Best Halloween Workout Songs to Power Your Sweat Sessions
Photo by Marques Jackson Photography.
By Marnie Kunz,
Certified trainer and run coach
Looking to add a little fright to your fitness routine? Our roundup of the best Halloween workout songs will keep your heart pumping and your energy up - perfect for running, strength training, or any spooky-season sweat session. If you’re a fellow Halloween lover or just looking for some more variety to your usual workout playlists, this post will give you lots of spooky inspo for your next run, walk, or gym workout. You can create your own Halloween fitness playlist with your faves from the list.
Check out our Runstreet Halloween Workout Playlist on Spotify.
Why Halloween Music Boosts Your Workout
Listening to music while working out isn’t just fun — it can actually make you stronger. Research shows that motivational and synchronous music (i.e., tracks whose beat lines up with your movement) can reduce perceived exertion, boost mood, and push people to work harder during aerobic exercise. In one study, listening to upbeat synchronous music improved cardiopulmonary performance and lowered fatigue during physical tasks. A comprehensive review of the science found that during low-to-moderate intensity exercise, motivational, well-chosen music tends to reduce perceived exertion by about 10 % and increase work output, essentially helping exercisers go further with less psychological “strain.”
Related: 25 Best Running Costume Ideas + Tips
Beyond performance benefits, seasonal or themed music (like spooky, Halloween songs) helps keep workouts fresh and emotionally engaging, preventing boredom and offering a novelty boost. In short: if the beat matches your steps and the mood suits your vibe, your “spooky workout music” can fuel both body and mind, giving your Halloween running motivation a serious boost.
Best Halloween Workout Songs
Classic High-Energy Halloween Songs
These timeless Halloween tunes will help you get in the spirit of spooky season while staying focused on your workouts. Whether you’re running a Halloween 5K, participating in our Haunted NYC Challenge, or hitting hiking trails, these spooky, fun Halloween songs will keep your spirits high.
“Thriller” by Michael Jackson
“Monster Mash” by Bobby “Boris” Pickett
"Ghostbusters" by Ray Parker Jr.
“Dragula,” by Rob Zombie
“Werewolves of London,” by Warren Zevon
Halloween Movie Soundtracks
Halloween movies run the gamut from cute and creative to horrifying thrillers. These Halloween soundtracks will add spookiness to your playlist with a variety of sounds, from slower-paced like “Red Right Hand” (perfect for a warm-up) to fast sprint-worthy, like the “Halloween Theme.”
“This is Halloween,” from The Nightmare Before Christmas
“Red Right Hand,” by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds (Scream)
“One Way or Another,” by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker & Kathy Najimy (Hocus Pocus)
“Halloween Theme,” by John Carpenter, Cody Carpenter & Daniel Davies (Halloween)
“Beetlejuice Main Theme,” by Danny Elfman (Beetlejuice)
“Time Warp,” Rocky Horror Picture Show
“American Horror Story Theme,” from American Horror Story
Modern Pop Halloween Songs
A Halloween playlist is perfect for Halloween races.
Pop songs offer fast beats for dancing, running, and sweating through your workouts. Add some of these Halloween pop songs to your workout playlist to keep your motivation high.
“Abacadabra,” by Lady Gaga
“Levitating,” by Dua Lipa
“Season of the Witch,” by Lana Del Rey
“Haunted Heart,” by Christina Aguilera
“Everyday is Halloween,” by LVCRFT
“The Dead Dance,” by Lady Gaga
“bury a friend,” by Billie Eilish
“My Oh My,” by Camila Cabello, DaBaby
“Ghost,” by Ava Max
“Toxic,” by Britney Spears
“bad guy,” by Billie Eilish
“Bloody Mary,” by Lady Gaga
“Graveyard,” by Halsey
“Dancing in the Flames,” by The Weeknd
“Vampire,” by Olivia Rodrigo
“Raising Hell,” by Kesha
“W.I.T.C.H.” by Devon Cole
Photo by Marques Jackson Photography.
Hip Hop Halloween Songs
You’ll find some of the best Halloween workout songs in the hip-hop genre. With uptempo beats and catchy hooks, these songs will help you run faster or lift heavier:
“Haunted,” by Beyoncé
“My Family,” by Migos, KAROL G, Snoop Dogg & Rock Mafia
“Dracula’s Wedding,” by Outkast
“Somebody’s Watching Me,” by Rockwell (Hip Hop Remix)
“Freaky,” by Offset & Cardi B
“Nightmare on My Street,” by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
“Monster,” by Kanye West ft. Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross
“Disturbia,” by Rihanna
“Skeletons,” by Travis Scott
“Zombies,” by Childish Gambino
Rock and Punk Halloween Anthems
Rock, heavy metal, and punk also include some of the best Halloween workout songs, with hell-raising tunes that will pump up your workout.
