With the popularity of all martial arts increasing, it can be expensive to start training. So, how much does Boxing cost, and is Boxing worth it? After trying different Boxing gyms around the world, here’s what I’ve found:
Boxing is worth it if you want to learn self-defense or if you want to get fit and lose weight. In general, Boxing is cheap to learn with most gyms offering pay-per-class fees; meaning you don’t need a subscription. On average, Boxing gloves cost $20 and you don’t need a lot of other equipment.
In this article, I’ve covered the key things to consider when deciding if Boxing is going to be worth it or not for you, including:
- What you’ll get from Boxing
- Some alternatives to Boxing
- Some other benefits of Boxing
- The costs of Boxing
Boxing Costs vs Worth
As with most hobbies or sports, whether or not it is worth doing really depends on what you want to get out of it and if that hobby or sport will fulfill that need. Plus, whether you can get the same benefit by doing something else for cheaper.
So to help you out, I’ve covered the following three areas to help you answer “is Boxing worth it”?
- Your goals & what you’ll get from Boxing
- Other benefits you’ll get from Boxing
- The costs involved in Boxing
1. Your Goals & What You’ll Get From Boxing
For a lot of people who start doing Boxing, the goal is to learn how to fight, either for competition or for self-defense. If that’s what your goal is, Boxing is worth it because you will learn the science of footwork, head movement, and punches.
In Boxing, you will learn a striking system that uses the fists to throw straight punches, hooks, and uppercuts. You will also learn how to use your footwork, both offensively and defensively, plus you will learn head movement to avoid the strikes of your opponent or attacker.
All of this is done while staying on your feet, maintaining a standing position, and avoiding getting too close to end up in a clinch with your opponent.
This distance management, and the use of hands and head movement, make Boxing a great form of self-defense. So, if self-defense is your goal, learning to box is well worth it.
Alternatives to Boxing
If learning a striking martial art for self-defense is your goal, then there are some alternatives to Boxing too, for example, Muay Thai or Kickboxing.
Whether or not these will be a better, more worthwhile option for you depends again on your goals and what you want to get out of learning a striking martial art.
In Muay Thai and Kickboxing you will learn to use punches (same as in Boxing) but you will also learn how to use kicks, knees, elbows, and clinch techniques.
To learn more about Muay Thai and Kickboxing, check out my other articles:
2. Other Benefits of Boxing
The other main reasons people choose to start doing Boxing (other than self-defense) is for fitness, to lose weight, and to get in shape.
If this is one of your reasons for doing it, then Boxing is definitely worth it. I personally lost a lot of weight when I started doing Boxing because of its high-paced, full-body cardio work.
I have written an entire article on the fitness benefits of Boxing, so, for an in-depth look at what you can expect from Boxing as a workout, definitely check that article out.
3. The Costs Involved in Boxing
When it comes to determining whether a new hobby is worth it or not, cost plays a big part of the decision. So, what costs are there in Boxing, and how do they compare to the cost of the alternative striking arts?
Well, as mentioned above, Muay Thai and Kickboxing are two of the most common alternatives, so let’s see how Boxing’s costs match up against them.
The Cost of Boxing Vs Its Alternatives
In general for Boxing, you will only need a pair of Boxing gloves and a suitable set of workout clothes, this could simply be a cotton t-shirt and a pair of shorts. Most Boxing gyms will let you train like this as a beginner.
However, in Muay Thai or Kickboxing there are more things you will need to buy to be able to take part in training, for example, the correct pair of shorts, and shin guards.
“If you are considering learning Muay Thai or Kickboxing, check out my complete guide on shin guards.”
So, with these extras things needed in Muay Thai and Kickboxing, it generally means they cost more to learn – meaning in general the cost of Boxing can be less than the alternative forms of striking.
To find out more about how much martial arts cost to learn (including the cheapest), check out my other article: the cost of learning martial arts.
Boxing Equipment Costs
Boxing can be a very inexpensive sport to get into because you don’t need a whole lot of sportswear or equipment. This is because the main things you’ll need are a pair of Boxing gloves.
However, as you progress in your training, you will likely buy the following items:
- Protective headgear
- Mouthguard
- Hand Wraps
Average Boxing Equipment Costs
| $USD | £GBP | |
| Protective Headgear | $15 – 150 | £10 – 85 |
| Boxing Gloves | $20 – 250 | £15 – 170+ |
| Mouth Guard | $5 – 80 | £5 – 65+ |
| Hand Wraps | $5 – 20 | £5 – 15 |
There are other costs to think about in Boxing too, for example, your gym membership or monthly subscription. This can either be paid on a per-class basis or direct from your bank account.
Some Boxing gyms will require you to sign up for a minimum term like 3, 6, or 12 months. But in my experience, a lot of Boxing gyms will have a pay-per-class option.
Depending on how often you plan to train each week will determine which payment option is going to be cheaper for you.
Final Thought
In general, Boxing can be a very inexpensive sport or martial art to get into, and often cheaper than the alternatives. If you’re looking to get fit or learn some self-defense, then Boxing is definitely worth learning and is worth the cost.
If self-defense is your main goal, then be sure to check out my complete guide on the 5 best martial arts for self-defense and why.
