Costco accepts most major credit cards, but the rules depend on how you shop

Costco takes Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover at warehouse locations and online. However, Costco has a long-standing agreement with Visa that makes Visa the primary card they promote, and they offer a co-branded Costco Anywhere Visa card with rewards. If you use a different card brand, you can still pay, but you won't earn Costco's rewards on that purchase.

The card acceptance rules are the same whether you shop in person or online. Costco does not take Diners Club, American Express corporate cards, or store-branded cards from other retailers. If you try to pay with an unsupported card, the transaction will decline at checkout.

Key Takeaways

  • Costco accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover at all warehouse locations and on their website.
  • The Costco Anywhere Visa card earns rewards on Costco purchases, but other cards do not earn Costco-specific rewards.
  • Costco does not accept Diners Club, corporate American Express cards, or credit cards from other retailers.
  • Gas station purchases at Costco pumps have stricter rules: only Visa cards and the Costco Anywhere Visa card work.

What happens at the gas pump

Costco gas stations only accept Visa and the Costco Anywhere Visa card. This is a separate rule from warehouse purchases. If you try to pay for gas with Mastercard, American Express, or Discover, the pump will not read your card.

This restriction applies even if you are a Costco member and have a valid membership card. The gas pump system is programmed to decline non-Visa cards. You will need to go inside the warehouse to pay with a different card, which means leaving your car at the pump.

The Costco Anywhere Visa card and rewards

The Costco Anywhere Visa card is a co-branded card issued by Citi. It earns 2% cash back on Costco purchases (in-warehouse and online), 2% on gas at Costco pumps, and 1% on all other purchases. You do not have to use this card to shop at Costco, but you earn no Costco rewards if you pay with a different card.

If you use a regular Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover card at Costco, the transaction goes through, but you receive no cash back or rewards from Costco. You may earn rewards through your own card's program (such as your bank's cash back), but Costco does not add anything on top.

The Costco Anywhere Visa card requires a Costco membership to open. You cannot get the card if you do not have an active membership.

How to pay online

Costco.com accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover for online orders. You can also pay with a Costco Shop Card (a debit card issued by Costco), PayPal, or Apple Pay. The same rewards rules apply: only the Costco Anywhere Visa card earns Costco cash back on online purchases.

If you use PayPal or Apple Pay to check out, the underlying card attached to that account determines whether you earn rewards. If your PayPal account is linked to your Costco Anywhere Visa card, you earn the 2% cash back. If it is linked to a different card, you do not.

What to do if your card is declined

If your card is declined at Costco, the most common reason is that you are trying to use an unsupported card type (such as Diners Club or a store card from another retailer). Check the list of accepted cards above. If your card should be accepted, the decline may be a fraud hold from your bank or an expired card.

Contact your card issuer to ask whether they blocked the transaction. They can tell you whether the card is active and whether they flagged Costco as suspicious. If your card is expired or has been compromised, your bank can issue a replacement. You can shop again once the new card arrives.

If you have a Costco Shop Card (debit card), you can use it as a backup payment method. You can also pay with cash at any Costco warehouse.

Costco Shop Card and other payment methods

The Costco Shop Card is a prepaid debit card that you load with money. It works at Costco warehouses and online. You do not earn rewards on Costco Shop Card purchases. This card is useful if you want to control your spending or if you do not may have access to for a credit card.

Costco also accepts cash, checks, and debit cards at warehouse locations. Online, you can pay with PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay in addition to credit and debit cards. Mobile wallet payments use the card linked to your account, so rewards depend on which card that is.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use American Express at Costco?

Yes, American Express is accepted at Costco warehouses and online. However, you will not earn Costco rewards with American Express. Only the Costco Anywhere Visa card earns Costco cash back. Your American Express card may have its own rewards program through your bank or card issuer.

Why doesn't Costco accept my Mastercard at the gas pump?

Costco gas pumps only accept Visa and the Costco Anywhere Visa card. This is a separate agreement between Costco and Visa. You can pay for gas inside the warehouse with Mastercard, but the outdoor pumps will decline it. You will need to go inside to pay or use a Visa card.

Do I need a Costco membership to use the Costco Anywhere Visa card?

Yes, you must have an active Costco membership to open the Costco Anywhere Visa card. If your membership expires, you can no longer use the card for Costco purchases, though you can still use it elsewhere and earn the 1% cash back on non-Costco purchases.

What if I want to earn rewards but don't have the Costco Visa card?

Only the Costco Anywhere Visa card earns Costco rewards. If you use a different card, you earn no Costco cash back. You may earn rewards through your own card's program, but Costco does not match or add to those rewards. To earn Costco rewards, you would need to open the Costco Anywhere Visa card.