Sam's Club does not accept EBT for most purchases, but you can use it for certain may have access to foods
Sam's Club accepts SNAP benefits (the food part of EBT) only on specific items: fresh produce, meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, breads, cereals, and other foods you prepare at home. You cannot use EBT to buy prepared foods, hot items from the deli counter, alcohol, tobacco, vitamins, or non-food items — even if you have a Sam's Club membership. The rules are the same as at any other grocery store: SNAP covers food you cook yourself, nothing else.
The catch is that Sam's Club is a membership warehouse, and you need an active membership to shop there at all. Your EBT card works at the register just like it does at a regular grocery store, but only for the foods SNAP covers. If you do not have a Sam's Club membership, you cannot use EBT there, membership or not.
Key Takeaways
- Sam's Club accepts SNAP EBT for fresh produce, meat, dairy, bread, and other uncooked foods, but not for prepared foods or deli items.
- You must have an active Sam's Club membership to shop there; EBT does not waive the membership requirement.
- Costco and other warehouse clubs follow the same SNAP rules as Sam's Club — EBT works only on may have access to foods.
- If you do not have a membership, you can shop at regular grocery stores, farmers markets, and some online retailers with your EBT card instead.
What foods you can and cannot buy with EBT at Sam's Club
You can buy: fresh fruits and vegetables, raw meat and poultry, fish and seafood, eggs, milk and cheese, yogurt, bread and rolls, cereal, rice, beans, peanut butter, canned vegetables and fruits (in juice or water, not syrup), frozen vegetables, nuts and seeds, and baby formula and baby food.
You cannot buy: rotisserie chicken or other hot foods from the deli, prepared salads, baked goods from the bakery counter, vitamins and supplements, pet food, paper products, cleaning supplies, alcohol, tobacco, or anything marked as non-food. If an item is ready to eat or has been prepared by the store, SNAP does not cover it.
The register will reject your EBT card if you try to buy something that is not on the SNAP list. You will have to pay with a different card or cash for those items, or leave them behind. This happens the same way at any grocery store.
Warehouse clubs that accept EBT and those that do not
Costco accepts SNAP EBT on the same foods as Sam's Club — fresh produce, meat, dairy, bread, and other uncooked groceries. Like Sam's Club, you need a Costco membership to shop there. BJ's Wholesale Club also accepts SNAP on may have access to foods and requires membership.
Some smaller warehouse clubs and discount grocers do not accept EBT at all, so call ahead if you are not sure. If you do not have a warehouse membership, you can use your EBT card at regular grocery stores, farmers markets, and some online retailers like Amazon Fresh and Instacart (in states where online SNAP is available).
How to use your EBT card at Sam's Club
Bring your EBT card to the register like you would at any other store. Tell the cashier you are paying with SNAP. They will run your card, and the system will separate your SNAP-may be able to access items from anything else you bought. You pay for the SNAP items with your EBT balance and pay for non-may be able to access items with cash or another card.
If your EBT balance is not enough to cover all your SNAP-may be able to access items, the cashier will ask you to remove items until the total fits your balance. You can then pay for the rest with another payment method if you want to keep shopping.
Membership costs and whether EBT holders get a discount
Sam's Club membership costs money — the basic membership is typically around $50 per year, though the price varies by location and changes over time. EBT does not waive or reduce the membership fee. Some states or local programs offer reduced-cost memberships for low-income people, but this is not a standard EBT benefit.
Check with your state's SNAP office or local community action agency to see whether your area has a program that helps EBT holders get warehouse memberships at a lower cost. Some nonprofits also run programs that cover membership fees for people receiving benefits, though availability is limited and varies by region.
Alternatives if you do not have a warehouse membership
Regular grocery stores, supermarkets, and discount chains like Walmart, Target, and Aldi all accept SNAP EBT and do not require membership. Farmers markets in most states accept EBT, and some offer matching programs where your EBT dollar is matched with extra money to spend on produce. Food co-ops and community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs also accept EBT in many places.
If you live in a state that allows online SNAP purchases, you can use your EBT card on Amazon Fresh, Instacart, or Walmart.com to buy groceries and have them delivered. Check your state's SNAP website to see whether online ordering is available where you live.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my EBT card to pay for a Sam's Club membership?
No. EBT covers only food purchases, not membership fees or other services. You must pay for a Sam's Club membership with cash, a debit card, or a credit card.
What happens if I try to buy a non-food item with my EBT card at Sam's Club?
The register will decline your EBT card for that item. You will need to pay with another payment method or leave the item behind. The cashier cannot override this — the system automatically rejects non-food purchases.
Does Costco accept EBT the same way Sam's Club does?
Yes. Costco accepts SNAP EBT on the same foods as Sam's Club — fresh produce, meat, dairy, bread, and other uncooked groceries. You still need a Costco membership to shop there.
Can I use EBT to buy bulk items at a warehouse club to save money?
Yes, if the bulk items are SNAP-may be able to access foods. Buying fresh produce, meat, or dairy in bulk can stretch your EBT balance further, but you need a membership first. If membership cost is a barrier, look for regular grocery stores with bulk sections or farmers markets in your area.