Does Costco Take EBT? A Quick Guide to EBT Payments at Costco

All Costco warehouse locations in the US take EBT cards! This means that you can buy fresh produce, tasty meals, and bulk food items at Costco with an EBT card to feed your family. You can use your EBT card at any grocery store or supermarket that is an EBT-authorized retailer.

EBT cards have item restrictions, but more items qualify than don’t. To learn about what you can buy with your EBT card at Costco, read on!

Handy Tip: To find other stores that also take EBT, you can use the USDA’s SNAP Retailer Locator tool. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a program that gives money to eligible beneficiaries, which they can use to purchase eligible items with an EBT card. It is also known as the “food stamps” program.

What Is Costco?

Costco is an American chain of member-only warehouse club stores that sell high-quality groceries, home goods, electronics, laptops, TVs, hearing aids, furniture, outdoor living supplies, appliances, jewelry, tires, pharmacy, eye exams, and more. Their retail stores, gas stations, and website offers their members a wide variety of products at the lowest prices.

Costco is a wholesale company with over 105 million members, 185,000 employees, and 800 locations. Their headquarters are in Issaquah, Washington.

Besides the deals inside Costco warehouses, they’re famous for their low-priced fuel centers with cheap gas. So after shopping for your groceries, you can refuel and save even more with cheap Costco gas!

Costco sells fresh produce, fruit, meats, rotisserie chickens, seafood, and natural and organic food at a great value in terms of groceries. In addition, Costco beef, pork, chicken, lamb, and seafood are raised according to Costco’s own animal welfare standards. Head on over to one of their 800 locations for a great deal on bulk groceries!

Answered: Does Costco Take EBT?

Yes, every Costco warehouse location in the USA takes EBT cards! You can use your EBT card at Costco to buy fresh produce, tasty meals, and bulk food items at Costco with an EBT card to feed your family.

Does Costco Take Food Stamps?

Yes, food-stamp recipients can use their benefits to pay for groceries at Costco. You will frequently hear EBT cards called food stamps, but they’re the same thing!

Does Costco Take SNAP?

Costco does take SNAP benefits. EBT and SNAP are the same programs.

Tip: Most eligible stores will either have EBT/SNAP advertised as a payment option on their websites, store doors, or at the checkout register. If in doubt, you can call or ask customer service.

How Do I Use My EBT Card Benefits At Costco?

To shop at Costco with your EBT card, you first must be a member. That’s because Costco is a members-only warehouse store.

When you are ready to pay for your items, give the cashier your Costco Membership card and then slide your card into the credit card machine and enter your personal identification number/PIN. Your EBT card works just like a credit card for your Costco purchases. That’s it!

Can You Shop at Costco Using Your EBT Card Without a Membership?

If you want to shop at Costco and pay with your EBT card, you need a membership.

While there are a few ‘tricks’ to shop at Costco without a membership, none of them would let you pay for your groceries with your own EBT card.

Can’t I Just Borrow Someone Else’s Costco Card? 

No, customers are not allowed to use any other member’s card to enter the store or to checkout.

That said, you can enter the store with someone who is a member since they’re allowed to bring up to two guests with them. You still won’t be able to pay with your own EBT card, though, since only the Costco member can pay. To pay with your own EBT card, consider splitting the annual membership fee with a friend. That is allowed!

Can I Have Another Costco Member Pay Using My EBT Card?

Officially, no, you can’t give your card to another Costco member and have them pay for your groceries. That’s because it’s against Costco’s membership conditions.

Unofficially, this is something that many people do. You might not shop at Costco enough to justify the annual $60 membership fee but do know someone who is a member. Just keep in mind that occasionally the cashier does check the name on the card.

How Much Is a Costco Membership?

To shop for groceries at Costco with your EBT card, you need to have a Costco membership. That’s because Costco is a members-only warehouse club.

What are the three types of membership?

Gold Star Membership: This is the cheapest personal membership with an annual membership fee of $60 per year. It comes with two membership cards so you can split the cost with another family member or a friend!

Business Membership: costs $60 per year and includes two membership cards. You can also add an additional member for $60 per year.

Executive Membership: While it’s the most expensive membership at $60 per year for two membership cards, it’s the only membership that offers annual rewards. You’ll receive 2% back on all of your eligible purchases at Costco, including those made with your EBT card. That’s right, you can earn Costco executive rewards when you pay with EBT!

Helpful Tip: If your membership card is lost, stolen, or damaged, go to the membership desk and they will replace it for free with a smile.

If your Costco membership is a personal Costco Citi card and the card is lost or stolen, you can replace it by calling 1-855-378-6476.

Does Costco offer a senior discount on membership?

