Renewing is $60/year for Club and $120/year for Plus after the May 2026 price increase. But adults 50 and older who haven’t been members in the last 6 months can join or rejoin for just $20. And whether you’re new or renewing, the single most important step is one most people never take: turning off auto-renew the same day you join.
Sam’s Club raised membership fees by $10 per tier on May 1, 2026 β the first increase since 2022. Club membership is now $60/year (was $50) and Plus is now $120/year (was $110). The increase was emailed to current members and applies to all renewals after May 1. The Sam’s Club Plus rewards cap also increased from $500 to $750/year in Sam’s Cash as part of the change. The good news: the senior discount of $20 first year for Club members 50 and older was confirmed to remain in place at the new pricing.
The first thing: the auto-renew feature is turned on by default for every Sam’s Club membership. That means your credit card is charged automatically on your renewal date every year without any warning email or notice β unless you’ve turned it off. The second thing: if you’re 50 or older and haven’t been a member in the past six months, rejoining instead of renewing could save you $40 on the Club tier. The renewal process is fast and easy β this guide makes sure you do it in the right order and for the right price.
All prices reflect the May 2026 increase. Renewal rates match the standard annual fee. Senior rates apply only to new members (or those who haven’t been members in 6 months) aged 50 and over.
| Membership Tier | Standard Renewal Price | Senior New-Member Price (50+) | What You Get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Club (Basic) MOST COMMON | $60/yearUp from $50 β effective May 1, 2026 | $20/first year67% off Β· Must be 50+, new member, verify via ID.me | All member-in-club pricing Β· Scan & Go Β· Curbside pickup ($4 fee) Β· Gas member pricing Β· Free tire installation Β· Optical, pharmacy, hearing |
| Plus (Premium) BEST FOR HEAVY SHOPPERS | $120/yearUp from $110 β effective May 1, 2026 | $60/first year50% off Β· Must be 50+, new member, verify via ID.me | Everything in Club + 2% Sam’s Cash on qualifying purchases (up to $750/year) Β· Free same-day delivery on orders $50+ Β· Early shopping hours Β· 600+ generic prescriptions $10 or less (10 free per year) |
| Retention Pricing (Unadvertised) EXISTING MEMBERS | $25β$35 reportedCall before renewal date and ask about retention pricing | N/A β available to existing members only | Not posted anywhere β requires a phone call Β· Reported successfully by many members who called 1-888-746-7726 and mentioned considering canceling before their renewal |
When you join or renew Sam’s Club β online, in the app, or in store β auto-renew is turned on by default. The official Sam’s Club auto-renew terms state: “You agree that Sam’s Club may automatically charge your designated payment method for full membership price annually until you cancel.” There is no mandatory reminder before your card is charged. The single most important action for any member: turn off auto-renew the same day you join or renew. Log in to samsclub.com β Account Information β Membership Settings β Auto-Renew β toggle off. Or call 1-888-746-7726. You keep your full membership through the expiration date either way β turning off auto-renew does not cancel your current membership.
The most-searched questions about Sam’s Club renewal β every one answered plainly with what’s actually true right now.
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How do I renew my Sam’s Club membership? Three ways: (1) Online at samsclub.com β sign in β Account β Manage Memberships β Renew Β· (2) Sam’s Club app β tap your account β Membership β Renew Β· (3) In person at the Membership Desk at any Sam’s Club Β· You can also use accrued Sam’s Cash to pay for renewalThe online renewal takes about two minutes. Sign in at samsclub.com, click your account icon, go to Account Information, then Manage Memberships β your renewal date and current tier are displayed there along with a Renew button. You can pay with any card on file, add a new card, or apply accumulated Sam’s Cash to reduce the renewal cost. If you’ve been earning 2% back on Plus purchases, that Sam’s Cash can offset part or all of the renewal fee. The app process is identical β tap your account circle in the top right, tap Membership, and select Renew. In-store renewal is available at the Membership Desk at any Sam’s Club location, typically near the entrance. Bring your current membership card. One important note: if your membership is within 30 days of expiration, you’ll see a proactive renewal prompt when you check out β you can complete it at any register, not just the Membership Desk.
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Is Sam’s Club membership automatically renewed? Yes β auto-renew is turned on by default for every membership Β· Your payment method is charged on your renewal anniversary date without a separate reminder Β· You must opt out manually to stop it Β· Turn it off: samsclub.com β Account Information β Membership Settings β Auto-RenewSam’s Club auto-renew operates in the background from the moment you join. On your annual renewal date, the card associated with your account is charged the full current membership price β $60 for Club, $120 for Plus β without any advance notice beyond general terms. This is the number one complaint in Sam’s Club member reviews, particularly among seniors who joined at a promotional or discounted first-year price and were surprised by the full renewal charge. The resolution is straightforward but requires action on your part. After joining or renewing, go directly to Account Information in your samsclub.com account, find Membership Settings, and toggle auto-renew off. You will still have your membership through your current expiration date β the toggle does not end anything early. It simply means you’ll receive an email when it’s time to renew and you can choose whether to continue. If you prefer handling it by phone, 1-888-746-7726 can disable auto-renew immediately.
