How much do BJJ gyms charge in the US in 2026?
· Co-founder of Matpass.
BJJ prices in the US centre on $165 a month for an adult unlimited membership, and half of all gyms charge between $140 and $199. Gyms in the cores of the biggest cities charge a median of $209, and small-town gyms $125. Almost every US gym sells a month-to-month membership, and two thirds offer a free trial.
In November 2026 we checked the pricing pages of 341 BJJ gyms in all 50 states and Washington, DC. This article covers the national picture, prices by region, state and city, how city size, affiliation and timetable change the price, how US gyms use contracts, trials and fees, and how to use the numbers when you price your own gym.
How much does BJJ cost in the US?
An adult unlimited BJJ membership in the US costs a median of $165 a month, based on the 239 gyms that publish a price on their own website. The average is $171, because a few gyms in New York and California charge $300 or more.
| Monthly price | Shortest term | Cheapest with a contract |
|---|---|---|
| Average | $171 | $159 |
| Median, the middle gym | $165 | $150 |
| Typical range, the middle half of gyms | $140-199 | $128-184 |
| Cheapest 10% of gyms charge less than | $114 | $105 |
| Most expensive 10% charge more than | $238 | $217 |
Adult unlimited BJJ memberships at 239 US gyms, from each gym's own pricing page or booking platform on 13 November 2026, without sales tax. Prices may have changed since.
The median is the middle gym when you line them all up by price, so it's a better guide to a normal price than the average. Shortest term is the monthly price on the shortest plan a gym sells, which is month-to-month at almost every US gym. Cheapest with a contract is the lowest monthly price for unlimited training when a member commits for longer or pays in advance.
Most US gyms charge between $130 and $189 a month:
| Price a month | Gyms | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Under $100 | 7 | 3% |
| $100-129 | 41 | 17% |
| $130-159 | 62 | 26% |
| $160-189 | 56 | 23% |
| $190-229 | 47 | 20% |
| $230 or more | 26 | 11% |
How did we collect the prices?
We recorded the adult unlimited BJJ membership at 341 gyms in all 50 states and DC, from each gym's own website or its booking platform, such as Gymdesk, Zen Planner, PushPress or Matpass. Directories were used only to find gyms. 239 gyms publish an adult price, and every price in this article was read on the gym's own page on 13 November 2026.
- Gyms: the cores and suburbs of the biggest cities, other large and mid-size metros, and small towns, with BJJ-only academies, MMA gyms, affiliated schools and independents.
- Two rounds: we collected the gyms in two separate rounds. The first round of 112 priced gyms had a median of $160 and the second round of 127 new gyms $169, so the national figure is stable.
- Billing periods: prices billed weekly, every two weeks or every four weeks are converted to calendar months. Sales tax is not added.
- Timetables: we counted the adult BJJ classes on 136 of the 239 gyms' timetables. The rest were loaded in booking widgets we couldn't count.
102 of the 341 gyms, 30%, don't show an adult price online, and they're more often well-known academies. The real US median is probably a little higher than the published one.
How do BJJ prices differ across US regions?
The West is the most expensive region for BJJ, with a median of $180 a month, and the Midwest is the cheapest, at $140. The Pacific states charge the most of any part of the country, at $199.
| Region | Division | Gyms | Median | Typical range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West | Pacific | 45 | $199 | $165-249 |
| West | Mountain | 26 | $150 | $132-192 |
| South | South Atlantic | 42 | $179 | $149-200 |
| South | West South Central | 26 | $169 | $142-180 |
| South | East South Central | 15 | $150 | $131-175 |
| Northeast | Mid-Atlantic | 26 | $179 | $146-242 |
| Northeast | New England | 13 | $150 | $145-180 |
| Midwest | East North Central | 28 | $140 | $120-160 |
| Midwest | West North Central | 18 | $137 | $116-160 |
Census regions and divisions. Shortest-term prices of adult unlimited memberships, checked on 13 November 2026. Prices may have changed since.
