Yes — Costco accepts EBT for SNAP-eligible food items at every U.S. warehouse location. However, there is one critical requirement that catches many people off guard: you must have an active, paid Costco membership to enter the warehouse and shop, even when paying with EBT. There is no membership waiver, discount, or exception for SNAP recipients — this is true across all Costco locations nationwide.
This guide covers exactly how Costco EBT works, the membership requirement in full detail, what you can and cannot buy, and whether the membership cost makes sense for a SNAP household.
The Membership Requirement — What You Need to Know First
This is the single most important thing to understand before planning a Costco trip with EBT: Costco’s membership requirement applies to everyone, regardless of payment method. Unlike some warehouse clubs or specific circumstances where SNAP recipients get special access, Costco has no carve-out, waiver, or discounted membership for EBT cardholders.
Membership tiers:
| Membership | Annual Cost | What’s Included |
|---|---|---|
| Gold Star | Approximately $65/year | Full warehouse access, covers 2 cardholders per household |
| Executive | Approximately $130/year | Everything in Gold Star, plus 2% cash back on qualifying purchases (up to $1,250/year) |
The membership fee itself cannot be paid with EBT under any circumstances — federal SNAP rules explicitly prohibit using benefits for services, fees, or memberships. You need a separate payment method (cash, debit, or credit card) to purchase or renew your Costco membership.
Ways to Shop at Costco Without Your Own Membership
If you do not want to pay for a membership yourself, you have a few options:
- Go as a guest with a member. Each Costco member can bring up to two guests per visit. The guest does not need to make purchases themselves, but the transaction (including EBT payment) must go through under the member’s account presence — you as the guest can still be the one swiping your own EBT card at checkout in most cases, but you need a member to get you through the door.
- Use a Costco Shop Card (gift card). Non-members can make purchases using a Costco Shop Card, but you still need to physically enter the warehouse, which requires being accompanied by a member. The Shop Card does not grant entry on its own and does not change the EBT membership requirement.
- Pharmacy and optical services. In some states and specific locations, Costco’s pharmacy and optical departments are accessible to non-members without a membership. However, the main warehouse floor — where all EBT-eligible food is sold — requires membership or guest entry regardless.
How to Use Your EBT Card at Costco
Once you have membership access (your own or as a guest), using EBT at Costco works like any other SNAP-authorized retailer:
- Shop for SNAP-eligible items throughout the warehouse
- Proceed to any checkout lane
- Swipe or insert your EBT card at the payment terminal
- Enter your 4-digit PIN
- The register automatically separates SNAP-eligible items from non-eligible items in your cart
- Pay separately for non-eligible items with another payment method
Does Costco Self-Checkout Accept EBT?
It depends on the specific warehouse location. Many Costco self-checkout kiosks support EBT payment, but not all locations have this enabled. If you reach the self-checkout screen and EBT is not listed as a payment option, simply move to a staffed cashier lane — every staffed register accepts EBT without exception.
Does Costco Accept EBT Online?
No — as of 2026, Costco.com does not accept EBT for standard online orders or delivery. SNAP benefits can only be used for in-person purchases inside a physical Costco warehouse.
There is one notable exception: same-day delivery of Costco groceries through Instacart may accept EBT in select participating states, since this goes through Instacart’s own SNAP payment system rather than Costco’s direct online checkout. This is a separate transaction structure — see our does Instacart take EBT guide for how Instacart’s EBT system works, and note that Instacart’s own delivery and service fees would still apply on top of any Costco membership requirements for online ordering through that channel.
What You Can Buy With EBT at Costco
Federal SNAP rules — not Costco’s own policy — govern exactly what is eligible. Anything that qualifies under SNAP nationally qualifies at Costco:
Eligible items:
- Fresh produce in bulk formats (large bags of apples, multi-pound spinach containers, etc.)
- Meat, poultry, and seafood
- Dairy products and eggs
- Bread, cereal, pasta, and rice
- Frozen foods
- Snacks, candy, and non-alcoholic beverages
- Baby food and infant formula
- Cooking oils, condiments, and baking supplies (Costco’s Kirkland-brand olive oil and cooking oils are popular among SNAP shoppers for their low per-ounce cost)
- Seeds and food-producing plants where available
A simple rule of thumb: if the product has a “Nutrition Facts” label, it is EBT eligible. If it has a “Supplement Facts” label, it is not.
