The Best Fat Burners For Men For Value, Bodybuilding, And More

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Losing fat takes a ton of work. To get lean, your macros need to be dialed in, your workout split organized, and your will power dialed up to 11. But the benefits can be worth it to a point. You can pump out more bodyweight exercises, clothes fit better, you feel lighter and faster, and sporting abs is one way to signal to the world that you’re disciplined, hard-working, and dedicated.

If you’re a guy, and your diet and training are on point, then a fat burner may help speed up and optimize your efforts (but it certainly won’t do the work for you). Packed with ingredients that coax calorie-burn, a quality fat burner may help you shed those last few pounds. There are, however, many options, and some may be better for you than others. Below, we’ve culled the best fat burners for men that are budget-friendly, stim-free, and can even help you retain muscle. We also explain how fat burners work and list fat-burning ingredients linked to testosterone production, which men, specifically, should look out for.

Best Fat Burners for MenEditor’s note: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended for the diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before beginning a new fitness, nutritional, and/or supplement routine.

The Best Overall Fat BurnerIf you’re looking to potentially shave off some fat while retaining the muscle you build in the gym, a fat burner could help — this pick is straightforward, effective, and reasonably priced.

Jacked Factory BURN-XTThe Jacked Factory BURN-XT contains all your big-hitter fat burning ingredients like l-carnitine that may help turn fat into energy, green tea leaf extract that can help with weight loss and blood sugar, caffeine that can help boost fat burn and energy levels, cayenne pepper fruit extract that can up metabolism, and black pepper extract, which can help you absorb it all. Jacked Factory doesn’t use any fillers or dyes in their capsules, and you can take one or two pills at once — just make sure you take them with a meal to avoid digestive issues.

Jacked Factory BURN-XT

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Jacked Factory's formula will save you money, but not at the expense of quality and efficacy. Each bottle contains 120 single-capsule servings that each provide 350 milligrams of L-carnitine.

Who Should Take Jacked Factory BURN-XT
  • Athletes who want all the basic fat burning ingredients packed into one supplement.
  • This product is vegan-friendly, sporting a veggie capsule.
  • Anyone who wants to avoid dyes and fillers — this product is free of both.
Who Shouldn’t Take Jacked Factory BURN-XT
  • People who don’t want to have to take their supplement with a meal.
  • Folks looking for a non-stim fat burner — this product does contain caffeine.
Jacked Factory BURN-XT contains both fat-burning supplements and caffeine for energy, as well as black pepper extract to help with absorption of these ingredients. Plus, it comes in at a reasonable price, so you won’t have to break the bank to get your hands on it.

Best Belly Fat Burner for MenFor anyone who’s trying to get rid of stubborn belly fat, this product — though more expensive than some other options on this list — may be your best bet.

PhenGoldWhile PhenGold includes all of the major fat burning ingredients, it also throws in some extra ingredients to potentially help you have a better workout. Like most fat burners, it contains cayenne pepper, caffeine, and green tea. But unlike some other fat burners, PhenGold also includes rhodiola SP that can help combat workout fatigue so you can potentially work harder and longer in the gym. It also contains l-theanine, which can help increase your metabolism. On top of that, PhenGold includes tyrosine, which may help you stay focused for longer, giving you more time to hone in on your resistance training in the gym. Plus, this product is soy free, lactose free, GMO free and vegan, and it’s label is fully transparent with its ingredients and their amounts.

PhenGold

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Clinically-backed and chockfull of the right doses of the right ingredients, PhenGold is a premium buy for those serious about burning fat.

Who Should Take PhenGold
  • Anyone who’s targeting belly fat who could use some help staying focused, fighting fatigue, and burning fat.
  • Customers who value a transparent label that lists all of the ingredients and their amounts.
  • Vegans who need a capsule that is free of animal products to meet their dietary restrictions.
Who Shouldn’t Take PhenGold
  • Buyers looking for a cost-effective fat burning supplement — this product is more expensive than others on this list.
  • Anyone who doesn’t value a robust list of ingredients, and therefore, does not need to pay for it.
  • People who exercise late at night or want to avoid stimulants in their fat burner for dietary reasons should note that this product contains caffeine.
If you’re targeting stubborn belly fat, it’s beneficial to have added ingredients in your fat burner that may help you focus and fight fatigue while sticking to your calorie deficit and resistance training plan. This product is the full package when it comes to potentially boosting mood, energy, and fat loss.

