Sam’s Club raised membership prices in May 2026 — the first increase since 2022. Whether you’re deciding whether to renew, comparing Club vs. Plus, or trying to understand what just charged your card, this guide covers everything with straight answers.
Sam’s Club sent renewal emails about a price change, but a lot of questions came with them. These answers cover what actually changed, what it means for your wallet, and what most members never think to ask.
1 How much does Sam’s Club membership renewal cost now? Club membership renewed at $60/year. Plus membership renewed at $120/year. Both went up $10 on May 1, 2026 — the first price increase since 2022. The increase applies automatically at your next renewal date; no action needed on your part. ▼
2 Does Sam’s Club auto-renew — and can you turn it off? Yes, auto-renew is turned on by default for every member who signs up with a credit or debit card. You can turn it off any time through your online account, by calling 1-888-746-7726, or in person at any Sam’s Club. Turning it off does not cancel your membership — you keep full access until your expiration date. ▼
3 Is Plus membership worth the extra $60 per year over Club? For most households that shop Sam’s Club more than a few times a year, yes. The 2% Sam’s Cash back alone covers the $60 upgrade cost once you spend $3,000 at Sam’s Club — roughly $250/month. Add free same-day delivery, early shopping hours, and pharmacy savings, and the math usually favors Plus for regular shoppers. ▼
4 What is the Sam’s Club 100% Satisfaction Guarantee on membership? It means you can cancel your membership at any time and receive a full refund of what you paid — even if you’ve been a member for 11 months. In-person cancellation at the Membership Desk returns money to your original payment method immediately. Phone cancellation refunds via eGiftCard. ▼
5 Is there a Sam’s Club senior discount on membership? Yes — for new members age 50 and older who have not had a Sam’s Club membership in the past 6 months. The senior new-member rate is approximately $20 for Club and $60 for Plus (first year only, verified via ID.me). Standard renewal rates apply after the first year. ▼
6 Can you use Sam’s Cash to pay for your membership renewal? Yes. Sam’s Cash earned through purchases can be applied toward your annual renewal cost. Plus members earn 2% back on qualifying purchases up to $750/year. If you’ve built up Sam’s Cash in your account, it offsets the renewal price dollar for dollar. ▼
7 How does Sam’s Club compare to Costco for membership cost? Sam’s Club remains slightly cheaper than Costco. Sam’s Club Club = $60/year vs. Costco Gold Star = $65/year. Sam’s Club Plus = $120/year vs. Costco Executive = $130/year. Sam’s Club and BJ’s Wholesale now match each other at exactly $60/$120 across both tiers. ▼
Two tiers, one renewal structure. Here is exactly what you get at each level and how the pricing works when your annual renewal comes due.
The Club tier is the entry-level membership that gives you access to all member-only pricing in-store and online. Your $60 annual fee covers two physical or digital membership cards — one for you and one for another adult in your household, free. In-store benefits at this tier include member-only prices on all merchandise, Scan & Go in-app checkout to skip register lines, gas station member pricing, free curbside pickup on orders of $50 or more, and Instant Savings deals throughout the year. What Club does not include that Plus adds: 2% Sam’s Cash back, free same-day delivery (Club members pay $8 per delivery), free curbside pickup without the $50 minimum, early shopping access before other members, and enhanced pharmacy and optical discounts. The Club membership makes financial sense if you shop Sam’s Club occasionally — less than $300/month on average — and do not rely on same-day delivery or prescription savings.
Plus is the comprehensive tier for households that use Sam’s Club as a primary shopping destination. On top of everything Club offers, Plus members earn 2% Sam’s Cash back on qualifying in-club purchases — up to $750 in cash back per year after the May 2026 cap increase. Same-day delivery on qualifying $50+ orders is now free (no $8 fee). Curbside pickup is free with no minimum order requirement. Plus members also gain early shopping access before regular club hours — typically one hour earlier — which matters for anyone who wants first pick of limited-quantity items or simply prefers a less crowded shopping experience. The pharmacy benefit is the most underestimated value driver for Plus members: over 600 generic medications start at just a few dollars, and some prescriptions are included free. For any household spending regularly on maintenance medications, this benefit alone can cover the full $60 difference between Club and Plus pricing within the first few months of the year. Optical savings — including discounts on complete eyeglass purchases — add further value for members using Sam’s Club’s in-store optical centers.
Each Sam’s Club membership — Club or Plus — comes with one free household card for another adult. If you need additional people to have their own membership cards (family members, adult children, a business partner), each add-on card costs $55 per year. Add-on members share your membership tier and its benefits. Important billing detail: when auto-renewal processes your annual charge, it includes the primary membership fee plus the cost of any active add-on cards — all in one transaction. If you have two add-on members and did not realize it, your renewal charge will be $60 + $55 + $55 = $170 for Club, or $120 + $55 + $55 = $230 for Plus. Check your Membership Settings at samsclub.com to see how many add-on cards are active on your account before your renewal date.
