How to Cancel Any Gym Membership — The Complete Guide

Why Gyms Make Canceling So Hard

The gym business model relies on members who pay but don't go. Industry data shows that 67% of gym memberships go completely unused. If every member actually showed up, gyms would be over capacity by 10x.

So they make canceling as friction-filled as possible: certified letters, 30-day notices, in-person visits required, and "annual fees" that hit right when you're about to quit. This isn't accidental — it's by design.

Here's how to navigate each gym's process:

Planet Fitness

Difficulty: Hard · $10-25/month · 2,440+ locations

How to Cancel

• In person: Visit your home club and fill out a cancellation form at the front desk
• By mail: Send a certified letter to your home club (get the address from their website)
• Online: Planet Fitness now allows online cancellation at planetfitness.com/my-account (added in 2025 after years of complaints)

Watch Out For

• 30-day notice required: You'll be charged for one more month after canceling
• Annual fee timing: PF charges $49.99/year (usually in June). Cancel before the 25th of the prior month to avoid it
• "Home club" requirement: You must cancel at the specific location where you signed up

LA Fitness

Difficulty: Very Hard · $30-40/month · 700+ locations

How to Cancel

• In person: Visit any LA Fitness location (doesn't have to be your home club)
• By mail: Send to: LA Fitness, PO Box 54170, Irvine, CA 92619-4170
• Online: NOT available — this is one of the last major gyms without online cancellation

Watch Out For

• Staff pushback: Front desk employees are trained to offer "freezes" and discounts. Be firm
• 5-day processing: After submitting, there's a 5-business-day processing period
• Proof of cancellation: ALWAYS get written confirmation. LA Fitness has a history of "losing" cancellation requests

Equinox

Difficulty: Very Hard · $200-400/month · 100+ locations

How to Cancel

• Email: Send to memberservices@equinox.com (include your member ID)
• In person: Visit the front desk at your home club
• Phone: Call (866) 332-6549

Watch Out For

• 45-day notice: Yes, 45 days — not 30. You'll be charged for ~1.5 months after canceling
• Retention calls: Expect a phone call trying to talk you out of it. Politely decline
• "Initiation fee" warning: They'll remind you that you'll have to pay it again ($300-500) if you rejoin. This is a scare tactic

24 Hour Fitness

Difficulty: Hard · $25-50/month · 440+ locations

How to Cancel

• Online: Log in at 24hourfitness.com → My Account → Cancel Membership
• Phone: Call (800) 432-6348
• In person: Visit any location

Watch Out For

• Contract vs month-to-month: If you're on a contract (12/24 months), there's an early termination fee
• 30-day notice: Standard 30-day notice applies

Anytime Fitness

Difficulty: Hard · $30-50/month · 5,000+ locations worldwide

How to Cancel

• In person: Visit your home club — each franchise may have different policies
• By mail: Send a certified letter to your home club's address
• Online: Some locations support it; check with your specific club

Watch Out For

• Franchise variation: Each location is independently owned. Policies vary significantly
• Early termination fee: Contracts typically have a $50-150 buyout
• 30-day notice from billing date: Time your cancellation before your billing date

The Nuclear Options

If a gym is making it unreasonably difficult to cancel, you have options:

1. Dispute with your bank. If you've formally requested cancellation and the gym keeps charging you, file a dispute with your bank or credit card company. Provide your cancellation proof (certified mail receipt, email confirmation, etc.)
2. File a complaint. Your state attorney general's consumer protection office handles exactly this type of complaint. The FTC also has an online complaint form. Gyms often respond quickly when a government agency contacts them.
3. Replace your card number. As a last resort, request a new card number from your bank. The gym can't charge a card that no longer exists. Note: this may affect other recurring payments on that card.

Before You Cancel: The Freeze Option

If you're on the fence, most gyms offer a "freeze" or "pause" option that stops billing temporarily (usually 1-3 months). This can be useful if:

• You're traveling for an extended period
• You're recovering from an injury
• You want to try working out at home first

But be aware: freezes often auto-expire, and billing resumes automatically. Set a calendar reminder before the freeze ends.