Orangetheory Fitness has a seriously dedicated fanbase and for good reason. The popular group fitness classes combine the personalized attention of a one-on-one training session with the camaraderie of a team workout. Add in target heart rate zones, and you've got a workout that's challenging, effective, and fun (if not a little competitive). That said . . . how much does it cost?
For context, a signature Orangetheory class is 60 minutes long with three distinct parts: rowing, treadmill, and floor work. Depending on the programming for the day, you might start on the rowing machine, then choose between the treadmill, bike, or strider (similar to an elliptical). The floor work section is all about strength training, with TRX suspension straps and free weights.
Throughout the interval-based workout, Orangetheory utilizes heart rate monitors to track your level of exertion (your "zone"). The goal is to train within the "orange zone" (aka 84 to 91 percent of your maximum heart rate) for 12 minutes or more. Sound like something you want to try? Before snagging a membership of your own, here's everything to know about Orangetheory pricing, from membership costs to additional gear.
How Much Is Orangetheory?
Orangetheory boasts over 1,300 locations across the US. Consequently, pricing is partially based on location. There's several different membership packages to choose from, including Class Packs, Basic, Elite, and Premier, but prices vary depending on where you live.
Thankfully, Orangetheory offers "digital joins," meaning you can become a member (or inquire about pricing) without having to visit the studio in person. Participating studios will give you the option to "Join Now" on their website. From there, you can see the various membership options, prices, and benefits.
To give you a better sense of Orangetheory pricing, we asked an Orangetheory representative to share some averages. Keep in mind that these are just estimates for more specific numbers, it's best to contact a studio rep or check the price of your local Orangetheory online. No matter the location, you can always book your first class for free to see how you like the class structure. OTF also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee to ensure you love your new membership.
- Class Packs ($199-499): If you're new to OTF, you can try a package of 10 classes for $199 and up, 20 classes for $359 and up, or 30 classes for $499 and up. Prices vary by location.
- Basic Membership ($69-119 a Month): This membership tier gives you four classes per month, plus discounted add-on classes.
- Elite Membership ($109-199 a Month): This membership comes with eight classes per month, plus discounted add-on classes.
- Premier Membership ($169-279 a Month): The top membership at OTF, this gives you unlimited classes every month. At the moment, OTF is also offering discounted Premier memberships for your first month.
Note that Orangetheory prices are higher at premium locations such as Manhattan, Brooklyn, Chicago, Los Angeles, Austin, and Dallas. For example, in the West Village, Manhattan studio, an Elite membership costs $169 a month and Premier costs a cool $189. While you can technically use your OTF membership at any location in the country, there may be an additional surcharge depending on where you're visiting. That said, no matter which membership you go for, there's no annual contract, and you can choose to take additional classes at a discounted rate once you purchase a membership.
Additional Orangetheory Costs
Beyond the membership fees, there are a few other Orangetheory costs to keep in mind. For starters, there's an 8-hour cancellation policy for all Orangetheory locations. That means if you can't make it to a reserved class time, you can choose another class time that day. Otherwise, there's an estimated $12 charge for Premier members, or a lost class session for Elite members, Basic members, or class package holders.
To make the most of Orangetheory's workouts you'll also need a heart-rate monitor. OTF uses its own brand to connect to the displays during class as well as the Orangetheory app. You can buy an Orangetheory heart rate monitor ($119) or rent one for $5 to $10 per class. Otherwise, you can use your own smartwatch, fitness tracker, or heart-rate monitor to keep track of your heart rate. The only thing is that non-OTF devices won't earn you "Splat Points," display your data during class, or log your data in the Orangetheory app.
OTF also sells its own merch. You can stock up on fitness equipment or rep your Orangetheory pride with collaborations from brands like lululemon and Nike. We especially like this OTF belt bag ($45) and splat point baseball cap ($15).
Is Orangetheory Worth the Price?
Orangetheory prices might seem steep at first, but remember you're getting access to a plethora of fitness machines you likely don't have at home. That's not to mention the real-time biofeedback, encouragement from top-notch coaches, and boutique gym atmosphere (which can be a nice break from a big box gym). OTF also has tons of community workout events for members, including the Orangetheory DriTri.
"For me, the coaches are a large reason why I love Orangetheory as much as I do," PS editor Taylor Andrews says in her full review (having taken over 250 OTF classes herself). "The energy they bring to a class is indescribable until you experience it for yourself."
Additional reporting by Lauren Mazzo, Mirel Zaman, Jade Esmeralda, Angela Elias, and Chandler Plante
Melissa Willets is a PS contributor.
Mirel Zaman (she/her) is the former PS health and fitness director. She has over 15 years of experience working in the health and wellness space, covering fitness, general health, mental health, relationships and sex, food and nutrition, spirituality, family and parenting, culture, and news.
Lauren Mazzo was the senior fitness editor at PS. She is a certified personal trainer and fitness nutrition specialist through the American Council on Exercise. Prior to joining PS, she worked for six years as a writer and editor for Shape Magazine covering health, fitness, nutrition, mental health, sex and relationships, beauty, and astrology. She graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Journalism and minors in Writing and Honors, with additional studies in gender, sex, and love.
