Body weight can be used as the main form of resistance so that additional equipment is not needed. HIIT workouts also generally do not require a large amount of space, making the format ideal for a home workout. HIIT workouts can be integrated into various exercise formats, such as running (outdoors or on a treadmill), dancing, rowing machines, stationary bicycles, or stair climbers. The interval durations can be timed by using one to five-minute music tracks.

HIIT can help to decrease body fat, increase strength and endurance, and improve health outcomes, but it is not necessarily better than other exercise formats. Its main appeal is that it can achieve similar fitness and health benefits in a shorter duration, and that it includes periods of rest.

People who are deconditioned, recovering from injury, elderly, have overweight, or have medical conditions should be followed and monitored closely by their physician and an exercise professional, because of the higher intensity achieved with HIIT. It has been observed that for deconditioned individuals, the intensity of HIIT is comparable to what they may encounter during activities of daily living. The American College of Sports Medicine provides screening tools that can be used to identify risk factors using the HIIT format, to lower the risk of adverse events. These checklists include medical conditions that are contraindicated to performing HIIT workouts (e.g., uncontrolled heart rate such as with arrhythmias, uncontrolled diabetes, retinopathy), and symptoms to watch for to end a HIIT workout early, such as a significant rise or drop in blood pressure during the workout.