The $60/year difference between Club and Plus pays for itself based on how you shop. Use this table to see exactly where that gap shows up in daily use.
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| Feature | Club — $60/yr | Plus — $120/yr |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Renewal Cost | $60/year | $120/year |
| Household Card Included | 1 free ✓ | 1 free ✓ |
| Members-Only Pricing | Yes ✓ | Yes ✓ |
| Scan & Go App Checkout | Yes ✓ | Yes ✓ |
| Gas Station Member Pricing | Yes ✓ | Yes ✓ |
| Curbside Pickup | Free on $50+ orders ⚠ | Free, no minimum ✓ |
| Same-Day Delivery | $8 per delivery ✗ | Free on $50+ orders ✓ |
| 2% Sam’s Cash Rewards | Not included ✗ | Up to $750/year ✓ |
| Early Shopping Access | No ✗ | 1 hour early ✓ |
| Pharmacy Discounts | Standard member savings ⚠ | 600+ generics from a few dollars ✓ |
| Optical Savings | Standard ⚠ | Enhanced — 50% off additional pairs ✓ |
| Break-Even Spending | N/A | $3,000/year in qualifying purchases ✓ |
| Satisfaction Guarantee | Full refund anytime ✓ | Full refund anytime ✓ |
Sam’s Cash earnings require Plus membership and apply to qualifying in-club purchases only. Early access hours vary by location. Pharmacy and optical terms and availability vary by store. Verify current benefits at samsclub.com before making membership decisions.
Auto-renewal is the most common source of surprise charges and frustration with Sam’s Club membership. Here is exactly what happens and every way to manage it.
When you join Sam’s Club, you authorize annual automatic billing until you cancel. The charge hits one day before your membership expiration date. With the May 2026 price increase now in effect, members whose renewal falls after May 1 will see $60 (Club) or $120 (Plus) charged — $10 more than prior years. The charge also includes any active add-on membership cards at $55 each. Many members discover the add-on charge only when reviewing their bank statement. Log in to samsclub.com → Account → Membership Settings to see exactly who is on your account and what your total renewal will be before the charge processes.
Log in at samsclub.com. Click your name or account icon in the top right. Select Account Information or Membership Settings. Find the Auto-Renew toggle and switch it off. You will receive a confirmation. Your membership remains fully active until the expiration date — turning off auto-renew does not cancel anything. You simply will not be charged again automatically. When your expiration approaches, you will need to manually renew if you want to continue. This is the recommended approach for anyone who wants to control the timing and method of renewal each year.
Call 1-888-746-7726 — the Sam’s Club Membership Services line — and ask them to remove auto-renewal from your account. Alternatively, visit the Membership Desk at any Sam’s Club location and make the same request in person. Both methods take a few minutes and result in the same outcome: no automatic charge on your renewal date. Important note for members who pay through the Sam’s Club Credit Card: if your membership auto-bills through the Sam’s Club credit account specifically, you may also need to contact Synchrony Bank (the card issuer) separately to unenroll from automatic billing through that account, per Sam’s Club’s own terms and conditions.
Many financial advisors and frugal-living writers recommend this two-step habit for warehouse club memberships: renew, then immediately turn off auto-renew. Your membership is fully active for the year. Twelve months later, you will need to make a conscious decision to renew — which forces a brief evaluation of whether the membership delivered value that year. This prevents indefinite automatic renewal at whatever price Sam’s Club sets in the future and keeps you in control of the charge. It takes less than two minutes and saves real money if your shopping patterns ever change.
A discounted membership exists for people 50 and older, but the specifics matter. Here is exactly who qualifies, what the discount actually is, and the one caveat most people miss.
Sam’s Club offers a first-year discount for adults 50 and older who are new members or returning members with a gap of at least 6 months. The discounted rate for new senior members is approximately $20 for Club (versus the standard $60) and $60 for Plus (versus the standard $120). Verification is done through ID.me during online signup — the process involves confirming your age and typically takes a few minutes. This is a new-member price, not a renewal rate. After the first discounted year, the account automatically renews at the standard annual price unless a retention offer is secured by calling Sam’s Club before renewal.
Current members who are 50 or older cannot access the $20 or $60 senior rate by simply asking at renewal time. The discount is for new or returning members only, with the 6-month lapse requirement for returning members. If you are already a member and hit a birthday that makes you 50, your renewal price is still $60 or $120 at the standard rate. The only official path to senior pricing for an active member would be canceling, letting the membership lapse for 6 months, and rejoining at the senior new-member rate — which means 6 months without access, which most regular Sam’s Club shoppers would not find worthwhile.
