How to cancel an LA Fitness membership (and stop the next charge)

Option 1: through your online account

1. LA Fitness's membership page says most memberships can be cancelled "via your online account or as may otherwise be provided in your agreement."
2. Log in at lafitness.com and look for the cancellation option for your membership. If you don't see one, use the club or mail option below.
3. Take a dated screenshot of the final screen and keep any confirmation email.

Option 2: in person at a club

1. LA Fitness says you can cancel in person at a club: go to the front desk.
2. Ask for written confirmation that your membership is cancelled and billing will stop, and note the staff member's name, the date and the time.

Option 3: by mail

1. Mail written notice of cancellation to P.O. Box 54170, Irvine, CA 92619 (the address on LA Fitness's membership page).
2. Include your full name, your home club, that you are cancelling your membership, the date, and a request for written confirmation.
3. LA Fitness recommends registered or certified mail and keeping a record for your files. Keep the mailing receipt and a copy of the letter.
4. LA Fitness says that, depending on your state of enrollment, you may be able to cancel by email. Check your agreement.

Mailing? Mind the 5-business-day rule

1. LA Fitness says a mailed cancellation postmarked at least 5 business days before your next billing date should result in no further billings.
2. If it is postmarked within those 5 business days, you may be billed once more, and LA Fitness says it will refund that extra billing.

Why it can feel hard to leave

In August 2025 the FTC sued the operators of LA Fitness (Fitness International, LLC and Fitness & Sports Clubs, LLC), alleging they made it extremely difficult to cancel memberships that renew until cancelled. The FTC alleges people were told to go to a club or mail a notice, and that the process started by logging in to print a cancellation form.

The FTC also alleges that LA Fitness did not clearly tell members they could cancel add-on services, such as personal training, separately without cancelling their gym membership. The FTC has also filed an amended complaint.

LA Fitness has fought the suit in court, arguing it only recommended, and never required, certified or registered mail for cancellation notices. As of October 2026 the case is still pending, and there is no refund program to claim from.

The psychology: the flat fee that outlives the habit

A flat monthly fee makes every visit feel free, so joining feels like a plan to go often. In a study of US gyms, members on a monthly contract of over $70 went on average 4.3 times a month, paying more than $17 per visit when a 10-visit pass cost $10 per visit (DellaVigna & Malmendier, 2006). We overestimate how often our future self will go, and a cancel step that needs a trip or a letter makes "next month" easy to keep saying.

Your defense: divide last month's dues by the number of visits you actually made. If that price per visit is more than a day pass, cancel this week or switch to paying per visit.

If you’re still being charged

The FTC’s advice: keep a copy of your cancellation request and notes about any calls, then watch your statements. If a company keeps charging you after you cancelled, dispute the charge with your credit or debit card company, and report the problem at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or to your state attorney general.

Common questions