How to cancel a gym membership at these 5 popular chains

Signing up for your gym membership was easy. A walkthrough, a signature, and suddenly you had access to treadmills, ellipticals, and all the gym perks. Canceling? That’s another story. Whether you’re moving, dealing with schedule changes, or simply not using it enough to justify the cost, ending a gym contract can feel more challenging than leg day.

Research shows you’re far from alone: only about half of gym members renew after a year, with cost, time constraints and changing life circumstances among the top reasons for canceling. But it’s nothing to feel guilty about. Canceling a membership you’re not using is a smart decision, not a failure. “Canceling a gym membership doesn’t mean you’ve failed,” says Brian Murray, founder of Motive Training in Austin, Texas. “It usually means your life has changed, and adjusting your approach to movement is a smart, healthy response.”

If you’ve been holding onto a membership out of guilt or hope that you’ll get back to it “someday,” consider this permission to let it go. As yoga and Pilates instructor Anouska Shenn puts it: “Canceling a gym membership you no longer use is not a moral failing. It’s good financial sense. It’s healthy to let go of what’s no longer serving you to make space for the new.”

Popular gyms, including LA Fitness and Planet Fitness, generally don’t allow you to cancel your membership online, even though you can sign up on their websites. Instead, you have to make a phone call or go to the gym to close your account. We’ll explain how to get out of a gym membership at five popular chains. If your gym isn’t listed, we recommend calling your local club for its cancellation policy.

How to cancel a gym membership at Anytime Fitness

Each Anytime Fitness location has its own cancelation policy since each club is independently owned. The membership agreement you signed when joining should have all the information you need on how to cancel, including any applicable cancelation fees. There’s no way to cancel your membership online, so you’ll need to either call the gym or visit in person.

A contract posted by a frustrated Reddit user who was a member of an Anytime Fitness gym said the account needs to be current before you can cancel. It also said a member “may cancel for any reason during the initial agreement term by paying a $250.00 early termination fee with a 30-day written notice hand delivered to a manager or team member at the club.” However, the policy at your club might be different, so read your contract carefully (ideally, before you sign up).

How to cancel a gym membership at Planet Fitness

Much like with Anytime Fitness, Planet Fitness cancelation policies vary by location. The chain recommends contacting your local gym to get the correct policy.

Planet Fitness notes that for most locations, you can visit your home club in person to cancel your membership or send a written notice by mail requesting to cancel. However, you may be eligible to cancel your membership online, depending on your membership type and the location of your home gym. We recommend calling your local gym to find out what exactly you need to do.

Also note that if your Planet Fitness membership has a minimum term (for instance, 12 months), and you cancel your membership before that term ends, you’ll be required to pay a $58 buyout fee.

How to cancel a gym membership at Gold’s Gym

The process to cancel your Gold’s Gym membership varies depending on your location. You’ll have to either contact your gym via phone or email, or go in person to cancel. If you’re a member of Gold’s Gym Camas, Vancouver Mall, Vancouver Hazel Dell, Tigard, Kirkland or Woodinville (all in Washington state), you can cancel online.

Note that many of the gym’s locations require a 30-day written notice to cancel. Also, if you cancel during the term you signed up for, you may have to pay an early cancellation fee unless you can provide proof that you’re moving more than 25 miles away or have a doctor’s note saying you’re unable to work out.

How to cancel a gym membership at LA Fitness

If you’re an LA Fitness member, there are multiple ways to cancel your month-to-month membership.

If you cancel by mail, you’ll need to print out the cancellation form available in your online account (you can also send in a written cancellation notice). Then, mail the form to P.O. Box 54170, Irvine, CA 92619.

You can also cancel in person by bringing either the cancellation form or a written notice of cancellation to the operations manager at your nearest club. Request a receipt that will serve as proof of cancellation.

Depending on your state, you may be able to cancel by email or online through your account portal. Check your membership agreement or call the club to see whether this option is available.

If you signed up for a membership or personal training sessions with an initial term of three months or more and want to cancel before the end of that term, you may have to pay a termination fee.