Each division mixes big cities with small towns, so the division median depends partly on where its gyms are. The Midwest is cheap at most city sizes: its gyms in large metros charge a median of $143, against $178 in the West, and its small-town gyms $120, against $149.
What do BJJ gyms charge in the biggest US cities?
BJJ gyms in New York City and coastal California charge the most in the US, with medians of $229-250 a month. Most other big metros sit between $160 and $200.
| Metro | Gyms | Median | Typical range |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City | 10 | $250 | $228-278 |
| San Diego | 4 | $249 | $243-274 |
| San Francisco Bay | 6 | $237 | $206-250 |
| Los Angeles | 11 | $229 | $204-255 |
| Miami | 5 | $200 | $200-209 |
| Houston | 4 | $193 | $168-215 |
| Boston | 5 | $180 | $179-220 |
| Minneapolis-St Paul | 4 | $180 | $149-204 |
| Atlanta | 4 | $173 | $169-201 |
| Austin | 4 | $172 | $169-181 |
| Seattle | 5 | $170 | $170-175 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 4 | $165 | $150-179 |
| Orlando | 4 | $165 | $142-185 |
| Phoenix | 5 | $163 | $120-185 |
| Portland | 4 | $163 | $145-194 |
| Chicago | 5 | $160 | $160-228 |
Metros with at least four gyms that publish a price, checked on 13 November 2026. Prices may have changed since.
Most metros have only four to eleven priced gyms, so treat each median as a guide. The most expensive gyms we found charge $350 a month on a month-to-month plan: Marcelo Garcia Jiu-Jitsu in Manhattan, Atos Jiu-Jitsu HQ in San Diego and KD MMA in Northridge, Los Angeles. Flagship academies such as Renzo Gracie Midtown, Gracie University's Torrance HQ, Ralph Gracie in San Francisco and Balance Studios in Philadelphia don't publish a price, so the real ceiling is probably higher.
Which US states have the most expensive BJJ?
California and New York have the most expensive BJJ of the big states, both with a median of $220 a month. Ohio, Missouri and Wisconsin are among the cheapest, at $120-135.
| State | Gyms | Median |
|---|---|---|
| California | 32 | $220 |
| New York | 15 | $220 |
| Colorado | 6 | $197 |
| Florida | 16 | $192 |
| Massachusetts | 6 | $180 |
| Texas | 17 | $175 |
| Virginia | 6 | $170 |
| Washington | 6 | $170 |
| Arizona | 7 | $163 |
| Illinois | 7 | $160 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $155 |
| Pennsylvania | 7 | $149 |
| Ohio | 8 | $135 |
States with at least six gyms that publish a price, checked on 13 November 2026. Prices may have changed since.
For the other states we have only one to five priced gyms each. Among them, Indiana, Oklahoma, Iowa, Arkansas and Montana had medians of $100-125, and Washington, DC had $234, so take those as a first look rather than a state price.
Is BJJ cheaper in small towns?
BJJ in the US gets steadily cheaper as the city gets smaller. Gyms in the cores of the biggest cities charge a median of $209 a month, and gyms in small towns charge $125, about $85 less.
| Where | Gyms | Median | Typical range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core of the biggest metros | 43 | $209 | $175-250 |
| Suburbs of the biggest metros | 38 | $192 | $166-224 |
| Other metros of over 1 million people | 71 | $160 | $140-190 |
| Metros of 250,000-1 million people | 64 | $149 | $128-166 |
| Small cities and towns under 250,000 | 23 | $125 | $100-150 |
The biggest metros are New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, the San Francisco Bay Area, Boston, Miami, Washington, DC and similar. Prices checked on 13 November 2026.
City size matters much more in the US than in the UK, where our UK price check found big cities and small towns charging about the same outside London. Gyms in wealthy suburbs charge city-core prices, such as $335 in Costa Mesa, $273 in Harrison in Westchester and $228 in Evanston.
Do Gracie Barra, Atos and Alliance academies charge more?
