A Costco membership costs $65 per year for Gold Star or Business membership in the U.S., while Executive membership costs $130 per year. Both include one free Household Card, and Executive members can earn a 2% annual Reward on qualifying purchases, up to $1,250. Costco also runs limited promotions that may include Digital Costco Shop Cards or other incentives, but offers such as $20, $30, or $40 membership deals are promotional offers, not the standard membership price.
Costco Membership Cost in 2026
The current U.S. Costco membership structure is straightforward. Gold Star costs $65 annually, Business membership costs $65 annually, and Executive membership costs $130 annually. The $130 Executive price consists of the $65 base membership plus a $65 Executive upgrade.
| Membership | Annual Fee | Main Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Gold Star | $65 | Personal Costco shopping |
| Business | $65 | Business, resale and personal purchases |
| Executive | $130 | 2% Reward plus additional benefits |
Each membership includes one free Household Card. Costco says the Household Card can be assigned to another person in the household who meets its eligibility requirements.
Membership fees are for a 12-month period beginning on the enrollment date of the primary cardholder. A Costco card can be used at Costco warehouses worldwide, although the membership itself must meet the applicable local membership requirements.
The important distinction is that the $65 Gold Star membership is the standard entry price. Claims that Costco membership normally costs $20, $30, $40, $60, or $120 can refer to older pricing or promotional savings rather than the current regular U.S. fee.
Costco Membership Hours
Costco membership services generally follow the warehouse’s operating schedule, but the exact hours can vary by location. Executive, Gold Star, and Business members may have different shopping hours at some warehouses.
| Membership Type | Monday–Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Member | 9:00 AM – 8:30 PM | 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM | 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Gold Star Member | 10:00 AM – 8:30 PM | 9:30 AM – 7:00 PM | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Business Member | 10:00 AM – 8:30 PM | 9:30 AM – 7:00 PM | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
These hours reflect a warehouse-specific early-access schedule, not a universal Costco policy. Some locations may give Executive members earlier shopping access, while others may use the same hours for all membership tiers. Holiday schedules can also change, so check the specific Costco warehouse before visiting.
Costco Membership Deals 2026
Costco membership deals can reduce the effective cost of joining, but the promotion usually comes in the form of a Digital Costco Shop Card or another qualifying incentive, rather than permanently lowering the $65 membership fee.
For example, Costco has offered targeted promotions in 2026. One spring promotion offered a $45 Digital Costco Shop Card to eligible members who renewed and enrolled in auto renewal. Costco specifically stated that the promotion was available only to people who received the qualifying email or letter and had a stated expiration date.
This is an important detail when comparing Costco membership deals: a promotion may not be available to every shopper.
A strong membership promotion should therefore be judged by:
- The membership price you pay
- The value of the Shop Card or incentive
- Whether the offer is for new members or renewals
- The enrollment deadline
- Auto-renewal requirements
- Any restrictions in the promotion terms
Costco’s official offer page is the safest place to verify a membership promotion before paying.
Costco Membership + $40 Deals
The Costco membership + $40 search usually refers to a promotional offer where a new or renewing member receives a $40 Costco Shop Card or similar incentive with a qualifying membership purchase.
It is not the standard Costco membership price. The regular Gold Star and Business fee is $65, while Executive membership is $130.
If you see a $40 offer advertised, check the fine print before purchasing. Costco promotions can have eligibility rules, expiration dates, auto-renewal requirements, and restrictions on which membership purchases qualify.
The same principle applies to larger promotional amounts. A $40 Shop Card is not the same as a $40 Costco membership.
Costco Membership $30 and $20 Deals
Searches for Costco membership $30 and Costco membership deal $20 are generally connected with promotional offers, partner promotions, limited-time incentives, or older advertisements.
The current regular U.S. membership fee is $65 for Gold Star and Business and $130 for Executive. Costco’s official membership information does not list $20 or $30 as the standard annual membership prices.
If a website claims that everyone can currently buy a full Costco membership for $20 or $30, check whether it is describing:
- A Shop Card promotion
- A discounted effective cost
- A new-member offer
- A partner promotion
- An older offer
- A limited-time event
That distinction can prevent confusion at checkout.
Costco Membership Black Friday Deals
Costco membership Black Friday deals can be attractive because Costco regularly promotes special savings around the holiday shopping season. However, the Black Friday sale itself does not mean the regular membership fee automatically drops to $20, $30, or $40.
Costco’s Black Friday program is primarily known for merchandise promotions, and Costco provides a dedicated Black Friday page with sale information and a warehouse locator for holiday hours.
Membership promotions can appear separately from the main Black Friday merchandise sale. When a membership incentive is available, read the offer terms carefully because the promotion may apply only to new members, specific membership types, or qualifying purchases.
For shoppers planning a new membership near Thanksgiving, it can make sense to compare the current offer with any advertised Black Friday promotion instead of assuming the holiday automatically provides the lowest price.
Costco Executive Membership: $60 vs. $120 vs. $130
One of the most common Costco membership questions comes from older prices.
The $60 Costco membership refers to the previous Gold Star or Business annual fee. The $120 Executive membership was also the previous Executive price. Costco increased the U.S. fees effective September 1, 2024, bringing Gold Star and Business to $65 and Executive to $130.
So the current comparison is:
| Membership | Current U.S. Price |
|---|---|
| Gold Star | $65 |
| Business | $65 |
| Executive | $130 |
Executive membership is effectively a $65 upgrade above the standard membership. Costco says the upgrade fee can be prorated when there are months remaining in the current membership year.
The higher price can make sense for people who spend enough at Costco to benefit from the Executive Reward.
Costco Executive Membership Benefits
Executive membership adds more than a different card. The most important financial benefit is the 2% annual Reward on qualifying Costco, Costco.com and Costco Travel purchases, up to $1,250. Terms, exclusions and qualifying-purchase rules apply.
