The best ways to save at Costco
Costco's savings come from knowing what to buy, the price-tag codes, the generous return policy, and post-purchase price adjustments.
- Price-tag endings (.97, .00, asterisks) reveal markdowns and soon-to-be-discontinued items.
- Not everything is cheaper in bulk — compare unit prices before assuming.
- Costco's return policy and post-purchase price adjustments are unusually generous.
- The Executive membership's 2% reward pays for itself above a spending threshold.
- Kirkland Signature store-brand items often match name brands at a lower price.
Decode the price tags
Costco's price tags carry hidden signals. A price ending in .97 is a manager markdown (as opposed to the standard .99), so it's discounted below normal. An asterisk in the top-right corner means the item won't be restocked — if you love it, buy it now.
Prices ending in .00 or .88 often indicate a floor-model or manager-special clearance. Learning these tells you at a glance whether an item is at its everyday price or on its way out at a discount.
Buy the right things in bulk
Bulk only saves money if two things are true: you'll use it before it spoils or expires, and the per-unit price genuinely beats a sale elsewhere. A giant package you throw half of away is more expensive than a small one you finish.
Non-perishables, paper goods, and items you reliably burn through are the reliable wins. Compare per-unit prices against a sale-plus-coupon price at a regular store, and skip perishables you can't realistically finish — our warehouse club guide runs the math.
Choose the right membership tier
Costco's Executive membership costs more than the base Gold Star but returns 2% back on most purchases (up to an annual cap). If your yearly Costco spend is high enough, that 2% reward more than covers the fee difference.
Costco will even refund the difference between tiers at year-end if your reward didn't cover the upgrade cost, so for regular members the Executive tier is close to risk-free. Occasional shoppers are fine on Gold Star.
Lean on Kirkland and the extras
Kirkland Signature is Costco's store brand, and it's frequently the same product as a name brand — sometimes from the same manufacturer — at a lower price. Defaulting to Kirkland on staples is one of the easiest recurring savings.
Members also get discounted gas, travel, prescriptions, and gift cards to restaurants and services sold below face value. These ancillary benefits often deliver more value than the grocery aisles for households that use them.
Use the return and adjustment policies
Costco's return policy is famously generous, with no set time limit on most items (electronics are the main exception, at 90 days). If something disappoints months later, you can usually still return it.
It will also refund the difference if an item drops in price shortly after you buy it — keep your receipts and check back. That price adjustment is money most members leave on the table.