Best Thermogenic Fat Burner for MenThermogenic fat burners can help raise your body temperature to increase the amount of calories you burn. This product’s cayenne pepper extract is key in this metabolic boost.

Transparent Labs Fat BurnerCayenne pepper extract contains capsaicinoids — the ingredient that makes the peppers spicy — which can help with weight loss through thermogenesis. This isn’t the only helpful fat burning ingredient in this product. Transparent Labs Fat Burner also contains forslean, which can help promote the release of fatty acids from fat tissue, and green tea and 5-HTP, which both may help boost metabolism. In addition, you’ll find mood-, focus-, and energy-boosting ingredients like tyrosine, theanine, and caffeine. For the best results, Transparent Labs does encourage you to take two of these capsules twice daily, however, which may be a lot of pills for the pill-adverse.

10% Off

Transparent Labs Fat Burner

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This fat burner contains research suggested ingredient amounts of green tea extract, as well as synephrine, and HTP-5, which may suppress your appetite.

Who Should Take Transparent Labs Fat Burner
  • Anyone looking for a fat burner that can potentially increase calorie burn through thermogenesis.
  • People who value a robust ingredient list that can help with fat burn, mood, energy, and focus.
  • Anyone looking to have caffeine included in their fat burning supplement.
Who Shouldn’t Take Transparent Labs Fat Burner
  • Folks who don’t like having to take a lot of pills. You have to take two of these twice daily.
  • Those who are trying to limit their caffeine consumption or avoid caffeine altogether — this product contains 240mg.
Thermogenic fat burners can help raise your body temperature to increase your metabolism. This product’s cayenne pepper extract is a key factor in this process.

Best Natural Fat Burner for MenIf you’re looking to potentially burn excess fat without harsh stimulants or harmful chemicals, a natural fat burner is the way to go — this one is one of our favorites.

Legion Phoenix Fat BurnerThis product is a 100 percent natural, stimulant-free fat burner. Legion Phoenix Fat Burner contains no artificial sweeteners, food dyes, or unwanted fillers for a natural, fat burning blend. We also like that Legion has a track record of transparency, including what’s listed in this fat burner, and about the dosing and science behind the ingredients used. These include Thai ginseng, 5-HTP, caralluma fimbriata, and forskolin, which all can help burn fat, suppress appetite, and regulate metabolism. (1) Plus, Legion has included an added dose of B vitamins, which can help with focus.

Legion Phoenix

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Legion's Phoenix comes with an extra absorbable form of synephrine and a high dosage of EGCG to promote its fat-burning properties. Each five-capsule serving provides 834 milligrams of Citrus Aurantium.

Who Should Buy Legion Phoenix Fat Burner
  • People who appreciate and want not just complete doses, but a science-backed reason for why each ingredient was chosen.
  • Anyone looking for fair pricing. Considering the dosing and ingredient quality, Legion prices their formula pretty reasonably.
  • Athletes who want to avoid artificial sweeteners, food dyes, and fillers in their fat burner.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Legion Phoenix Fat Burner
  • Men who are pill adverse; this formula requires that you take three pills a day.
  • Those who don’t need a long list of ingredients in their fat burner — while this product is natural, it does have a lot of ingredients to sift through, and you can find other options out there with a shorter list just focused on fat burn if that’s what you’re interested in.
While Legion is transparent in their ingredient-listing, they also keep it all-natural, avoiding artificial sweeteners, food dyes, and fillers, and focusing on high quality ingredients.

Best Fat Burner Powder for MenFor the pill-adverse, there are still fat burner options for you on the market. This pick comes in individual stick packets of powder, and it’s one of our favorites.

Jacked Factory Burn-XT PowderIf you prefer a powder over a pill, Jacked Factory has a box of 15 sticks of powdered fat burner. A benefit of a powder supplement is that your body does not have to digest a capsule to get to the fat burner — you drink it mixed with water, which allows your body to absorb it more quickly. This product only contains five main ingredients — l-carnitine, green tea extract, caffeine, red pepper fruit extract, and black pepper extract — but it hits all the major fat burner ingredients. However, this product does list multiple other ingredients with unspecified amounts, so if you value transparency, you may want to go with a different option. Jacked Factory sells this fat burner powder in three flavors — blackberry lemonade, pineapple punch, and watermelon lime.

