General gym trends suggest that most people are hitting a post-work workout, and avoiding the gym in the early mornings and late nights (gym bros have to party too). You're also less likely to find a crowded gym later on the weekends, when people might be relaxing, recovering, or just taking a rest day.
Overall, mid-morning and early afternoon are the least crowded times for most gyms, while early mornings (6:00 AM – 9:00 AM) and after-work hours (5:00 PM – 7:00 PM), early evening tend to be the busiest.
Quiet times to attend the gym
2pm-4pm - This is right after lunch when everyone has gone back to work but before the working day ends. 8pm onwards - The crowds will start to trail off as everyone is heading home and completing their after-work gym sessions.
The gym is often least crowded during early mornings, late mornings, early afternoons, late evenings, and weekends. However, specific times can vary based on the gym's location and schedule.
Not to mention, gyms are quietest in the early hours of the morning - particularly before 6am. So take advantage of the peace, and get it done bright and early! Naturally, a super early session isn't for everyone… Night owls, don't panic, there are plenty of alternative times for you to get your sweat on!
If your gym is open 24 hours a day, it will be quietest during the early morning hours, probably from midnight until around 6 am.
As a baseline, the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends that all adults receive 150 minutes of aerobic activity each week. This could be: 7 days per week, 20–25 minutes per workout. 6 days per week, 25 minutes per workout.
Overall, the experts agree: Exercising in the morning is the best time of day to work out for logistical, effective and health reasons. When it comes to weight loss, a 2023 study published in the journal Obesity found exercising between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. could help.
Some might think that the weekends are the busier time to visit the gym when many people have more free time, but looking at this data, it seems the opposite is true, and Saturday and Sunday are on the quieter side. Monday and Tuesday are consistently the busiest days of the week year after year.
DEK: Typically speaking, there are two main times of the year in which the fitness industry experiences slower months: the family-centered holiday season in November through December and the peak of summer in June and July.
Based on recent data, gyms are generally least busy during late-night hours and early mornings, specifically between 12 AM and 5 AM. Monday mornings are notably quieter compared to other times of the week.
Hence, you should seriously consider enrolling them in dance, gymnastics, football, badminton, martial arts or any other sports class. As far as joining a gym is considered, the ideal age is 17-18 years as their body becomes mature to lift weights and do powerlifting, bodybuilding and high resistance training.
The 5/3/1 Method Training Cycle
Week one: For each workout, perform three sets of five reps (three x five) of one lifting exercise. So for example, on Monday, do three x five of bench presses, Wednesday three x five of squats, Friday three x five of shoulder presses, and Saturday three x five of deadlifts.
The truth is that exercising in a fasted state will indeed help you burn fat calories faster. You may see the number on the scale decrease. However, exercising on an empty stomach will also cause you to lose lean muscle mass at the same time, which can hinder long-term weight loss.
Lunchtime: Some people like to take a break from work and hit the gym during lunch, so expect crowds between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. After work: This is the most popular time to hit the gym, so expect crowds between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
How Long Should I Be in the Gym per Session? Aim for 30-60 minutes per session for general fitness and health. However, if you're trying to build strength or endurance, you may need longer sessions. On the other hand, if you're short on time, even a 20-minute workout can be effective.
In most cases, they are as good as afternoon/evening workouts. And certainly better than no exercise at all! There are some situations in which a later workout might be better for you. But if you have time to warm up and exercising in the morning is your way to stay consistent – go for it.
According to these recommendations, beginner exercisers should work up to three to four 40-minute gym sessions per week. If that doesn't seem realistic, remember, completing a 15-minute workout is better than skipping a 40-minute workout entirely.
Depending on your exercise goals, there may be specific benefits to working out at a particular time of day. “But for most of us who want to exercise for general health effects, the best time is the time that works best for your lifestyle and allows you to perform it regularly,” says cardiologist Erik Van Iterson, PhD.