Easy Steps to Cancel Your Gym Membership at 5 Major Chains
- Jun 25
- 4 min read
News Blend 360
Tue, June 25, 2026 at 7:19 PM EDT
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.
Can I cancel a gym membership online?
The FTC attempted to address this issue with its proposed "click-to-cancel" rule, which would have required businesses to make cancellation as simple as enrollment. For example, if a customer could sign up for a gym membership online, they would also need to be able to cancel online.
The rule was scheduled to take effect in 2025 but was vacated by a federal appeals court in July 2025 before it could be fully implemented. As a result, there is currently no nationwide requirement that gyms offer online cancellation.
Some states, including California, have enacted their own subscription-cancellation protections, so your options may depend on where you live. Check with your gym to see whether online cancellation is available.
Can I 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 work out at home. Here's how to start walking for exercise and how to start running.
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."
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.
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