Costco Executive membership: early hours and is it worth it?
Executive members can shop from 9 a.m. on weekdays at most U.S. warehouses, an hour before other members. The membership costs $130 a year, $65 more than Gold Star, and pays 2% back on most purchases. Enter your spending to see if it's worth it for you.
Gold Star
Executive
What time can Executive members shop?
At most U.S. warehouses, Executive members can get in at 9 a.m. on weekdays, an hour before Gold Star and Business members, who can shop from 10 a.m.. Costco began enforcing the early hour on September 1, 2025, so non-Executive members may be turned away before 10 a.m..
Weekend early hours are reported differently from place to place, and Costco itself only says early hours "may be available" at your local warehouse. Check your warehouse's page on Costco.com for its exact times, and see holiday closures for the days it's shut.
How much does Executive membership cost?
| Gold Star | Executive | |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly fee | $65 | $130 |
| 2% reward | No | Yes, up to $1,250 a year |
| Early shopping hour | No | Yes, at most warehouses |
| Pays for itself above | n/a | $271/mo |
Upgrading partway through the year costs the extra $65, prorated for the months left on your membership. If you change your mind, you can get the upgrade fee back, minus any reward you've earned; see should I downgrade?
How the math works
Gold Star costs $65 a year. Executive costs $130 a year, so the upgrade is an extra $65. In return, Executive members get back 2% of their qualifying purchases as a yearly reward, up to $1,250.
The upgrade pays for itself once your reward reaches $65. At 2%, that takes $3,250 of qualifying spending a year, or about $271 a month. Every dollar you spend past that point is money in your pocket.
The reward stops growing at $1,250, which you hit at $62,500 of qualifying spending a year.
Results at common spending levels
| Monthly spend | 2% reward / yr | Executive net cost | Better choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| $100 | $24 | $106 | Gold Star, by $41 |
| $200 | $48 | $82 | Gold Star, by $17 |
| $271 | $65 | $65 | About even |
| $300 | $72 | $58 | Executive, by $7 |
| $500 | $120 | $10 | Executive, by $55 |
| $750 | $180 | $50 ahead | Executive, by $115 |
| $1,000 | $240 | $110 ahead | Executive, by $175 |
| $2,000 | $480 | $350 ahead | Executive, by $415 |
| $5,208 | $1,250 | $1,120 ahead | Executive, by $1,185 |
Assumes all of the spending earns the reward. "Ahead" means the reward is larger than the full Executive fee.
Things the calculator doesn't count
- Other Executive perks. Executive members also get extra benefits on some Costco services. If you use those, the upgrade can be worth it below the break-even line.
- Purchases before you upgrade. Only purchases made after the upgrade earn the 2%.
- Part-year upgrades. Upgrading mid-year is charged for the months left on your current membership, so your first year's numbers will differ.
- Sales tax on the membership fee, where it applies.
Have the Costco Anywhere Visa? See how the card's cash back adds to the Executive reward in our Costco credit card calculator.
All Executive membership perks
- 2% reward on qualifying purchases, up to $1,250 a year. See the 2% reward, explained.
- Early shopping hour on weekdays at most warehouses.
- Costco Travel: extra value on select destinations, cruises, hotels and rental cars.
- Insurance extras: roadside assistance on auto insurance, glass repair and lockout help on home insurance, and extra savings on life insurance.
- Costco Auto Program and RV buying through Camping World: extra value on select deals.
- Home services: moving and storage through PODS, and 20% off junk removal.
- Pets: pet telehealth and pet insurance with a lost-pet service.
- For business owners: waived application and monthly statement fees on payment processing, and up to 5% off Level Funded Advantage for eligible employers.
From Costco's Executive membership page, checked October 12, 2026. Costco changes these partner offers from time to time.
Common questions
What time does Costco open for Executive members?
At 9 a.m. on weekdays at most U.S. warehouses, an hour before other members. Weekend times vary, so check your warehouse's page.
Can Gold Star members shop during the early hour?
No. Since September 1, 2025, the early hour is for Executive members only, and warehouses may turn other members away until 10 a.m..
How much do I need to spend for Executive to be worth it?
About $271 a month, or $3,250 a year, on purchases that earn the reward. Below that, Gold Star costs less.
Is there a limit on the 2% reward?
Yes. The reward is capped at $1,250 a year.
Does everything I buy earn the reward?
No. In the U.S., Costco's terms exclude gas, cigarettes and tobacco, Costco Shop Cards, food court purchases, cell phones and service plans, membership fees, and sales tax and shipping. The list can change, so check Costco's Executive reward terms, and enter excluded spending in the second box above.
Where do these numbers come from?
From Costco's published U.S. membership fees and reward terms, last checked October 12, 2026. The early-hour times come from news reports, because Costco's own hours page doesn't list them. See how we check our numbers.