Most people assume a big-box retailer either takes cash everywhere or nowhere. Costco doesn’t fit either category. In our walk-throughs of multiple warehouse locations, cash works fine at a staffed register — but if you head straight to self-checkout, pull up to the gas pump, or tap a food court kiosk without a card, you’ll be turned away. The line between where cash works and where it doesn’t is drawn by the type of register, not by Costco’s corporate policy.
Key Answers — What Most People Need to Know First
Costco’s cash policy has more nuance than a yes or no. Here are the most common questions, answered directly based on our visits to warehouse locations across the country.
Yes — at staffed checkout registers. All U.S. Costco warehouse locations and business center stores accept cash as a standard form of payment. In our testing at multiple stores, cash transactions at staffed registers went through without issue. The cashier will verify your Costco membership card and ID before processing a cash payment. One thing to note: large bills (like $100s) are accepted but cashiers may verify them with a counterfeit detection pen, which is standard retail practice.
No. Costco’s self-checkout lanes do not have cash drawers or bill acceptors. If you want to pay with cash, you must use a staffed register — no exceptions. This is one of the most common points of confusion we’ve heard from members, especially those who encounter self-checkout for the first time. If you’re unsure which lanes are staffed, ask a door greeter or look for lanes with an active employee at the terminal. Costco has been expanding self-checkout at select locations as part of its automated pay station pilot, and those new stations are also card-only.
No. Costco gas pumps do not accept cash or checks. The pumps accept Visa credit cards, most PIN-based debit cards, Apple Pay (with a Visa), and Costco Shop Cards. If you want to use cash for gas, the most practical workaround is to buy a Costco Shop Card inside the warehouse first — pay for it with your cash at a staffed register — then use that Shop Card at the pump. The pump reads it like a debit card.
It depends on how you order. If you walk up to a staffed food court counter, cash is accepted in most locations. However, if your Costco has self-service food court kiosks — the touch-screen ordering stations Costco has been rolling out — those kiosks are card-only. We found this creates real confusion because some locations have both a staffed counter and kiosks side by side. When in doubt, go to the counter with an employee and ask to pay with cash there. Also note: Costco now requires an active membership card at most food courts, so have your card ready regardless of how you pay.
No. Online purchases through Costco.com require a card or Costco Shop Card. Cash has never been a payment option on the website. If you prefer to pay with cash for online-style shopping, the workaround is to purchase a Costco Shop Card at the warehouse with your cash, then use that Shop Card balance to shop on Costco.com — it works exactly like a prepaid card on the website.
Yes. New memberships and renewals can be paid with cash at any Costco membership counter or at the checkout register when renewing. This is useful for people who prefer not to put recurring membership fees on a card. The membership counter is typically located near the entrance of the warehouse. You’ll need a valid government-issued photo ID to sign up or renew in person.
Yes — most Costco warehouse locations have an ATM inside or very near the entrance. These are typically Cardtronics or similar network ATMs. Standard ATM fees apply depending on your bank. If you arrive at Costco with only a card that isn’t accepted there (like a Mastercard or Amex credit card), the ATM lets you withdraw cash to pay for your purchases at a staffed register. Some members use this route regularly to pay for large Costco hauls without needing a Visa credit card.
Yes — personal and business checks are accepted at staffed warehouse registers. Personal checks require a valid government-issued photo ID and proof of your active Costco membership. Business checks require your membership card plus a business license or equivalent business identification. Traveler’s checks are also accepted. Checks are not accepted at the gas pump, self-checkout, or on Costco.com. If your check bounces, Costco will report it — they use an electronic check verification system at the register.
Where Cash Works — and Where It Doesn’t
Five different places to pay inside or around a Costco. Cash is welcome in two of them, restricted in one, and blocked in two others. Here’s the breakdown at a glance.
Full Payment Methods — Cash, Cards, and Everything Else
Every common payment method at Costco, by location. Verify with your local store before making a trip if cash is your only option.
| Payment Method | Staffed Register | Self-Checkout | Gas Pump | Food Court | Costco.com |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | ⚠️ Counter only | ❌ No |
| Personal check (members only) | ✅ Yes (with ID) | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Traveler’s checks | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Visa credit card | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Debit card (any network, PIN) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (PIN) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Mastercard credit | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Online only |
| American Express | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Costco Shop Card (gift card) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| EBT card (food-eligible items) | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Apple Pay / Google Pay (Visa only) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Some browsers |
| FSA/HSA debit card | ⚠️ Pharmacy & Optical only | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No |
Find Your Situation
Yes, but plan your route through the store before you get to the register. Head directly to a staffed checkout lane — the lanes with a cashier actively working. Skip any self-checkout lane entirely; cash will not work there. Inside the warehouse, most categories are covered: groceries, household goods, electronics, clothing, and the pharmacy all ring through on staffed registers. The one spot to watch is if you need gas on the way out — you’ll need to buy a Costco Shop Card inside the warehouse with your cash first, then use that card at the pump. One member tip we came across: let the cashier know you’re paying cash upfront so they don’t start running the loyalty card scan for a credit card reward program.
