One thing I want you know before comparing LA Fitness vs 24 Hour Fitness is that 24 Hour Fitness closed about 100 locations after going bankrupt in 2020, and it now has around 275 to 300 clubs in the US, mostly on the West Coast and in Texas.
LA Fitness has around 700 clubs across most of the country.
So the first question whether 24 Hour Fitness even reaches you. If it does, the rest of this guide covers the actual differences, cost, tiers, hours, equipment, and everything else that matters.
Where Each Gym has Locations
24 Hour Fitness is now heavily concentrated in specific markets, the 2020 bankruptcy closed 134 clubs across 14 states, with California losing 42 and Texas losing 26.
Most of what remains is on the West Coast, plus scattered coverage in Hawaii, Colorado, and a few other states.
LA Fitness has broader nationwide coverage, though the density still varies a lot by state.
| State or Region | LA Fitness | 24 Hour Fitness |
|---|---|---|
| California | Heavy coverage | Heavy coverage |
| Texas | Heavy coverage | Moderate coverage |
| Florida | Heavy coverage | None |
| Arizona, Illinois, NJ, GA | Heavy coverage | Very limited or none |
| Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Nevada, Hawaii | Some coverage | Moderate coverage |
| Northeast (outside NJ, NY) | Some coverage | None |
| Midwest (outside Illinois) | Very limited | None |
| Deep South | Very limited | None |
| Ontario, Canada | Yes | No (GoodLife reciprocity instead) |
For anyone not in the shared coverage areas, LA Fitness wins by default because you cannot reach 24 Hour Fitness.
LA Fitness vs 24 Hour Fitness Cost Breakdown
Both gyms hide the real number behind monthly rates that skip fees. Here is what actually gets charged in year one.
| Cost | LA Fitness Single Club | LA Fitness Multi-Club | 24 Hour Fitness Silver/Gold | 24 Hour Fitness Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly dues | $34.99 | $39.99 | $19.99 to $36.99 | $39.99 to $54.99 |
| 12 months of dues | $420 | $480 | $240 to $444 | $480 to $660 |
| Startup fee | $0 to $99 | $0 to $99 | $0 to $99 | $0 to $99 |
| Annual fee | $59 | $59 | $49 | $49 |
| First-year total | $420 to $520 | $540 to $640 | $290 to $580 | $530 to $810 |
24 Hour Fitness Has a Deal with Costco
Costco members can buy a two-year 24 Hour Fitness prepaid membership for about $430 to $500.
That works out to $17 to $20 per month with no startup fee and no annual fee, and It covers Sport, Active, Express, and Fit-Lite tier clubs, but not Super Sport or Ultra Sport.
If your closest 24 Hour Fitness is Sport tier or lower, this is by far the cheapest way to get a full-service gym membership.
If your closest club is Super Sport or Ultra Sport (the ones with pools), the Costco deal locks you out and regular pricing applies.
LA Fitness does not have any bulk deal like this, and because of that startup fees stay negotiable at the end of the month when sales staff have quotas to hit.
The 24 Hour Fitness Tier System
24 Hour Fitness has six club tiers, and this is the part that confuses new members the most. Two 24 Hour Fitness clubs on the same street can have completely different features because they are different tiers under the same brand.
| Tier | What’s Inside |
|---|---|
| Fit-Lite | Basic cardio and machines, limited free weights, no pool, no basketball, no sauna |
| Express | Slightly bigger than Fit-Lite, still no pool or premium amenities |
| Active | Standard mid-tier, full free weights, cardio floor, some group classes, usually no pool |
| Sport | Basketball court, sauna, larger group fitness room, complete equipment. Most members land here |
| Super Sport | Adds an indoor pool, bigger group fitness studios, more premium finishes |
| Ultra Sport | Flagship tier with whirlpool, steam room, upgraded locker rooms, sometimes a cafe or juice bar |
Before signing up at 24 Hour Fitness, ask yourself which tier you need.
