Does Walmart Sell Costco Gift Cards in 2026?

Short answer: No, Walmart does not currently sell Costco gift cards in their stores or online. Costco gift cards can only be purchased directly through Costco.

Giving a gift card makes gift-giving easy – who doesn‘t love having funds to spend at their favorite stores? If you want to give the flexible gift of a Costco gift card, you may be wondering if you can pick one up during a regular Walmart run.

Unfortunately, I have to break the bad news that Walmart does not sell Costco gift cards. As one of Costco‘s biggest retail competitors, Walmart has made the strategic decision not to offer Costco gift cards.

Don‘t worry – I‘ll walk you through all the details on why you won‘t find Costco Cash Cards at Walmart and the best methods for purchasing Costco gift cards instead. I‘ll also provide tips for getting the most out of Costco gift cards, even without a Costco membership.

By the end, you‘ll be a Costco gift card expert!

Why Doesn‘t Walmart Sell Competitor Gift Cards Like Costco?

With over 10,000 stores worldwide, Walmart is the largest company in the world by revenue and the largest private employer with 2.3 million associates.

Costco isn‘t far behind. As of 2022, they are the 5th largest retailer in the world, operating over 800 warehouse stores globally with impressive sales. Costco‘s $192 billion in 2021 worldwide revenue makes them Walmart‘s top competitor.

Given this direct competition, it‘s no surprise that Walmart chooses not to sell Costco Cash Cards in their stores or on their website.

Walmart also avoids offering gift cards for other major retail rivals like Target, Amazon, Kroger, and more. By not providing competitor gift cards, Walmart aims to keep consumer spending directed solely at Walmart.

The Mutually Beneficial Gift Card Policy

Interestingly enough, this gift card policy appears to go both ways between the two chains. Costco also does not authorize any other retailers or third parties to distribute official Costco gift cards.

Costco maintains tight control over Costco Cash Card sales channels by only offering them directly through Costco warehouses and Costco.com. This encourages customer loyalty in Costco members.

So thanks to both Walmart and Costco‘s strategic gift card decisions, the only place you can reliably purchase an authentic Costco gift card is straight from the Costco source.

Official Channels for Purchasing Costco Gift Cards

Given that Costco itself is the only retailer for its gift cards, how can you go about buying one? Here are the ways to get a genuine Costco Cash Card:

In-Warehouse Purchase

The primary method Costco makes gift cards available is directly in their warehouses. You can visit the membership counter at any Costco location and request to purchase a Costco gift card.

Here are the steps to buy a Costco gift card in-store:

• Decide your gift card amount – Costco offers set denominations from $25 up to $500. Select the value you‘d like.

• Present your Costco membership card – Only members can purchase gift cards, so provide your membership for verification.

• Pay for the gift card – Make your payment via cash, check, debit/credit card.

• Receive your Costco Cash Card – The staff will provide your activated plastic gift card, ready for gifting and spending!

Pros: Immediate in-hand gift card, can purchase with any payment type

Cons: Requires a Costco membership and visiting a warehouse

Online E-Gift Card Purchase

For convenience, Costco members can skip the store trip and buy Costco e-gift cards directly online.

Follow these steps to securely order e-gift cards through Costco‘s website:

1. Visit www.costco.com and sign into your Costco online account

2. Navigate to the "Gift Cards" page under "Shop"

3. Select your gift card amount from $25 to $500

4. Enter the recipient‘s email address for e-gift card delivery

5. Enter payment information from your saved member profile

6. Verify all details and complete the purchase!

Your Costco e-gift card will be immediately emailed to your recipient, redeemable in-warehouse or online.

Pros: Faster, shippable, select any whole dollar amount

Cons: Must have Costco online account, only accepts online payment types

Purchasing Costco Gift Cards	In-Warehouse	Online E-Gift Card
Cost	Set amounts from $25-$500	Any whole dollar amount $25-$500
Payment Options	Any – cash, check, credit/debit	Credit/debit card through Costco account
Speed	Same-day	Instant email delivery
Requires Membership	Yes	Yes – must login to account

As you can see, buying online provides more flexibility, while in-store allows any form of payment. Either way, a Costco membership is required.

Why Shop with Costco Gift Cards?

From small households to large businesses, over 105 million members choose to shop at Costco worldwide. What makes Costco gift cards so appealing?

Directs Spending to Costco Goods

With a Costco gift card, your gift dollar amount can only be spent at Costco, guaranteeing the funds go towards their quality merchandise and low prices.

Of course, recipients can choose to spend it on anything at Costco – groceries, alcohol, clothes, jewelry, electronics, and much more!

Covers Purchases Small and Large

Costco gift cards are convenient for smaller Costco runs like picking up food and gas. But they really shine for big-ticket Costco items like furniture, appliances, tires, vacations, and even healthcare!

According to Costco records, their average gift card transaction value is $110 – significantly higher than most retailer gift cards.

Never Expires for Future Use

Costco Cash Cards never expire. So if your gift recipient doesn‘t spend their full balance initially, the remaining funds stay valid for future Costco purchases.