Executive members can also receive additional benefits through Costco Services. Costco highlights benefits connected with services such as travel and certain automotive and home-related offerings. Executive members may also receive earlier shopping hours at participating warehouses.
A useful way to judge Executive membership is to focus on qualifying annual spending. Because the upgrade costs $65 more than Gold Star or Business membership, the additional Reward needs to provide enough value to justify that difference.
Not every Costco purchase qualifies for the 2% Reward, so the calculation should be based on eligible spending rather than total household spending.
Is Costco Executive Membership Worth It?
For a frequent Costco shopper, Executive membership can be worthwhile. The key is whether the value of the qualifying 2% Reward and other Executive benefits is enough to offset the additional $65 annual fee.
At a simple 2% rate, $3,250 in qualifying annual purchases produces $65 in rewards. That is roughly the additional Executive fee compared with the $65 Gold Star membership.
However, this is only a practical benchmark. Costco states that the Reward is subject to exclusions and conditions and is not guaranteed to equal or exceed the Executive upgrade fee.
If most of your Costco spending is in categories that qualify for the Reward, Executive membership becomes more compelling. If your eligible spending is low, Gold Star may be the better fit.
Costco Membership Renewal
Costco membership renewal can be completed online, at a warehouse, or by phone. Costco currently allows active members to renew online during the 90 days before expiration. Expired or inactive memberships can be renewed online within 90 days after expiration, while in-person or phone renewal remains available.
To renew online, sign in to your Costco account and select Renew Membership. Costco also says members can renew while checking out at a warehouse. The Member Services phone number for renewal is 1-800-774-2678.
Your existing membership cards continue to work after renewal, so Costco does not normally send replacement cards simply because you renewed.
Costco Membership Auto Renewal
Auto renewal is optional and can be managed through your Costco account. Costco says members can add, remove or change their auto-renewal settings online after verifying the membership. The card on file is charged on the first day of the renewal month.
Current annual fees used for auto renewal are $65 for Gold Star and Business and $130 for Executive, plus applicable taxes.
If you do not want your membership to renew automatically, Costco recommends changing the setting before the renewal date. Its membership conditions state that auto-renewal should be canceled at least 72 hours before the first day of the renewal month to avoid the charge.
Costco Membership Login
The Costco membership login is handled through your Costco.com account. After signing in, members can access account information and manage several membership functions.
Your account can be used to:
- View membership information
- Renew your membership
- Manage auto renewal
- Upgrade to Executive
- Check account details
- Access digital membership features
Costco says members need to verify their membership to view certain membership information online.
The Costco mobile app also provides a Digital Membership Card. To use it, members sign in with an existing Costco.com account after installing the current Costco app.
How to Get a Costco Membership
A Costco membership can be purchased online or at a warehouse membership counter.
For online enrollment, Costco lets shoppers choose between Personal Membership and Business Membership, then select Executive if they want the upgraded level. The application asks for information for the primary cardholder and optional Household Cardholder.
Costco says membership is available to qualifying individuals 16 years of age or older. Applicants need acceptable government-issued photo identification, a passport or consular card, and U.S. members need a valid U.S. address or U.S. P.O. Box for the membership mailing address.
Membership cards are not mailed after an online purchase. New members can obtain their cards at a Costco membership counter.
Costco Membership for Seniors
There is no separate senior membership price listed by Costco. Seniors generally use the same Gold Star, Business or Executive membership structure as other qualifying adults.
The standard U.S. prices remain $65 for Gold Star or Business and $130 for Executive.
A senior shopper can choose Gold Star if Costco is mainly being used for personal purchases, while Executive may be worth considering when qualifying annual spending is high enough to benefit from the 2% Reward.
Costco Membership for Families
A Gold Star or Executive membership can cover two people through the primary membership and one free Household Card. Costco states that a total of two people can be on a Gold Star membership: the primary member and one free household member who is over 16 and lives at the same address.
This makes the annual fee more useful for households because two eligible people can have their own membership cards without paying a second standard membership fee.
The Household Card is not intended to be freely transferred between unrelated people. Costco requires the household member to meet its eligibility rules.
Is Costco Membership Worth It?
Costco membership can be worthwhile if you shop regularly for groceries, household supplies, fuel, pharmacy products, electronics, appliances or other warehouse merchandise.
The strongest value usually comes from repeated purchases rather than a single shopping trip. Costco also extends membership value through services, online shopping, gas stations, travel and other member benefits.
Gold Star is the simpler choice for personal shopping. Business membership is designed for qualifying business owners and can support resale, business and personal purchases. Executive adds the 2% Reward and other benefits for an additional $65 per year.
Costco also provides a 100% satisfaction guarantee on the membership fee. Its customer service policy says Costco will cancel and refund the membership fee at any time if a member is dissatisfied.
That guarantee can reduce the risk for someone who is unsure whether the membership will fit their shopping habits.
Frequently Asked Questions About Costco Membership
Final Thoughts
A Costco membership is currently $65 for Gold Star or Business and $130 for Executive in the U.S., making the choice fairly simple: start with Gold Star for ordinary personal shopping, choose Business when you qualify for business use, and consider Executive when your qualifying Costco spending can justify the extra $65.
The biggest mistake is treating promotional numbers such as $20, $25, $30 or $40 as Costco’s normal membership prices. Those figures can represent limited offers, Shop Card incentives or older promotions. Check the actual terms, expiration date and eligibility before paying.
For 2026, the most practical way to save is to compare Costco’s current membership promotion with the standard fee, consider the value of the Executive 2% Reward, and review renewal settings before your membership automatically renews. That gives you a clearer picture of what your Costco membership will actually cost and what you can get back from it.