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Can I renew my Sam’s Club membership for $25 or $20? $20 is for new seniors 50+ who haven’t been a member in the past 6 months β it’s a join price, not a renewal price Β· The $25 figure comes from reported retention deals: call 1-888-746-7726 before your renewal date and ask about retention pricing Β· Standard renewal is $60 for Club, $120 for PlusThe $20 price is the Sam’s Club senior new-member rate β available to people 50 and older who are genuinely joining for the first time or haven’t had an active membership in over six months. It’s verified through ID.me during the sign-up process. The $25 figure comes from a different route entirely: existing members who call customer service before their renewal date and express interest in canceling. Sam’s Club’s retention team has discretion to offer discounted renewal rates β most commonly $25β$35 for the Club tier β to customers who are considering leaving rather than paying the standard $60. This is entirely unadvertised and not guaranteed, but it’s reported as a real and repeatable outcome by many members. The earlier you call relative to your renewal date, the more negotiating room exists. If you call the week your membership expires, you’re less likely to receive a meaningful offer than if you call 30β60 days out. Your expiration date is shown in your account at samsclub.com β set a calendar reminder to call 45 days before that date.
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What is the Sam’s Club senior discount on membership? Adults 50 and older can join for $20 first year (Club) or $60 first year (Plus) Β· That’s 67% off Club and 50% off Plus Β· Verified through ID.me online β takes 5 minutes Β· New member only (no active membership in past 6 months) Β· Sam’s Club is the only major U.S. warehouse club with an age-based membership discountThe Sam’s Club senior discount is a formal, permanent program β not a limited-time promotion. Adults age 50 and older who qualify as new members receive 67% off the Club membership ($20 for the first year versus the standard $60) or 50% off Plus ($60 versus the standard $120). Verification requires a quick ID.me identity check during the online sign-up process β you’ll be redirected from Sam’s Club’s website to confirm your age, which typically takes about five minutes with a government-issued ID. The discount applies to the first year only. At renewal, you’ll be automatically billed at the full standard rate unless you take action. The two actions worth taking immediately after joining with the senior rate: turn off auto-renew in your account settings, and note your renewal date so you can decide whether to call for a retention offer or use the rejoin strategy again. Costco and BJ’s Wholesale do not offer any age-based membership discounts β making Sam’s Club the only major warehouse club where being 50+ saves money on the membership itself.
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How do I renew my expired Sam’s Club membership? Same process as a standard renewal: online at samsclub.com, in the app, or at any Membership Desk Β· If expired within the past 6 months: still counts as a prior member, must pay standard renewal rate Β· If expired more than 6 months ago: eligible for new-member promotions including the senior discount if you’re 50+An expired membership can be renewed any time after it lapses β there’s no penalty for letting it expire and no wait period if you want to reactivate immediately. Sign in to your existing samsclub.com account and you’ll see a “Renew” prompt, or visit the Membership Desk in any Sam’s Club store. The six-month window matters specifically for the senior new-member discount: Sam’s Club defines “new member” as someone without an active membership in the prior six months. If your membership lapsed less than six months ago, you pay the standard renewal rate. If it lapsed more than six months ago, you’re eligible for new-member pricing β including the $20 senior rate if you’re 50+. This is an important distinction that Sam’s Club doesn’t publicize. Some members who let their membership lapse deliberately (after using the retention call strategy or after their first senior discount year) wait the full six months before rejoining at the new-member price, effectively cycling between the discounted entry rate and the standard retention offer.
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Is Sam’s Club Plus membership worth it β or is Club enough? Plus ($120/year) pays for itself if you spend roughly $3,000/year on qualifying in-club purchases Β· The 2% Sam’s Cash breaks even at $3,000 in spending ($60 back = $60 upgrade cost difference) Β· For seniors specifically: free generic prescriptions and early shopping hours are often more valuable than cash backThe honest math: Plus costs $60 more per year than Club. You earn 2% back on qualifying in-club purchases, up to $750/year in Sam’s Cash. To earn $60 back from the 2% cash back β enough to offset the upgrade cost β you’d need to spend $3,000 per year on qualifying in-club purchases. For a household that shops at Sam’s Club regularly and buys a range of groceries, household goods, and bulk items, $3,000/year is easy to reach. For a single person making occasional trips, it may not be. Beyond the cash back, Plus includes free same-day delivery on orders over $50 (Club pays $4 per delivery order), early access shopping hours (typically 8β10 AM vs. the 10 AM standard opening), and access to 600+ generic medications priced at $10 or less β 10 of which are provided free per year to Plus members. For anyone taking even two regular generic prescriptions per month, the pharmacy benefit alone can save more than the entire Plus upgrade cost. Compare your actual prescriptions at the Sam’s Club pharmacy counter before deciding on your membership tier.
