U.S. commercial fitness facilities closed out 2025 with record fourth-quarter foot traffic, extending the industry’s growth streak to 19 consecutive quarters, according to new data from the Health & Fitness Association (HFA).
Findings from HFA’s U.S. Fitness Industry Traffic Tracker: Q4 and FY 2025 show show that foot traffic to U.S. commercial fitness facilities averaged over 184,000 visits per location in 2025, up 4.2 percent from 2024 and on par with the industry’s pre-pandemic peak in 2017. The data reflect anonymized visitation patterns across nearly 11,000 fitness facilities nationwide.
Growth in 2025 was broad-based across much of the industry, led by continued strength among high-volume, low-price (HVLP) gyms, with mid-priced and boutique facilities recording solid year-over-year gains. Together, the results point to sustained consumer demand for in-person fitness experiences across a range of business models.
Momentum extended through the end of the year, even as facilities entered what is traditionally the weakest seasonal period.
In the fourth quarter, average visits per commercial fitness location rose 3.4 percent year-over-year, marking the industry’s 19th consecutive quarter of visitation growth. December also marked the 10th consecutive month of rising average annual visits.
Beyond foot traffic totals, in 2025, the average monthly visits per consumer increased by 1.1 percent from the prior year. All four analyzed facility segments — HVLP, mid-priced, luxury, and boutique — recorded annual increases in visit frequency, for a broad-based improvement in usage.
“Nineteen consecutive quarters of growth and a strong finish to 2025 highlight how firmly fitness has established itself in Americans’ routines,” said HFA VP of Research Anton Severin. “Even in periods of economic uncertainty and seasonal softness, the industry continues to demonstrate steady momentum.”
The strong finish to 2025 is reinforced by forward-looking consumer sentiment heading into the new year.
A recent HFA survey shows that U.S. consumers plan to spend an estimated $60 billion on their health and fitness goals in 2026, with most viewing fitness as a protected household expense even amid broader economic uncertainty. Taken together, the 2025 visitation gains and intentions heading into 2026 point to continued momentum for the fitness industry.
Image courtesy Les Mills
