Home Gym Owner
How many members does the average gym have?

How many members does the average gym have?

Posted by Tyler Spraul, Certified Strength and Conditioning SpecialistĀ® (CSCSĀ®) on June 11, 2021 ā€” Updated on January 23, 2024

The average number of gym members in a gym is 1,500 gym members. Of course, different gym business models, concepts, and locations play a big part in how many gym members your gym needs to be successful.

How many members does the average gym have?

Every gym owner has wondered how their gym fares against the competition. So how many members does the average gym have? Among U.S. fitness centers, about 1,500 members is average, but thatā€™s not the only factor at play.

  • In the U.S., gym memberships average out to about 1,500 members per fitness facility.
  • An individual gym’s profitability depends on its overhead and membership fees.
  • There are many ways to increase your gym’s membership numbers.

How many members does a gym need to be successful? Keep reading to learn, and then check out our guides on how to run a successful gym, how to make your gym stand out, how to increase gym revenue and profit, and more.

Fitness Income Ideas

Whether your gym is just starting out or has been around for years, it’s natural to wonder how you stack up against the competition. How many members does the average gym have? If your gym has 100 members, or 300, or maybe even 1,000, how do you know when you’ve “made it”?

While it’s tempting to get caught up in the numbers, your gym’s membership count isn’t the only thing to consider. A fitness center’s profitability also hinges on other factors, such as its location, its debt load, and whether it maximizes the efficiency of its operations with the best online gym management software. Even so, at the end of the day, most people still want to knowā€”how many members does a gym need to be successful?

Exercise.com can help boost your gym’s profitability with the best software for gyms, and the best software for personal trainers who want to grow their fitness business and learn how to make money from fitness.

Best Gym Management Software

And as our reviews from gym owners attest, we love gym owners and they love us. Read our gym owner guide and then see why our gym software has gym owners raving (get a free demo here).

Exercise.com Review

Create workout plans with a workout plan creator.

Workout Plan Creator

Communicate with gym members, leads, and online followers via SMS, email, and in-app push notification.

SMS

And of course, view all of your gym business reports easily too.

Gym Reports

All from your custom-branded fitness apps (Read More: Best Gym Mobile Fitness Apps Software)

Custom Branded Apps

You can grow your business by selling workout plans, using our white label fitness app builder software to offer a custom branded fitness app, learning how to run an online fitness challenge, and much more.

APEC
Exercise.com is simply the best. We were using three or four different apps or softwares to do what we can now do all in one with the Exercise.com platform.
Brandon Stroupe
Founder and President, APEC Sports Performance

Get a demo now!

How many members does the average gym have?

On average, 1,500 members per gym. 

According to Statista, the U.S. has 41,000 membership-based fitness centers, and these combine for a total of 64.19 million members. That averages out to about 1,500 per fitness center. Reality doesn’t always line up with neat averages, however, and there is a lot of individual variation that contributes to that number. For example, Franchise Chatter states the average Planet Fitness has 6,000 members.

Read More:

How many members does a gym need to be successful?

Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all number here. To estimate how many members your gym needs, divide your monthly overhead costs by the price of a membership. You may be surprised by the results.

For example, if Gym A is very expensive to run, it may lose money despite having a huge number of members. Conversely, Gym B may have very few members, but if its overhead is low, it will still be successful. Run the numbers on your own gym to get a rough idea of the membership numbers you need to reach in order for your business to be profitable.

How can I increase my gym’s memberships?

If your gym hasn’t quite reached that magic profitability threshold yet, there are many ways to increase memberships at your gym. Some are simple, others are more outside the box, but all are worth trying.

  • Offer niche services (such as weightlifting for seniors or outdoor boot camps for members and their dogs)
  • Explore clever gym advertising campaign ideas and gym advertising slogan ideas for your gym
  • Give perks to members who refer friends and family
  • Cater to convenience by moving your classes online with a website or custom fitness app
  • Optimize your income from the members you already have by offering premium services, such as personal training packages and nutrition counseling

What is the average number of members in a typical gym?

The average number of members in a typical gym is around 1,500. However, this number can vary significantly based on factors such as the gym’s business model, concept, and location. Understanding the dynamics of gym membership, such as the average members per gym or the average gym membership numbers, is crucial for gym owners to gauge their business’s performance and potential growth.

How do membership numbers vary in different types of gyms?

Membership numbers can vary widely in different types of gyms. For instance, a small, boutique gym might have fewer members, with an average number of gym memberships per gym being lower than larger facilities. On the other hand, big fitness centers in urban areas might have a higher average gym membership, reflecting their capacity and the population density of the area. The average gym memberships and how many members does a small gym have are important metrics for understanding market positioning and operational needs.

Is opening a gym a good investment considering the average gym membership?

Opening a gym can be a good investment, but it largely depends on understanding the market and managing the gym effectively. Knowing the average gym membership and how many members can a gym have helps in creating a realistic business plan. The percentage of the population with a gym membership in your area can also indicate the potential market size. Using a comprehensive platform like Exercise.com can aid in managing memberships, tracking performance metrics, and optimizing business strategies for better profitability.

How can gym owners effectively manage varying membership numbers?

Effectively managing varying membership numbers requires a flexible and data-driven approach. Understanding the average amount of members at a gym and how many memberships does the average gym have can help in setting realistic targets and strategies. Gym owners should focus on member retention strategies and personalized services to maintain a steady membership base. Utilizing platforms like Exercise.com can provide valuable insights into membership trends and help in tailoring services to meet members’ needs effectively.

The Bottom Line: How many members does my gym need?

Gym membership statistics may show that 1,500 members are average for a fitness center in the U.S., but if your gym is working with smaller numbers, that doesn’t mean profitability is out of reach. Focus on improving your unique fitness business, and the income will follow.

And if you’d like to spend less time managing your gym operations and more time with your members, Exercise.com can help.

AMPD Golf Performance
“Working with Exercise.com and their team has been an amazing experience and a dream come true in terms of accomplishing a vision! Their workout technology has helped us effectively engage our community, and I highly recommend Exercise.com to grow your business!”
Andrew Banner
Co-Founder, AMPD Golf Performance

Get a demo now!

References:

  1. https://www.statista.com/statistics/236123/us-fitness-center–health-club-memberships/
  2. https://www.franchisechatter.com/2011/08/22/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-planet-fitness-franchise-opportunity-no-frills-no-judgement-and-no-grunting/
Tyler Spraul is the director of UX and the head trainer for Exercise.com. He has his Bachelor of Science degree in pre-medicine and is an NSCA-Certified Strength and Conditioning SpecialistĀ® (CSCSĀ®). He is a former All-American soccer player and still coaches soccer today. In his free time, he enjoys reading, learning, and living the dad life.
We make fitness businesses happy and successful. We are a next-generation software platform dedicated to making it easy for fitness professionals to manage their entire fitness business in one place.
FollowĀ us:
Company
Start Here
Copyright Ā© 2024 Exercise.com
Made with ā¤ļø at 15310 Amberly Dr, Suite 250, Tampa, FL 33647 & world-wide
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service
CCPA