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With Costco Rewards, you can earn up to 4% cash back on your purchases in-store and online with Costco. That's 2% from being an Executive Members and 2% from using a Costco credit card.
Costco Memberships
Costco offers four memberships that allow you to shop in-store and online with Costco.
| Membership | Annual cost |
|---|---|
| Gold Star Membership | $60 |
| Executive Membership | $120 |
| Business Membership | $60 |
| Business Executive Membership | $120 |
Gold Star Membership
Gold Star Membership will cost you $60 per year and it is Costco's lowest membership. With this membership you and one other in your household will be able to shop online and in-store with Costco.
With Gold Star Membership, you will not earn any rewards on your purchases in-store or online with Costco.
Executive Membership
Executive Membership will cost you $120 per year. With this membership, you and one other in your household will receive the benefits of Gold Star membership along with:
- 2% Annual Reward
- Costco Services Discounts
- Costco Connection Magazine
Business Membership
Business Membership costs $60 per year and grants the ability to shop online and in-store at Costco as well as purchase items for resale. Adding employees to the account will cost $60 per person.
Business Executive Membership
Business Executive Membership costs $120 per year and offers the benefits of Business Membership along with:
- 2% Annual Reward
- Costco Services Discounts
- Costco Connection Magazine
Earning Costco cash back
If you have Costco Executive Membership or Business Executive Membership, you'll earn 2% in rewards on qualifying pre-tax purchases at Costco minus any refunds in-store and online with the ability to earn up to $1,000 during any 12-month period.
This means you can earn rewards on up to $50,000 in rolling 12-month spend. Anything over $50,000 in spend during a 12-month period will earn you 0%.
Redeeming Costco cash back
Costco will mail you your cash back rewards in the form of a reward certificate approximately 3 months prior to your renewal date along with your annual renewal notice. You will receive your rewards as long as you've earned at least $1 as an Executive member.
These rewards can be used most merchandise through the front-end registers at Costco warehouses in the United States. Costco rewards certificates can not be used for:
- Alcohol
- Cigarettes or Tobacco-related Products
- Gas Stations
- Food Courts
- Costco.com
- Payment on Credit Card Accounts
- Services (such as Travel & Auto)
The big thing to note here is that you cannot use these on Costco.com which is a bummer. This also cancels out the ability to use them on the Costco Travel section of the website.
Is Costco Executive Membership worth it?
Regardless of whether you're picking up a personal or business Costco membership, basic Costco membership will cost you $60 per year and Costco Executive membership will cost you $120 per year which is a difference of $60.
When you run the math, Costco Executive Membership is worth it if you spend more than $3,000 per year (or $250 per month) in-store or online with Costco. Other benefits offered with Executive membership can also be taken into consideration such as the additional discounts and offers you'll receive for being a member.
Use our Costco Membership Calculator to find out how much you can earn with Costco Executive membership based on the spend amounts you enter.
Costco Membership Calculator
Enter how much you spend per month at Costco to see how much in cash back rewards you can earn.
$Per Month
| Rewards earned with Costco Executive membership | $0 per year |
If you earn more than $60 in cash back per year based on the calculation above, you may want to consider Executive membership.
Costco credit card rewards
Costco offers a personal and business Visa credit card through Citi that can earn you 2% cash back on your Costco purchases. If you have Costco Executive Membership, this will be in addition to the 2% you would already earn meaning that you can earn up to 4% cash back at Costco using Costco's Visa credit cards.
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card
The Costco Visa Card earns 2% back at Costco, but can be stacked with the 2% rewards of Costco Executive membership for a total of 4% back. The card also earns 4% back on up to $7,000 per year at gas stations and Costco gas stations, 3% back at restaurants and on travel, and 1% back on all other purchases.
Calculate cash back and card value
Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card
The Costco Visa Business Card earns 2% back at Costco, but can be stacked with the 2% rewards of Costco Business Executive membership for a total of 4% back. The card also earns 4% back on up to $7,000 per year at gas stations and Costco gas stations, 3% back at restaurants and on travel, and 1% back on all other purchases.
Calculate cash back and card value
Redeeming credit card rewards
Cash back earned with the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi and Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi are mailed out to you in the form of an annual reward certificate once your February billing statement closes. This means you'll get paid your rewards once per year.
The annual rewards certificate that you receive will be redeemable for cash or merchandise at U.S. Costco Warehouses.
Credit card rewards calculator
Use the Costco credit card rewards calculator to find out how much you can earn shopping at Costco with their credit cards.
Costco Credit Card Rewards Calculator
Enter how much you spend (or plan on spending) per month in-store and online at Costco with Costco credit cards.
$Per Month
| Rewards earned with Costco credit card | $0 per year |
| Rewards earned as an Executive Membership holder with a Costco credit card | $0 per year |
Don't forget that along with earning 2% cash back with Costco, both Costco cards also earn 4% back at gas stations, 3% back on travel and at restaurants, and 1% back on everything else!
FAQs
What are Costco cash rewards?
This is the cash back you'll earn with Costco using either a Citi Costco credit card or with Costco Executive membership.
How many family members can be on a Costco card?
A total of two people can be on a Costco Membership. One primary member and one free household member who is over 18 and lives at the same address.
How do you obtain your rewards earned with the Citi Costco credit cards?
Cash back rewards earned with a Citi Costco card will be mailed out to you in the form of an annual reward certificate once your statement closes in February.
How do you obtain your rewards earned with Costco Executive membership?
Cash back rewards earned with Costco Executive membership is mailed to you in the form of an annual reward certificate around three months prior to your membership renewal date.
What are the benefits of Costco Executive membership?
Costco Executive membership allows you to earn 2% cash back on eligible purchases made in-store and online with Costco. It also grants extra benefits on certain Costco services.
Is Costco Executive membership worth it?
If you spend more than $3,000 per year at Costco (or $250 per month), Costco Executive membership will be worth it. Don't forget it also comes with other small perks that should be taken into consideration as well.
Our Top Credit Card Picks
We've run the calculations and checked them twice — here are the credit cards that consistently provide outstanding value to our users:
- Best flexible travel card: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Best overall value year after year: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Best for high cash back: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
- Best for lounge access & luxury travel: The Platinum Card® from American Express
- Best for business travel rewards: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
- Best for heavy business spend: Capital One Spark Cash Plus
