Teenagers and gyms usually don't mix well, or at least that was the old stereotype. You’d see a group of fourteen-year-olds trying to bench press way too much weight while their parents hovered nervously nearby. Planet Fitness changed that entire dynamic a few years ago. By launching what they originally called the Teen Summer Challenge—now widely known as the High School Summer Pass—they basically opened the floodgates for a planet fitness youth membership that doesn't cost a dime. It's a massive play for brand loyalty, honestly. If you get a kid used to the "Judgement Free Zone" at sixteen, they’re probably sticking around when they start making their own money at twenty-two.
But there is a lot of confusion about how this works once the school year starts.
Most people think "youth membership" and assume it's a permanent free ride. It isn't. The free version is a seasonal window, usually running from mid-May through August. Outside of that window, a planet fitness youth membership follows the standard rules of the club, which means 13 is the magic number. You can't just walk in at age 10 and start hitting the treadmill. There are real legal and safety boundaries here that the front desk staff actually enforces, mainly because their insurance depends on it.
The Age Gate: 13, 15, and 18
Age 13 is the hard baseline. If a child is under 13, they aren't allowed on the gym floor, period. This isn't just Planet Fitness being "mean." It's a standard liability thing across the fitness industry. Even if you're a parent who thinks your 11-year-old is the next Olympic lifter, the computer system won't even let the staff create a profile for them.
Once a kid hits 13, they can have a membership, but they’re tethered. They need a parent or guardian with them at all times. They can't just be dropped off in the parking lot while Mom goes to Target. If the parent isn't working out right next to them (or at least in the building), the kid is technically violating the membership terms.
Then comes age 15. This is the sweet spot for most families. At 15, a teen can workout solo.
They still need a parent to sign the initial waiver—because, you know, lawyers—but after that, they have the freedom to check in with their own digital key tag and do their thing. It’s a huge rite of passage for a lot of high schoolers. It's their first taste of "adult" independence in a controlled environment.
The High School Summer Pass Nuance
Let's talk about the free stuff because that's why everyone searches for a planet fitness youth membership in the first place. Every summer, Planet Fitness lets teens aged 14 to 19 workout for free. No catch, really. They don't even try to upsell the parents that hard. In 2024, they saw millions of sign-ups.
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The process is surprisingly digital. You sign up on their website, the parent signs a digital waiver if the teen is a minor, and the kid downloads the app. That's it.
The "Judgement Free Zone" marketing actually matters here. Teens are incredibly self-conscious. Walking into a "meathead" gym with massive guys screaming while dropping 500-pound deadlifts is terrifying for a 15-year-old who weighs 120 pounds. Planet Fitness wins here because they don't have squat racks or heavy dumbbells. They have purple machines and a "Lunk Alarm." For a youth membership, that environment is basically a safety net. It lowers the barrier to entry for kids who are scared of being judged for not knowing how to use a chest press machine.
What Happens When Summer Ends?
This is where the reality check happens. Once the Summer Pass expires, the free access turns off like a light switch.
If the teen wants to keep going, they have to transition to a paid membership. Usually, this is the $10 or $15 a month "Classic" membership. It's cheap, but there is an annual fee—usually around $49—that catches people off guard. If you’re a parent, keep an eye on that. You might think you’re only out ten bucks, then suddenly your bank account gets hit with a fifty-dollar charge in the second month.
Some parents try to add their kids to their own Black Card membership. This is a bit of a "life hack" that doesn't actually work the way people want it to. A Black Card allows you to bring one guest for free, every time you visit.
Technically, a parent can bring their 13-year-old as a guest every single day.
The downside? The guest can't use the Black Card Spa (massage chairs, tanning, HydroMassage). Also, the guest must stay with the member. If you want your kid to be able to go to the gym on their own, the Black Card guest pass is useless. You're better off just paying for the teen's individual Classic membership so they can go whenever they want without waiting for your schedule to clear up.
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The Physical Reality for Young Lifters
Is it even safe?
