Personal training is one of the best ways to achieve your health and fitness goals. The service is customized to your needs and by having a scheduled appointment you are more likely to be consistent with your training. Consistency and individualized programming is a fast track to health and fitness success. But how much does personal training cost? In the following article we will take you through the various forms of personal training and how much they will cost. We will also cover what factors may increase or decrease the cost of your training. At the end of the article, you can fill out a quick form to receive a cost-per-session quote based on our pricing.
*Please note that all prices in this article are based on research, experience in the industry, and information shared with us from clients and other members of the industry*
Personal Training – Just A Program
The least expensive way to receive “personal training” is by purchasing a program. We write personal training with quotations because this barely breaks the surface of what personal training can be.
Purchasing a personal training program typically involves a consultation with the trainer. In order for them to understand what type of program you will need, they’ll need to get to know you, your goals, any injuries or limitations, and the equipment you’ll have available to you.
The trainer will then take this information and build a program for you.
The cost of these programs can vary. If you are looking for a basic program that you can continue to use forever – you’re looking at anywhere from $75 – $100. If you want a 1-month program (4 weeks), you’ll probably end up spending the same amount. These programs can increase in price when you ask for programs that are longer than 4 weeks. These programs will take more research and a greater depth of knowledge on the trainers part to build for you.
Pros: You get a custom program built for you. If you are already training consistently and just need a structured workout, this is a great option for you.
Cons: Very little accountability. As soon as that program is in your hands, the rest is up to you. If you find you struggle with getting yourself to the gym on a consistent basis, this is likely not a great choice for you.
Summary: The cost of the program covers the time it took for the trainer to research and create a custom program for you. That, combined with the time and money they have spent getting certifications and relevant education is what makes the lowest cost for a quality program at $75 (at the very least).
Online Training
Training online with a personal trainer can be done in a few ways. The amount of time you spend interacting with the trainer will affect the overall cost of the service.
Online personal training platforms cost, at a minimum, $5/month to host 2 clients, and can cost over $250/month to allow the trainer to have multiple clients on the platform. Once a client has signed up for online personal training, the training can go 1 of 3 ways.
- The client is added to a group where the trainer has designed 1 program for everyone to follow. The trainer will check in with the whole group via group chats, and the clients can message the trainer individually if need be. The accountability comes from being on the same program as other people and holding each other accountable.
- The client receives a custom personal training program via email or an online training platform. The shared program will let them see the program the trainer has designed for them, and any other files the trainer has shared with them. There aren’t any live sessions, and the client will likely get 1-2 client-trainer check-ins per week (this all depends on the trainer).
- The client is provided with a custom program through the platform and the trainer schedules workouts. Whenever there is a scheduled workout, the trainer will use an integrated video calling service to guide the client through the workout that they have designed for the client.
As I’m sure you can imagine from the 3 scenarios listed above, each of these will increase the price of training. The first scenario where you are on the same program as a group of people can be anywhere from $15/month – $200+/month. Depending on the specificity of the program, and the involvement of the trainer in the sessions, the price of the program will go up. For example, if there is an online trainer who is looking to sign-up multiple clients for a general fitness program, then you’re looking at a lower-cost option. It starts to get more expensive when you get experienced trainers who are developing specific programs for things like different medical conditions, or very specific training goals.
The second scenario will likely cost you anywhere from $100 – $300+/month. The program you receive took time to create, and you are getting some one-on-one time with the trainer to help hold you accountable. This is still a very affordable option and because the trainer is not scheduling the workouts at a specific time, it allows you to fit in the workouts when they align with your schedule. The only scheduled appointment is your check-in appointments, and those can always work with your schedule.
The final scenario will depend on the sessions per week, and the program length. This is where you will get varying price-points for online personal training. The service is essentially the same as in-person training with the exception of having access to a fully equipped gym. But even then, some of you are able to outfit your home-gyms with most of the equipment you’d find in a gym.
For this type of training, you’re looking at anywhere from $50 – $100 per session. If the trainer is using a training platform that costs them money, that will bring the price up. If the trainer is highly experienced and you are training for something very specific that requires experience and special certifications, you’ll also end up paying more. Depending on how long the session is, you’ll also pay more.
