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.

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.