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Typical costs: |
- Monthly fees for fitness clubs 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[1] . 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[2] 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.
Related articles: Personal Trainer, Yoga Classes
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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 child care 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[3] . Many complaints against gyms involve dissatisfaction with a contract's financial terms.
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments |
| Posted by: gym shopper in San Jose, CA. | Posted: April 8th, 2018 04:04AM |
| Club or Gym: YMCA Bay Area |
Recent quotes in bay area were $115/month for a family with $100 annual registration.
Plus access to other YMCA facilities. |
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| Posted by: Lee-123 in San Antonio, TX. | Posted: December 12th, 2015 09:12AM |
| Club or Gym: Fitness 19 |
Great place to work out.
Has all same equipment as Golds.
But no pool or basketball court. |
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| Closed |
| Amount: $30.00 per month |
| Posted by: Marcella in Greenbrook, NJ. | Posted: August 25th, 2015 07:08PM |
| Club or Gym: Lady of America Greenbrook New Jersey |
Lady of America Greenbrook New Jerseyclosed it's doors without notifying anyone. However after a couple of months received a letter that E clips of Greenbrook New Jersey would take over my membership. |
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| Posted by: Burns in Somers, NY. | Posted: February 7th, 2015 11:02AM |
| Club or Gym: Gym |
I just got a quote $60/mo for Anytime Fitness in Somers, NY. It's in north Westchester County. I'm going to try it out for a week but it's not as close as I'd like. It's in a difficult to navigate plaza with annoying traffic rules all around. The facility itself was not as well ventilated as I'd like but everything looked clean inside and the staff seemed friendly. |
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| Youfit |
| Amount: $10.00 per month |
| Posted by: sunshinestate in Venice, FL. | Posted: March 11th, 2013 10:03AM |
| Club or Gym: youfit |
Brand new gym. Seems really nice. |
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| Posted by: Ash :D in Tucumcari, NM. | Posted: January 27th, 2013 09:01AM |
| Club or Gym: Snap Fitness Tucumcari |
Cheap price ever paid in my life for a gym membership. And not to mention, I enjoy the atmosphere, love the positive attitudes. Stress and drama is left out the door. Nothing but workingout and focusing on a better healthier year. The person who runs the joint, inspires and influences all members of this small town gym. Snap Fitness here, is well needed. |
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| Posted by: K. Gordy in Saint Louis, MO. | Posted: June 12th, 2012 09:06AM |
| Club or Gym: Club Fitness |
Joined in April 2012 charged an annual fee in June! I havent even really tried it out yet! And I was specifically told I wouldnt be charged an annual fee until around Feb_March 2013. Not pleased with that at aLL! |
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| Posted by: a user in Ammon, ID. | Posted: April 17th, 2012 12:04PM |
| Club or Gym: World Gym |
Pretty nice place never too busy when I went. I think it is 100 for enrollment but there was a no enrollment fee when I signed up. You get unlimited tanning and can bring a guest every time you go. |
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| Posted by: barbuto20 in Manitowoc, WI. | Posted: February 26th, 2012 10:02PM |
| Club or Gym: Anytime fitness |
30 a month included a key card for after hours and 1 free personal fitness training session. Thanks to there collage student discount with local college. otherwise deposit for key card required. Also, get to add members to my account for $25 per person. Signed up a year ago for 32 plus tax for one year. and then like it so much resigned up for 2 years and they dropped the price to $30 even with tax. The staff is just right with sales they never force or try to get you to buy any add ons or extend of your contract. |
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| Posted by: a user in Ballard, WA. | Posted: January 25th, 2012 08:01PM |
| Club or Gym: La fitness |
Way over priced!!! I am only using it cause its close to my home. Once I move, I am dropping it |
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| Posted by: Clarissa Lynn in Neptune City, NJ. | Posted: March 25th, 2011 03:03PM |
| Club or Gym: Retro Fitness |
They are such liars and crooks! I can't believe them. I entered a raffle for a free member ship to their gym, went in and they began badgering me trying to cokes me into a year membership instead and said that the tour of their gym was the "free membership" a "free day pass to the gym" like wtf!It was sooo paced in there I couldn't even breath, the place was a zoo. Then I finally enrolled into their gym and read the contract and there is ABSOLUTLY NO WAY OUT OF THE CONTRACT and THEY ARE LEGALLY ALLOWED TO SELL YOUR INFO TO COMPANIES AND CAN CHANGE THE COST OF MEMBERSHIP AT ANYTIME WITHOUT!!!!!! YOUR CONSENT!!!!!!!!!! I say don't enroll at ALL.All they care about is getting your money, a waste of time if you ask me. Please take this into consideration. |
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| Posted by: love to be fit in Jacksonvillef, FL. | Posted: January 29th, 2011 07:01PM |
| Club or Gym: gym |
