Purpose: The purpose of this study is that the teaching style of college physical education (PE) teachers affects the establishment of college students' exercise habits. Design/methodology/approach: This study uses the teaching style scale for 32 PE teachers and the autonomic motivation and exercise habits scale for 320 college students in the form of self-report. Findings: Chinese college PE teachers mainly use the teacher-centered reproduction style, and the practice style is the most frequently used. The overall teaching style of college PE teachers was significantly negatively correlated with autonomous motivation and exercise habits. PE teachers' teaching style can negatively affect college students' autonomous motivation, and college students' autonomous motivation can positively affect their exercise habits. Originality/value: There is a significant negative correlation between the teaching style of college PE teachers and the exercise habits of college students. However, it cannot directly affect the establishment of college students' exercise habits, but is achieved through the mediating role of college students' autonomous motivation.