Free Guide to Costco Membership Options

What You'll Find in This Guide About Costco Membership Tiers

Costco operates three main membership levels, each with different costs and features. Understanding what separates each tier helps you figure out which one might match your shopping habits. This guide walks through each membership option without pushing you toward any particular choice—the goal is simply laying out what exists so you can think through which structure makes sense for your situation.

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The three membership types are Gold Star, Executive, and Gold Star Executive membership (also called the Costco Card). Each one gives you access to Costco warehouses and their product selection, but the differences lie in annual cost, reward structures, and which perks come included. A person who shops occasionally at Costco might find one tier more practical than someone who visits weekly and buys in bulk for a household or small business.

Costco's current pricing reflects market conditions and company strategy. As of 2024, the Gold Star membership costs $65 per year for individuals. The Executive membership costs $130 per year. These prices have changed over time—for example, the last price increase occurred in September 2023, when Costco raised Gold Star from $60 to $65 and Executive from $120 to $130. Price adjustments typically happen every few years, though not on a fixed schedule.

One thing this guide does not do is make promises about what you'll save. Savings at Costco depend on what you buy, how often you shop, and whether bulk quantities actually work for your household or situation. Some people save money; others find that buying individual items elsewhere suits them better. The membership cost itself is a fixed expense you'd want to weigh against your expected shopping patterns.

Takeaway: Before reading further, jot down roughly how much you currently spend on groceries and household items per month, and how often you shop. You'll use this baseline to think through whether any membership structure makes financial sense for you.

Gold Star Membership: The Standard Option

The Gold Star membership is Costco's entry-level tier and the most popular choice for casual shoppers. At $65 per year, it grants you access to any Costco warehouse location in the United States and Canada. You receive a physical membership card and can add household members to the same card at no extra charge—typically, one primary member and one household member of legal age share access under one Gold Star membership.

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With a Gold Star membership, you can purchase almost everything Costco carries: groceries, electronics, clothing, furniture, tires, pharmacy services, and gas (at Costco gas stations). You'll also gain access to Costco's online shopping platform and can take advantage of their warehouse return policy. The membership includes access to Costco's travel deals and pharmacy discounts, though these features vary by location and membership tier.

Gold Star members do not earn cash-back rewards on purchases. This is the key difference separating it from the Executive tier. If you made a purchase of $5,000 over the course of a year, you would not receive any reward. However, Gold Star members can still take advantage of sale prices, bulk discounts, and Costco's general pricing structure, which is often lower than traditional retailers for the same items.

A household that shops at Costco once or twice a month and spends roughly $300 to $500 during each visit might find Gold Star practical. The $65 annual fee breaks down to about $5.40 per month, so if the bulk pricing and sales save you even a small percentage on your regular purchases, the membership pays for itself. Conversely, if you shop at Costco three or four times per year, you might find that the membership fee is not worth the cost in your situation.

Costco also offers Gold Star memberships for households that include a member aged 60 or older, though the pricing remains the same. There is no discount tier for seniors; the benefit is simply being able to shop during special senior shopping hours in some locations (usually the first hour after opening on certain days). This varies by warehouse, so it's worth calling your local Costco to ask whether they offer a senior shopping hour.

Takeaway: Calculate your annual Costco spending from the last year if you already shop there, or estimate based on current shopping habits. If that total is more than roughly $1,300 per year, Gold Star likely pays for itself through Costco's pricing alone, even without rewards.

Executive Membership: The Rewards-Focused Option

Executive membership costs $130 per year—exactly double the Gold Star price—and its main feature is the rewards program. Executive members earn 2% cash back on nearly all Costco purchases, with some exceptions. Certain categories like gas, pharmaceuticals, and postage stamps earn 1% cash back instead of 2%. This means on a $5,000 annual purchase, you'd earn roughly $100 in rewards (before accounting for the 1% categories).

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The rewards are paid out as an annual certificate that you can use at any Costco warehouse or online. For example, if your rewards total $87 by the end of the membership year, you'd receive a certificate for $87 that you can spend like cash at Costco. Some members choose to use this certificate toward their next year's membership renewal, effectively lowering their membership cost. If you earned $130 in rewards, you could theoretically renew your membership using that reward certificate alone.

Executive members also receive the same warehouse access and benefits as Gold Star members—you can shop anywhere, return items, use the pharmacy, and purchase gas. The membership works for two household members, just like Gold Star. You get the same product selection and general pricing. The difference is purely the rewards structure and the higher annual cost.

Whether Executive membership makes financial sense depends on your annual spending. The $65 extra cost (compared to Gold Star) needs to be offset by your rewards. You'd need to spend roughly $3,250 per year to earn $65 in rewards (at 2% back) to break even on the higher fee. Many Costco shoppers hit this threshold easily—that's about $270 per month. If you spend more, the rewards grow proportionally. A household spending $10,000 annually at Costco would earn roughly $200 in rewards with Executive, turning the $65 premium into a net gain.

Some Executive members use Costco's co-branded credit card in addition to their membership. This card earns additional rewards percentages in specific categories (like gas and restaurants), but it's a separate product and not required for any membership tier. The focus here is the membership structure itself.

One practical note: if you're considering Executive membership, you might want to try Gold Star first if you're new to Costco. Membership cards typically renew automatically, so you can start at the lower tier, see how much you actually spend over a year, and then upgrade or downgrade when renewal time comes around.

Takeaway: Add up what you'd realistically spend at Costco in a year, multiply by 2%, and see if that rewards amount exceeds $65. If yes, Executive membership pays for the premium cost through rewards alone. If no, stick with Gold Star.

Special Membership Situations and Considerations

Costco offers a few membership variations that don't fit neatly into the standard Gold Star or Executive categories. Understanding these options helps you see the full picture of how Costco structures access to its warehouses.

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First, there's the Household card option. Both Gold Star and Executive members can add a second household member card at no additional cost. This person must be at least 18 years old and live at the same address. The household cardholder has the same warehouse access and purchasing power as the primary member. Rewards (if Executive membership) are pooled together—they're both earning cash back on the same account. Some families use this to allow a spouse or adult family member to shop independently while the membership cost stays the same.

Second, Costco operates a Business membership option, which is separate from the consumer tiers. Business membership costs $60 per year for the Gold Star equivalent and $110 for the Executive equivalent. This membership is designed for small business owners, contractors, and resellers who want to purchase supplies in bulk. Business members shop in the same warehouses but may have different hour access in some locations. Business membership includes different reward structures and some additional business-focused perks like printing services and shipping discounts. If you're