LA Fitness only has two tiers by comparison, standard clubs already include the pool, basketball court, and sauna at most locations
And the Signature clubs (marked “(Signature)” in the club name) add premium amenities and cost more.
Which Gym Offer Better Equipment
Both have full free weight setups at most clubs, but there is a real quality difference.
24 Hour Fitness at Sport tier and above:
- Barbells and bumper plates from Rogue and Eleiko (the two top brands in powerlifting)
- Multiple squat racks and dedicated lifting platforms
- Turf areas with sleds, tires, battle ropes, plyo boxes, TRX bands
- Dumbbells usually up to 100 pounds
- Chalk and dropping weights allowed on lifting platforms
LA Fitness at standard clubs:
- Standard barbells and plates (not premium brands but they work fine)
- Dumbbells up to 120 pounds at most clubs (heavier ceiling than 24 Hour Fitness)
- Squat racks and deadlift platforms at most clubs, fewer per club
- Chalk allowed at most clubs
- Dropping weights discouraged, platforms less common
For competitive powerlifters and Olympic weightlifters, 24 Hour Fitness at Sport tier or above is the better gym for equipment quality.
For general strength training and hypertrophy, both work fine and LA Fitness has heavier dumbbells.
LA Fitness 24 Hour Gym Access is Not Available
Only a small handful of LA Fitness clubs run 24 hours, most close between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. weekdays and 8 p.m. weekends.
So If look for “LA Fitness 24 hour gym” you are going to be disappointed at most locations.
24 Hour Fitness runs 24/7 at about 70 to 80% of locations on weekdays but weekend hours are usually reduced.
A few clubs in cities with blue laws have limited Sunday hours, and Fit-Lite and Express clubs also sometimes close earlier than the name would suggest.
Still, if you work night shifts or need to train after 11 p.m., 24 Hour Fitness is the only option between these two.
Group Fitness Classes
LA Fitness has more classes running more often at most clubs and the class menu covers:
- Yoga
- Cycling
- HIIT
- Zumba
- Aqua fitness
- Strength conditioning
- Dance.
Classes run all day on weekdays and weekend mornings, some LA Fitness clubs also offer HIIT by LAF, a CrossFit-style program that costs $125 extra per month.
24 Hour Fitness runs a similar menu:
- Barre
- Pilates
- Zumba
- Spin
- Yoga
- Body Pump
- Strength training)
But fewer classes per day at Sport and below tier clubs because the group fitness rooms are smaller.
Super Sport and Ultra Sport clubs have expanded schedules that match or beat LA Fitness.
If group classes are a top priority, LA Fitness is the safer pick unless the closest 24 Hour Fitness is Super Sport or Ultra Sport.
Amenities compared
Amenities vary a lot at 24 Hour Fitness because of the tier system, so this I compared LA Fitness standard clubs to Sport tier and Super Sport / Ultra Sport 24 Hour Fitness separately.
| Amenity | LA Fitness (standard) | 24HF Sport tier | 24HF Super Sport / Ultra Sport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indoor pool | At most clubs | Rare | At most clubs |
| Basketball court | At most clubs | At most clubs | At most clubs |
| Sauna | At most clubs | At most clubs | At most clubs |
| Steam room | At many clubs | Rare | At many clubs |
| Whirlpool | At most clubs | At some clubs | At most clubs |
| Turf training area | At some clubs | At most clubs | At most clubs |
| Kids childcare | Included at most clubs | Extra fee at some clubs | Extra fee at most clubs |
| Juice bar | At some clubs | At some clubs | At most clubs |
- LA Fitness bundles more amenities into the standard price, which makes Multi-Club the better default choice for amenity-focused members.
- 24 Hour Fitness is worth it if the closest club is Super Sport or higher, or if the amenity list doesn’t matter much.
Guest passes and Canadian access
LA Fitness Multi-Club allows one free guest per visit under most contracts. But extra guests same-day cost $20.
Multi-Club also opens access to most Esporta Fitness clubs, which helps in metros where Esporta outnumbers LA Fitness.
24 Hour Fitness allows one free adult guest per visit at most tiers, but bringing the same guest a second time triggers a small fee.