Jacked Factory Burn-XT Powder

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This product contains 15 sticks of powdered fat burner. These powders may absorb quicker than capsules since your body doesn't have to break through a capsule to get to the fat burner.

Who Should Buy Jacked Factory Burn-XT Powder
  • People who prefer to take their fat burner in a powder form over pill form.
  • Folks who like flavored supplements. Jacked Factory offers their fat burner in three flavors to help it go down with ease.
  • Athletes who want a dose of caffeine in their fat burner for a potential jolt of energy.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Jacked Factory Burn-XT Powder
  • Men who prefer to take their fat burner in pill form for convenience.
  • Athletes who want a more robust ingredient list since this product only contains three main fat-burning ingredients.
  • Anyone looking for a fully transparent label — this product lists multiple other ingredients without specific amounts tied to them.
  • Athletes who want to avoid artificial flavors in their fat burner should opt for an all-natural product.
While this fat burner powder comes in individual sticks and three great flavors, it still isn’t the most robust fat burner on this list. But if you’re just looking for a solid powder with the big-hitter fat burning ingredients, this pick is the way to go.

Best Non-Stim Fat Burner for MenSometimes a non-stimulant formula is more ideal if you’re looking to avoid caffeine so you can workout later in the evening, or if you just want to stick to coffee for your dose of caffeine in the morning. If you fall into either of these categories, this pick is for you.

Burn Lab ProIf you’re looking to avoid stimulants in your fat burner, Burn Lab Pro axes caffeine and includes coleus forskohlii root that can help with both fat burn and muscle gain, and cultured glucose tolerance factor (GTF) chromium that can potentially help block fat storage, boost fat burn, and stabilize energy. Plus, it also contains ß-Hydroxy ß-Methylbutyrate (HMB), which you won’t find in many fat burners — this ingredient can potentially help you build and retain muscle. Burn Lab Pro also includes chili pepper extract that may help suppress your appetite, and black pepper extract to help with absorption.

Burn Lab Pro

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This formula includes HMB, an ingredient shown to help retain and build muscle mass. It does not contain any caffeine and has a variety of ingredients linked to muscle retention and fat loss.

Who Should Take Burn Lab Pro
  • Men who exercise late at night may prefer this fat burner that doesn’t contain caffeine.
  • Anyone who is allergic to caffeine and is trying to avoid it altogether.
  • Bodybuilders who may want a fat burner with HMB that can also potentially help them build and retain muscle mass.
Who Shouldn’t Take Burn Lab Pro
  • Men who don’t like taking a lot of pills may not like that this product requires three per dose.
  • Early morning gym goers who may want caffeine included in their fat burner.
Though caffeine can be an effective fat burning ingredient, those who exercise late at night or are trying to stick to coffee for their caffeine fix may prefer Burn Lab Pro for its non-stim formula.

Best Pre-Workout Fat Burner for MenIf you’re trying to consolidate your supplement stack, you may prefer to take your fat burner within your pre-workout — this pre-workout contains both l-carnitine and caffeine.

Transparent Labs LeanA product doesn’t need to be labeled “fat burner” to have fat burning properties. While this pre-workout does contain the typical pre-workout ingredients like citrulline malate, beta-alanine, betaine, and branched-chain amino acids, it also includes l-carnitine, which may help turn fat into usable energy, and caffeine, which — though great for energy — has also been linked to fat burn. Transparent Labs Lean also contains no artificial sweeteners, coloring, or preservatives, and is gluten-free and non-GMO. This is a powder supplement that comes in six flavors though, so for those who want a fat burner pill you can take for convenience, this may not be the best pick for you.

10% Off

Transparent Labs Lean

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Third-party tested and clearly dosed, Transparent Labs LEAN has a huge variety of ingredients for endurance, power, alertness, and focus. Use code BARBEND10 for 10% off.