Pros: More contact with the trainer than just receiving the program. You’ll also have access to additional resources depending on the platform your trainer uses, and the nature of your sessions and check-ins. Great for people who want to work with a trainer in a different city. It is also great for people who have changing schedules and are not always in town. You always have access to your program, and you have regular contact with your trainer, so they can make adjustments based on where you are and what you have available to you.
Cons: Without access to a fully-equipped gym, it can be discouraging to workout from home. If there are distractions at home, such as work or kids, this type of personal training may not work out for you in the long run.
Summary: Depending on the amount of contact you have with the trainer online, and the specificity of your program, online training can cost as much as in-person training. However, there are options to train with a trainer online and get the benefits of a workout program.
1-1 Training – Gym or Studio
Hiring a personal trainer to train you at a gym or personal training studio is the most common form of personal training. There are also a number of factors that can affect the cost of personal training.
On average, you will be spending anywhere from $55 – $120/session.
Typically, if you train more often the cost-per-session will go down. This is because your trainer is with you for all of your sessions, and is able to do check-ins during the sessions. They are also able to make any program changes while they are working with you.
If you are training once or twice per month, the cost-per-session will be higher because any changes and check-ins have to be done outside of regular training time. This requires more time and research on the trainers part.
How you pay for this type of training can also affect the cost-per-session. It isn’t a huge difference but you will likely save a few dollars-per-session by signing on for a long-term contract versus purchasing a package of sessions.
Between personal training in a gym vs. in a studio, there is one major way that this could impact price and that is the guarantee of privacy. For some, working out with the trainer amongst the rest of the gym-goers is perfectly fine. There may be times when the equipment you need is not available, but in large gyms they will have a personal training area where there is reserved equipment for their clients.
When you train in a studio you will be training in a smaller setting that is more private and the whole space is dedicated to personal training clients. Personal training studios can also provide you with a training space where the gym-etiquette is better managed since everyone in the studio is working directly with an employee of the studio. This is why training at a personal training studio can be more expensive per-session. You are paying for that added layer of privacy and a more professional experience.
Pros: Having a physical training space is great for helping you focus on your training while you are working out. Having face-time with trainers also offers additional benefits, such as receiving better feedback and cueing for exercises. Adjustments can be made using both physical and visual cues.
Cons: If the gym is far from home or work you may find it difficult to get to the gym. If your hearing is not great, the gym can be a loud place and it might be difficult to hear the trainer when they speak with you.
Summary: Training in-person with a trainer is a great way to focus your time and energy on your workout. The dedicated workout space will be motivating and having the trainer there with you can improve the overall experience of personal training.
In-Home Training
The final type of personal training that we will cover is in-home training. These are house-calls made by trainers and will be the most expensive-per-session option. Trainers who provide in-home training services will charge you an hourly rate and will likely include commute time into that hourly rate. They will decide this hourly rate based on their individual expertise and experience, the equipment they bring with them, and of course, the specificity of the programming required.
The hourly rate is typically between $70 and $200/hour, but some trainers may charge you less or much more depending on their level of expertise.
Pros: Your training comes to you. Depending on the trainer you choose they could provide you with all of the equipment you need, making this a very convenient form of training.
Cons: This form of training can be quite costly. You are also trusting someone to train you in your home, and if there are any distractions at home it can be difficult to get the same quality of workout as you would training at a gym.
Summary: In-home training is the most convenient of the personal training options, but it can also be the most costly. Depending on the equipment required, the commute time, and the expertise of the trainer, your investment will vary quite a bit.
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For Your Consideration
When you decide to hire a personal trainer you are making the decision to pay for an expert’s time. By investing in an expert’s help, you are guaranteeing that you will (at the very least) learn more about what type of program works for you and the type of advice that suits your goals and lifestyle best. The cost of the investment will vary based on the delivery, the level of customization, the time spent with the trainer, and the overall experience and expertise of the trainer.
At Free Form Fitness we offer a number of options to give you access to personal training. We use all factors mentioned in this article to dictate our prices and invite you to fill out the form below to get a quote for personal training at Free Form Fitness.
