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Fitness Club Cost

How Much Does a Fitness Club Cost?

Typically: $20-$50 a month

Typical costs:

Monthly fees average $35 to $40 for a single membership, but can be as low as $20 depending on age, location and whether customers are willing to sign an extended contract. Many health clubs also charge an average enrollment fee of $40, but some can charge more than $100.
Nearly all gyms offer membership packages for 3, 6, or 12 months, which often requires signing a contract. Rates often drop by 25 percent for 12-month contracts or if yearly dues are paid up front. Urban areas carry higher membership fees.
24 Hour Fitness offers 90-day memberships for $50 per month at its nearly 400 gyms on the West Coast. The rates drop to between $37 and $40 a month for a 12-month plan, depending on the location. The enrollment fee of $129 is higher than most, and not all of the gyms are open 24 hours.
Snap Fitness, with 24-hour clubs in nearly every state, averages $35 a month and sign-up fees of $49. Cardinal Fitness, a Chicago area chain with locations in nearby states, charges $20 per month for a single membership or $32 for a couple.

What should be included:

Memberships should include full use of all fitness equipment. Staff members should be knowledgeable about how each machine operates and what settings are safe and appropriate for your weight, height and fitness goals.
Some larger, private health clubs also have pools and courts for tennis or racquetball.
Some chain gyms allow access to all of their sites for one membership fee. Many gyms offer free childcare and at least one free personal training session with new memberships.

Additional costs:

For additional fees, most gyms offer packages of personal training sessions.
Through the Passport Program, the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association facilitates cross-usage of affiliated gyms nationwide, often at fees of under $10 per visit.

Discounts:

Many gyms offer free or discounted trial memberships. Bally Total Fitness offers a free two-week trial that includes a personal training session. A 30-day membership, which allows access to the gym only three days a week, is $19.
Gyms often discount fees for students, seniors and families. At many of its locations, Snap Fitness offers family plans for an average of $50 a month, but children must live at home and be 18 or younger.

Shopping for a fitness club:

Before signing a contract with a gym, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) lists tips for choosing a fitness center. Many complaints against gyms involve dissatisfaction with a contract's financial terms.

Article updated April 2007