No, they do not offer a senior citizen membership discount. While that’s unfortunate, you’ll still save money on their discounted groceries, other products, and gas!

Low Balance On My EBT Card?

You can use a second form of payment if you don’t have enough money on your EBT card. Your cashier will subtract the balance on your EBT card from the total cost. You can then pay the difference with one of Costco’s other accepted payment methods.

The other accepted payment methods are the Costco Citi credit card, any Visa card, most debit cards, Costco cash cards, Costco gift cards, personal checks, traveler’s checks, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, and cash.

Tip: You can check your EBT balance by calling the number on the back of your card or using your state’s website.

What Items Can I Buy With EBT at Costco?

You can buy many delicious eligible food items at Costco, such as vegetables and fruits, meats, fish, snacks, bread, and other Kirkland branded food products!

These are the most frequently purchased items with EBT cards at Costco:

• Baby formula
• Bread and bakery items
• All types of cereals
• Coffee
• Dairy products of all types such as milk, yogurt, and cheese.
• Energy drinks that have nutrition facts labels
• Frozen dinners
• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Meats
• Seafood
• Poultry
• Protein bars, as long as it has a nutritional label on it.

What Items Are Ineligible with EBT at Costco?

You can’t use EBT to buy alcohol, tobacco products, non-food household items, and the following EBT ineligible products:

1. Vitamins
2. Medication
3. Costco flowers and plants.
4. Supplements
5. Prepared hot foods (cafeteria-type foods), which sadly includes Costco’s rotisserie chickens.
6. Pet food
7. Household supplies
8. Cosmetics
9. Hygiene items
10. Costco wine. Costco has great deals on wines from the USA and beyond, but alcohol is not approved.

You can visit the USDA website or contact your state agency directly for a complete list of items that you can and cannot buy with your EBT card. Costco adheres to all state laws

Does Costco’s Food Court Take EBT?

No, you can’t use your EBT card at the Costco food court. You can still enjoy a hot dog or pizza slice using Costco’s other accepted payment methods or cash from your TANF benefits.

Why can’t you use food stamps at their food court? It’s because electronic benefits transfer (EBT) cards cannot normally be used at restaurants to purchase hot food or food intended for immediate consumption.

There has been a move in a few states to allow the elderly, disabled, and/or homeless to use their EBT SNAP benefits at approved restaurants through the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP). Unfortunately, even in the states that offer this program, this is currently limited to a limited number of approved restaurants, of which Costco’s food court is not one.

Is there Costco Grocery Delivery With EBT?

Unfortunately, you cannot use your EBT card to purchase Costco groceries from Costco.com or Instacart. While the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service recently expanded its online grocery delivery pilot program, Costco does not yet participate in it. You will need to use a different grocery delivery service if you want to use your EBT benefits for delivery.

We recommend using Amazon’s SNAP EBT grocery delivery service. Why? It’s simple, fast, and EBT cardholders receive an extra 15% off! Amazon is the only online EBT grocery delivery service that gives EBT cardholders such a great, exclusive deal.

If you want to use Instacart to order food from a different grocery store, they have EBT grocery delivery options in some states, but not through Costco.

Does Costco Take EBT Online at Costco.com?

No, you cannot use your EBT card to make purchases at Costco.com as it’s not an accepted payment method for online purchases. To use your food benefits, shop inside their warehouse locations.

EBT food benefits can be used at other stores for delivery, including Amazon, which offers an extra 15% to SNAP beneficiaries, and Kroger.

TANF Cash Options

If you have TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) cash benefits on your EBT card, the cashback limit at Costco is $60.

If needed, you can use the cash from your card to purchase other items that are ineligible with the regular EBT card, such as prepared hot food, clothing, transportation, and more!

Does Costco Accept WIC (Women, Infants, and Children)?

If you are eligible for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, you may be wondering, does Costco take WIC?

Unfortunately, Costco does not accept WIC.

WIC benefits cannot be used at Costco because they aren’t approved by the WIC program. To use your WIC benefits, you’ll need to shop at a grocery store that accepts them.

It is important to review what you can and cannot purchase with your WIC or food stamp benefits. For example, you can buy dairy foods, but there are certain restrictions on what type of products you can buy. WIC is a bit complicated, so read your state’s guide to WIC benefits before checking out at a grocery store.

Costco Hours of Operation

You’ll want to know what your Costco location’s hours are before you head out in order to avoid disappointment.

Costco’s warehouse locations across the United States are open from 10:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on weekdays, 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturdays, and 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sundays, excluding holidays. Costco is closed on the following days: New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

A few local warehouses have different opening hours, which you can find using Costco’s ‘Find a Warehouse’ tool.

