Image Source: cdn.runrepeat.com
Learn How Much Is Gym Membership & What Affects Cost
Wondering how much a gym membership costs? Gym membership costs can be very different. Some places cost as little as \$10 each month. Others can cost \$50, \$100, or even more a month. The average gym membership cost changes a lot based on many things. This article will help you see what you might pay and why.
What Changes Gym Prices
Many things make gym prices go up or down. It is not just one thing. Let’s look at the big reasons why costs are different from one gym to the next. Knowing these helps you find the best deal for you.
Where the Gym Is Located
The price often depends on the city or town. Gyms in big cities usually cost more. This is because rent is higher there. Gyms in smaller towns might cost less. Also, a gym in a rich part of town might cost more than one in a less rich part.
What the Gym Has Inside
A gym with lots of fancy machines might cost more. Gyms with pools, saunas, or steam rooms are often more costly. If a gym has many fitness classes, like yoga or spinning, the price can go up too. A simple gym with just weights and machines costs less.
Is It a Big Chain or a Small Local Gym?
Big gym chains often have lower monthly gym fees. Think of places like Planet Fitness or Anytime Fitness. They have many members and can offer lower prices. Local gyms might be more costly. But local gyms might offer more personal help or a stronger community feel.
How Long You Agree to Be a Member
Gyms often give a better price if you sign up for a longer time. A yearly plan might be cheaper each month than a plan you pay for just one month at a time. We will talk more about this later.
Extra Fees You Might Pay
Sometimes the price you see is not the only price. There can be extra fees. We will look at these “hidden” costs too.
Breaking Down the Costs
Let’s look closer at the money part. There are different ways gyms ask you to pay. There can be fees to join and fees you pay again and again.
The Regular Monthly Charge
This is the main cost for most people. It is the money you pay every single month to use the gym. These monthly gym fees can be very low or very high.
- Budget Gyms: These often cost \$10 to \$30 a month. Examples are Planet Fitness or Crunch Fitness (basic plan). They have core stuff like weights and machines.
- Mid-Range Gyms: These might cost \$40 to \$70 a month. Examples are Anytime Fitness or 24 Hour Fitness. They might have more classes, better equipment, or be open all the time.
- High-End Gyms: These can cost \$80 a month or much more. Examples are Equinox or Lifetime Fitness. They often have pools, spas, fancy classes, and nice changing rooms.
The average gym membership cost for the US is often said to be around \$50 to \$60 a month. But remember, this is just an average. Your cost can be much lower or much higher.
Paying for a Whole Year at Once
Some gyms let you pay for a whole year. This is called an annual gym membership price. When you pay for a year, the total cost might be less than paying month by month. For example, a gym might be \$60 a month (\ \$720 a year). But if you pay for the whole year at once, it might be \$600. This saves you money if you know you will use the gym for a long time.
The Fee to Just Join
Many gyms charge a fee when you first sign up. This is an initiation fee gym. It is a one-time cost to become a member. This fee can be \$0 or it can be hundreds of dollars.
- Budget gyms might have a low initiation fee gym or none at all.
- Mid-range or high-end gyms often have higher joining fees.
Sometimes, gyms have special deals. They might drop the initiation fee gym to get you to join. Watch out for these deals.
Yearly Fees Besides Monthly Fees
Some gyms also charge a yearly fee. This is different from the monthly fee and the joining fee. It might be called an “annual fee” or “equipment fee.” It helps the gym pay for things like fixing machines or keeping the place clean. This fee is often around \$30 to \$70 and you pay it once a year.
Checking Out Different Gyms
Doing a gym price comparison is a smart idea. Do not just go with the first gym you see. Look at a few gyms. See what they offer and what they charge.
How to Compare Prices Well
- Look at the total cost: Do not just see the monthly price. Add the joining fee and any yearly fees.
- See what is included: Does the price include classes? Can you use pools or saunas? Can you go to any gym location if it is a chain?
- Check the contract length: Are you signing up for a month, a year, or longer? What happens if you want to leave early?
- Ask about special deals: Gyms often have sales. Ask if they have lower prices at certain times.