Atos, Gracie Barra and Alliance academies charge a median of $212-268 a month, against $159 for independent gyms. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, Renzo Gracie and Carlson Gracie schools charge about $15-25 more than independents, and 10th Planet gyms about $13 more.
| Affiliation | Gyms with a price | Median | Gyms that publish a price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atos | 2 | $268 | 2 of 4 |
| Gracie Barra | 4 | $220 | 4 of 9 |
| Alliance | 4 | $212 | 4 of 8 |
| Gracie Jiu-Jitsu (Gracie University) | 12 | $183 | 12 of 23 |
| Renzo Gracie | 5 | $179 | 5 of 16 |
| Carlson Gracie | 5 | $175 | 5 of 7 |
| 10th Planet | 14 | $172 | 14 of 20 |
| Independent | 162 | $159 | 162 of 215 |
Shortest-term prices, checked on 13 November 2026. Affiliations with two to four priced gyms are a guide only.
The affiliations with the highest prices are also the least likely to publish them. Only 5 of the 16 Renzo Gracie academies and 4 of the 9 Gracie Barra schools we found show an adult price, so the real brand premium is probably bigger than the table shows.
MMA gyms, BJJ-only gyms and gyms that also teach wrestling or judo all charge about the same, a median of $160-167 a month.
Does a bigger timetable mean a higher price?
US gyms with a bigger timetable charge a little more each month and much less per class. A gym running 21 or more adult BJJ classes a week charges a median of $183, against $128 for a gym with six or fewer.
| Adult BJJ classes a week | Gyms | Median a month | Median per class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 or fewer | 32 | $128 | $6.79 |
| 7-12 | 62 | $162 | $3.85 |
| 13-20 | 32 | $168 | $2.54 |
| 21 or more | 10 | $183 | $1.88 |
The 136 gyms whose timetables we could count. Price per class assumes a member could attend every class: the monthly price divided by classes a week × 52 ÷ 12. Checked on 13 November 2026.
Location sets the price in the US far more than the timetable does. If you charge above your area's median, list the number of classes a week and open mats next to the price on your pricing page, so a new member can see what the price buys.
Do US BJJ gyms use contracts?
Almost no US BJJ gym requires a contract: 212 of the 222 gyms that state their terms sell a month-to-month membership. 76 gyms, about a third, offer a lower monthly price for a longer commitment or a prepayment, and the median saving is 17%.
Expensive gyms use contract prices the most: 58% of the most expensive quarter of gyms offer one, against 14% of the cheapest quarter. These examples come straight from the gyms' own pages:
| Gym | Month-to-month | With a contract | Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Planet Torrance, CA | $229 | $1,700 paid for 12 months ($142/month) | 38% |
| Marcelo Garcia Jiu-Jitsu, NYC | $350 | $250 a month on a 1-year agreement | 29% |
| Atos Jiu-Jitsu HQ, San Diego | $350 | $250 a month on a 12-month contract | 29% |
| Caio Terra Academy, San Jose | $300 | $2,550 paid for 12 months ($213/month) | 29% |
Prices from each gym's own pricing page on 13 November 2026. Gyms change their prices, so check the gym's page for the current price.
The other common form is a prepayment: three, six or twelve months paid up front at a lower monthly price. Only ten of the gyms we checked had no month-to-month option at all.
In Matpass, each plan has its own price, minimum contract and cancellation notice, so a month-to-month plan and a 12-month plan sit side by side.
What other plans and fees do US BJJ gyms have?
Besides the unlimited membership, US gyms lean on family plans and service discounts, and two thirds give the first class free. These are the plans and fees we found at the 239 gyms with a published price:
| Plan or fee | Gyms that offer it | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Free trial class or week | 155 (65%) | Free |
| Family plan or family discount | 102 (43%) | Usually a discount per extra member |
| Military or first-responder rate | 79 (33%) | About 15% off |
| Limited plan, such as twice a week | 71 (30%) | $129, about 75% of unlimited |
| Enrollment fee | 43 (18%) | $99 |
| Paid intro offer | 42 (18%) | Such as two weeks for $49 |
| Student rate | 23 (10%) | About 18% off |
| Drop-in class | 103 (43%) | $25, or $30-50 in New York |
| 10-class card | 29 (12%) | $200 |
| Kids' monthly membership | 170 (71%) | $138, about 83% of the adult price |
Medians from 239 US BJJ gyms, checked on 13 November 2026. The military rate counts gyms that mention one, and 50 of them publish the price. Prices may have changed since.
