Costco Gasoline and Sam's Club Fuel Center Gas Savings - Consumer Reports (2024)

Given the high gas prices—the national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is $3.92 as of Oct. 10. 2022, according to AAA, an increase of 65 cents from a year ago—it may be worth thinking seriously about joining Costco or Sam’s Club, warehouse clubs where you can buy fuel at discounted prices.

Those savings could be significant, says Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, a website and smartphone app that helps drivers find the best deals.

“Gas prices at warehouse clubs are nearly always lower, ranging from 5 cents to 25 cents less per gallon,”says De Haan. “And when prices rise, they hold their prices down for longer.”

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But before you sign up, consider the costs. Warehouse clubs charge annual membership fees, which generally range from $45 to $120 a year, depending on the club and level of membership.

Still,the gas discounts alone may be worth the membership cost, though your savings will vary depending on your location and your mileage. If you get an average 20 cents off a gallon of gas, you could save more than $112 a year, assuming your driving uses up an average of 562 gallons annually. That savings alone would more than offset the cost of a basic warehouse membership or even cover most of a higher-tier membership fee.

For example, someone in Independence, Mo., (outside Kansas City) would pay $3.25 a gallon for regular gas at the Costco at 19040 East Valley View Parkway, or 14 cents less than the $3.39 at a nearby QuikTrip station at 2601 Route 291, GasBuddy data show. With that price difference, if that person were to use 20 gallons of regular gas a week, they would save about $146 annually, more than the $60 fee for a Costco Gold Star membership.

And a driver pulling up to the Sam’s Club at 7480 Carson Street in Long Beach, Calif., would pay $5.89 a gallon vs. $6.55 at a nearby Chevron at 11804 Carson Street, according to GasBuddy. Potential annual savings for the Sam’s Club member who uses 20 gallons of gas a week: $686.

Before you buy a membership, especially if just for gas, map out the warehouse locations and determine whether you’ll really be able to do your refueling regularly there, says Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst at CreditCards.com.

And be aware, many other drivers are after those same savings, which means you’ll likely face long lines at the warehouse club fuel pumps. So you may want to get in line early in the morning to avoid the longest waits, Rossman says.

Also keep in mind, you’ll be committing to shopping at a big-box store, where many of the best bargains come in bulk.

If you’re not sure a warehouse club membership is worth it, there’s little risk to trying one out. All three warehouse clubs will allow you to join, cancel at any time, and get a refund.

Comparing the Warehouse Clubs

When it comes to deciding which warehouse club to join, you have two main options: Costco or Sam’s Club, which have locations throughout the country. A third chain, BJ’s Wholesale, can be found mainly in the Northeast.

Costco

Membership cost: You can purchase a Gold Star membership for $60 a year, which gives you two membership cards, fill-up privileges at Costco’s onsite fueling stations, as well as access to in-store and online shopping. For $120 a year, you can do all that as well as earn 2 percent rewards and receive discounts on some services.

Gas options: Costco only sells Top Tier Gas, a better-quality formulation that helps maintain car engines, according to a study by AAA. Be aware: You cannot pay cash at the pump, only through a Visa credit card. Costco also offers its own Visa credit card, which pays 4 percent back on gas purchases up to $7,000 per year, then drops to 1 percent. It also can be used anywhere that takes Visa.

What else you’ll find: As you would expect, you can shop for a wide array of products, including groceries, electronics, tires, and more. Products sold under Costco’s private label brand, Kirkland, tend to be lower cost and are often highly rated.

In addition, Costco provides an array of services, including prescription drugs, auto buying, and travel. Recently, the club was advertising as much as $600 off sofas and sectionals, promising three to five business days for delivery.

Sam’s Club

Membership cost: A Club membership costs $45, which qualifies you for discounted gas. You can get a card for an additional household member. For $100 a year, you can get a Plus membership, which comes with 2 percent cash back, free shipping, and additional discounts.

Gas options: Sam’s Club offers regular, premium, and diesel gas. Most major forms of payments are accepted. Sam’s also offers a MasterCard that pays 5 percent cash back up to a $6,000 annual cap, then 1 percent thereafter.

What else you’ll find: As you would expect from the warehouse offshoot of Walmart, Sam’s sells a huge variety of household goods, groceries, and other products. It also sells lower-cost private-label products under the Member’s Mark name.

Like Costco, Sam’s Club provides other services, including prescription drugs, auto buying, and travel. Recent deals featured backyard furniture and grills.

Update, April 27, 2022: Members of the new Walmart+ program can save up to 10 cents per gallon at Exxon, Mobil, Murphy, and Walmart stations and get member pricing at Sam’s Club fuel centers.

BJ's Wholesale

Membership cost: You’ll pay $55 for Inner Circle membership, which gives you access to discounted gas. You can receive a card for an additional household member. If you upgrade to Perks Reward membership, at $110, you get 2 percent cash back and travel benefits.

Gas options: Regular, premium, and diesel gas are available. At BJ’s, gas discounts come through the purchase of eligible products, such as pet food and laundry detergent, a list that is regularly updated. Once you make that purchase, you automatically receive a 10-cent discount on each gallon of gas, and you may qualify for additional discounts.

Members can also apply for a My BJ’s Perks Mastercard, which gives you 10 cents off per gallon of gas, as well as 3 percent cash back on in-club and BJs.com purchases, 2 percent on dining and non-BJ’s gas purchases, and 1 percent on everything else.