Photo by Marques Jackson Photography.
“Halloween” by Misfits
“Bela Lugosi’s Dead,” by Bauhaus
“Enter Sandman,” by Metallica
“Sympathy for the Devil,” by The Rolling Stones
“Pet Sematary,” by Ramones
“Highway to Hell,” by AC/DC
“Don’t Fear the Reaper,” by Blue Öyster Cult
“Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked,” by Cage the Elephant
“Goo Goo Muck,” by The Cramps
“Heads Will Roll,” by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
“Runnin’ with the Devil,” by Van Halen
“Living Dead Girl,” by Rob Zombie
“Down with the Sickness,” by Disturbed
“Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This),” by Marilyn Manson
“American Nightmare” by Misfits
Best Halloween Running Playlists on Spotify and Apple Music
If you’re looking for a mix of the best Halloween workout songs, check out our Runstreet Halloween Workout Playlist on Spotify. This Halloween running playlist has slower songs to warm up, faster beats for your workout, and cooldown tunes that will keep you feeling spooky. The playlist includes a mix of Halloween classics, pop, hip hop, and rock tunes.
If you prefer Apple Music, we also have a Runstreet Halloween Playlist on Apple Music. This one includes more classic Halloween songs and is not as long as the Spotify list.
For over an hour of Halloween songs for your next workout with an eclectic mix of music, I highly recommend following our Runstreet Halloween Workout Playlist on Spotify.
How to Build Your Own Spooky Workout Playlist
Building your own spooky workout mix is easier than it sounds, and it can make every October sweat session feel like an event. Start by thinking about the flow of your workout: choose slightly slower, atmospheric tracks (around 90–110 BPM) for your warm-up to set the mood, then transition to higher-energy songs (120–140 BPM) for your main sets or cardio bursts. For sprints or heavy lifts, you can even jump up to 160–180 BPM thrash or punk tracks to push your limits. Matching beats per minute (BPM) to your movement not only keeps you on pace but also maximizes the motivational punch of your Halloween fitness playlist.
Don’t be afraid to mix genres. A great playlist moves seamlessly from hip-hop to punk to dark pop or metal, keeping your brain engaged and your body guessing. Throw in one or two novelty tracks or remixes every 15 minutes to refresh the energy. Aim for enough music to cover your whole session for about 30 to 60 minutes of tunes plus a cool-down song or two. By blending tempo, mood, and style, you can combine the best Halloween workout songs to create a playlist that feels like a personal soundtrack to your workout movie.
Runner’s Corner: Best Halloween Songs for Long Runs and Speed Workouts
If you’re looking for Halloween songs for running, check out these playlists, with slower tunes for long runs and faster beats for speed training:
Photo by Marques Jackson Photography.
Halloween Songs for Long Runs
“Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This),” by Marilyn Manson
“Haunted,” by Beyoncé
“Thriller” by Michael Jackson
“Sympathy for the Devil,” by The Rolling Stones
“Zombies,” by Childish Gambino
“Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked,” by Cage the Elephant
“Enter Sandman,” by Metallica
“Season of the Witch,” by Lana Del Rey
Halloween Songs for Speed Training
“Monster,” by Kanye West ft. Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross
“Down with the Sickness,” by Disturbed
“Freaky,” by Offset & Cardi B
“bad guy,” by Billie Eilish
“Halloween” by Misfits
“Abacadabra,” by Lady Gaga
“The Dead Dance,” by Lady Gaga
Follow Our Halloween Workout Playlist + Haunted Challenge
Want to spice up your workouts with a thrilling playlist? Check out our Runstreet Halloween Workout Playlist on Spotify for a strategic mix of spooky warm-up songs, Halloween running and workouts songs ranging from rock to hip hop, and more chill cool-down tunes.
What’s on your Halloween playlist? Did we miss anything? Comment below or tag @Runstreet on Instagram to share your spooky tunes and workouts.
Do you love spooky season? Join the Runstreet Haunted NYC Challenge to get our free Runstreet Haunted Map with 20 spooky landmarks you can run or walk to across all five boroughs. Then lace up, run to the sites, and tag @Runstreet + #RSHauntedNYC on Instagram. Whoever hits the most spots by the end of October wins a free Runstreet training plan + swag.👻
Related: Haunted Brooklyn Guide, America’s Creepiest Places to Run By, 21 Spooky Spots to See in New York State
Marnie Kunz is a NASM-certified personal trainer and USATF- and RRCA-certified running coach based in Brooklyn, NY. Marnie likes helping people get and stay active to enjoy a better quality of life. When she's not doing fitness things, Marnie enjoys exploring with her dog, a mischievous rescue Akita.