Let’s look at the cost of different gym chains as an example. These are just rough numbers and can change.
| Gym Chain | Type of Gym | Typical Monthly Cost | Typical Initiation Fee | Typical Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Planet Fitness | Budget | \$10 – \$25 | \$0 – \$50 | \$39 – \$49 |
| Crunch Fitness | Budget/Mid | \$10 – \$70+ | \$0 – \$100+ | \$0 – \$99 |
| Anytime Fitness | Mid-Range | \$40 – \$70 | \$50 – \$100+ | \$0 – \$50+ |
| 24 Hour Fitness | Mid-Range | \$30 – \$70 | \$0 – \$100+ | \$0 – \$50+ |
| Gold’s Gym | Mid-Range | \$40 – \$80 | \$0 – \$100+ | \$0 – \$50+ |
| LA Fitness | Mid-Range | \$30 – \$70 | \$0 – \$100+ | \$0 – \$50+ |
| Equinox | High-End | \$150 – \$300+ | \$100 – \$300+ | \$0 |
| Lifetime Fitness | High-End | \$100 – \$250+ | \$100 – \$200+ | \$0 |
Note: These prices can change a lot based on location and the specific plan you pick.
This table helps you start a gym price comparison. You can see that budget gyms are much cheaper each month. But they might have fewer things to use. High-end gyms cost a lot more. But they give you more features.
Finding Cheaper Gym Options
Maybe you want to save money. You are looking for cheap gym memberships. There are ways to find them.
Look for Sales and Deals
Gyms often have sales. They might have no joining fee at certain times of the year. Or they might lower the monthly price for a short time. Keep an eye out for these offers. January is a common time for gym deals, as people want to start the new year healthy.
Think About Off-Peak Times
Some gyms offer lower prices if you only go during certain hours. This is often during the day when most people are at work. If you can go to the gym in the morning or afternoon, you might pay less.
Check Out Community Centers or Local Rec Centers
Your town or city might have a recreation center. These places often have gyms. The cost is usually much lower than a private gym. Sometimes you pay per visit, or they have low annual gym membership price options for residents. These places might not have the newest machines. But they are good for basic workouts.
Ask About Student or Senior Discounts
If you are a student or a senior citizen, ask if the gym has special prices for you. Many gyms offer discounts to these groups.
Use Work or Health Plan Benefits
Some companies or health insurance plans help pay for gym costs. Check if your job or your health plan offers gym membership discounts. This can save you a lot of money. Sometimes they pay a set amount each month. Or they might pay you back if you go to the gym a certain number of times.
Negotiate the Price
Sometimes you can try to ask for a lower price. This might work best at local gyms. Or maybe you can ask them to remove the initiation fee gym. It never hurts to ask politely.
What About Extra or Hidden Costs?
Gym membership can sometimes have costs you do not think about at first. These are sometimes called hidden gym costs. It is good to know about them before you sign up.
Annual Fees
We talked about this a little. Some gyms charge a yearly fee besides the monthly fee. Make sure you know if a gym does this and how much it is. This adds to your total yearly cost.
Class Fees
Some gyms charge extra for certain fitness classes. The basic membership might just be for the machines and weights. Classes like spinning, yoga, or special training might cost more per class or need a higher membership level. Ask exactly what is included in the price you are looking at.
Personal Trainer Costs
Working with a personal trainer costs extra money. This is not part of the basic membership. Prices for trainers change a lot. It depends on the trainer’s skill and the gym. It can be \$50 to \$100 or more for one hour.
Late Payment Fees
If you pay your monthly fee late, the gym might charge you an extra fee. Make sure your payments are on time.
Fees for Not Using the Gym
Some contracts might have rules about how often you need to go. Or they might charge you if you “freeze” your membership. Freezing means stopping your membership for a while if you are sick or on holiday. There might be a small fee for this.
Cost of Other Services
Gyms often sell things like drinks, protein bars, or gym clothes. They might also offer services like tanning or massage. These are always extra costs.
Being aware of these hidden gym costs helps you see the full picture of what you might pay.
Thinking About Cancelling Your Membership
What happens if you want to stop going to the gym? This is about cancelling gym membership fees. It is very important to know the rules before you sign up.
How Hard Is It to Cancel?
Some gyms make it easy to cancel. Others make it very hard. They might ask you to write a letter. They might ask you to come in person. They might have a deadline for when you need to tell them you want to cancel. For example, you might need to say you want to cancel 30 days before your next payment is due.
Are There Fees to Cancel?
