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Key Takeaways:

• Cheerleading, whether competitive or for fun, can be very expensive, especially when schools don’t have the funding to cover all the costs.
• As a parent, you may need to purchase uniforms, performance accessories, practice wear, warm-ups, and shoes, and pay registration, spirit, and travel fees.
• Parents of competitive cheerleaders are also encouraged to add after-school tumbling and gymnastics classes, which are expensive when considering how much cheerleading already costs.
• On the conservative side, cheerleading expenses may total over $1,000 over the course of a year, particularly if your squad travels for competitions.

How Much Is Competitive Cheer?

One of the biggest shocks for new cheerleaders and non-cheerleaders may be the costs associated with being on a high school cheer squad (we’re not just talking about uniforms and warmups). Many schools don’t allocate a significant amount of funding for their cheer programs, and, therefore, the cheerleaders (and by cheerleaders we mean cheer parents) are asked to foot the bill left over after fundraising efforts. So, how much does cheerleading really cost?

We took it upon ourselves to do some digging and find out what the average costs are for a typical sideline school cheer program to better prepare you for the season ahead. Take a deep dive with us as we answer “How much does cheer cost?”

How Much Is Cheerleading? Common Cheer Fees

We arrived at this number of how much cheerleading costs by combining the various fees we’ve observed across the nation. These numbers constitute the national average of how expensive cheerleading is:

• Registration Fee: $150
• “Spirit” Fees (banquet, pep rallies, gifts, etc.): $100
• Uniform: $100
• Warmups: $65
• Performance/Game Accessories (shoes, socks, makeup, hair supplies, pom poms): $100
• Practice Gear (shirts, shorts, tanks, socks, shoes, bag): $100
• Cheer Bag: $20-$100
• Tumbling Classes: $100 for 10 classes
• Cheer Photos (team and individual): $50
• Summer Cheer Camp: $150-$350

This is by no means the total of how much cheerleading is, as there are always additional costs, like travel fees or replacement gear. You may also have to splurge on first aid and healthcare supplies, like wraps and braces, to better support your cheerleader. We have to warn you…cheerleaders go through a lot of bobby pins, shoes, and practice wear!

On average, how much cheerleading costs for one year of high school cheer will range:

• A new member may pay between $700 and $1,000
• For a returning member, the average is between $500 and $800
• Competitive cheerleading costs range between $2,000 and $3,000 per season

Remember, this is just the cost for one year of cheerleading! If someone is in cheer for all four years of high school, that’s close to $3,500! This doesn’t even include the totals of youth and middle school, and we know that a lot of cheerleaders start young.

Competitive Team Fees

You might think we’ve answered the question: How much does cheer cost? But it doesn’t stop there. That’s just for school costs! For All-Star or competitive teams, there are additional gym fees (anywhere between $1,500 and $5,000 a year), competition fees, travel costs, additional uniforms, choreography, coaching, and private training fees…the list keeps on going! How much competitive cheer can be astronomically higher than regular, high school activities.

Many squads do fundraising activities to help cover their fees, but since they also have to cover travel and other miscellaneous expenses, the parents usually end up still having to pay some of the balance out-of-pocket. How much cheerleading costs for each participant is dependent on how much they can raise at these fundraisers, so if you have friends and family who want to support, get them out to these events too!

Uneven Funding Distribution at Schools

Cheerleading is one of the more expensive school activities. On average, schools provide much more funding for more socially popular sports teams, like football, basketball, baseball, and soccer. For many athletes on these teams, there are very few costs…no additional training, classes, performance accessories, or camp fees. Some schools even provide the uniforms, including jerseys, cleats, and helmets, for free. Depending on your school, how much cheerleading costs may vary. Does your school provide free uniforms, pom poms, or other accessories?

Cheer Cost FAQs

How much does a cheer uniform cost?

Cheer uniform costs vary widely depending on styles and customization options. Here are some common configurations and cost breakdowns:

• Shell Top + Skirt (No Customization): $65
• Premium Long-Sleeve + Skirt (No Customization): $130
• Specialty Top + Skirt Design (No Customization): $200

Customizations, like rhinestones or embroidery, can add anywhere from $50 to $100 to the base cost of the uniform.

How much is Allstars cheerleading?

Allstars is considered one of the most expensive cheerleading programs for teens. A full season of tuition will range based on how many classes your teen takes and which competitions they participate in.

• Per Season Tuition Estimate: $1,595-$2,145
• Per Season Competition Estimate: $1,050-$1,200

Uniforms, gear, and travel expenses aren’t included in this cost breakdown.

How much does cheerleading cost in elementary?

Cheerleading in elementary school can be a lot more affordable than competitive cheer or high school cheer. Many of the expenses, such as extra classes and gym membership, are optional. You can expect to pay as little as $100 for basic registration. You’ll need to pay for uniforms, shoes, and accessories separately.

Competitive cheer in elementary school costs about the same as high school cheerleading, as you’ll need to budget for extra classes, gym memberships, competition fees, and travel costs. Expect to pay $5,000 – $7,000, depending on where you live.

How much does cheerleading cost in high school?

How much cheerleading is in high school can also vary, depending on what the school covers and how much you manage to fundraise. You can expect to spend up to $1,000 on basic participation and up to $10,000 if your teen is on a competitive team.

Managing Cheerleading Costs

Now that you know how much cheerleading costs, you can start to budget for all potential expenses. Some of our top tips to reduce how much cheer costs include:

• DIY Customization: Adding rhinestones, embroidery, and patches can add a lot to your uniform costs. We recommend DIY alterations if allowed to keep costs low.

• Carpooling: Minimize travel costs, like gas and parking fees, by organizing a carpool with other cheer parents.

• Fundraising: A structured fundraising campaign can offset a lot of the team costs that may burden parents, including travel and equipment fees. Plan bake sales, car washes, and other sponsored events to raise money.

• Discount Requests: Every business, from your local gym to shoe retailers, typically offers bulk or wholesale discounts. Reach out to sales reps for uniforms, equipment, and gym time to negotiate better pricing for the entire team.

Cheer Makes Our Heart Soar

If you’re a soon-to-be cheerleader or cheer parent, don’t let this discourage you! While you’re questioning how much cheerleading costs, your child may be missing out on an amazing experience.

While registration, camp, and spirit fees are usually a set price, items like uniforms, warm-ups, shoes, and practice gear can be purchased for much less. There are a lot of ways to lower how much cheerleading is and make it work for you. Check out cheerleading apparel websites like Omni Cheer, with great deals, so you’re certain to get the best deal possible on high-quality cheerleading uniforms, shoes, and accessories like pom poms, megaphones, makeup, and hair supplies.

How much is competitive cheer for you? How do you cut down on costs? Share your tips or advice here!