PhD, from London’s Brunel University School of Sport and Education.

Whether you're walking outside or using a treadmill or walking pad, music makes it easier to get through your exercise session if you struggle to maintain energy and motivation during workouts. You may even work harder with a great playlist.

Music "captures attention, triggers a range of emotions, alters or regulates mood, increases work output, heightens arousal, induces states of higher functioning, reduces inhibitions and encourages rhythmic movement," according to authors of a study on music and exercise.

Finding Walking Music by BPM

Several apps and programs can help you find music based on your goal beats per minute.

• PaceDJ: This free iOS or Android app searches your mobile music for songs that match your chosen BPM so you can build your playlist. If you are looking for new tunes, the app also has suggested playlists for moderate walks, easy walks, and runs.
• BeaTunes: This is a shareware iTunes helper that analyzes the beats per minute of your music and helps you organize your iTunes library. BeaTunes offers a free two-week trial, after which you'll need to purchase a license.
• Podrunner: This site has downloads of fixed-tempo music mixes to match your chosen BPM. It is supported by donations.
• Walk by Jog.fm: This app allows you to search for and download complete playlists based on BPM.
• Spotify: Search this paid streaming service for walking, running, or other workout playlists in your desired BPM range.

Walking Music for Playlists

These walking workout music mix recommendations target a variety of BPM ranges. Use these suggestions to mix and match a playlist to meet your tastes and walking goals.

Full Albums for Walking

One of the simplest ways to build a walking music playlist is to start with an album you like. Rearrange the songs by BPM to fit your full workout, from warmup to cooldown.

Genre	Album	Our Notes
R&B	Deborah Cox's "Remixed"	Complements a walking speed of 4 mph
Country	The Chicks' "Taking the Long Way"	A great mix of fast-paced songs and slower options for a warmup or cooldown
Country	Juice Newton's "Greatest Hits: Nashville"	Energetic and fun
Christian Rock	Hosanna Integrity's "Shout to the Lord 2000"	Includes some hard-driving, fast songs such as "Friends in High Places" and "My Redeemer Lives"
70's Pop	ABBA's "The Definitive Collection"	A fun album with many songs that match a brisk walking pace

Walking Music Mix for 4 to 5 mph

For a walking pace of around 4 to 5 mph, select songs with a BPM of 140 and work your way up to 170. This example walking music mix includes folk, country, classic rock, techno, and heavy metal.

• "Toxic" by Britney Spears (140 BPM)
• "Don't Be a Girl About It" by Kelly Clarkson (140 BPM)
• "The Man Who Never Lost" by Maroon 5 (140 BPM)
• "Sk8r Boi" by Avril Lavigne (150 BPM)
• "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" by Miley Cyrus (152 BPM)
• "Back on the Chain Gang" by The Pretenders (153 BPM)
• "Hey Ya!" by Outkast (160 BPM)
• "Gratitude" by The Beastie Boys (161 BPM)
• "Head Over Feet" by Alanis Morissette (161 BPM)
• "Boys 'Round Here" by Blake Shelton (170 BPM)
• "Settle Me Down" by Zac Brown (170 BPM)
• "I Shot the Sheriff" by Bob Marley (172 BPM)

Walking Music Mix for 3.2 to 3.5 mph

If you're looking for a slightly slower pace, this walking music list complements walking from 3.2 to 3.5 miles per hour (120 to 130 beats per minute). It's heavy on '70s and '80s disco.

• "Hot Stuff" by Donna Summer (120 BPM)
• "Please Mr. Postman" by The Marvelettes (120 BPM)
• "Don't Stop" by Fleetwood Mac (120 BPM)
• "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" by ABBA (120 BPM)
• "Get Ready for This" by 2 Unlimited (123 BPM)
• "Get on Your Feet" by Gloria Estefan (124 BPM)
• "Disturbia" by Rihanna (125 BPM)
• "Born to be Alive" by Patrick Hernandez (131 BPM)
• "Gloria" by Laura Branigan (131 BPM)
• "Jump" by Pointer Sisters (134 BPM)

Other Walking Music Mixes to Try

Looking for walking music that spans genres from funk to rap? This playlist has a little bit of everything:

• "Wildfire" by Michael Murphey (80 BPM)
• "Sexual Healing" by Marvin Gaye (94 BPM)
• "It Wasn't Me" by Shaggy (96 BPM)
• "Pon de Replay (Radio Edit)" by Rihanna (99 BPM)
• "Bananza (Belly Dancer)" by Akon (105 BPM)
• "Get Down On It" by Kool & The Gang (110 BPM)
• "Dr. Feelgood" by Mötley Crüe (110 BPM)
• "Strokin'" by Clarence Carter (115 BPM)
• "Don't Cha (Kaskade Radio Edit)" by The Pussycat Dolls & Busta Rhymes (120 BPM)
• "Black Betty" by Ram Jam (120 BPM)
• "100% Pure Love" by Crystal Waters (120 BPM)
• "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk" by Trace Adkins (124 BPM)
• "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" by Tony Bennett (128 BPM)

Or maybe you're a big fan of oldies and late '80s and '90s tunes:

• "Red Rubber Ball" by Cyrkle (92 BPM)
• "Magic Carpet Ride" by Steppenwolf (111 BPM)
• "Centerfold" by J. Geils Band (114 BPM)
• "Sooner or Later" by The Grass Roots (120 BPM)
• "Up" by Shania Twain (126 BPM)
• "Gloria" by Laura Brannigan (131 BPM)
• "Midnight Confessions" by The Grass Roots (132 BPM)
• "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" by The Beatles (138 BPM)
• "Sultans of Swing" by Dire Straits (148 BPM)
• "All My Loving" by The Beatles (156 BPM)
• "Walk of Life" by Dire Straits (172 BPM)
• "Freeze Frame" by J. Geils Band (186 BPM)

How Can Song BPM Improve Your Running Speed?

A Word From Verywell

Remember that music can make a big difference in your workout. Try new songs, create playlists, and experiment with different beats per minute ranges to challenge yourself when walking. You may find a new walking music playlist puts a spring in your step and allows you to boost your workout to meet new goals.

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4 Sources

Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

1. Patania VM, Padulo J, Iuliano E, et al. The psychophysiological effects of different tempo music on endurance versus high-intensity performances. Front Psychol. 2020;11:74. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00074

2. American Council on Exercise. Exploring the effects of music on exercise intensity.

3. A Healthier Michigan. The science behind the perfect workout playlist.

4. Thakare AE, Mehrotra R, Singh A. Effect of music tempo on exercise performance and heart rate among young adults. Int J Physiol Pathophysiol Pharmacol. 2017;9(2):35-39. 

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