How to Shop at Costco Without a Membership

I love wandering the aisles at Costco. Sometimes my husband and I stock up on our favorites (brownie mix, mashed potatoes, cheese tortellini), and other times, we find totally unnecessary but cool treasures (ball caps, gadgets, house plants). I’m embarrassed to admit that sometimes we go just to get some steps in while we people watch.

If you aren’t a Costco member, you probably know what you’re missing after a friend hands you a double chocolate chip muffin or some rotisserie chicken.

We shop there often enough to make membership worth it for us, but if you’d like to test the waters, there are a couple ways that you can shop at Costco without being a member. Yes—you can shop at the wholesale store sans card. Here's how.

3 Ways to Shop at Costco Without a Membership Card

Order via Instacart

If you want to shop at Costco but don't have a membership, you can order from the warehouse via Instacart, an online shopping service that connects you with national and regional retailers and grocery stores and delivers your order within a couple hours.

When you order at Costco through Instacart, you can choose from hundreds of products—including five dozen eggs, 200 garbage bags, or a super-size bottle of organic pure maple syrup. Prices are typically a little higher than what you'd pay in the warehouse, and there are delivery and service fees (depending on your Instacart membership), but you don’t need a Costco membership.

Get a Costco Shop Card

Costco Shop Cards are gift cards you can use at the warehouse store that never expire. Only Costco members can purchase the cards, so you’ll need a friend or family member to buy one for you. Additionally, non-members cannot use them to shop online at Costco, as items can only be shipped to a member’s address.

However, according to Costco’s official card policy, non-members can use the cards to shop in the warehouse. A non-member cannot reload the card with more cash.

Some shoppers have reported that, depending on the store, you may run into a little difficulty using a Costco Shop Card when you aren’t a member. A cashier may have to call in a supervisor to OK the purchase. You may want to have the Costco website ready on your phone to show staff the official policy.

Head to the pharmacy

You don’t have to be a Costco member to pick up prescriptions at the pharmacy or order them online. Just tell the employee checking memberships at the door that you’re heading to the pharmacy, and they will let you in. You can pay for medication using cash, debit cards, Visa, or Costco Shop Cards.

You won’t have luck, however, adding a giant bottle of over-the-counter vitamins or pain reliever to your cart when checking out. The pharmacy counter only lets non-members get prescriptions there.