How to Cancel Costco Membership and Get a Full Refund

To cancel your Costco membership, go to the membership counter at any Costco warehouse or call Costco at 1-800-774-2678. Costco does not let you cancel online. The primary member should cancel, and you will usually get a full refund of your membership fee. If you have an Executive membership, any 2% reward you earned is taken out of that refund.

Canceling only takes a few minutes. This guide shows both ways to cancel, how the refund works, and what to do if you just want to stop auto-renewal.

Before you cancel: what you need

• Your membership card or membership number
• A photo ID if you cancel in person
• The primary member. The person whose name is first on the account should cancel.
• Any unused Executive rewards. Think about spending your 2% reward certificate first, since it will be taken out of your refund.

Option 1: Cancel at a Costco warehouse

This is the fastest way to get your refund.

1. Go to the membership counter near the entrance of any Costco warehouse. It does not have to be the store where you signed up.
2. Tell the staff you want to cancel your membership.
3. Show your membership card and photo ID.
4. The staff will process the cancellation and give you a refund, often right away.

Your refund usually goes back to the card you paid with, or you may get cash or a store credit, depending on how you paid.

Option 2: Cancel by phone

1. Call Costco customer service at 1-800-774-2678.
2. Choose the option for membership questions.
3. Tell the agent you want to cancel.
4. Give your membership number and answer a few questions to confirm who you are.

Costco's phone system has noted that you should call after your membership fee has posted to your account. If you just renewed and the fee is still pending, wait a few days before calling.

How the Costco refund works

Costco's membership comes with a satisfaction guarantee. Here is how it works at the time of writing.

Costco lets you cancel at any time during your membership year. For Executive members, Costco says any 2% reward that has been issued or earned is subtracted from the refund.

Example: You paid $130 for Executive and earned $40 in 2% rewards. If you cancel, your refund would be about $90.

Want to downgrade instead?

If Costco is still worth it but the Executive fee is not, you can downgrade to Gold Star.

• Go to the membership counter or call customer service.
• Ask to switch from Executive to Gold Star.
• Costco refunds the extra upgrade fee, minus any 2% reward you already earned.

Not sure which one is right for you? Our guide on whether a Costco membership is worth the fee walks through the math.

How to turn off auto-renewal

If you just do not want to be charged next year, you can turn off auto-renewal. Your membership stays active until it ends.

1. Sign in at costco.com.
2. Go to Account, then Membership.
3. Find Auto Renewal and turn it off.

This does not cancel your current membership or give you a refund. It just stops the next charge.

What happens after you cancel?

• Your membership card stops working right away.
• Any household card on your account stops working too.
• You can no longer shop in the warehouse, but you may still be able to buy some items on costco.com (often with an added fee for non-members).
• You can rejoin later if you change your mind.

Tips before you cancel

• Use your 2% reward first. If you are an Executive member, spend your reward certificate before you cancel.
• Think about downgrading. Gold Star costs half as much as Executive.
• Finish returns. Costco's return policy is generous, but you may want to return items while you are still a member.
• Check other subscriptions. Some deals, like Costco Travel bookings, may be linked to your membership.

Looking for a different kind of membership? Our Walmart+ sign-up and cost guide explains another option.

TimeToNote is not connected to Costco. Membership fees and rules can change, so check Costco's website or call them to confirm.

Real refund examples

These examples show how the refund usually works. Costco's rules can change, so confirm with Costco before you cancel.

What to say when you cancel

You do not need a long explanation. You can say:

"Hi, I'd like to cancel my membership and get a refund, please. I'm the primary member, and here is my card and ID."

If you only want to switch plans, say:

"I'd like to downgrade from Executive to Gold Star, please."

Staff may ask why you are leaving. You can give a short reason or simply say it is not a fit right now.

Canceling a household or business card

• Household cards: The free household card is tied to the primary member. When the main membership is canceled, the household card stops working too.
• Business memberships: The business owner or primary member usually needs to cancel. Extra cardholders on a business account can often be removed without closing the whole membership.

Things to do before you cancel

• Use your Executive reward certificate if you have one.
• Finish any big returns you are still planning to make.
• Check gift cards and Costco Shop Cards, which you may still be able to use online.
• Use up prescriptions or optical orders in progress, or ask how canceling affects them.
• Cancel Costco Travel or services linked to your membership, like auto programs, if needed.
• Turn off auto-renew online so a new fee is not charged while you are deciding.

Cancel vs downgrade vs let it expire

If you move somewhere without a Costco

If you are moving to an area with no nearby warehouse, you can still cancel by phone. You may also be able to keep shopping on costco.com, where some items ship to you, but think about whether that is worth the fee.

Have a Costco credit card? Read this first

The Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi needs an active Costco membership. If you cancel your membership:

• Citi may close the card or change it to a different card.
• Rewards you have not received yet could be lost. Costco card rewards come once a year as a certificate.
• Closing a card can affect your credit score, especially if it is your oldest card.

Call the number on the back of the card before you cancel your membership. Ask what will happen to the card and your rewards, and time your cancellation after you get your yearly reward certificate if you can.

Can you rejoin later?

Yes. You can sign up again at any warehouse or on costco.com. You will pay the full membership fee again, and it starts a new membership year. Your old membership number may or may not carry over, so keep your receipt from the cancellation.

The bottom line

You cannot cancel a Costco membership online. Go to the membership counter at any warehouse with your card and photo ID, or call 1-800-774-2678. Costco usually refunds your full fee, but Executive members lose any 2% reward they earned from the refund. If you only want to stop next year's charge, turn off auto-renewal on costco.com instead.