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Can I cancel my Sam’s Club membership and get a refund? Yes β Sam’s Club offers a “100% Satisfaction Guarantee” Β· Full refund available any time during your membership year if you’re not satisfied Β· Refund covers unused portion of the membership Β· Cancel in person at the Membership Desk or call 1-888-746-7726 Β· Online cancellation is not currently availableSam’s Club’s 100% Satisfaction Guarantee on membership is genuine β you can cancel your membership at any point during the year and receive a full refund of your membership fee. This is one of Sam’s Club’s most important but least-publicized consumer protections. The refund is prorated based on the unused portion of your membership in some cases, and in other cases it may be the full annual fee depending on timing and circumstances β call to confirm what applies to your situation. Cancel at the Membership Desk in any Sam’s Club (the fastest method, typically takes under 10 minutes) or by calling 1-888-746-7726. Online-only cancellation through the website is not available as of mid-2026 β you’ll be directed to call or visit in person. This policy has practical value if you joined during a promotional period and want to strategically time your cancel-and-rejoin cycle to qualify for new-member pricing. Just be aware that doing this repeatedly may flag your account for reduced eligibility in future promotions.
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What’s the best way to save on Sam’s Club membership renewal as a current member? Step 1: Call 1-888-746-7726 about 45 days before your renewal date Β· Tell them you’re considering not renewing Β· Ask about retention pricing Β· Many members report receiving $25β$35 renewal offers Β· Step 2: Use accumulated Sam’s Cash from Plus to pay for renewal Β· Step 3: Check for online promo codes at deal sites before renewing onlineThe retention call is the most reliable lever available to current members. The key timing: call the retention line at 1-888-746-7726 roughly 30β60 days before your renewal date, not after it. Tell the representative you’ve been happy with your membership but are reconsidering the renewal at the current price. Ask specifically whether any loyalty or retention pricing is available. Many members β particularly those who’ve been members for multiple years β report receiving $25β$35 renewal offers for the Club tier through this method. It doesn’t always work, and it’s never guaranteed, but the worst outcome of the call is you pay the standard price. The second option: if you have Plus membership and have been earning 2% Sam’s Cash throughout the year, that balance applies directly toward your renewal. A heavy Plus shopper can easily accumulate $50β$100 in Sam’s Cash that can fully or partially cover renewal. Third: deal-tracking sites like RetailMeNot and Honey sometimes list active Sam’s Club membership promo codes during major sale events β worth checking before you pay full price online.
Use the buttons below to find the nearest Sam’s Club location, Membership Desk, or fuel center near you. In-person renewal and cancellations are handled at the Membership Desk β usually near the store entrance.
- Step 1 (if you’re 50+ and haven’t been a member in 6+ months): Don’t renew β join fresh using the senior discount path at samsclub.com. The $20 (Club) or $60 (Plus) first-year rate saves $40β$60 versus standard renewal pricing.
- Step 2 (current members before renewing): Call 1-888-746-7726 about 45 days before your expiration date. Ask the representative about any loyalty or retention pricing available. Many members receive $25β$35 offers this way. If it works, you save $25β$35 over paying online. If it doesn’t, you’re exactly where you started.
- Step 3 (once you decide to renew): Check your Sam’s Cash balance before paying. If you’re a Plus member with 2% cash back accumulated, apply it toward the renewal cost to reduce what comes out of pocket.
- Step 4 (immediately after renewing): Log in to samsclub.com, go to Account Information, find Membership Settings, and turn off auto-renew. This prevents an unwanted charge next year. Your membership is fully active β turning this off does not cancel anything, it just stops the automatic charge.
- Step 5 (for Plus members): Visit the Sam’s Club pharmacy within your first 30 days and ask about the RxSavings generic prescription program. For anyone on regular medications, this benefit frequently pays for the entire Plus upgrade cost within the first few months.
Sam’s Club membership prices, senior discount eligibility, auto-renew policies, and benefit details are set by Walmart Inc. and subject to change. All information in this guide reflects current pricing and policies as of mid-2026, including the May 2026 price increase. The $20 and $60 senior new-member rates are first-year discounts for members 50 and older with no active membership in the past 6 months. Retention pricing offers are unadvertised and not guaranteed. Always verify current terms directly at samsclub.com or by calling 1-888-746-7726. This page has no affiliation with Sam’s Club, Walmart, or any of their subsidiaries.