Who Should Buy Transparent Labs Lean
  • Athletes who are already taking a pre-workout, and would rather take one that had fat burning properties as well to consolidate the number of supplements in their stash.
  • Anyone who prefers to take their fat burner in a powder form over a pill form.
  • People who value products free of artificial sweeteners, coloring, and preservatives.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Transparent Labs Lean
  • Folks who just want a straight fat burning supplement instead of a pre-workout with fat burning ingredients.
  • Those who would prefer a pill supplement to a powder supplement.
  • Athletes who want a higher number of potential fat burning ingredients included in their supplement.
For those who are already taking a pre-workout, taking Transparent Labs Lean can combine your need for a pre-workout and a fat burner — so long as you’re not looking for a super robust fat burner ingredient list, as this product only contains a few.

Best Fat Burner for Men’s BodybuildingBodybuilders who want to stay muscular while losing weight should look for a fat burner with certain ingredients that can help them hang onto every ounce of their hard-earned muscle tissue.

Burn Lab ProThis is the only pick on this list that contains HMB (Hydroxymethylbutyrate), a metabolite that has been linked to increased lean body mass. Opting for a fat burner with HMB may help men retain, and maybe even build, muscle, and perform well in the gym while trimming down their waistline. This product is also stimulant-free, and contains ingredients like Forslean and cayenne pepper extract for thermogenesis and potential fat burn. Its black pepper extract may also help with absorption of all the product’s ingredients. Plus, Burn Lab Pro is vegan, so it’s also a great option for anyone who’s trying to avoid animal products.

Burn Lab Pro

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This formula includes HMB, an ingredient shown to help retain and build muscle mass. It does not contain any caffeine and has a variety of ingredients linked to muscle retention and fat loss.

Who Should Buy Burn Lab Pro
  • Bodybuilders who want to retain (and maybe even build) muscle while cutting down.
  • Vegans and vegetarians who are looking for a supplement free of animal products.
  • Athletes who want thermogenic ingredients like cayenne pepper extract to help boost metabolism.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Burn Lab Pro
  • Men who like a more standard array of fat-burning ingredients. This formula is missing both CLA and green tea extract.
  • Anyone who works out in the morning and would like a fat burner with caffeine.
This product is stim-free and vegan, and contains cayenne pepper to potentially help boost metabolism. But, it’s main selling point for bodybuilders is its HMB, which may help them better build and retain muscle in a cutting phase.

Best Fat Burner for the MoneyIf you’re on a budget, you may not get the most robust ingredient list on the market, but you can still find a high quality fat burner.

Jacked Factory BURN-XTThe most affordable product on our list, Jacked Factory BURN-XT places an emphasis on thermogenic ingredients that may raise the body’s internal temperature for an extra calorie burn. It boasts just five ingredients — acetyl l-carnitine, green tea leaf extract, caffeine, capsimax, and black pepper fruit extract — so it’s more affordable, yet effective. While you’re still getting high quality, potentially fat burning ingredients, this product skips out on the extras like tyrosine or HMB that some other more expensive fat burners include. It’s worth noting that it’s recommended that you take these pills with a meal, which may not be the most convenient for some.

Jacked Factory BURN-XT

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Jacked Factory's formula will save you money, but not at the expense of quality and efficacy. Each bottle contains 120 single-capsule servings that each provide 350 milligrams of L-carnitine.

Who Should Buy Jacked Factory BURN-XT
  • People who are on a budget, but still want a fat burner with high quality and effective ingredients.
  • Folks who prefer a fat burner that contains caffeine that may give you a little extra jolt of energy.
  • Athletes who want fat burning ingredients that focus on thermogenesis for a potential increased calorie burn.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Jacked Factory BURN-XT
  • People who want a more robust ingredient list that may include herbs, nootropics, and other extras for mood and muscle retention may want to look elsewhere.
  • Customers who prefer a stimulant-free fat burner — this product contains caffeine.
Though this product contains most of the main fat burning ingredients — like l-carnitine and green tea leaf — it nixes some of the extras that fight fatigue or decrease stress that other more expensive fat burners include, which is why the price remains reasonable.

Best Premium Fat Burner for MenIf you’re willing to shell out for it, some fat burners offer both quality dosing and ingredients. We like this pick for its thermogenic properties and its ability to ease hunger pangs.

