If you shop at Costco regularly, you probably know how easy it is to spend more than you planned. You walk in for groceries, paper towels, and a few household essentials, only to leave with a cart full of things you didn’t even know you needed.
But Costco has noticed something interesting about the shoppers who spend the most money at its warehouses. Many of them share one thing in common, and it has to do with the type of membership they carry.
The retailer recently revealed more about its membership base, including which customers account for the largest share of its sales. Depending on how often you shop at Costco, you might belong to that group without realizing it.
Costco’s Executive Members Are Its Biggest Spenders
Costco offers different membership levels, but Executive members stand out in spending.
According to Costco’s fiscal 2026 annual report, Executive members account for about three-quarters of the company’s worldwide net sales, despite making up only about half of its paid memberships.
That’s a significant difference, and it helps explain why Costco places so much importance on its higher-priced membership.
During the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call, Costco also reported that Executive memberships were growing faster than its overall membership base.
For Costco, these members are especially valuable because they shop more often and spend more.
But for shoppers, the bigger question is whether paying extra for an Executive membership actually makes financial sense.
Why Shoppers Are Paying More for Executive Memberships
A standard Costco Gold Star membership costs $65 annually, while an Executive membership costs $130.
The biggest difference is that Executive members earn a 2% annual reward on qualifying Costco purchases, plus access to additional membership benefits.
For shoppers who regularly buy groceries, household supplies, cleaning products, and other essentials in bulk, those rewards can add up over time.
According to Costco’s Executive membership information, rewards are based on eligible purchases, so not everything you buy counts toward your annual total.
For example, gas purchases and certain other transactions are excluded.
So while Executive members may spend more overall, that doesn’t necessarily mean every member gets enough rewards to justify the higher fee.
Is an Executive Membership Actually Worth It?
Before upgrading your membership, take a closer look at how much you spend at Costco throughout the year.
Since the Executive membership costs an additional $65 annually, you’d need to spend around $3,250 on qualifying purchases each year to earn enough rewards to cover the upgrade.
That works out to roughly $270 a month.
If Costco is your primary grocery store and you regularly purchase household essentials there, reaching that amount may not be difficult.
But if you only visit Costco occasionally to stock up on a few items, the basic membership might be the better choice.
Base your decision on what you already spend, rather than increasing your purchases just to earn more rewards.
What Costco’s Membership Numbers Mean for Shoppers
Costco’s latest membership figures show that its Executive members play a major role in the company’s business. These shoppers account for a large share of sales, and more customers are choosing the upgraded membership.
But just because Costco’s biggest spenders prefer Executive memberships doesn’t mean everyone needs one.
If you’re already spending enough to earn back the additional fee, upgrading could be a smart way to get more value from purchases you’re making anyway.
Otherwise, there’s nothing wrong with sticking to the basic membership and keeping that extra money in your pocket.
