The Best Day And Time To Shop At Costco [Complete Guide]

Love is sharing!

As the fifth largest retailer in the world and the world’s largest retailer of organic foods, wine, electronics, and lots more, Costco offers bulk items at competitive prices, which saves you money.

Today’s article will discuss the best tips for avoiding crowds at Costco during the busiest times and days.

So if you’re trying to find the best day and time to shop at Costco, you’ve come to the right place. 

Best Time To Shop At Costco

If you want to have a perfect time or a quiet time to shop at Costco, then your best bet is to shop by the following time:

Early Mornings

Mostly, the perfect time to shop at Costco is early in the morning. Many people tend to dislike going out in the morning, but this will be the best time to visit Costco for shopping.

However, there are still crowds early in the morning but this is less compared to evenings or weekends because most customers are always at work.

Early morning shopping allows for a quiet shopping experience and allows you to navigate through the aisles more easily.

Weekdays 

You can stroll through the aisles at your own pace, get some free snacks, and check off all the items on your shopping list without having to navigate around lots of people. 

Most people tend to be at work or school by that time. Trust me, shopping during the weekdays, particularly during the mornings, tends to be less crowded compared to weekends.

Most especially, if you can visit Costco during non-peak hours, you’ll likely experience shorter lines and less congestion.

Late Evenings

On the other hand, if the most convenient time for you is when you can snag some amazing deals, then it might be best to drop by at the end of the day.

Towards the end of the day, especially on weekdays, you may find fewer shoppers at Costco. As closing time approaches, some people have already completed their shopping, leading to a quieter environment.

This allows you to shop with ease without being bothered about long lines check everything on your shopping list.

Avoid Weekends

This could also mean dealing with long lines and busy crowds during weekends and peak hours. 

Having to shop during the weekend is a bad advantage.

Saturdays and Sundays tend to be the busiest days at Costco. If you can, it’s generally better to avoid shopping during these peak times to minimize crowds and long checkout lines.

Seasonal Considerations

I strongly believe some certain times of the year like special holidays and special sales events, can attract more shoppers.

So its very important to keep this in mind when planning your visit the nearest Costco near you for shopping.

However, if you’re interested in specific seasonal products or deals, it might be worth braving the crowds during those times.

Since this depends on your mood, it is always a good idea to visit Costco for your shopping experience.

What Are The Best Days To Shop at Costco?

The best days to shop at Costco are during the week, specifically Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Based on my experience, these days tend to be less crowded than the weekends and Mondays. Costco attracts large weekend crowds, causing long lines and overcrowded aisles.

Hence, Tuesdays to Thursdays have lower shopper traffic, so you can easily get through the store, find a parking spot, and avoid long checkout lines.

The Best Time to shop at Costco on Sunday?

Based on my experience, I strongly believe you can shop at Costco on Sunday early in the morning when the store opens. 

This is because there would be less to no crowd, and you could also shop for everything on your list as they just restocked and their shelves are filled up.

The Best Time to Go To Costco on Friday?

If you are out of items and need to shop at Costco on Friday, the best time is between 2:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. You can shop at Costco between when workers get off for the day.

Best Time To Shop at Costco Near Me

Based on my experience, you can shop at any Costco near you at any given time, depending on your availability. 

However, the best time to shop at Costco near you is as soon as they open, which may allow you to shop in uncrowded aisles and purchase high-demand items before they disappear.

You can also put this into consideration before visiting any Costco near you to shop:

#1. Your Distance To The Nearest Costco Store

If your distance to the nearest Costco near you is a bit far, then it will be proper to plan your visit very early in the morning.

Or better still plan your visit for early Sunday morning because in my experience I believe Sunday morning is the best time to visit any Costco store for better experience shopping.

#2. Traffic Estimate

Based on your distance, you also want to check your traffic estimate in other to plan your visit and avoid visiting at crowded hours.

Once you can use all these factors to your advantage, you can always visit Costco and shop at the best time or any day based on your proper plans.

When is The Best Day to Shop at Costco For Deals?

Monday is the best day to shop at Costco for great deals. You can also score a $20 sheet cake or those dinosaur chicken nuggets your kids will love.

However, Monday might be the best day to shop at Costco for deals, this can still largely vary, but based on long shopping experience with Costco here are a few times and days to consider:

1. Mondays: Many Costco locations receive new shipments and restock their shelves over the weekend. Shopping on Monday allows you to have a better chance of finding a wide selection of products and possibly some deals on newly stocked items.
2. End of the month: Costco often introduces new deals and discounts at the beginning of each month. By shopping towards the end of the month, you may find discounted prices on items that are about to be replaced by new inventory.
3. Holidays and seasonal events: Costco frequently offers special deals and promotions during holidays and seasonal events. For example, they often have sales around major holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. Keep an eye out for these occasions to take advantage of the best deals.

Least Busy Time at Costco on Saturday 

A lot of people like to shop on weekends. So that is why it is best to go when they have just opened the store.

If you plan on going to Costco, it’s good to see what times work best for you and how the live projections look before you leave. 

Is Costco Busy on Saturday or Sunday?

Yes, Costco is usually very busy during the weekends Saturdays, and Sundays from noon to the evening of the day.

The best time to shop at Costco on Sunday is between 10 a. m and 6 p. m.

Check traffic estimates at your local Costco on Google to determine the best times and to see how to live projections are before traveling

FAQ

Conclusion

Overall, timing your Costco runs requires some strategy and flexibility, but knowing the busy and slow times can make a difference in your shopping experience.

However, it is ideal to know that these times may vary depending on the area’s location and local shopping patterns. 

Ultimately, planning and avoiding peak shopping hours are significant to ensure the best possible shopping experience.