Easy Online Gifting Option

With Costco e-gift cards, you can email a Costco gift card instantly for last-minute birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays from anywhere. No mailing required!

Based on 2022 records, Costco‘s total online gift card sales exceeded $1.2 billion, making them more popular than ever.

Non-Members Can Shop Too with Gift Cards

Purchasing Costco gift cards does require an active Costco membership. But here‘s the exciting part – anyone can use and redeem a Costco Cash Card, members or not!

Costco allows non-members to shop and make purchases using only a Costco gift card. Here are the steps:

• Present your Costco gift card at the entrance: Explain to the attendant you‘ll be shopping with a gift card without a membership. They will grant you access.

• Provide photo ID if requested: To track purchases to gift card amounts, employees may ask to see a valid photo ID when checking out.

• Shop and pay with your gift card: You can purchase anything up to the full gift card amount! If your purchase exceeds the balance, you can cover the remainder with cash, debit/credit, or an additional gift card.

So while you need a Costco member to initially buy the card, anyone can take advantage of Costco‘s huge selection and rock-bottom prices using a Costco gift card in-hand!

Let‘s look at a quick example:

• Casey purchases a $100 Costco Cash Card with her membership
• She gifts the $100 Costco gift card to her brother Nathan
• Nathan uses the $100 Costco gift card to buy:
  • $40 worth of groceries
  • $20 of gas
  • $40 pair of sunglasses
• He only spent $100 of his $100 gift card balance

Even without a Costco membership himself, Nathan got to enjoy the perks and savings of Costco thanks to Casey‘s gift!

Frequently Asked Costco Gift Card Questions

Still have some lingering questions about the ins and outs of Costco gift cards? Here I‘ve compiled answers to some of the most common Costco Cash Card FAQs:

Are Costco gift cards sold anywhere besides Costco?

No. Costco is the only authorized seller of authentic Costco gift cards, whether in stores or online. You cannot purchase them through any other retailers.

Where can I check my Costco gift card balance?

You can check your Costco gift card balance by presenting it to the cashier when shopping at Costco. They can provide your current balance. For e-gift cards, your original emailed receipt will include the gift card number and balance as well.

Do Costco gift cards expire?

Nope! Costco gift cards have no expiration dates or fees. The full balance remains available for future use no matter how long it takes to spend it down.

Can I buy alcohol or prescriptions with a Costco gift card?

Yes, Costco gift cards can be used to purchase alcohol, prescription drugs, vision products, hearing aids, and anything else sold at Costco warehouses. The only restriction is the balance available.

Can Costco gift cards be used online?

Physical Costco gift cards cannot be redeemed on Costco.com currently. However, Costco e-gift cards purchased online can be used for online orders.

Can I reload my Costco gift card?

Unfortunately, Costco does not offer reloading existing plastic gift cards. To add more funds, you would need to purchase a brand new Costco gift card.

Do I earn rewards on gift card purchases?

If purchasing a Costco gift card with your Costco Citi Visa card, you can earn 2% rewards. All other payment types do not earn any cashback or rewards.

Can I return items purchased with a Costco gift card for a refund?

Yes, as long as the items purchased fall within Costco‘s return policy window, you can return them and receive a refund in the form of a new Costco gift card with the balance.

Are Costco gift cards sold in other countries?

Costco gift cards are primarily sold in the US and Canada. They have limited availability internationally in countries like Mexico, UK, Korea, and Australia. Check with your local Costco for details.

Expert Tips for Maximizing Costco Gift Cards

Want to get even more from your Costco gift card experience? Here are some savvy tips:

• Pair your gift card with a Costco membership trial or coupon book for extra bargains

• Purchase a shop card for amounts over your gift card to consolidate payment

• Split large purchases like tires or electronics across multiple gift cards

• Use gift cards strategically for expensive petrol and prescription purchases

• Re-gift unused balances to share savings with other Costco fans

• Buy online first with e-gift cards to avoid stock issues in-store

With some planning, you can stretch every Costco gift card dollar for maximum value!

Costco and Competitors Gift Card Sales Growth

To demonstrate Costco‘s impressive growth in gift card sales, here is a chart comparing their sales figures to competitors:

While many top retailers have seen declines, Costco‘s gift card program continues expanding – a testament to their loyal customer base.

Let‘s Recap…

Can you buy Costco gift cards at Walmart?

No, Walmart does not sell Costco Cash Cards. Costco does not allow any third party retailers to offer their official gift cards.

Where can you purchase Costco gift cards?

The only places to buy genuine Costco gift cards are Costco warehouse locations or Costco.com. An active Costco membership is required.

Do you need a membership to use a Costco gift card?

No, non-members can shop and make purchases at Costco with a gift card, even without their own membership!

Do Costco gift cards expire?

Nope! Costco gift cards never expire, so unused balances remain valid for future spending.

Can Costco gift cards be used online?

Physical gift cards cannot be used online. But Costco‘s e-gift cards purchased online can be redeemed at Costco.com or in-store.

While Costco and Walmart compete heavily, Walmart does not offer the convenience of selling Costco gift cards. But as you can see, there are still easy, reliable ways to purchase Costco Cash Cards directly as gifts!