This is a great cost and has a lot of equipment. however, it claims to be month to month no contract. There is an annual fee. Getting it started they ask for a card to charge fees to, though they claim you can pay cash in person, once you're in, they tell you NO way. you have to stay on a card. Try getting it off the card to pay cash. not happening. Try discontinuing the membership, they wont let you do it in person, or on the phone. you must PUT IT IN WRITING and takes minimum 30 days or more to get off it. They charged a return fee when our debit card expiration date came up in december,(bank had reissued a new card with new expiration date, same acct number etc). Tryed having it updated in person at the service desk,NO WAY, you must call. Called and phone representative said all good, all return charges are adjusted off, everything is up to date. Guess what, the utah emplyoyee at the 800 number lied. It was not adjusted. my sons card was billed the nonadjusted return charges which caused his bank acct to be overdrawn. NICE. so the gym costs are not bad but the customer service and book keeping is a nightmare, trying to discontinue membership feels like trying to get the mafia off your debit or credit card and bank acct. GOOD luck. we are in jacksonville florida. the 800 number answers in 'utah'. thought they were honest there but... ah well. A new fitness club starting up in our area said justfitness4u is 'going to bust'. thought not due to the wonderful cost for good workouts. but now looking at their bookkeeping and customer 'service', maybe they will go bust. again good luck and be careful! our membership started in sept 2009, it is now jan 2011. sigh |
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| Posted by: June Wahlstrom in Paso Robles, CA. | Posted: January 10th, 2011 09:01PM |
| Club or Gym: Kennedy Club Fitness |
I rather enjoyed this gym, unfortunately I could not afford it and had to go back to my other gym. It had a wide array of fitness equipment, 3 studios with free classes provided (schedules shown on website), basketball/volleyball gym, racquetball court, rock wall, heated lap pool, and plenty of trainers! They also have a smoothie bar/snack bar and merchandise to purchase. LOTS of certification classes for first aid and such, consultations for diet and fitness. SO much stuff to even include a spa and health center and really nice daycare. Free wi-fi...and umm yeah have I missed anything. They pretty much have anything so for the price its great! ALSO cannot forget the military discount on this one, I sure didn't! |
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| Posted by: June Wahlstrom in Paso Robles, CA. | Posted: January 10th, 2011 09:01PM |
| Club or Gym: Planet Fitness |
I like planet fitness because first of all its a great price and you get good equipment, and included is unlimited tanning and massage chair priviledges plus free guests. Its a nice facility and the Staff is nice and very good with assistance and training. They also offer a fee-free opt out for military with orders provided! I would give this gym an A+ |
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| Posted by: Pleased with my deal in Lake Oswego, OR. | Posted: January 18th, 2010 11:01PM |
| Club or Gym: 24 Hour Fitness |
A number of years ago I purchased 2 or 3 years of membership and paid the entire amount up front. I don't remember exactly, but I think the cost was around $1000-$1400 and it included a trainer for 6 sessions. However, once those years were up, I could renew my membership for a flat $20/year. If you have the money up-front, you can probably get a much better deal than $30 - $50/mo. I haven't gone in close to two years, but I'd be a fool to let it expire over $20/year. |
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| Posted by: Katie in New York, NY. | Posted: September 12th, 2009 01:09PM |
| Club or Gym: NYSC |
I took over somebody else's membership and that's why it's so low - I pay $72 for a month and I can use all NYSC gyms in the city. Usually the same membership costs like $96 a month with 1 year commitment. What can I say - New York is truly expensive! At least NYSC has free towels (unlike Bally's)! |
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| Posted by: squeaky in lansing, MI. | Posted: January 28th, 2009 01:01PM |
| Club or Gym: fittness u s a |
junk eqmp ,no staff to spot you ,old men looking for young men to prey on.lansing michigan w sag st and frandor area. |
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| Posted by: Ms A. in Charlotte, NC. | Posted: January 13th, 2009 11:01PM |
| Club or Gym: YMCA |
We have a family membership to the YMCA in Charlotte, N.C.. for Adults + 2 dependents. We also paid a joining fee of $150 but I now know that they waive this fee in January of every year. We have a 6 yr old & a 3 yr old.. The YMCA here has great kiddie pools, dance classes, soccer teams, etc.. is super clean and most equipment is new at the facilities that I use most often. They have TVs practically everywhere and you can bring your headphones and plug them into the treadmill TVs, etc.. |
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| Posted by: LeAnna in Tucson, AZ. | Posted: January 13th, 2009 04:01AM |
| Club or Gym: Curves |
Gyms close because individuals join but stop coming and renewing their memberships. They don't take their health seriously enough to support the business. |
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| Posted by: A reader from NY in Orchard Park, NY. | Posted: December 5th, 2008 03:12PM |
| Club or Gym: Curves |
Joined in July...closed in Oct....never got my initial fee back.....$100 gone....Yes, there are others...but at a farther distance...very dissapointed |
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| Posted by: Kim in Louisville, CO. | Posted: July 9th, 2008 03:07PM |
| Club or Gym: Club Fitness |
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| Posted by: bob in san jose, CA. | Posted: May 19th, 2008 11:05AM |
| Club or Gym: snap fitness |
Avoid these guys. They are crooks. |
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| Posted by: occasional workout in Saratoga, CA. | Posted: April 14th, 2008 10:04PM |
| Club or Gym: YMCA |
I just got some quotes from the Saratoga YMCA. Basically, the place seems like a much better deal for families. $51 for 1 adult, but $76 a month for two adults and dependents. It's kind of an old-style gym with mostly old equipment, but some of the newer cycling/rowing machines each with its own TV. It also had a pool (closed due to an 'accident') and a room to take care of young kids. Basically, heavily geared toward families. |
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External Resources: |
- www.24hourfitness.com/FindClubForm.do
- www.snapfitness.com/
- www.bbb.org/alerts/article.asp?ID=248
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