Costco Black Friday 2026

Costco’s Black Friday sale for 2026 is expected to run Nov. 27 to 30, with every warehouse closed on Thanksgiving Day and online-only deals that day. You need a membership to shop the warehouse, and Gold Star costs $65 a year. Whether that fee pays off depends on how much you plan to buy.

Published November 8, 2026.

I keep a household budget, and I’ve hunted for sales for years. So when people ask me about Costco on Black Friday, I start with a question: do you already shop there? If you do, the sale is a bonus. If you don’t, the sale alone is a shaky reason to join. Here is how the event works, what to expect, and when the math actually favors you. For the bigger picture, our store-by-store Black Friday guide covers the other chains too.

When is the Costco Black Friday sale in 2026?

Here is the honest answer as of today. The Black Friday page on Costco’s own site, which I read this morning, shows no 2026 dates. All you get is the list of product groups in the sale and a “While Supplies Last” note. That is all.

The fan site Costco Guides, updated Nov. 7, says it takes its dates from Costco’s holiday ad. On that list, the Black Friday sale runs Nov. 27 to 30, with online-only deals on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 26) and online-only Cyber Monday deals on Nov. 30. Treat those dates as likely, not final, until Costco prints its own. Black Friday itself falls on Nov. 27 this year, and our guide to when Black Friday 2026 starts lines up the full calendar.

Last year gives a good picture of the pattern. ConsumerAffairs reported on Oct. 27, 2025 that Costco released its ad early, with deals starting Oct. 31. Then came three waves of savings, with online-only deals on Thanksgiving Day and Cyber Monday.

My take: the waves are the whole story. Costco does not save everything for one Friday. Plenty of good items show up in the early waves, and some are gone before Thanksgiving. This suits patient people who make a list in early November. It does not suit the shopper who wants one big morning and one big win.

Do you need a membership for Costco Black Friday?

For the warehouse, yes. Costco sells to members, and most warehouses will not let you shop without a card. Online is a little looser. The Motley Fool reports that non-members can buy on Costco.com but pay a 5% surcharge over the posted prices.

Executive membership is $130 a year, sold as a $65 upgrade for Gold Star and Business members. That puts Gold Star at $65, and MoneyLion’s 2026 guide agrees. Every membership type includes a free household card for someone 16 or older at your address, according to MoneyLion.

The Executive tier adds a yearly 2% reward on qualifying purchases, capped at $1,250 for any 12 months, according to that same Costco page. Things like gas, tobacco and the membership fee itself do not count toward it. Executive members may also get in earlier on Black Friday, which I cover below.

Here is my plain view on the fee. Gold Star is the right tier for nearly everyone who is just trying Costco out. Skip Executive until you know you spend enough for the reward to cover the upgrade.

Is Costco open on Thanksgiving and Black Friday?

No on Thursday, yes on Friday. DealNews lists all Costco warehouses as closed on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, 2026. On Black Friday, Nov. 27, the hours are 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Costco Guides says Executive members can shop from 9 a.m. that day, and Gold Star and Business members from 10 a.m. Both sources are third parties, so check your own warehouse’s page before you drive over.

Costco Guides also says there is no special early door-buster opening. That is good news if you hate lines in the dark. Black Friday at Costco is less of a stampede than at some big boxes. Go early if you want a TV or a bulk toy, since the biggest items sell down fast, and go late if you only want to browse.

Should you shop Costco’s sale online or in the warehouse?

Online has three big pluses: the Thanksgiving Day and Cyber Monday online-only deals, no parking lot, and no need to carry a 65-inch box to the car. The catch is shipping time on big items and that some items are warehouse-only.

The warehouse has its own pluses. You can see the size of a TV before you buy it, you can grab the Kirkland basics while you’re there, and the return counter is a short walk away. If an item is on both sides, price the exact model each way, because online and warehouse prices can differ.

My view: if you are buying something big and you already live near a Costco, go in person. If you are buying small gear or gifts, shop online during the Thanksgiving window and skip the crowd. One rule from Costco’s price policy matters here, and I explain it in the price adjustment section below.

What kinds of items does Costco feature on Black Friday?

Costco’s Black Friday page lists computers, TVs, electronics, video games, toys, appliances, furniture, beauty, clothing and jewelry. I could not find 2026 deal prices from Costco today, so I will not quote any. What I can do is tell you who should go for each group, and what I think of it.

TVs and electronics

This is the headline category, and it’s the one most worth planning for. Big screens are where a warehouse club tends to shine, because the return and warranty terms are a real part of the price. Costco’s two-year extended warranty on TVs, projectors and computers comes with membership at no extra cost, according to BGR. Go for this if you have a TV that is clearly past its prime. Skip it if you just want the newest model, because the best new models rarely hit their lowest price on day one. Our Black Friday TV deals guide shows what to compare first.

Computers and video games

Laptops and game bundles are the items I’d watch in the first wave rather than the last. Last year’s ad leaned on a handful of named bundles, and those are the kind of thing that vanishes. This is for the parent or the student who has been putting off a purchase. Skip it if you can wait for a calmer price in January.

