The short answer
Yes — at every U.S. Costco warehouse, for groceries. Costco accepts EBT for SNAP-eligible food at all its U.S. locations, at the register and at self-checkout. What it won't cover: the gas pump, the food court and other hot prepared foods, the membership fee, and Costco.com orders. You also still need a paid membership to get in — EBT doesn't waive it.
"Does Costco take EBT?" has three different answers depending on where you're standing — the grocery aisle, the fuel island, or your laptop. Because we track Costco's gas prices, the pump question is the one we get asked most, and it has the cleanest answer: no. Here's the full picture — where your EBT card works, where it doesn't, and the membership catch that trips people up.
Where EBT works at Costco — and where it doesn't
One card, very different answers by counter. Here's the quick map:
| Where | EBT? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Warehouse groceries (register or self-checkout) | Yes | SNAP-eligible food only — all U.S. warehouses |
| Gas pump | No | Fuel isn’t food, and the pumps are card-only |
| Food court & hot prepared foods | No | Hot, ready-to-eat food is never SNAP-eligible |
| Membership fee | No | Not a food purchase — pay by card or cash |
| Costco.com | No | Costco isn’t a SNAP online retailer |
| Same-Day delivery (via Instacart) | SNAP only | SNAP accepted where your state participates; not EBT cash |
Yes: EBT for groceries at every U.S. warehouse
Costco's own customer service confirms that all U.S. warehouse locations accept EBT cards, and that Costco follows each state's rules on what those benefits can buy. You use the card the same way you would at any grocery store: swipe and enter your PIN at a staffed register or at self-checkout, and the system rings up your SNAP-eligible items against the card. Anything that isn't eligible — or the tip, tax, and fees — comes off a second form of payment, so it helps to have a debit or credit card ready for the rest of the cart.
What you can and can't buy with SNAP
SNAP benefits are for food for the household to eat, so the rule of thumb is simple: if it carries a "Nutrition Facts"label, it's almost certainly eligible; if it carries a "Supplement Facts"label, it isn't. The big Costco-specific gotcha is the rotisserie chicken and the food court — those are hot, prepared food, which SNAP never covers.
✓ EBT-eligible
- Fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables
- Meat, poultry, and fish
- Dairy — milk, cheese, eggs, yogurt
- Bread, cereal, rice, and pasta
- Packaged snacks and non-alcoholic drinks
- Seeds and plants that produce food to eat
✕ Not eligible
- Hot or prepared food — food-court pizza, hot dogs, the rotisserie chicken
- Alcohol and tobacco
- Vitamins, supplements, and medicine (a “Supplement Facts” label)
- Household and cleaning supplies, paper goods, health & beauty
- Pet food and pet supplies
- Gasoline, gift cards, and the membership fee
No: you can't use EBT at the Costco gas pump
This is the one we field the most, and it's a firm no — for two separate reasons. First, federal law limits SNAP to food, and gasoline plainly isn't food, so no EBT card buys fuelat any station in any state. Second, even setting that aside, Costco's pumps are card-onlyand don't read EBT at all — in the U.S. they take Visa or PIN debit, the Costco Shop Card, and Visa-linked Apple Pay, and nothing else. Some EBT cards also carry cash (TANF) benefits thatcanbuy gas at certain stations, but those still won't work at a Costco pump, because the pump simply isn't set up to accept an EBT card.
You still need a membership — and EBT can't pay for it
Costco is a members-only club, and there's no exception for EBT or other assistance: you need an active membership to walk in and shop. The membership fee itself can't be paid with EBT— it isn't a food purchase — so you'll cover the $65 Gold Star fee (or $130 Executive) with a card or cash. Two things soften the cost: every membership includes a free household cardfor someone at your address, and the name on the membership doesn't have to match the name on your EBT card — so a household can comfortably share a single membership. If you're weighing whether the fee pays off, our membership break-even guide runs the math.
SNAP vs. EBT cash: the two sides of your card
It helps to know which benefit you're actually spending. An EBT card can hold two kinds of money. SNAP (food) benefits are restricted to eligible groceries — this is what most people mean by "EBT," and what Costco's registers process. Cash benefits, usually from TANF, behave more like a debit card and can go toward non-food items where they're accepted, within your state's rules. At a Costco warehouse, the SNAP side covers your eligible food; the rest of the cart comes off another payment method. And to repeat the part drivers care about — neither side works at the fuel pump.
EBT online: Costco.com no, Same-Day delivery yes
Costco.com doesn't take EBT — Costco isn't one of the USDA-approved SNAP online retailers, unlike Amazon or Walmart. The workaround is Costco Same-Day delivery, which is run by Instacart and does accept SNAP EBTwherever your state participates. You add your EBT card to the Same-Day account, but you'll also need a debit or credit card on file — it covers the delivery fee, service fee, tip, taxes, and any item that isn't SNAP-eligible. Note that this is the SNAP side only; EBT cash benefits can't be used online.
SNAP rules, retailer participation, and Costco's policies change — this guide was last reviewed in June 2026. For the eligible-items list that applies to you, check with your state SNAP agency. This site is independent and not affiliated with Costco Wholesale Corporation.
