How Long Should a Workout Be?

Updated 24 October 2026

Short answer

Most effective strength workouts take 30 to 60 minutes, but the length matters less than what is in it: roughly 10 to 20 hard working sets, plus a warm-up and enough rest to do each set well. If you only have 20 minutes, cut the number of exercises and use supersets rather than skipping the warm-up or making every set easy.

What fits in each time slot

Time	What fits
20 minutes	Short warm-up, 2 supersets (about 12 hard sets), optional 3-minute finisher
30 minutes	Warm-up, 3 supersets (about 15 to 18 hard sets)
45 minutes	Warm-up, 1 main lift with longer rests, 3 to 4 accessory exercises
60 minutes	Warm-up, 2 main lifts, 3 to 4 accessories, some conditioning

Rest periods are part of the workout

Rest long enough to do the next set well: about 2 to 3 minutes after heavy compound lifts, and 1 to 2 minutes for smaller exercises. Cutting rest too short on heavy lifts means fewer reps on the next set.

What to cut when you are short on time

Extra exercises for the same muscle, keeping one per movement pattern.
Long rests, by pairing non-competing exercises in supersets.
Isolation exercises, before compound lifts.

Keep the warm-up and the hard sets. Those are what make the session work.

How much each week

The Australian guidelines recommend at least 2.5 hours a week of moderate-to-vigorous activity, 30 minutes or more on most days, plus muscle-strengthening activity on at least 2 days. Short strength sessions on 2 to 3 days plus walking or cycling on most days meets both.

Frequently asked questions

Is a 1-hour workout too long?

Not if the time is spent on warm-up, hard sets and the rest needed between them. It is too long if much of it is waiting or doing easy sets.

Are 15-minute workouts worth it?

Yes, they count, especially on busy days. Focus on 2 or 3 compound exercises done hard.