42 Prom Songs for the Dance Floor, the Slow Dance and the Last Song

What are good songs to play at prom?

"Mr. Brightside" by The Killers is the song every prom crowd screams, and "Shut Up and Dance" by Walk the Moon and "Uptown Funk" fill the floor. For the slow dance, "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran and "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" by Aerosmith are the favorites, and "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" is the classic last dance.

Prom dance-floor hits

1. "Mr. Brightside", The Killers: the scream-along.
2. "Shut Up and Dance", Walk the Moon: the floor-filler.
3. "Uptown Funk", Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars: impossible not to dance.
4. "I Gotta Feeling", Black Eyed Peas: the start of a great night.
5. "Party in the U.S.A.", Miley Cyrus: everyone knows the words.
6. "Low", Flo Rida featuring T-Pain: a 2000s dance favorite.
7. "Yeah!", Usher featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris: the club anthem.
8. "Crazy in Love", Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z: the horns everyone recognizes.
9. "Levitating", Dua Lipa: modern dance-pop.
10. "Don't Stop Believin'", Journey: the group singalong.
11. "September", Earth, Wind & Fire: pure joy.
12. "Dancing Queen", ABBA: the classic for every dance.

Slow dance songs for prom

13. "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing", Aerosmith: the big power ballad.
14. "Perfect", Ed Sheeran: the modern slow dance.
15. "Can't Help Falling in Love", Elvis Presley: timeless.
16. "A Thousand Years", Christina Perri: dreamy and romantic.
17. "Wonderful Tonight", Eric Clapton: written about getting ready for a night out.
18. "Truly Madly Deeply", Savage Garden: a 90s favorite.
19. "Iris", Goo Goo Dolls: an emotional rock ballad.
20. "Until I Found You", Stephen Sanchez: a retro slow dance.
21. "All of Me", John Legend: a modern classic.
22. "Kiss Me", Sixpence None the Richer: sweet and dreamy.

80s and 90s prom classics

23. "Time After Time", Cyndi Lauper: the 80s slow dance.
24. "Take My Breath Away", Berlin: from Top Gun.
25. "Careless Whisper", George Michael: the saxophone everyone knows.
26. "Eternal Flame", The Bangles: a sweet 80s ballad.
27. "To Be with You", Mr. Big: an acoustic 90s hit.
28. "No Diggity", Blackstreet: the 90s R&B groove.
29. "It Takes Two", Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock: the party starter.
30. "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You", Bryan Adams: the 1991 prom ballad.
31. "Kiss from a Rose", Seal: a 90s slow dance.
32. "Just Like Heaven", The Cure: a dreamy new wave favorite.

2000s and 2010s prom favorites

33. "Hey Ya!", OutKast: a guaranteed reaction.
34. "Hips Don't Lie", Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean: a dance-floor classic.
35. "Umbrella", Rihanna featuring Jay-Z: a 2007 anthem.
36. "Teenage Dream", Katy Perry: young and carefree.
37. "Dynamite", Taio Cruz: a 2010 party hit.
38. "Bleeding Love", Leona Lewis: a big slow-dance ballad.

Last dance songs for prom

39. "(I've Had) The Time of My Life", Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes: the Dirty Dancing finale.
40. "Save the Last Dance for Me", The Drifters: the classic closer.
41. "Last Dance", Donna Summer: the disco goodbye.
42. "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)", Green Day: grateful for the night and the years.

For more closers, see our list of last dance songs.

Homecoming songs

Homecoming dances run on the same energy as prom with more school spirit: start with "Mr. Brightside", "Party in the U.S.A." and "Shut Up and Dance", add a slow song like "Perfect" and finish with "Don't Stop Believin'". For the game itself, "Remember the Name", "Eye of the Tiger" and "We Will Rock You" are stadium favorites.

Senior night songs

For a senior night on the court or the field, when seniors and their families are introduced, choose songs about memories and moving on: "Glory Days", "7 Years", "Graduation (Friends Forever)", "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" and "Hall of Fame". Many teams let each senior pick their walk-out song, played as they cross the court or the field with their families. Pep rallies often reuse the same list. For graduation, see our graduation songs.

How to build a prom playlist

• Arrival and photos: current hits at a moderate volume.
• First dance block: big singalongs to get everyone on the floor.
• Slow dance: one or two songs every 30 minutes.
• Throwbacks: a 2000s or 90s block always gets a reaction.
• Last dance: one big closer, then the lights.

Ask the DJ to play clean edits, and check that the slow songs are not too long. For more slow songs, see our slow dance songs.

Prom songs for an Instagram post

For a quick clip of the group photos or the limo ride, choose a song whose best part arrives early: "Mr. Brightside", "Teenage Dream", "Until I Found You" and "Dancing Queen" all work in 15 to 30 seconds.

A song about your prom or your senior year

For a senior, a promposal or a group of friends heading off to different schools, a personalized song can capture the year: names, inside jokes, the big game, the dance and the plans for what comes next.

How to create a song for a senior

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: pop, hip-hop, rock, country and more.
2. Add their name.
3. Share three memories from high school.
4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $24.99, or $29.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page and the lyrics as a PDF.

Celebrate senior year with a song of its own: create a song and hear four previews for free.