Key takeaways
- Costco accepts SNAP EBT for eligible food items at every U.S. warehouse — but an active, paid membership is still required, with no SNAP exception.
- Membership fees ($65/year for the standard Gold Star tier) can't be paid with EBT under federal SNAP rules, since a membership isn't a food purchase.
- You can shop as a guest with a paying member and still use your own EBT card independently at checkout.
- Hot food (including the rotisserie chicken), alcohol, and household non-food items are not EBT-eligible, even though they're sold in the same warehouse.
Table of contents
- The direct answer
- The membership requirement, in detail
- What you can and can't buy with EBT
- Shopping without a membership of your own
- How checkout actually works with EBT
- Online and delivery orders
- How this compares to Sam's Club and BJ's
- Making the membership fee worth it
- Related guides
- Frequently asked questions
The direct answer
Yes — every Costco warehouse in the United States accepts EBT cards for SNAP-eligible food purchases. This has been Costco's policy nationwide for years, and it applies consistently regardless of which state you're in. But there's a catch that catches many first-time shoppers off guard: you still need an active, paid Costco membership to enter and shop, even when you're paying entirely with EBT. Unlike a few other stores that waive certain requirements for SNAP shoppers, Costco makes no exception here.
The membership requirement, in detail
Costco operates on a strict membership model with no carve-out for government assistance. As of 2026, a standard Gold Star membership costs $65 per year and covers two named cardholders in one household. That fee cannot be paid with EBT under any circumstances — federal SNAP rules explicitly prohibit using benefits for fees, services, or memberships, since SNAP is designed to pay for food, not access to a store. You'll need a separate payment method (cash, debit, or credit card) to purchase or renew the membership itself.
This membership rule is worth weighing against your grocery budget before joining: if you don't already have a membership and are considering one specifically to use EBT there, compare the $65 annual cost against how much you'd realistically save on food purchases compared to a regular grocery store that has no membership requirement at all.
For more specifics, see our guides on how Walmart's EBT policy compares (no membership required) and which restaurants accept EBT, since Costco's food court doesn't.
What you can and can't buy with EBT
SNAP rules apply the same way at Costco as anywhere else: benefits cover food items intended for home preparation and consumption. That covers most of Costco's grocery inventory — produce, meat, dairy, packaged goods, and bakery items. What's specifically not covered, even though it's sold in the same warehouse:
- Hot, ready-to-eat food — including the well-known $4.99 rotisserie chicken, since SNAP rules exclude hot prepared food meant for immediate consumption
- Alcohol
- Household supplies, cleaning products, and paper goods
- Pet food
- Vitamins and supplements in most cases
- The membership fee itself
A quick rule of thumb Costco itself suggests: if the product carries a Nutrition Facts label, it's generally SNAP-eligible; if it doesn't, it generally isn't. This rule of thumb works well for most everyday purchases, though a few gray-area items — certain energy drinks, some protein powders — can go either way depending on their specific formulation and labeling, so it's worth double-checking at checkout if you're unsure about a specific product rather than assuming.
Shopping without a membership of your own
If you don't have your own membership, you have two real options. First, shop as a guest: each Costco member can bring up to two guests per visit, and as the guest, you can use your own EBT card independently at checkout — you don't need the member to pay for your items. Second, purchase your own membership using a non-EBT payment method if the annual cost makes sense for your household's shopping habits. There is no free or SNAP-discounted membership tier; Costco has stated directly that it doesn't offer one.
Online and delivery orders
As of 2026, Costco.com does not accept EBT for standard online orders, home delivery, or curbside pickup. The one exception: Costco Same-Day delivery through Instacart does support EBT payment in participating states, so that's worth checking specifically if in-person shopping isn't realistic for your situation.
How checkout actually works with EBT
At the register, staffed lanes at Costco process EBT the same way as any other payment method — swipe or insert your card, enter your PIN, and the SNAP-eligible portion of your total is deducted from your balance automatically. If your cart includes both eligible and ineligible items, most Costco registers can split the transaction, charging the EBT-eligible items to your card and the remainder to a separate payment method; tell the cashier you're splitting the payment before they start scanning to make this smoothest. Self-checkout terminals generally support EBT as well, though support can vary slightly by location, so ask a staff member if you run into trouble at a self-checkout kiosk specifically.
How this compares to Sam's Club and BJ's
All three major warehouse clubs — Costco, Sam's Club, and BJ's Wholesale — accept EBT in-store and all three require an active membership with no SNAP exception. Where they differ is online: Sam's Club supports EBT through its Scan & Go app and delivery service, and BJ's accepts EBT through BJs.com and its mobile app, while Costco currently limits online EBT acceptance to Instacart same-day delivery in select states. If online access matters more than in-person shopping for your situation, that difference is worth factoring in.
Making the membership fee worth it
Since the $65 annual membership fee can't be covered by EBT, it's worth a quick gut-check before joining specifically to use SNAP benefits there: Costco's bulk sizing tends to save the most on non-perishables and items your household reliably uses before they expire — rice, oats, frozen proteins, canned goods — rather than perishables a smaller household might waste before finishing. If you're unsure whether the savings justify the fee, shopping once as a member's guest (using your own EBT card at checkout) lets you compare actual per-unit prices against your regular grocery store before committing to a membership purchase. Splitting a membership with a family member or friend is also worth considering, since a Gold Star membership already covers two named cardholders in one household — if you live with an extended family member or roommate, adding them as the second cardholder spreads the $65 cost across more people benefiting from it. Renewal timing is also worth planning around: joining right before a known bulk-buying need (a holiday, a stock-up trip) rather than letting the fee sit unused for months makes the cost-per-use math work out better. Costco also occasionally runs promotional membership discounts, particularly around the new year, so timing a first-time signup around one of those windows can shave a few dollars off the initial cost.
Related guides
- Does Sam's Club take EBT? — How the second major warehouse club's policy compares.
- Does BJ's Wholesale Club take EBT? — The third major warehouse club, and its more flexible online EBT support.
- Does Target take EBT? — A membership-free alternative for SNAP grocery shopping.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Costco membership to use EBT there?
Yes — an active, paid membership is required to shop at any Costco warehouse, and this applies regardless of payment method. There is no exception, waiver, or discount for SNAP or EBT cardholders.
Can I use EBT to pay for a Costco membership?
No. Federal SNAP rules only cover food purchases; membership fees, like any other service fee, cannot be charged to an EBT card under any circumstances.
Can I shop at Costco with EBT if I don't have my own membership?
Yes, as a guest of a paying member — each member can bring up to two guests per visit, and you can use your own EBT card independently at checkout during that visit.
Does Costco's food court or gas station accept EBT?
No. The food court sells hot, ready-to-eat food, which SNAP rules exclude, and gas purchases are never SNAP-eligible under federal rules, regardless of retailer.
Are Costco's Kirkland Signature brand items EBT-eligible?
Yes, as long as the specific item is an eligible food product — Kirkland Signature is Costco's store brand, and SNAP eligibility depends on the type of product, not the brand name. A Kirkland Signature frozen vegetable is eligible the same way a name-brand one would be.
Estimates are informational only, not financial advice or an offer of credit — see our disclaimers.
Before you apply: program rules, amounts, and deadlines change. Always confirm details with the official agency or program administrator. Applying for government benefits is free.
National Relief Program is an independent guide, not a government agency. Spotted an error? Email support@nationalreliefprogram.org.