How to cancel a gym membership at 24 Hour Fitness

There are a few ways to cancel your 24 Hour Fitness membership. You can dial 866-308-8179, call your local club or submit this online form to cancel. Note that if you have any add-on memberships, you’ll also need to cancel those when you cancel your main account. Otherwise, you’ll still accrue charges.

If you cancel before your commitment period is up, you may have to pay a cancellation fee. If your commitment period has ended, future monthly charges will stop.

Check your membership agreement for an explanation of your specific cancellation rights.

How to cancel a gym membership online

Unfortunately, canceling your gym membership online isn’t always an option. But the Federal Trade Commission in October 2024 announced its final click-to-cancel rule that will make it easier for you to cancel your recurring memberships and subscriptions. For instance, if you’re able to sign up for a gym membership online, you should also be able to cancel it online.

“Too often, businesses make people jump through endless hoops just to cancel a subscription,” Commission Chair Lina Khan said in a statement. “Nobody should be stuck paying for a service they no longer want.”

The new rule, originally intended to begin on May 14, 2025, was blocked by in federal courts in July of 2025. This means the initiative is currently stalled without a clear indication of when it might go into effect.

However, California has already been implementing this rule, and some locations may start honoring the change before the law becomes official. Check with your gym to see whether the option is available to you.

How to cancel a gym membership over the phone

Most gyms will allow you to cancel your membership over the phone, or at least give you instructions on how to cancel. If you’re ready to end your contract but don’t have time to visit the gym, simply call your local club.

Be prepared to say why you’re leaving and whether you’d stay for a (likely temporary) lower rate. Have your debit or credit card handy in case you’re required to pay a termination fee.

While you may be canceling your gym membership, it’s important to stay active. Check out how exercise can impact your mental health and how working out impacts your life. You may also want to grab a gym bag and some home fitness equipment to make sure you’ve got what you need to workout at home. Here’s how to start walking for exercise and how to start running. In addition, we’ve found the best rowing machines and the best workout bikes.

Staying active without a gym membership

Canceling your gym membership doesn’t mean giving up on fitness. “Gyms are in the business of making you feel like getting fit lives in a specific place with specific equipment, but your body doesn’t know the difference between a kettlebell you also use as a doorstop and a $5,000 machine,” says Shenn. “It only knows whether you moved or didn’t.” Research suggests that enjoyment and feeling appropriately challenged are key factors in sticking with exercise long-term, which may explain why a gym environment works well for some people and not others.

According to Josh Fly, founder of FlyLife Performance & Wellness Coaching, letting go of an unused membership can actually be a positive step forward. “Canceling the membership is often a strategic reset: a reinvestment of time, energy, and money, and a realignment toward what’s actually accessible and sustainable,” he explains. “Many people lose momentum not because they don’t care about their health, but because gym logistics create unnecessary friction.”

If you prefer working out at home, a few simple tools can go a long way. Fly recommends keeping a yoga mat, a set of dumbbells, and a few resistance bands at home and at work to remove barriers. “Short workouts (10 to 15 minutes), walking and movement breaks, and bodyweight circuits all count,” he says. “On low-motivation days, there are countless free, high-quality workouts available online, plus local community options like running clubs or free community yoga classes.”

Check out these dumbbell exercises for your arms and your legs.

Murray agrees that location matters less than consistency: “Consistent daily movement matters more than where it happens.”

For a quick at-home option, Shenn suggests setting a timer for ten minutes and doing anything that gets your heart rate up. “Put some music on and dance, grab some light hand weights and do some air punches, or work with your bodyweight and knock out some push-ups and crunches,” she says. “Remember that movement is a privilege not everyone can enjoy. Training shouldn’t be a punishment but a celebration of what our bodies are capable of.”

The gym can still be a useful tool, whether as an occasional drop-in class or seasonal program, notes Fly. “But it’s not a moral obligation or an imperative to be in great shape and accomplish your goals. Fitness works best when it fits your life.”

Meet Our Experts

• Josh Fly, founder and head coach at FlyLife Performance & Wellness Coaching

• Brian Murray, founder of Motive Training in Austin, Texas, and expert in mobility, strength, and pain-free performance

• Anouska Shenn, certified Pilates and yoga instructor and founder of The Office Yoga Company

Our health content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional on questions about your health.