Medical experts, including those from the American Academy of Pediatrics, have shifted their stance on youth weightlifting over the last decade. It used to be "it'll stunt your growth." That's basically been debunked. As long as they aren't trying to do "1-rep max" ego lifts, it’s actually great for bone density.
Planet Fitness is actually better for teens than most gyms because of the equipment selection. Most of the floor is occupied by selectorized machines—the ones where you just move a pin to pick the weight. These are much harder to mess up than free weights. They guide the body through a fixed range of motion, which prevents the kind of "snap-city" injuries you see on TikTok when kids try to do Olympic cleans with bad form.
There are limitations, though. A planet fitness youth membership doesn't include a personal trainer who will follow the kid around. They have "PE@PF," which are small group classes, but it's not one-on-one coaching. If your kid has zero athletic background, you should probably spend the first three visits showing them the ropes.
Show them how to wipe down a machine.
Seriously. The biggest complaint from older gym members isn't that teens are there; it's that they hover in groups of five around one machine and forget to clean their sweat off the seat. Teaching them "gym etiquette" is more important than teaching them how to curl.
Breaking Down the Costs and Fine Print
When you move away from the free summer program into a permanent planet fitness youth membership, the contract is the same one adults sign. This means it's usually a "month-to-month" deal, but there are often "no-commitment" vs. "12-month commitment" options.
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- Classic Membership: Usually $10-$15/month. Access to one "home" club only.
- Black Card: Usually $25-$30/month. Access to any location, plus guest privileges.
- The Annual Fee: $49, usually billed eight weeks after joining.
- The Startup Fee: Can range from $1 to $50 depending on the current promotion.
Honestly, don't get the Black Card for a 16-year-old. They don't need to visit a gym in another state, and they definitely don't need the tanning beds—which they aren't allowed to use anyway due to age restrictions in most states. Stick to the Classic.
One thing most people miss: the cancellation policy. Planet Fitness is notorious for requiring you to show up in person or send a certified letter to cancel. You can't just click a button in the app. If your teen decides they’re bored with the gym after two months, you’re still on the hook for that annual fee unless you cancel before the billing date.
Is It Worth It?
If you have a kid who is spending six hours a day on a gaming console, $10 a month is the cheapest health insurance you'll ever buy. The "Planet Fitness youth membership" experience is designed to be low-intensity. It's a "starter gym." It’s not where you go to become a professional bodybuilder; it’s where you go to learn that moving your body feels better than sitting on a couch.
There's also the social aspect. For better or worse, the gym has become the new "mall." It's where teens hang out. At least at the gym, they're doing something somewhat productive.
Just make sure they understand the rules. No filming in the locker rooms—that's an immediate permanent ban. No "lunking." No taking up the circuit training area to scroll through Instagram. If they can follow those basic social cues, it’s a great experience.
Actionable Steps for Parents and Teens
Stop overthinking the process. If it's summertime, just go to the website and look for the High School Summer Pass link. It's the easiest way to "test drive" the gym without a financial commitment.
If it's the middle of the winter, do this:
- Check for a $1 enrollment promo. They run these almost every month. Don't pay a $50 startup fee if you can wait a week and pay $1.
- Bring the ID. The teen will need a school ID or a birth certificate if they don't have a driver's license yet. The staff needs to verify that age.
- Download the app first. Everything—from the digital key tag to the "crowd meter"—is in the app. The crowd meter is great for teens who are anxious about the gym being too full.
- Set a "Trial Period." Tell your teen they have to go twice a week for a month before you'll agree to pay the annual fee. If they won't go when it's free/cheap, they won't go when the big bill hits.
- Schedule the PE@PF session. It's free with the membership. Have the staff trainer show them how to use the machines so they don't feel lost and quit after a week.
The gym is a tool. For a teenager, it’s a tool for confidence as much as it is for physical health. Just watch out for that annual fee and make sure they actually put their phone down long enough to break a sweat.