Jade Esmeralda (she/her), MS, CSCS, was a health and fitness staff writer and a strength and conditioning specialist. A lifelong martial artist and dancer, Jade has a strong passion for strength and conditioning, sports science, and human performance. She graduated with a Master of Science degree in exercise science and strength and conditioning from George Washington University.
Angela Elias (she/her) is a contributing editor for PS Shopping, where she reviews everything from beauty products to kitchen gadgets, curates can't-miss sales, and creates "best of" shopping roundups. In her former roles at PS, she led the relaunch of its Latine identity and family-focused verticals, directed its Home vertical, and hosted shopping segments. She has nearly 15 years of experience working in the lifestyle space as a writer, editor, content strategist, director, on-camera talent, and publicist.
Chandler Plante (she/her) is an assistant health and fitness editor for PS. She has over four years of professional journalism experience, previously working as an editorial assistant for People magazine and contributing to Ladygunn, Millie, and Bustle Digital Group.
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When you're running intervals, you can't beat the precision and accuracy of a treadmill HIIT workout. If I plug seven miles an hour into the machine, I'm going to be running exactly seven miles an hour — otherwise, I'll fall off the back. But during the same workout outdoors, I might overshoot the pace without even realizing it, or (more likely) ease off the gas as I get tired.
"The treadmill has an inability to lie to you," says David Siik, founder of Precision Run at Equinox and author of "The Ultimate Treadmill Workout." That's why a high intensity interval training session on the treadmill is so powerful: You can't fudge it. "The beautiful design of that machine is really built for intervals," Siik says.
The Benefits of Treadmill HIIT Workouts
There are a few reasons why so many runners hit the 'mill for HIIT sessions. Here are some of the biggest ones:
They're super efficient
A HIIT workout can get you in and out of the gym quickly. "You do a lot of work in a short amount of time," Siik says. In comparison to a moderate-effort run, research shows that intervals improve both your endurance and speed more efficiently.
You'll stay engaged
If you jump on a treadmill without a plan, and just trudge it out for 30 minutes, boredom is pretty much inevitable (unless, of course, "Love Is Blind" is on, but I digress…). The time will fly by faster if you're doing a treadmill HIIT workout because you'll be breaking up the workout into short chunks by constantly changing the speed.
You'll get a mood boost
Blissful running isn't limited to outdoor routes with beautiful scenery. The challenge of doing a hard interval workout on a treadmill can release the chemicals responsible for that sought-after "runner's high."
Intervals can be adapted to any fitness level
You don't need to be an advanced runner to do a treadmill HIIT workout. "Absolutely every single person who is able to run can benefit," Siik says. Any speed can work during a treadmill HIIT workout; you just need to alternate between what feels hard and what feels like recovery for you.
What To Know Before Trying a Treadmill HIIT Workout
Keep in mind these two guidelines to get the most out of your treadmill intervals — and avoid injuring yourself.
Don't jump off (or onto) a moving belt
You've probably seen people at the gym step onto the sides of a treadmill between intervals. But Siik strongly warns against this. Although it can be annoying to wait for the treadmill to speed up and slow down to the right pace, going from a dead stop to a sprint, or vice versa, is unnatural. "The human body is designed to accelerate and decelerate," Siik says. More importantly, trying to step onto a quickly-moving treadmill is also a risky move that could send you to the ER. And why would you want to spend less time running, anyway? "If you're going to spend 30 minutes doing a high-intensity running workout, don't show up and try to find shortcuts," Siik says.
Respect the recoveries
Treadmill HIIT workouts ask for high intensity, but also low intensity. Don't overdo the recovery periods — if you don't let your heart rate come down, you'll make the next interval feel harder than it's supposed to, or have to pull back on that top speed. Which means you'll end up turning the session into a different kind of workout altogether.
What to Know About This 30-Minute Treadmill HIIT Workout
As a UESCA-certified running coach and someone who, to be honest, usually dreads the tread, this is my go-to 30-minute treadmill HIIT workout that makes me actually enjoy running indoors. After a warmup, the intervals progress from one to three minutes, then back down again, with two 30-second intervals at the end for a little extra spice. The pyramid-style format keeps things from getting repetitive by continually changing the length of the intervals — and therefore the challenge. And the last two quick reps offer one final chance to eke out whatever you've got left in the tank.
Keep the incline at 0.0 the entire time, since the focus here is on speed. The pace you choose is based on your rate of perceived exertion (RPE), on a scale of one to 10. For the warmup, cooldown, and recoveries, aim for about a three or four effort level — that could be an easy jog or a brisk walk. Most of the intervals are an eight or nine effort level, similar to your mile pace. The three-minute interval in the middle holds back just a tad so you're hitting closer to a 5K speed, or a seven or eight effort level.
Things kick into high gear pretty quickly, so before you get on the treadmill, be sure to start with a few minutes of dynamic warm-up moves to activate your muscles and get the blood flowing: squats, lunges, high knees, butt kicks, calf raises, and hip circles. Then hop on, and have fun!
A 30-Minute Treadmill HIIT Workout
Jennifer Heimlich is a writer and editor with more than 15 years of experience in fitness and wellness journalism. She previously worked as the senior fitness editor for Well+Good and the editor in chief of Dance Magazine. A UESCA-certified running coach, she's written about running and fitness for publications like Shape, GQ, Runner's World, and The Atlantic.
