How Long Does a Deck of Cards Workout Take? Times by Level

A full deck of cards workout takes most people 20 to 60 minutes. Based on what our customers report, a first attempt at a 70-card Death Fitness deck often runs 45 minutes to an hour, regular trainees get it into the 30s, and fit, experienced people finish in 20 to 30 minutes. Beginners often don't finish a deck at all at first, and that's normal.

The clock is the scoreboard. Below are realistic finish times by level, why your time swings so much from one session to the next, and how to actually get faster.

The time ranges here come from what Death Fitness customers have told us in their reviews, not from a formal study. If you have an injury or a medical condition, check with your doctor before starting a new workout, and stop any exercise that causes sharp pain.

How long does a deck of cards workout take?

It depends on two things: how many reps are in the deck and how fast you can move through them with good form.

• A standard 52-card playing deck adds up to roughly 340 to 416 total reps, depending on how you score face cards and aces (see our deck of cards workout rules).
• A 70-card Death Fitness deck carries more work. The Upper Body Deck has 426+ reps, the Lower Body Deck has 396 reps plus wall sits and burpees, and the Core & Cardio Deck has 800+ reps.

More reps means more time, but the exercise mix matters just as much. Fifty jumping jacks go by fast. Fifty burpees do not.

Deck of cards workout times by level

Here's what real customers report for a single 70-card deck. Use it as a benchmark, not a verdict.

Just starting or coming back: you may not finish (and that's fine)

If you're out of shape, plan on a time cap instead of a full deck. One Ultimate Bundle customer coming back as a beginner wrote: "Right now I can do about 12 cards at a time and then I’m done because I physically can’t do another exercise." A Trifecta buyer, SlimyRabbit360, "was surprised at how much of the deck I wasn't able to complete in a 15min period."

Progress comes quickly when you keep showing up. Clay R. wrote: "When I started I couldn't even do 10 cards due to being way out of shape. As of today 2-17-26 I have gone through 60 cards."

First full deck: about 45 minutes to an hour

Most people who finish their first deck are closer to an hour than to 30 minutes. Jordan wrote: "Took me about an hour to do the upper body deck the first time, and about 50-55 mins for the lower body deck." Mike M. was blunt: "Still definitely not getting under an hour." Brad H. and a training partner ran a deck with kettlebells, hoping to get close to 30 minutes: "It took us 44 minutes to complete the whole thing."

Training regularly: getting through every deck in one session

The next milestone isn't speed. It's finishing every deck without splitting it up. Ben wrote: "Still haven't completed a deck in under thirty minutes but I can at least get through each in one session." Once you're here, your times usually start dropping toward the 30s.

Fit and experienced: 20 to 30 minutes

Under 30 minutes for one deck is the benchmark most of our customers chase, and the ones who hit it have been training a while. Jorge C. said: "It takes me 20 min to go through one deck, without add on cards." Curtis, who trains with his son and pulls from all three decks, said: "we are getting 400 reps out of a half hour workout."

Elite: three decks in under 90 minutes

The top of the ladder is our $1,000 Deck Challenge: every card in the Upper Body, Lower Body and Core & Cardio decks, over 210 cards, in 90 minutes or less on raw, uncut video. As of this writing, the verified record is 1:13:28 by Joe Cowan, which averages out to under 25 minutes per deck, back to back, with no break in the clock.

Tristan, a Trifecta customer, laid out the levels like a video game: "1: complete the deck 2: complete deck in under 30 minutes 3: complete upper and lower body in an hour 4: complete all three in 90 minutes."

Why does my time change so much from one workout to the next?

Because the shuffle changes the workout. A few things move your time more than you'd expect:

• The order of the cards. Three big pushup cards in a row will slow you down far more than the same reps spread through the deck.
• Burpees and wild cards. Burpees are the slowest reps in most decks. As Brad H. put it after his 44-minute run: "Those burpees really set us back lol."
• Which deck you pull. Each Death Fitness deck repeats a small set of exercises with a different rep count on every card. The Upper Body Deck, for example, is five pushup variations and dips, plus clapping pushup and burpee wild cards. If one of those movements is your weak spot, you'll feel it on every card.
• Your rep standard. Full range of motion takes longer than half reps. Count the slower, honest reps. That's the only time that means anything.
• Rest. Most of the time people lose isn't during reps. It's standing around between cards.

How do you get faster at a deck of cards workout?

1. Time every attempt and write it down. Log the deck, the time and how many cards you finished. A time you don't record is a time you can't beat.
2. Rest after cards, not in the middle of them. Finish the card, then breathe. Breaking a 25-rep card into 15 and 10 is fine early on, but try to shrink the number of breaks each session.
3. Set a rest rule. For example, flip the next card within 10 seconds unless the last card was burpees. Rules beat willpower when you're gassed.
4. Train your slowest movement on off days. If burpees or diamond pushups are where you lose time, practice them in short sets on other days.
5. Use a time cap while you build up. Set a timer for 20 or 30 minutes and count the cards you finish. When you can finish the full deck inside the cap, start racing the whole deck.
6. Retest the same deck. Compare the same deck to itself. Upper Body times and Core & Cardio times aren't the same test.

Antwon W. didn't come close to the time he was chasing on his first try, and his reaction is the right one: "So I'm looking forward to doing them again to get my time down!"

What if I don't have time for a full deck?

Don't skip the workout. Shrink it. Pull 10 to 15 cards, or set a 10-minute timer and work until it goes off. Robert S. does exactly that: "I can do a full workout or take a break and grab a few cards." For quick sessions with a plan, see our 10-minute home workouts.

FAQ

How long does a deck of cards workout take for a beginner?

Many beginners don't finish a full deck at first. Start with a 15 to 20 minute time cap, count how many cards you complete, and add cards each week. Finishing your first full deck often takes 45 minutes to an hour.

Is 30 minutes a good time for a deck of cards workout?

Yes. Finishing a full 70-card Death Fitness deck in under 30 minutes with clean reps is a strong benchmark that takes most people regular training to reach.

How many reps are in a deck of cards workout?

A standard 52-card deck works out to about 340 to 416 reps, depending on how you score face cards and aces. A 70-card Death Fitness deck ranges from 396 reps plus wall sits and burpees (Lower Body) to 800+ reps (Core & Cardio).

Can you rest during a deck of cards workout?

Yes. Rest whenever you need to, but keep the clock running. In the $1,000 Deck Challenge, rest is allowed and the timer never stops, which is the fairest way to time yourself too.

Is a deck of cards workout enough for a full workout?

A full deck is a complete, hard session on its own. Most decks focus on one area (the Medusa Deck is full body), so mix decks across the week, or combine them, to train upper body, lower body and core.

Start the clock

Pick a deck, shuffle it, start a timer and write down your time. That number is your starting line. The Trifecta Bundle gives you all three decks, 210 cards and over 1,200 reps, plus the same setup used for the $1,000 Deck Challenge. Comfort is the enemy. Beat your time.