These are the 9 best cardio exercise you can do at home — no equipment and no jumping! This is a high intensity CARDIO WORKOUT AT HOME for ALL fitness levels. Raise your heart rate and burn calories with this quick, 15-minute full body cardio workout at home.
When you think of cardio, you might think of logging miles on a treadmill or elliptical, or another exercise that requires cardio machines and expensive gym equipment.
But in my opinion, the best cardio workout at home uses no equipment!
These 9 bodyweight cardio exercises can be done anywhere.
Bonus, this high intensity cardio workout is completely LOW IMPACT. That means, NO JUMPING; which makes this a great cardio workout at home for beginners.
But just because it’s low impact doesn’t mean it’s easy; this is a high intensity cardio workout scalable for all fitness levels:
Follow Rachel (on the left) for cardio workout at home for beginners.
Follow Lindsey (on the right) for a hard cardio workout at home for more advanced fitness enthusiasts.
15-Minute Cardio Workout At Home (No Equipment, No Jumping)
These are the 9 BEST cardio exercises for a fat burning cardio workout at home, no equipment!
And these are just your standard, boring cardio exercises like mountain climbers, jumping jacks and jumping rope. This cardio workout includes lots of variety and gets your moving in ALL directions.
This fat burning, high intensity, low impact cardio workout at home will:
Increase your cardiovascular endurance
Hit your daily step count
Burn calories and lose weight
Boost your mood
Wondering how to do 30 minutes of cardio at home? Repeat this 15-minute cardio workout at home x 2 sets! A great weight loss routine to add to your weekly workout routine.
Repeat Each Move x2, (then move on to the next move)
15-Minute High Intensity Cardio Workout At Home
3 Way Lunge + Knee Drive
Curtsy Lunge to Lateral Lunge
Squat Alternating Toe/Heel Taps
Staggered Squat + Knee Drive
Staggered Squat + Wood Chop
Loaded Squat + Lateral Push Back to 45 Degrees
Step In Burpee + 2 Lunges
Forearm Plank + Alternating Star Taps
Reverse Table Kicks
*For the single-sided exercises, perform the first set on the right side of the body and the second set on the left side of the body.
9 Best Cardio Exercises To Do At Home
1. 3 Way Lunge + Knee Drive
Targets: Lower body — glutes, quads, outer glutes, thighs and core.
How to do a 3 Way Lunge + Knee Drive:
Start in a standing position, feet hip width apart, core engaged.
Step forward with your left foot as you drop your back right knee towards the mat performing a front lunge. Aiming for a 90 degree bend in both knees.
Then, push off your front heel to return to the starting position. Option to tap your left foot on the mat or drive your left knee up towards your chest.
Next, step your left foot out to your left side for a lateral lunge. Think of performing a single leg squat on the left leg; left knee bent and right leg straight. Push off your left foot to return to the starting position. Again floating or tapping your left foot.
Finally, step your left foot behind you, lowering your back left knee towards the mat into a reverse lunge. Aiming for a 90 degree bend in both knees. Drive through your front heel to stand tall, returning to the starting position.
Modification: Tap your foot to the mat for balance support as you return to standing between each lunge variation.
2. Curtsy Lunge + Lateral Lunge
Targets: Legs, outer glutes, inner thighs, quads, core and shoulders.
How to do a Curtsy Lunge + Lateral Lunge:
Start in a standing position, feet hip-distance apart, core engaged.
Step your left foot out to your left side for a lateral lunge as you sweep your arms overhead and reach your fingertips to the mat at the bottom of the lateral lunge. Think of performing a single leg squat on the left leg; left knee bent and right leg straight.
Drive off your left foot, making a half circle motion with your arms as you float your left foot through your mid-line and step back into a curtsy lunge. Bringing your left knee behind your right calf. Again, fingertips reach to the mat at the bottom of the curtsy lunge.
Drive through your front right foot to return to standing and go directly back into a lateral lunge.
3. Squat Alternating Toe Taps (Runner Squat)
Targets: Legs, glutes, thighs, hamstring, calves and core.
How to do a Squat with Alternating Toe Tap Back:
Start in a standing position, feet shoulder width apart, toes facing forward.
Lower your hips down into a squat, thinking about pushing your knees out to avoid the knees caving in.
Press through your heels to stand tall. As you stand, transfer your weight into your left foot and tap your right toes a few inches behind you.
Return to the starting squat position and repeat — lowering into a squat, then tapping your left toes behind you as you stand. Running your arms with each rep to raise your heart rate.
Start in a staggered squat position – 80% of your weight in your left foot, 20% of your weight in your right toes. With your right foot staggered slightly behind your left foot (staggered squat or shallow lunge stance).