Costco's Hours of Operations

Day of the Week	Hours
Monday - Friday	10:00 am to 8:30 pm
Saturday	9:30 am to 6:00 pm
Sunday	10:00 am to 6:00 pm

Costco Recipes

Are you at Costco and want to try something new? They have made it easy for you with their collection of quick and easy video recipes, available on their website.

There are ideas for appetizers, entrees, soups, salads, sides, breakfast, drinks, and desserts. So whether you’re making a snack, breakfast, lunch, dinner, there’s something for everyone. There are also plenty of recipes that are kid and picky-eater-friendly!

Some of the recipes that you can make are:

• Stuffed little potatoes
• Hidden Valley® Ranch Chicken Bacon Casserole
• Mexican-Style Kirkland Signature Chicken with Cheesy Rice
• Mango Chickpea Salad with Lime Vinaigrette
• Kirkland Signature™ Mac and Cheese 2-Ways
• Skippy® Creamy Peanut Butter Stuffed French Toast
• Bee Sweet Citrus Lemon & Orange Custard

Check out the recipes at Costco! They are delicious!

Frequently Asked Costco Questions

When did Costco start accepting EBT?

Costco Warehouse clubs began accepting food stamps nationally in 2009, after first testing them only at stores in New York.

Costco only began accepting EBT cards a full year after BJ’s Wholesale and Sam’s Club started accepting them in 2008. While they were a year late to the game, you can use your EBT card at Costco.

Does Costco accept EBT cards for non-food items?

There are two types of EBT benefits: SNAP and TANF. EBT recipients who receive their benefits from SNAP can only purchase groceries with their EBT card.

The TANF program is more flexible than the SNAP program. TANF can be used to pay for a variety of essential purchases, like housing, utilities, medical supplies, furniture, clothing, and transportation. Additionally, TANF enables you to withdraw cash at ATMs or participating stores (including at Costco). With cash in hand, you can use these funds for virtually any kind of transaction.

What you can buy with your EBT card at Costco will depend on the program that you are using for assistance. If food stamps are used, only foods may be purchased at Costco. On the other hand, if you receive TANF, you can use your EBT card at Costco to buy both food and non-food items.

Is the Costco Executive membership worth it?

You can earn rewards with your EBT card at Costco! How? By becoming an Executive Rewards member and earning 2% rewards on every eligible transaction.

The cost of the Executive Membership is $60 per year, so it only makes sense to buy this membership if:

1. You spend $3000 or more per year at Costco

2. Or, you split the membership with a family member or friend, and you each spend $1500 per year. Each membership comes with two cards so you won’t have trouble finding someone to share it with!

While $1500 is a lot of money, the average EBT card-holding household has $2942 in EBT benefits to spend per year. If you shop for groceries at Costco and share your EBT card with a friend, you’ll end up getting more back than the membership costs. Now you’ll save money at Costco and earn rewards with your EBT card.

Can I pay my Costco membership with EBT?

No, you can’t pay for a Costco membership using your EBT benefits. This is because EBT can only be used to pay for food items.

TANF recipients, on the other hand, can use their cash benefits to pay for a membership.

Will my cashier know I am using an EBT card?

Yes, your cashier will be able to see if you are using an EBT SNAP card to pay for your groceries. This is because at most grocery stores, including Costco and Sam’s Club, the checkout register separates the EBT eligible food items from the non-eligible items. Cashiers see many EBT transactions per day and don’t even really notice, though.

How do you use EBT at Costco self-checkout?

At stores that offer self-checkout and support Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, simply checkout as normal and use your EBT card to pay. Unfortunately, some Costco stores have not yet installed the technology needed to support EBT in self-checkout lines.

To verify if you can use your EBT card, ask an employee or try using the self-checkout.

Can you buy Costco pizza with EBT?

No, you can’t use your EBT card to buy Costco pizza at their food courts. You can’t use food stamps at the food court because the government does not allow EBT cards to be used to purchase prepared hot food intended for immediate consumption.

You can use your EBT benefits to buy uncooked pizzas inside the freezer and refrigerated sections.

Final Thoughts

Costco is a great place to buy nutritious, healthy food for yourself and your family at an excellent price with your EBT card. They accept EBT at all of their locations. nationwide!

Costco lives up to its company’s slogan of “do the right thing” by ensuring that only high-quality food products make it to their shelves and standing by every product they sell.

If you want to shop at a warehouse club that takes your EBT card or SNAP benefits, look no further than Costco! Your electronic benefit transfer (EBT) money will go farther, you’ll have fun shopping, and you can fill up with cheap Costco gas on the way out.