You’re fine — if your location has a staffed food court counter, cash is accepted there. Walk up to the counter where an employee is taking orders (not the touch-screen kiosk). Say you’re paying with cash and they’ll process it the traditional way. The one wrinkle: Costco now requires an active membership card at most food courts, so have that ready. If your location only has self-service kiosks and no staffed counter, you’ll need a card. In our visits to several Costco food courts, we found the staffed counter still present at the majority of locations — but newer or recently renovated stores are more likely to have kiosk-only setups.
Drive away from the pump and park. Go inside the warehouse to the nearest staffed register and buy a Costco Shop Card with your cash — these come in amounts from $25 up to $500 and reload in any denomination. Then go back to the pump. Insert the Shop Card when prompted, enter the amount you want to pump if it asks, and fill up. The pump reads it like a prepaid debit card. Your remaining balance stays on the card for future visits. It’s an extra step, but it’s the cleanest solution — and members who use cash regularly often keep a Shop Card in their wallet expressly for this reason.
Yes. New memberships and annual renewals can be paid with cash at the membership desk near the warehouse entrance, or at the register when renewing during checkout. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, state ID, or passport). If you’re signing up for the first time, the desk staff will take your photo for your membership card on the spot. Gold Star membership is $65/year; Executive is $130/year. You can also renew your membership with cash when you’re checking out at a staffed register if it comes up — the cashier can handle renewals at the register.
Costco accepts both cash and EBT at staffed registers for eligible items — but you’ll typically use them in separate transactions. Ring up your SNAP-eligible food items first, pay with EBT, and then ring up non-eligible items in a second transaction paid with cash (or a card). The cashier is familiar with this split-payment approach and can help you sort items. Costco follows state SNAP guidelines on which products are eligible, so prepared hot foods and non-food items won’t go through on EBT. One practical tip: bring a rough mental list of which items are EBT-eligible before you get to the register to make the split transaction smoother and faster for you and the people behind you in line.
Costco.com doesn’t accept cash directly, but a Costco Shop Card bridges the gap. Buy a Shop Card at the warehouse with your cash — any denomination works — and then use it as your payment method at Costco.com checkout. The Shop Card appears as a payment option on the website and is treated like a gift card balance. If your order total exceeds the Shop Card balance, you can split the payment between the Shop Card and a card. Members who prefer cash budgeting often load a Shop Card with a specific amount before an online shopping run so they know exactly what they can spend.
Tips for Cash Shoppers at Costco
Costco’s checkout floor can get confusing during peak hours when some staffed lanes close and more self-checkout lanes open up. If you’ve already loaded your items onto the belt and the cashier tells you cash isn’t available, you’re stuck waiting for a re-route. In our experience, the fastest move is to ask a floor employee or door greeter which lanes have a cashier before you wheel your cart over. At busy warehouses — especially on weekends — staffed lanes can stretch to 15 or 20 people, but the wait for self-checkout with a Costco-sized cart is often longer anyway.
If you shop at Costco regularly with cash, keeping a preloaded Costco Shop Card in your wallet is the single most useful habit you can build. It works at every register type — staffed, self-checkout, food court kiosk, gas pump, and Costco.com. You can reload it any time at a staffed register with cash. There’s no fee to buy or reload one, and unused balances never expire. We’ve found members who prefer to shop “cash only” use a Shop Card as their everyday Costco wallet — they load it monthly with what they plan to spend and treat it as a zero-debt spending account.
Costco is in the middle of a significant checkout overhaul. The company is piloting “automated pay stations” — new terminals where a Costco employee pre-scans your cart while you’re in line, and you simply tap or swipe at the register when you arrive. These stations are card-only and average around 8 seconds per transaction. As these stations expand to more warehouses, the number of traditional cash-accepting staffed lanes may shrink at those locations. If you shop at the same Costco regularly and rely on cash, it’s worth asking a manager whether the store has added automated stations and whether dedicated cash lanes remain available.
Costco’s in-store ATMs run out of cash on busy weekends more often than you’d expect — high-volume days like the weekend before a major holiday can drain a machine by early afternoon. If you arrive with no cash and the ATM is out, your options are: use a debit card directly at the register (any network, with your PIN — debit doesn’t have the Visa-only restriction), go to a bank branch or pharmacy ATM nearby and return, or buy a Shop Card on Costco.com before your next trip and load it in advance. The debit card route is fastest in a pinch and works at every register type except Costco.com.
Cash acceptance information is based on Costco’s published payment policies and in-store visits at multiple U.S. warehouse locations. Food court policies and self-checkout availability vary by location — call your local Costco or visit the service desk to confirm before your trip. Automated pay station rollout information is drawn from Costco’s Q2 fiscal 2026 earnings call and retail industry reporting. Key sources: Costco.com payment help pages; Costco CFO earnings call transcript, March 2026; RetailWire automated pay station coverage. This page is independent and is not affiliated with Costco Wholesale Corporation. Payment policies may change — verify with your local store if cash is your only option.