- Kids' memberships cost almost as much as adult ones, so each child in a kids class brings in nearly as much as an adult member.
- Military and first-responder rates are more common than student rates, which only one gym in ten publishes.
- Drop-ins at $25 make unlimited the better deal for anyone who trains seven times a month or more.
Gym software like Matpass handles each of these as its own plan. A limited plan is a membership with a "Max classes per week" limit, a military rate can be a private plan that only staff can give to a member, and any plan can carry an enrollment fee. The guide on how to follow up after a BJJ trial class covers what to do once the free class is over.
How should you price a BJJ gym in the US?
Set your price from your own costs first, and use these US numbers to check where it sits in your local market. Rent in Manhattan and rent in a small Midwest town lead to very different break-even prices.
This is how I'd read the numbers for each kind of gym:
| Kind of gym | Month-to-month unlimited price |
|---|---|
| Small-town gym | $100-150 |
| Gym in a mid-size metro | $130-165 |
| Gym in another large metro | $140-190 |
| Gym in or near the biggest cities | $170-250 |
| Premium academy in New York or coastal California | $250-350 |
- Work out your break-even price from rent, coaching and other costs. The guide on how to price BJJ gym memberships has a calculator for it, and the cost of opening a martial arts gym covers the costs behind it.
- Compare it with your city size and region. City size moves the US price more than anything else in our data.
- Keep a month-to-month plan. Almost every US gym offers one, so a gym that requires a contract stands out for the wrong reason.
- Offer a free first class. Two thirds of gyms do.
- Add a prepaid or 12-month option at 15-30% off if you want members on longer plans.
- Decide on family and service discounts, because 43% of gyms have a family plan and a third mention a military or first-responder rate.
When you raise a price in Matpass, the new price applies to new members only, and current members keep the price they signed up with.
Key takeaways
- BJJ in the US costs a median of $165 a month for adult unlimited training, and half of gyms charge $140-199.
- City size moves the price most: $209 in the cores of the biggest cities and $125 in small towns.
- New York City and coastal California charge the most, with medians of $229-250.
- The West is the most expensive region, at $180, and the Midwest the cheapest, at $140.
- Atos, Gracie Barra and Alliance academies charge $50-110 more than independent gyms, and 30% of all gyms hide their prices.
- Almost every US gym sells month-to-month, and a third offer a lower price for a contract or a prepayment.
- Family plans and military rates are common, and kids' memberships cost about 83% of the adult price.
- Keep a month-to-month plan, a prepaid option and your discounts on separate plans, as you can in Matpass.
Frequently asked questions
How much is BJJ a month in the US?
An adult unlimited BJJ membership costs a median of $165 a month in the US, and half of gyms charge between $140 and $199. Small-town gyms charge a median of $125 and gyms in the biggest city cores $209.
Why is jiu-jitsu so expensive in the US?
Rent and coaching are the biggest costs of running a BJJ gym, as the guide to opening costs shows, and both cost more in big cities. In our data, the same membership costs a median of $250 in New York City and $125 in a small town.
How much does BJJ cost in New York City?
The New York City gyms in our data charge a median of $250 a month month-to-month, and the most expensive charge $350. At the top gyms we checked, a 12-month agreement or a prepayment brings the monthly price down by about 30%.
How much is a kids' BJJ membership in the US?
A kids' BJJ membership costs a median of $138 a month at the 170 US gyms that publish one, which is about 83% of the same gym's adult price. 43% of gyms also have a family plan or a family discount.