Planet Fitness Annual Fee Explained

Quick Answer: What Is the Annual Fee?

Because clubs are independently owned and operated, the exact amount and billing date can differ from what’s advertised nationally. This guide breaks down the standard figures and shows you exactly how to confirm yours.

How Much Is the Planet Fitness Annual Fee?

Planet Fitness’s official membership page lists the annual fee at $49, and that’s the figure most members across the country see. That said, it isn’t universal: some clubs list $39, others charge $59, and the exact number in your case ultimately comes down to whatever’s written in your specific membership agreement rather than any single number you find online.

• $49 — the most commonly advertised and charged amount nationwide.
• $39 — seen at some clubs, occasionally tied to specific promotions or regions.
• $59 — charged at select locations, sometimes paired with a lower monthly rate.

Why Does Planet Fitness Charge It?

Planet Fitness frames the annual fee as a way to keep clubs running without raising the advertised monthly price. It’s positioned to cover things like:

• Routine equipment maintenance and repairs.
• Replacing or upgrading cardio and strength machines over time.
• General facility upkeep, cleaning, and administrative costs.

It’s a common structure in the budget gym world: keep the sticker price as low as possible — $15 for Classic, $24.99 for Black Card — and fund ongoing maintenance through a separate, once-a-year charge instead of building it into the monthly rate. It’s part of what keeps Planet Fitness membership pricing as low as it is compared to full-service gyms.

When Is the Annual Fee Charged?

There’s no single national date. Instead, your annual fee date is tied to your own signup date and agreement:

• First charge: commonly billed around two months after you originally joined, often on the 1st of that month.
• Every year after: it recurs annually on or near that same anniversary date.
• Some clubs instead assign every member a fixed calendar date, such as a set month each year, regardless of when they signed up.
• It’s billed automatically from the payment method on file, and Planet Fitness generally does not send a reminder beforehand.

Classic vs Black Card: Annual Fee Comparison

One thing that trips people up: the annual fee is the same regardless of which plan you’re on. Upgrading to Black Card gets you more amenities, not a different annual fee structure.

Your Real Yearly Cost, With the Fee Included

The advertised monthly price alone understates what you’ll actually pay across a year. Here’s a simple estimate using the national starting prices and the standard $49 annual fee, before taxes or any local startup fee:

Figures are estimates based on national starting prices and the standard annual fee; taxes, local pricing, and any startup fee will change your actual total. Even with the annual fee added, this still lands well below the $50–$70 average monthly dues reported for many full-service U.S. gyms.

How to Avoid or Cancel Before It Bills

The annual fee itself can’t be waived just by asking, but you can avoid the next charge by canceling in time. The general process looks like this:

1. Confirm your annual fee date in your agreement, account, or by asking your home club directly.
2. Work backward from that date — most clubs require your cancellation request to be received by the 25th of the month before your annual fee date to stop that charge.
3. Submit your cancellation in writing, in person or by certified mail, since most locations don’t accept cancellations by phone, email, or app.
4. Keep proof of your cancellation request and its date in case the fee is charged in error afterward.

If you’re on a minimum-term agreement, cancelling early may also trigger a separate buyout fee unrelated to the annual fee — check the full cancel membership guide for the complete step-by-step process, required documents, and how commitment terms factor in.

Is the Annual Fee Refundable?

In most cases, no — once the annual fee has processed, Planet Fitness treats it as non-refundable. There are a few situations where a refund may still be possible:

• The fee was charged in error, such as after your membership was already cancelled.
• Your club manager approves a refund as a one-off exception.
• You have documented proof your cancellation request was submitted before the required deadline but the fee was still charged.

If any of these apply to you, contact your home club directly and ask politely — refunds are handled at the club level and aren’t guaranteed, but documentation makes your case stronger.

Other Fees to Watch For

The annual fee isn’t the only extra cost that can catch new members off guard. A few others worth knowing about before you sign:

• Startup or enrollment fee: a one-time charge at signup, commonly ranging from $1 during promotions up to around $49 at full price, depending on the club and offer.
• Sales tax: applied to monthly dues in many states, which can push your bill slightly above the advertised price.
• Buyout or early-termination fee: applies if you cancel a minimum-term agreement before it ends, commonly cited around $58, and is separate from the annual fee entirely.
• Card surcharge: some clubs add a small surcharge for paying by credit card instead of a bank draft.

For the complete breakdown of monthly pricing, tier differences, and every fee side by side, see the full Planet Fitness membership cost guide.

Frequently Asked Questions