- Retention call before renewal: call 1-888-746-7726 about 45 days before your renewal date, mention that you are considering not renewing due to the price increase, and ask whether any renewal discount is available. Sam’s Club representatives sometimes offer $25–$35 renewal credits to members who express intent to cancel. This is not guaranteed, but it costs nothing to ask and has worked for many members.
- Apply Sam’s Cash toward renewal: Plus members who have accumulated Sam’s Cash through qualifying purchases can apply that balance directly to their renewal cost, effectively reducing out-of-pocket renewal expense.
- Evaluate whether Plus pharmacy savings offset the cost: for seniors on regular prescriptions, Sam’s Club Plus generic medication pricing can deliver $200–$400+ in annual savings versus retail pharmacy prices, making the $120 Plus renewal a very strong value regardless of the base price.
The right renewal decision depends on how much you shop, what you use, and what changed in the past year. Here are the most common situations people are actually searching for.
Nothing, if you want your membership to continue. The price increase applies automatically at your next renewal date after May 1, 2026. You will be charged $60 (Club) or $120 (Plus) rather than the prior rate. No action is required to stay a member. If you want to do something: log in and verify that auto-renew is still set to the payment method you prefer, confirm there are no unexpected add-on cards on your account, and decide whether your membership tier still matches how you actually shop. That is the full to-do list.
Run the math for your household first. Pull up your Sam’s Club purchase history for the past 12 months — it is available in your account online. If you spent $3,000 or more, the 2% Sam’s Cash back from Plus would have earned you $60 — enough to completely offset the upgrade cost. If you spent $6,000 or more, Plus would have netted you $120 in cash back, covering the entire Plus membership cost. Add in any same-day delivery fees you paid as a Club member ($8 each), and every saved delivery fee further tilts the math toward Plus. For households doing major grocery and household supply shopping at Sam’s Club, the upgrade frequently pays for itself within the first quarter of the year.
Almost certainly yes if you are actively using the pharmacy benefit. Sam’s Club Plus pharmacy pricing on generics — over 600 medications starting at a few dollars — can generate $200–$500 in annual savings versus retail pharmacy prices for a member on several common maintenance medications (blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes management). If your annual medication spend at Sam’s Club Plus rates is $200 less than what you would pay at a retail pharmacy, your $120 Plus membership is net positive by $80. Ask at the Sam’s Club pharmacy for a price comparison on your specific medications if you want a concrete number before renewal.
Act quickly. Sam’s Club’s satisfaction guarantee allows a full refund of the membership fee, but you need to move within the right window. Call 1-888-746-7726 within 30 days of the charge and explain that you did not intend to renew. Alternatively, visit the Membership Desk at any Sam’s Club for a faster in-person resolution and a direct refund to your payment method. If you receive a refund, your membership access ends immediately unless you choose to re-enroll. For future prevention, turn off auto-renew in your account settings once your current membership is confirmed active.
You can downgrade anytime — not just at renewal. Visit the Membership Desk or call 1-888-746-7726. If you downgrade before your renewal date, you will receive a prorated refund for the unused portion of the Plus upgrade cost. One limit applies: Sam’s Club allows one downgrade refund per household per year. The refund from a mid-year downgrade goes to your original payment method if done in person, or as a Sam’s Club eGiftCard if done by phone. Going forward, your renewal will be at the Club rate of $60/year rather than the Plus rate of $120.
These strategies are legitimate, confirmed, and do not require waiting in line or arguing with customer service.
Call 1-888-746-7726 about 30–45 days before your renewal date. Tell the representative that you are considering not renewing because of the price increase. Ask whether any renewal discount or credit is available. Members frequently report receiving $25–$35 credits applied to their renewal. This is not advertised and not guaranteed — but it costs nothing to ask and the call takes about 10 minutes. The key is calling before you renew, not after. Representatives have no leverage after the charge has processed.
Plus members who earn Sam’s Cash through qualifying purchases can apply their accumulated balance directly to the renewal charge. If you have been shopping regularly at Sam’s Club and earned $60 or more in Sam’s Cash, your Club membership renewal costs you nothing in new out-of-pocket spending. At $120 in Sam’s Cash, the Plus renewal is covered. Check your balance under Account → Sam’s Cash in the app or online, and apply it at renewal checkout.
Sam’s Club periodically runs discounted membership offers — both for new members and sometimes for returning members. Promotions like $25 Club memberships or $55 Plus memberships for new members have been confirmed as recently as summer 2026. These offers do not apply to renewal of an active membership, but if your membership has lapsed, you may be able to rejoin at a promotional rate. Check samsclub.com/join or third-party deal sites like Slickdeals and RetailMeNot before paying standard renewal pricing, particularly if you have a gap in membership status.