Some contracts have cancelling gym membership fees.
- If you signed a long contract (like for a year) and want to leave early, you might have to pay a fee. This fee can be a set amount, or you might have to pay for the months left on your contract.
- Some gyms have no fee to cancel if you are on a month-to-month plan. But you still need to follow their rules for telling them you want to stop.
Read the contract carefully before you sign. Look for the part about “cancellation policy.” Ask questions if you do not understand it. Knowing about cancelling gym membership fees helps you avoid surprise costs later.
Making a Smart Choice
Choosing a gym is more than just looking at the price. You need to think about what you need and what you will use.
What Do You Need in a Gym?
- Do you need lots of machines?
- Do you want group classes?
- Is a pool important?
- Do you need a gym that is open all the time?
- Is the location good for you? Is it close to home or work?
- Do you want a simple place or a fancy place?
Think about these things first. Then you can look for gyms that have what you need.
Match Your Needs to the Price
Once you know what you need, you can do a better gym price comparison. Do not pay for things you will not use. If you only need weights and machines, a budget gym might be perfect and save you money. If you love classes and the pool, a more expensive gym might be worth the cost for you.
Ask for a Free Visit
Most gyms let you visit one time for free. This is called a “guest pass” or “trial.” Use this to see the gym. Check out the equipment. See how busy it is. Talk to the staff. Try a class if you can. This helps you see if the gym is a good fit before you pay any money.
Read Reviews Online
See what other people say about the gym. Look at reviews on websites or social media. Do people like the gym? Are there common problems? Do people talk about hidden gym costs or problems cancelling gym membership fees?
Think About Your Budget
How much money can you spend each month or year on a gym? Be real about this. Do not sign up for a costly gym if it will be hard to pay the monthly gym fees. There are many cheap gym memberships out there if you need them.
Saving Money on Your Membership
Let’s talk more about getting gym membership discounts and saving money.
Ask About Corporate Deals
Your job might have a deal with a local gym. Ask your HR department if they offer any gym membership discounts. Many companies do this as a benefit for workers.
Look for Student or Senior Deals
Again, do not forget to ask about these. A student ID or proof of age might get you a lower price.
Check Health Insurance or Wellness Programs
Many health plans want you to be healthy. They might pay for part of your gym cost. Some have programs where they give you money back if you go to the gym a certain number of times a month. This can make your net cost much lower. Ask your health insurance company what they offer for gym membership discounts.
Pay for the Year (If You Can)
If you are sure you will use the gym for a whole year, paying the annual gym membership price at once can save you money compared to paying monthly gym fees. Just make sure you are happy with the gym first.
Share a Membership
Some gyms allow family plans or shared memberships. If someone in your household also wants to join, a family plan might be cheaper than two separate memberships.
Wait for Sales
If you can wait, hold off joining until the gym has a sale. January is a big sale month. But gyms also have sales at other times, like in the summer or around holidays. Signing up during a sale can lower or remove the initiation fee gym.
Negotiate (Sometimes Possible)
Especially at smaller or newer gyms, you might be able to talk about the price. Maybe you can get them to lower the joining fee or offer a small discount.
Be Wary of Long Contracts
While long contracts can mean a lower monthly gym fees, they can also be risky. If you cannot go to the gym later, you might face cancelling gym membership fees. Make sure you are comfortable with the contract length. A month-to-month plan offers more freedom, even if it costs a little more each month.
Knowing the True Cost
The true cost of a gym membership is not just the monthly bill. It includes everything you pay over time.
- Total Cost for Year 1: Initiation Fee + (Monthly Fee x 12) + Annual Fee (if any) + Any Extra Costs You Use (classes, late fees, etc.)
- Total Cost for Future Years: (Monthly Fee x 12) + Annual Fee (if any) + Any Extra Costs
Let’s look at an example using the average gym membership cost idea, but with fees.
Imagine a gym with:
* Monthly Fee: \$50
* Initiation Fee: \$100
* Annual Fee: \$50
Year 1 Cost: \$100 (joining) + (\$50 x 12) (monthly) + \$50 (annual) = \$100 + \$600 + \$50 = \$750
Cost Per Month in Year 1: \$750 / 12 = \$62.50
Year 2 Cost: (\$50 x 12) (monthly) + \$50 (annual) = \$600 + \$50 = \$650
Cost Per Month in Year 2: \$650 / 12 = \$54.17
As you can see, the cost per month is higher in the first year because of the joining fee. Always add up all the parts to know the real yearly cost. This helps you do a good gym price comparison.