Appliances

Appliances are my quiet favorite. The savings on a big item can dwarf the savings on a gadget, and a 90-day electronics and appliance return window gives you room to decide, according to BGR’s list of Costco electronics rules. Go if a washer or a vacuum has been limping along. Skip it if you are buying only because the price looks big and red.

Toys

Toys are the category where Costco’s bulk style helps and hurts. A big box is a good deal if three kids will play with it. It is a poor deal if it is for one. Go if you are shopping for a crowd of nieces and nephews. Skip it if you are buying for a single child with a very specific wish list.

Furniture

Furniture is a good Costco Black Friday category for people who have measured. A sofa that looks good in the warehouse can look huge in a living room. Go if you know your dimensions. Skip it if you are shopping on a hunch.

Beauty, clothing and jewelry

These are the fun categories and the easiest to overbuy. Gift sets and Kirkland clothing make sense if you were going to buy them anyway. Jewelry is the one I would slow down on. A gift you cannot easily compare is a gift where the “deal” can be hard to judge. Go if you have a clear person and a clear budget in mind. Skip it if you are just wandering the aisle.

How do Costco’s price adjustments and returns work?

I could not load Costco’s own customer service pages today, so this part comes from published reports. Costco offers a 30-day price adjustment on most items, which Slickdeals describes as running from the purchase date, not the delivery date. If the price drops within that window, you bring your receipt to the membership or returns counter or file the request from your online order history and get the difference back.

Two limits matter for Black Friday. First, an adjustment works only in the channel where you bought, so an online purchase cannot be adjusted to a lower warehouse price, or the reverse. Second, shoppers report that adjustments on special event pricing, Black Friday included, can be limited or refused. That is why I would buy in the wave you are happy with and not count on a refund later.

On returns, BGR reports a 90-day window for electronics such as TVs, laptops, tablets and major appliances. That is longer than what many stores give. It is a real comfort for holiday gifts, which is why I’d lean on Costco for electronics more than for anything else on this list. Rules can change, so confirm with your warehouse before you buy something large.

Is a Costco membership worth it just for Black Friday?

Sometimes. Here is a worked example with round numbers. These are made-up purchases to show the math. They are not 2026 deals.

The first thing to notice is that the fee is $65 no matter what. So you need roughly $650 of purchases at a 10% savings to cover it, or $1,300 at 5%. If you plan to buy a TV and a few gifts, you may clear that bar in one weekend. If you want one blender, you won’t.

There is also a middle route. Since non-members pay a 5% surcharge on Costco.com, a $1,000 online order would carry about $50 in extra cost. That is cheaper than the $65 fee for a single purchase, but only once. On $1,300 or more, the membership is cheaper than the surcharge.

For Executive, the math is separate. At 2% back, you need about $3,250 of qualifying purchases in a year for the reward to cover the $65 upgrade, a figure ConsumerAffairs also used in its ad story. That is a yearly number, not a Black Friday number.

My honest opinion: join for Black Friday only if you already know you will buy at least $1,000 of things you would have bought anyway. Remember, too, that the card works all year, for gas, groceries and the next big purchase. Don’t join to chase one sale. A fee you earn back by February is a fine deal. A fee you pay for one blender is not.

How should you plan for the Costco Black Friday sale?

Start with a list, not a cart. Write down the three things you actually need, check regular prices now, and keep a note of them. If Costco’s price lands below your note, buy it. If it does not, walk away. Our Black Friday 2026 deals guide has more ways to check a price before you commit.

Check Costco’s own pages for the ad. Once Costco prints its dates, they win over anything I have written here. Look at the exact model number, because some Black Friday items are built for the sale and are not the same as the regular model. Pick your wave, and keep your receipt for the 30-day price adjustment window.

Frequently asked questions about Costco Black Friday

Does Costco have Black Friday sales?

Yes. Costco’s site has a Black Friday page listing computers, TVs, electronics, video games, toys, appliances, furniture, beauty, clothing and jewelry. It runs as a series of waves, not one day. My advice is to look at the early waves too, because good items go fast.

Is Costco open on Thanksgiving Day 2026?

No. DealNews lists every Costco warehouse as closed on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026. Costco does run online-only deals that day, according to Costco Guides, so you can still shop from the couch. I’d use the day to compare prices and not to rush a buy.

Can you shop Costco Black Friday without a membership?

At the warehouse, no. Online, you can buy without a card but you pay a 5% surcharge, according to the Motley Fool. For one small order, that surcharge is cheaper than the fee. For a big haul, it is not, so do the math before you decide.

Does Costco price match or adjust prices after Black Friday?

Costco offers a 30-day price adjustment on most items, according to Slickdeals, though shoppers report limits on special event pricing. It does not match other stores’ prices, according to BGR. I’d treat any adjustment as a bonus and buy only at a price you would be happy with today.

Is a Costco membership worth it for Black Friday alone?

It can be, if you spend about $650 or more at a 10% savings, or about $1,300 at 5%. Below that, probably not. I’d say join only if you will use the card the rest of the year too.

This is general shopping information, not financial advice.