Planet Fitness Cancellation Policy, Explained

Planet Fitness memberships renew automatically, so billing continues until you actively end the agreement. According to the company's official customer-service FAQ, the two methods offered nationwide are cancelling in person at your home club or sending a written cancellation letter to that same club. Some clubs and some states also let you submit a request through the online member portal, but that option is not universal, so confirm what your home club accepts before you rely on it.

Two charges cause most of the confusion. First, if your membership carries a minimum term (typically a 12-month commitment) and you end it before that term is over, the FAQ states that a $58 buyout fee is required. Second, a recurring annual fee is billed once per year on top of your monthly dues. Understanding the deadlines for each is the key to cancelling without an unexpected charge.

This page is general information about the published policy and common consumer-protection laws, not legal advice. Terms can differ by location, so treat your own signed membership agreement and your home club as the authoritative source for your account.

To cancel in person, you go to your home club (the location where you enrolled) and ask the front desk to process a cancellation. Staff typically have you complete a cancellation form on the spot. Bring a photo ID and, if you can, your membership number so the request is matched to the correct account.

To cancel by mail, you send a signed letter to your home club. Planet Fitness's own guidance and its international FAQs indicate the letter should include your name exactly as it appears on the membership, your contact details (phone and email), your membership or account information, a clear statement that you are ending the membership, and your written signature. Many members send this by certified mail with return receipt so they have dated proof that the club received it; that documentation is useful if a later charge is disputed.

Because the policy is written around your home club, requests made by phone, email, or the mobile app are generally not accepted as valid cancellations. If your account was opened online in a state that requires an online cancellation path, check your member portal, but do not assume the app alone will stop billing.

The $58 buyout applies only to memberships that still have an unexpired minimum term. Planet Fitness's FAQ states that if a membership has a minimum term and is ended before the end of the contract term, a $58 buyout fee is required. In practice this most often affects members who signed a 12-month commitment and want out before month 12.

Once a minimum term has been completed, the membership generally converts to month-to-month. At that point you can cancel without the buyout fee, though your normal monthly dues and any due annual fee still follow the standard billing deadlines described below. If you are unsure whether your term has ended, ask your home club to confirm your contract end date in writing before you cancel.

Separate from monthly dues, Planet Fitness charges a recurring annual fee. It is commonly around $49, though the exact amount varies by club, plan, and promotional offer, and some current offer terms list a higher figure. The fee is billed once a year on a set date tied to your enrollment, which is why it can surprise members who joined months earlier.

Timing matters because charges are queued in advance. The company's FAQ states that to stop the annual fee, your cancellation request must be received by the club by the 25th of the month before the annual fee date. For monthly dues, the club generally needs your request several days ahead of your billing date, and it can take up to seven business days for a billing change to take effect. Because billing dates differ by club, ask your home club for your exact annual-fee date and monthly draft date, then submit your cancellation with a comfortable buffer before both.

Several states have health-club statutes that can give you cancellation rights beyond what the standard contract offers, sometimes waiving early-termination costs. California's Health Studio Services Contract Law, New York's health-club rules enforced by the Attorney General, and Massachusetts law all allow a member to cancel if they move more than 25 miles from the seller's facilities and cannot transfer to a comparable one, or if they become disabled in a way that prevents them from using the club (usually with a physician's verification). In those situations, a prorated refund of amounts paid in advance may be required. Documentation submitted at the time of cancellation is typically necessary.

Federally, the FTC finalized a 'Click-to-Cancel' amendment to its Negative Option Rule in 2024 that would have required cancellation to be as easy as signup, but the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated that rule on July 8, 2025, so it is not in effect as of 2026. The FTC has signaled it may revisit the topic, and the agency and state attorneys general continue to bring enforcement actions against deceptive or obstructive cancellation practices. For rights specific to your situation, check your state attorney general's consumer-protection resources.

Cancellation is not final until the club processes it, so ask for written confirmation, whether that is a signed copy of the in-club form, an email, or a portal confirmation. Keep your certified-mail receipt if you sent a letter. Note the date the club says billing will stop, and remember the up-to-seven-business-day processing window.

After you cancel, watch your bank or card statements for one or two billing cycles. If a charge posts after your effective cancellation date, contact your home club first with your documentation; the confirmation and mail receipt are what let you show the request was made on time. Because policies and available methods can vary by location and state, verifying the specifics with your home club before you act is the most reliable way to avoid a lingering charge.