Making Sure the Gym Is Right for You
It is easy to sign up for a gym and then stop going. This means you are wasting money. Before you join, think hard:
- Will you really go often?
- Does the gym have the right feel for you? Is it too crowded? Is the music too loud?
- Are the hours good for your life?
- Is it easy to get to?
A cheap gym membership is only cheap if you use it. If you pay \$10 a month but never go, that \$10 is wasted. If you pay \$50 a month but go three times a week, that might be a good value for you.
Think about what motivates you. Do you like classes? Find a gym with classes you like. Do you like working out alone? A basic gym is fine. Do you need a personal trainer? Make sure they have good trainers and know the cost.
What About Very Low Cost Gyms?
Some gyms are very, very cheap gym memberships. Like \$10 a month. How do they do this?
- They have simple equipment. Not a lot of fancy stuff.
- They might not have classes, pools, or saunas.
- They have a lot of members. Their business works by having many people pay a little.
- They might make money on other things, like selling drinks or having yearly fees.
- The gym might be very busy, especially at popular times.
These gyms are great for people who just want to use machines and weights and save money. They are not good if you want lots of extras.
Summing Up the Cost Picture
The cost of a gym membership is not fixed. It changes a lot.
* Monthly gym fees are the main cost.
* Add initiation fee gym and annual fees for the total yearly cost.
* The average gym membership cost is a guide, but actual prices vary.
* Location, size of the gym, and what it offers change the price.
* Doing a gym price comparison is wise.
* Look for gym membership discounts like sales, work plans, or health plan help.
* Be aware of hidden gym costs like late fees or extra class costs.
* Know the rules about cancelling gym membership fees before you sign.
* Cheap gym memberships are available, but check what you get for the price.
* Paying the annual gym membership price can save money if you are sure you will use it.
* Compare the cost of different gym chains and local places.
Making the right choice means looking at the price and what you get for that price. It also means being sure you will use the gym.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How much is the average gym membership cost?
The average cost is often said to be around \$50 to \$60 a month. But this can be lower (\$10-\$30 for budget gyms) or much higher (\$100+ for high-end gyms). It changes a lot by location and what the gym offers.
What are common monthly gym fees?
Common monthly gym fees range from \$10 for basic budget gyms to \$100 or more for gyms with lots of features like pools, spas, and many classes. Most people pay between \$30 and \$70 per month.
What is a typical initiation fee gym cost?
An initiation fee gym cost can be \$0 to \$300 or even more. Budget gyms often have low or no joining fees. Mid-range and high-end gyms usually have higher joining fees, but they sometimes run sales to lower or remove this fee.
Are there hidden gym costs I should know about?
Yes, be aware of hidden gym costs. These can include an annual fee (paid once a year besides the monthly fee), extra charges for certain fitness classes, late payment fees, fees to freeze your membership, and fees if you cancel your membership early, especially on a long contract.
Can I get gym membership discounts?
Yes, you can often find gym membership discounts. Look for gym sales, ask about student or senior discounts, check if your employer or health insurance offers benefits for gym members, consider paying the annual gym membership price upfront for a lower rate, or ask if they have off-peak pricing.
What should I check before signing a gym contract?
Before signing, check the total cost (monthly, annual, and joining fees), the length of the contract, what is included in the membership (classes, facilities), the rules and fees for cancelling gym membership fees, and ask about any hidden gym costs. It is also smart to visit the gym first.
Is it cheaper to pay monthly or yearly for a gym?
Paying the annual gym membership price upfront is usually cheaper overall than paying monthly gym fees for 12 months. However, this means paying a larger amount at once, and you might not get money back if you stop using the gym early. A monthly plan costs more over a year but gives you more freedom to leave.
How do I do a gym price comparison?
To do a good gym price comparison, make a list of gyms in your area. For each gym, find out the monthly cost, initiation fee, and any annual fees. Note what features are included (pool, classes, hours). Calculate the total cost for the first year and maybe the second year. Compare these costs side-by-side and see which gym offers the best value for what you need. Look at the cost of different gym chains and local options.