The bigger benefit is that 24 Hour Fitness members can use GoodLife Fitness and Energie Cardio clubs in Canada at no charge.
LA Fitness has its own clubs in Ontario but no reciprocity with other Canadian chains.
Personal training
24 Hour Fitness trainers need at least one year of experience and a certification through NASM, ACE, or similar bodies, many have college degrees in exercise science.
Sessions cost $85 to $97.50 per hour, trainer quality is above the industry average.
LA Fitness trainers need certifications but not college degrees, and sessions cost $45 to $60 each, and packages are cheaper.
Trainers are often newer to the field, member reviews on LA Fitness training are more mixed than at 24 Hour Fitness.
24 Hour Fitness wins on quality, while the LA Fitness wins on price.
So which one is right depends on whether trainer credentials matter enough to justify paying almost double per session.
Is 24 Hour Fitness stable after bankruptcy?
Yes, but the footprint is smaller for good, the 24 Hour Fitness came out of Chapter 11 reorganization in December 2020 under new ownership.
Financial performance since has been steady and no new closures have been announced.
Members who travel to a city that lost its 24 Hour Fitness during bankruptcy will not see one open there again.
This is why LA Fitness is often the better choice for anyone whose life involves multiple metros, even if 24 Hour Fitness looks better on paper in their home market.
Which is better, LA Fitness or 24 Hour Fitness?
24 Hour Fitness is the better pick when:
- Overnight or late-night gym access is a must
- Serious lifting is a priority and Rogue or Eleiko equipment matters
- A Costco membership plus a Sport-tier club nearby unlocks the two-year deal
- The nearest 24 Hour Fitness is a Super Sport or Ultra Sport with the amenities already included
- Regular Canada travel makes GoodLife Fitness reciprocity useful
- Personal training quality matters enough to justify $85+ per session
LA Fitness is the better pick when:
- 24 Hour Fitness has no nearby clubs at all
- Kids Klub childcare needs to be included, not a separate fee
- Predictable amenities matter (no need to research club tiers first)
- The closest 24 Hour Fitness is Fit-Lite, Express, or Active tier
- Travel or moves involve cities across the country where LA Fitness has broader reach
- Personal training on a tighter budget outweighs premium trainer credentials
Ask yourself, which tier is the local 24 Hour Fitness, and does 24/7 access matter for your schedule.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Costco 24 Hour Fitness deal actually worth it?
For Costco members whose closest 24 Hour Fitness is Sport, Active, Express, or Fit-Lite tier, yes.
Around $17 to $20 per month with no annual fee and no startup fee is the cheapest option at either brand.
Do LA Fitness and 24 Hour Fitness accept SilverSneakers?
Both accept SilverSneakers at many locations, but not all clubs participate.
LA Fitness has broader participation because it has more clubs total, calling the insurance provider and confirming with the specific club is the only way to know for sure.
What is the best 24 Hour Fitness tier to join at?
Super Sport for most members, It has the pool, basketball court, sauna, and full group fitness studio without the Ultra Sport price bump.
A Super Sport club within driving range is worth the extra distance over a closer Sport or Active club.
Can you switch between LA Fitness and 24 Hour Fitness mid-membership?
Both allow month-to-month cancellation with 30 days notice and no fee, annual contracts at LA Fitness require paying out the remaining time.
24 Hour Fitness prepaid or Costco memberships are non-refundable, so switching mid-term means eating the remaining balance.
Which is cheaper, LA Fitness or 24 Hour Fitness?
It depends on the plan, LA Fitness Multi-Club runs around $480 to $640 in year one.
24 Hour Fitness through Costco runs about $215 to $250 per year for two years at Sport tier and below.
Abraham is a fitness and consumer finance writer with a passion for helping people make smarter decisions before signing gym contracts. After spending years researching gym membership costs, hidden fees and cancellation policies across major gym chains, he created GymMembershipPricing to give people the honest information they need before signing up. Every guide on this site is independently researched and verified.
