Costco accepts most major credit cards, but not all of them
Costco takes Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover at warehouse locations and online. However, Costco does not accept Diners Club or most store credit cards from other retailers. If you have a Costco Anywhere Visa card (their co-branded card with Visa), you can use it anywhere Visa is accepted, including at Costco.
The card rules are the same whether you shop in-warehouse or online. At the gas station attached to Costco warehouses, the rules are slightly different — you can only use Costco Visa cards, regular Visa cards, or Mastercard. American Express and Discover are not accepted at the pump.
Costco stopped accepting American Express as their exclusive card partner in 2016 and switched to Visa. If you have an old Costco American Express card, you can no longer use it at Costco, though you can still use it elsewhere.
Key Takeaways
- Costco warehouses accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover credit cards both in-store and online.
- Costco gas stations only accept Costco Visa cards, regular Visa, and Mastercard — not American Express or Discover.
- Costco Anywhere Visa cardholders earn rewards on Costco purchases and can use their card at any merchant that accepts Visa.
- Diners Club and other store credit cards are not accepted at Costco locations.
- Costco also accepts cash, debit cards, and checks at warehouse locations.
What happens if you try to use a card Costco doesn't accept
If you attempt to pay with a card Costco does not accept — such as Diners Club or a department store card — the transaction will be declined at checkout. The cashier will ask you to provide a different payment method. This happens at the register, so you will know immediately rather than discovering it later.
If you are shopping online and use an unsupported card, the payment will fail during checkout before your order is placed. The website will prompt you to enter a different card number.
Costco Anywhere Visa card benefits and how it works
The Costco Anywhere Visa card is a co-branded credit card issued by Visa and Costco. You earn cash back on Costco purchases: 2% on gas (up to $110 per year, then 1%), 2% on travel booked through Costco Travel, and 1% on all other Costco purchases. You also earn 1% cash back on all other purchases made outside Costco.
You do not need a Costco membership to carry the card, but you do need a membership to shop at Costco warehouses. The card is accepted anywhere Visa is accepted, not just at Costco. Cash back is paid annually as a Costco Shop Card (a store credit certificate) that you can use on your next shopping trip.
There is an annual fee for the Costco Anywhere Visa card. The fee amount varies — Costco periodically offers promotions that waive the first year's fee for new cardholders. You can check the current offer on Costco's website or ask at the membership desk.
Payment methods Costco accepts besides credit cards
Costco accepts cash, debit cards, and personal checks at warehouse locations. Online, you can pay with credit cards, debit cards, or a Costco Shop Card (the store credit issued as cash back rewards). Gift cards can be used for purchases but are not a payment method in the sense of funding the transaction — you load money onto them separately.
Costco does not accept PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or other digital wallet services at this time, either in-warehouse or online. If you want to use a digital payment method, you would need to link a supported credit or debit card to that service and pay through the card issuer instead.
Regional or temporary differences in card acceptance
Card acceptance rules are set by Costco corporate and apply across all U.S. warehouses. There are no regional variations — a Visa card works the same way at a Costco in California as it does in New York. International Costco locations (Canada, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom) may have different rules, so check with your local warehouse if you are shopping outside the United States.
Costco occasionally tests new payment methods or makes temporary changes during system upgrades. If you encounter an unexpected decline, ask the cashier whether a temporary restriction is in place. These situations are rare and usually affect only one warehouse for a short period.
How to check which card you have if you're unsure
Look at the front of your card. If it says "Costco" and "Visa" together, it is a Costco Anywhere Visa card and will work at Costco. If it says "American Express" and "Costco," it is an older card from before 2016 and will not work at Costco warehouses (though you can still use it at other merchants that accept American Express).
If your card is a regular Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover card with no Costco branding, it will work at Costco warehouses and online. You do not need a special card — any major credit card from these four networks is accepted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my Costco American Express card at Costco now?
No. Costco stopped accepting American Express in 2016 when they switched to Visa as their exclusive card partner. If you have a Costco American Express card, you can use it at other merchants, but not at Costco warehouses or gas stations. You can apply for a Costco Anywhere Visa card instead.
Will Costco accept my store credit card from another retailer?
No. Costco does not accept store credit cards from other retailers. You must use a major credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover), a debit card, cash, or a check. Store cards from Target, Walmart, or other chains will be declined.
Can I use digital wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay at Costco?
Not at this time. Costco does not accept Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, or other digital wallet services. You must provide a physical credit or debit card, or pay with cash or check. You can link a supported card to your digital wallet and use it elsewhere.
What if my credit card is declined at Costco?
First, confirm the card is one Costco accepts (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover). If it is, the decline is likely from your bank, not Costco — this can happen if the purchase seems unusual or if your account has a fraud alert. Contact your card issuer to ask why the transaction was blocked. Once cleared, you can try again at checkout.
Do I need a membership to use a Costco credit card?
You do not need a Costco membership to carry or use the Costco Anywhere Visa card — you can use it anywhere Visa is accepted. However, you do need a membership to shop inside Costco warehouses. The card and membership are separate.