Lower your hips, performing a mini squat or shallow squat.
Then press through your front heel to stand tall as you drive your back right knee up towards your chest.
Repeat this movement at a fast-pace as you run your arms at your sides.
5. Staggered Squat + Wood Chop
Targets: The deep transverse abdominis muscle, oblique muscles, legs, back and shoulders.
How to do a Staggered Squat + Wood Chop:
Start in a staggered squat position – 80% of your weight in your right foot, 20% of your weight in your left toes. With your left foot staggered slightly behind your right foot (staggered squat or shallow lunge stance).
Clasp your hands together at your left hip.
Slightly bend your knees as you bring your hands to the outside of your left knee.
Then, exhale as you use your legs, hips and glutes to drive your arms crossbody, extending your arms up overhead on the right side. Think left knee to right shoulder.
Lower with control back towards your left knee. Returning to the starting position, and repeat this powerful movement.
6. Loaded Squat + Lateral Push Back 45 Degrees
Targets: Legs, glutes, quads, knees, calves, core and obliques.
Training in the transverse plane (pivoting at a 45 degree angle), is a great joint-friendly way to strengthen your knees.
How to do a Loaded Squat and Lateral Push Back 45 Degrees:
Start standing in an athletic stance, feet shoulder width apart, soft bend in your knees, core engaged.
Pivot your body 45 degrees towards your right, as you drive off your left leg, transferring your bodyweight from left leg to right leg. Land softly in a loaded squat. Think toes follow hips, so as your hips open to the right so do your toes. Think mini squat jumps at a 45 degree angle.
Then reverse the movement, by transferring your bodyweight from right leg back to left leg (facing center). Again landing in a loaded squat and returning to the starting position.
7. Step In Burpee + 2 Front Lunges
Targets: Full body — legs, glutes, hamstrings, quads, shoulders, chest, back, abs and core.
How to do a Step In Burpee + 2 Front Lunges:
Start in an athletic position, feet under hips, core engaged, slight bend in the knees.
Lower into a squat to plant your palms on the mat, then step back into a high plank position. Shoulders over wrists, core strong.
Step your feet outside your hands, then press through your heels to stand tall.
Once standing, step your right foot forward in a front lunge, aiming to bend both knees at a 90 degree angle, making your front (right) thigh parallel to the floor.
Press through your front heel to return to standing. Then, lunge forward with your left foot, lowering until your left thigh is parallel to the floor before returning to standing.
Repeat this complex full body movement.
8. Forearm Plank + Alternating Star Taps
Targets: Shoulders, chest, triceps, back, abs, core, glutes and thighs.
How to do Forearm Plank with Alternating Star Taps:
Start in a low plank, forearms on the mat, elbows under shoulders, core engaged.
Brace your core as you extend your right hand 45 degrees from your body while simultaneously extending your opposite, left leg 45 degrees to the left. Think about forming a vertical line from your left toes to right fingertips (half star).
Then bring your right arm and left leg back to center.
Repeat this opposite arm and opposite leg extension on the other side (left hand and right leg).
Modification: Perform the star taps from table top position instead of a low forearm plank.
9. Reverse Table Kicks
Targets: Shoulders, triceps, back, glutes, hamstrings, abs and core.
How to do a Reverse Table Top Kicks:
Start sitting on the mat, legs bent at 90 degrees in front of you and feet planted on the mat. Place your hands on the mat behind you, fingertips facing your butt. Lean back so your shoulders are over your wrists.
Then thrust your hips upward, squeezing your glutes, as you as you extend your left leg straight in front of you. Think of driving or kicking through your left heel.
Return your left foot to the mat as you lower your hips to hover one inch off the mat. Never letting your hips touch the mat or rest on the mat.
Then repeat the movement, thrusting your hips upward and kicking through your right leg.
Pin this Workout: 15-Minute Cardio At Home, No Equipment
Love the variety of all you do. Even for busy people, anyone can find 15 minutes. Also, curious about what type of watch you have. Thanks again for all your content!
Hi Kathryn! I’m so glad you’re loving the variety of workouts! We are all about quick and effective home workouts that get the job done. And I currently have the Samsung Galaxy Active 2 Watch (affiliate link) https://amzn.to/2UI56no. But I’ve also used the Fit Bit Versa and really like that as well! -Lindsey
Love the variety of all you do. Even for busy people, anyone can find 15 minutes. Also, curious about what type of watch you have. Thanks again for all your content!
Hi Kathryn! I’m so glad you’re loving the variety of workouts! We are all about quick and effective home workouts that get the job done. And I currently have the Samsung Galaxy Active 2 Watch (affiliate link) https://amzn.to/2UI56no. But I’ve also used the Fit Bit Versa and really like that as well! -Lindsey