What You Cannot Buy With EBT at Costco
The Food Court
Costco’s food court — including the famous $1.50 hot dog and soda combo, pizza, chicken bakes, and churros — sells hot, prepared, ready-to-eat food. This is excluded from SNAP under federal rules regardless of price or venue. You cannot use EBT at the food court under any circumstances.
The Rotisserie Chicken
Costco’s well-known rotisserie chicken, sold hot from the deli case, is not EBT eligible because it is a hot prepared food at the point of sale. This is one of the most common points of confusion for Costco shoppers using SNAP. See our full rotisserie chicken EBT eligibility guide for the complete temperature-based rule.
Alcohol
Costco has a substantial liquor section in states where permitted, including wine, beer, and spirits. None of this is EBT eligible under any circumstances — this is a federal rule, not a Costco-specific policy.
Gas Stations and Car Washes
Costco’s fuel stations and car wash services do not accept EBT SNAP benefits. Fuel is not a food item and is excluded under federal SNAP rules everywhere, not just at Costco.
Vitamins, Household Goods, and Other Non-Food Items
Standard exclusions apply at Costco just as anywhere else: vitamins and supplements with Supplement Facts labels, household cleaning products, personal care items, electronics, clothing, and pet food are all non-eligible regardless of where they are shelved in the warehouse.
EBT Refunds at Costco
If you return a SNAP-eligible item purchased with EBT, the refund is credited directly back to your EBT card — not issued as cash. This is a federal anti-fraud requirement across all SNAP-authorized retailers, not a Costco-specific policy: retailers are prohibited from providing cash refunds for items purchased with food benefits, which prevents benefits from being converted into cash.
Is a Costco Membership Worth It for SNAP Households?
This requires a genuine cost-benefit calculation, since the membership fee comes entirely out of pocket and is never covered by SNAP:
Arguments for getting a membership:
- Costco’s bulk pricing often beats standard grocery store per-unit costs significantly, particularly on staples like rice, pasta, frozen vegetables, and meat
- For larger households that can use bulk quantities before spoilage, the savings can exceed the $65 annual Gold Star fee within just a few shopping trips
- Non-food savings (household goods, if you have other payment methods) can add additional value beyond groceries alone
Arguments against:
- The $65-$130 annual fee is a real upfront cost that must come from non-SNAP funds — a real barrier for households with very tight budgets
- Bulk sizes can lead to food waste for smaller households without adequate storage or freezer space
- A large bulk purchase can use up a significant portion of your monthly SNAP balance in one trip, which requires careful budgeting
Strategy if you do get a membership: Focus your EBT spending at Costco on non-perishable staples (rice, beans, pasta) and items that freeze well (meat, bread, some vegetables) to maximize the value of bulk pricing without risking spoilage waste.
FAQs
Do I need a Costco EBT membership to use EBT at Costco?
Yes. An active, paid Costco membership is required to enter the warehouse and shop, regardless of payment method. There is no EBT exception, waiver, or discount on membership fees for SNAP recipients.
Can I pay for a Costco membership with EBT?
No. The membership fee is not a food purchase and federal SNAP rules explicitly prohibit using EBT benefits for fees, services, or memberships. You need cash, a debit card, or a credit card to purchase or renew your membership.
Can you buy the rotisserie chicken with EBT at Costco?
No. Costco’s rotisserie chicken is sold hot and ready to eat, which makes it ineligible under SNAP’s federal hot food exclusion. This applies regardless of price and is not a Costco-specific rule.
Does Costco EBT online ordering work, and can you use EBT at Costco through delivery?
No, not through Costco.com directly as of 2026. However, same-day Costco delivery through Instacart may accept EBT in select participating states, since that goes through Instacart’s separate SNAP payment system.
Can I use EBT at the Costco food court?
No. Food court items are hot, prepared, ready-to-eat food, which is excluded from SNAP under federal rules at every retailer, not just Costco.
Does Costco EBT work at self-checkout?
It depends on the specific warehouse. Many self-checkout kiosks support EBT, but not all locations have it enabled. If EBT is not available at self-checkout, any staffed cashier lane will accept it without exception.
Summary
Costco accepts EBT for SNAP-eligible groceries at every U.S. warehouse — but only with an active paid membership, which cannot be purchased with EBT and applies to every shopper regardless of payment method. Once inside, EBT works at any register for eligible food items, though the food court, rotisserie chicken, alcohol, and fuel purchases are all excluded under standard federal SNAP rules.
For more retailers that accept EBT without a membership requirement, see our grocery stores that take EBT directory. Check your current monthly SNAP benefit with our food stamp calculator.