Add-on membership cards for extra household members cost $55 each and are included in your auto-renewal charge. If anyone on your account is no longer actively using Sam’s Club, removing them before your renewal date reduces the total charge by $55 per card. Log in, go to Account → Membership Settings, and review active add-on members. Removing an add-on card that is not being used is free and immediate — and the savings add up over multiple renewal cycles.
Before a price increase takes effect, Sam’s Club members can renew early — sometimes well before their actual expiration date — and lock in the current annual price for another full year. Members who knew about the May 2026 price increase renewed in March or April 2026 at the old $50/$110 rates and extended their memberships to 2027 at the lower price. Sam’s Club allows early renewal from the Account Management section online. This tip is most useful when a price increase has been announced but not yet implemented — if another increase is announced in the future, early renewal is worth doing the same day you hear about it.
Sam’s Club’s cancellation process is straightforward — and the satisfaction guarantee makes it less permanent than most people assume. Here is exactly how each path works.
Walk into any Sam’s Club location and go directly to the Membership Desk. Tell the associate you want to cancel your membership and receive a refund under the 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Bring a photo ID. The refund goes back to your original payment method — credit card or bank account — and is typically processed within a few business days. Your membership access ends at the time of cancellation if you accept the refund. This is the recommended method if you want your money back to your original card rather than as a gift card.
Call 1-888-746-7726 and ask to cancel your membership. The representative will process the cancellation and issue a refund in the form of a Sam’s Club eGiftCard — redeemable at Sam’s Club stores, SamsClub.com, Walmart stores, and Walmart.com. The eGiftCard is emailed to your account email address. If you want a direct payment method refund rather than a gift card, the phone cancellation does not accomplish that — you would need to go in person instead. Phone cancellation is convenient but the refund format is less flexible.
Sam’s Club’s 100% Satisfaction Guarantee covers the full membership fee for Club memberships at any point during the year. For Plus memberships, refunds may be prorated based on the portion of the year remaining — meaning if you cancel halfway through, you may receive roughly half the Plus fee back. Contact Sam’s Club to confirm the exact refund amount before canceling if you want a precise figure. One important note: if you have already made purchases using Plus-exclusive benefits (like same-day delivery credits or Sam’s Cash redemptions), this may affect the refund calculation. In practice, most members who cancel receive the refund they expect — the guarantee is genuine.
If you were charged for a renewal after canceling or after clearly opting out of auto-renew, contact Sam’s Club customer service within 30 days of the charge at 1-888-746-7726. Explain the situation and request a refund, providing any confirmation of prior cancellation (email confirmations, chat logs, or the date of your in-person cancellation). If Sam’s Club declines the refund and you believe the charge was unauthorized, you can dispute it with your bank or credit card issuer — most issuers accept disputes within 60 days of the statement date for billing errors. Document everything before calling your bank.
Q If I renew my Sam’s Club membership early, does my expiration date extend or reset? It extends from your current expiration date — it does not reset from today. If your membership expires in September and you renew in June, your new expiration is September of the following year, not June of next year. You don’t lose any remaining months by renewing early. ▼
Q Can my household card holder renew or manage the membership? No — the household (complimentary) cardholder cannot renew, cancel, or make account changes. Only the primary member controls the account. The household card holder can shop and use membership benefits, but all account management requires the primary member’s login. ▼
Q Does Sam’s Club membership work if I move to a new state? Yes — your Sam’s Club membership is valid at all Sam’s Club locations nationwide. There is no home-club restriction. You can shop at any Sam’s Club in the country without transferring your membership or paying anything extra. ▼
Q What happens to my Sam’s Cash if I cancel my membership? Sam’s Cash is forfeited when your Plus membership ends. Redeem or cash out your accumulated Sam’s Cash balance before canceling — visit Member Services at any Sam’s Club to convert your balance to a payment or apply it to a final purchase before your membership closes. ▼
BudgetSeniors.com™ | This guide reflects Sam’s Club membership pricing and policies as of mid-2026, including the May 2026 price increase. All membership fees, benefits, renewal terms, refund policies, and discount eligibility are set by Walmart Inc. and subject to change without notice. The $20 and $60 senior new-member rates are first-year promotional pricing for eligible new members 50 and older; standard renewal rates apply thereafter. Verify current pricing, benefits, and policies at samsclub.com or by calling 1-888-746-7726 before making membership decisions. BudgetSeniors.com™ is not affiliated with Sam’s Club, Walmart Inc., or any related entity.