PhenGoldWe were very impressed with the ingredient quality in PhenGold. It includes Capsimax, a blend of black pepper, caffeine, and niacin to boost thermogenesis (or temperature-induced calorie burn), as well as chromium picolinate, which may ease anxiety and decrease appetite. (5) PhenGold also includes extras like tyrosine that may help you focus and help make your workouts more productive. It’s also 100 percent natural, soy free, lactose free, GMO free, and vegan, and all of its ingredients and their amounts are listed clearly on the label. With this level of quality, however, comes a higher price tag compared to other picks on this list.

PhenGold

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Clinically-backed and chockfull of the right doses of the right ingredients, PhenGold is a premium buy for those serious about burning fat.

Who Should Buy PhenGold
  • Men who value high-quality fat burning, focus-enhancing, and mood-boosting ingredients that are scientifically-backed.
  • Folks who don’t mind shelling out for a premium formula and want to buy bottles in bulk for a discount. You can buy a three-pack.
  • Vegans who are in search of a fat burner that is free of animal products.
Who Shouldn’t Buy PhenGold
  • Penny pinchers. This product’s high-quality ingredients come with a hefty price tag.
  • Anyone who’s trying to avoid caffeine, as this product does contain this stimulant.
While you may have to dish out a little extra cash for this fat burner, its ingredient list is impressive and more comprehensive than most others on this list. Plus, it’s 100 percent natural and vegan.

How Does a Fat Burner Work?Every human being has what’s called a basal metabolic rate, or BMR. Your BMR measures how many calories your body burns by simply existing (with no added activity). Essentially, how many calories would you burn lying still? How much you weigh, your age, height, and body fat percentage all play a factor in determining your BMR.




So a man with a 1,900-calorie BMR will burn that many calories doing nothing. But then you need to account for how many calories you consume and your activity levels. You can use our calorie calculator to factor those elements in and find your starting macros.

To lose weight, you must burn more calories (which acts as energy for your body) than you take in. That’s it. Simple, sure, but meticulously tracking your intake while also training (and holding down a job, possibly raising a family, managing a roster of friends, and making time for Netflix) is tough. Nail your time management, training, and diet, however, and you can get lean. It just takes time.

That said, supplements can help if everything else is in place. Here are the ways that a fat burner can help decrease your body fat.

ThermogenesisWe’ve tossed this word around a few times in the article, so let’s dig into this a bit. By definition, “Thermogenesis is the dissipation of energy through the production of heat and occurs in specialized tissues including brown adipose tissue [fat] and skeletal muscle,” according to Science Direct. More simply put: Your body burns more calories — extracted from fat and muscle — to warm up.

And because working out in a walk-in freezer is both weird and not feasible, most fat-burning supps include ingredients (cayenne pepper extract and caffeine, to name two) that raise your body’s temperature while at rest. Because consuming fewer calories is the goal, inducing thermogenesis can help you lose more weight.

LipolysisLipolysis is the breakdown (or oxidation) of fat cells in the body. Some supplements can improve your body’s ability to oxidize fat specifically. In fact, one study showed that caffeine and green tea extract may enhance fat metabolism, improve endurance, and enhance fat oxidation in athletes. (2)

Appetite SuppressionFat burners sometimes include ingredients that can curb your hunger pangs. Fenugreek, green tea extract, and 5-HTP — some of these should sound familiar — have been shown to make you feel less hungry. This is particularly helpful since eating fewer calories than you burn can cause your stomach to grumble.

When Should Men Take A Fat Burner?Since your metabolism slows overnight as you sleep, taking a fat burner on an empty stomach, 30 min before you eat breakfast in the morning can help increase your metabolism to start the day. You can also take your fat burner about 30 minutes before your workout as fat burners contain a lot of ingredients that can help supply energy (like caffeine). However, these times are simply suggested — there’s no right or wrong time to take a fat burner. (3)(4)

How Much Do Fat Burners Cost?It’s important to compare the cost of the container as a whole against the number of servings per container to see what you are actually getting for your money. As fat burners are fairly inexpensive, this number will usually come out somewhere between $0.50 and $1.00 per serving (though some more robust fat burners may cost around $2.00 per serving).

The more robust the ingredients list on your fat burner, the more expensive it’s going to be. Most fat burners include fat burning ingredients like cayenne pepper extract, caffeine, and green tea extract, but more expensive products may also include extrals like DMAE or HMB, which can improve mood and help you build and retain muscle respectively.

How We Decide The Best Men’s Fat BurnersFat burners are a relatively straightforward product. They contain...

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