What else you’ll find: Although BJ’s does not offer the same array of services as the larger warehouse clubs, shoppers have access to a wide variety of groceries, household items, electronics, furniture, and more. Recently the club was offering $600 off plus free shipping for some TV brands.

BJ’s sells products under two private labels. Berkley Jensen can be found on a wide range of items, including vitamins, paper products, and luggage. Wellsley Farms is used for food products.

When you shop through retailer links on our site, we may earn affiliate commissions. 100% of the fees we collect are used to support our nonprofit mission. Learn more.

Costco Gasoline and Sam's Club Fuel Center Gas Savings - Consumer Reports (1)

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Costco Gasoline and Sam's Club Fuel Center Gas Savings - Consumer Reports (2024)

FAQs

Which gas is better, Costco or Sam's Club? ›

While both Costco and Sam's Club offer unleaded, premium, and diesel fuels (here's how to know which you should be getting), only Costco offers Top Tier fuel. If you don't have a Costco membership, you can still find Top Tier gas at other stations. “Yes, Top Tier gas is worth the extra money,” CarFax reported.

Does Costco gas really save money? ›

Generally speaking, buying gas at Costco is significantly cheaper than doing so at a traditional gas station. The typical driver can save more than $100 per year. Buying gas at Costco can justify a membership all by itself.

Is Costco gas really Top Tier? ›

Deposit control additives - Gasoline

All gasoline at Costco contains deposit control additives. Since March of 2014, Kirkland Signature™ Gasoline has been certified to meet the TOP TIER™ performance standards: www.toptiergas.com/licensed-brands/ and we are proud to offer our high quality product to our members.

Why is Costco gas not cheap anymore? ›

As gasoline prices fall, Costco does not lower prices at the same pace it raises them when prices are climbing. This allows the company to recoup some of the profits lost by doing the reverse when prices were rising.

Which gas station has the best quality gas? ›

You'll know you're filling up with the good stuff if you spot a small green sticker on the pump that says “TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline.” As of early 2022, the following stations sold Top Tier gasoline in the U.S.: 76, ARCO, Aloha, Beacon, Breakaway, CITGO, Cenex, Chevron, Conoco, Costco Wholesale, CountryMark, ...

Is Costco fuel good quality? ›

Costco fuel stations are well-maintained by our capable attendants so you may be confident that the fuel going into your car is clean. Costco uses fuel filters in the petrol pumps to catch particles or debris larger than 10 microns in diameter. For comparison, the average human hair is seventy microns thick.

Where does Costco gas come from? ›

Where does Costco gasoline come from? The gasoline from you local Cosco comes from the same terminal as the rest of your local gas stations. The only difference is that is doesn't get the proprietary additive package added to it that you pay extra for from Shell or Chevron or whatever your local options are.

Do you get 4% back on Costco gas? ›

Earn cash back rewards on purchases wherever Visa® is accepted. You'll get 4% back on eligible gasoline purchases for the first $7,000 per year and then 1% thereafter.

What are the benefits of buying gas at Costco? ›

Buying gas at Costco can save you money -- typical savings are around $0.20 per gallon. It makes stopping at the warehouse club more convenient -- you can buy groceries and fuel up your car. The higher quality of Costco gas could help your vehicle run more smoothly.

Who has better gas, Chevron or Costco? ›

Gas is gas - the additives are different. Chevron by far has the best add pack, Costco uses a custom Lubrizol add pack that meets Top Tier specs.

Which Costco card is best for gas? ›

The Costco Anywhere Card is a good choice if you regularly shop or get gas at Costco and also want to maximize rewards on gas and dining. Whether you have an electric vehicle or gas-powered car, you'll earn the most rewards on charging or gas.

Is it worth buying Top Tier gas? ›

With gas costing more, it's no wonder drivers look for the cheapest station. But, auto experts said using TOP TIER™ gas is worth it in the long run.

Does Costco have lower quality gas? ›

Costco is listed as a TOP TIER™ gasoline retailer. Find out more at www.toptiergas.com. Kirkland Signature™ Gasoline contains five times the EPA detergent requirement in both regular unleaded and premium grades, and is formulated to clean your engine and help your vehicle run like new.

Why do people like Costco gas so much? ›

It's good for your car

The fact that gas is cheaper at Costco doesn't mean it's lower in quality. The company offers Kirkland Signature gasoline, which is formulated to improve vehicle performance and fuel economy. Costco says the gas also reduces emissions, making it better for the environment.

Does Costco make any money on gas? ›

The short answer is that unlike pretty much every other retail business that sells gasoline, Costco doesn't care about making money from its gas pumps. In fact, Costco typically sells its gas at a moderate loss. Why would Costco do this? It's not an act of charity.

Which one is better Costco or Sam's Club? ›

For many shoppers, the choice between Costco and Sam's Club will come down to which store is closer to their home. Other than that, there's not much difference in terms of membership prices or product prices. Moreover, part of choosing between the two will depend on the shopping experience.

Does it matter what brand of gas you use? ›

Care for Your Vehicle To Extend the Service Life

Premium gas won't make your car more powerful but can improve fuel economy and even help clean your engine. Sometimes, paying extra for Top Tier gas is worthwhile. However, regular gas from a lesser-known brand is fine for the average car.

What is the TOP TIER gas? ›

The TOP TIER™ logo means you're getting fuel that meets the performance requirements set by engine manufacturers. You can also check the TOP TIER™ Licensed Brands lists below. If the brand of gasoline or diesel on the signage or the dispensing pump is not listed, the fuel is not TOP TIER™.

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