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

Who has better gas between Costco and 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.

Is Costco gas savings worth it? ›

It's a well-accepted fact that Costco gas is cheaper than the fuel at most other places. While the exact amount of savings you'll get depends on factors like where you live and which club you visit, you can reasonably expect to save around $0.15 to $0.20 per gallon.

Is Costco gas really Top Tier? ›

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.

What gas stations have the best fuel? ›

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, ...

Which gas stations have Top Tier gas? ›

Top Tier Gasoline Worth the Extra Price, Study Shows
See a full list of Top Tier retailers.
ConocoRanger Fuel
Costco/Kirkland Signature GasolineReeders
CountryMarkRutter's
Diamond ShamrockShamrock
17 more rows
Jun 26, 2024

Do you get 2 cash back on Costco gas with an executive membership? ›

Gas purchases, for example, do not earn you cash back as an Executive member. Neither do cigarette purchases or alcoholic beverage purchases in certain states. Additionally, Costco Shop Cards (Costco's version of a gift card) won't be eligible for cash back, and neither will postage stamps.

Why does everyone like Costco gas? ›

Quality gas is important, yes, but so is price. Costco Gas Stations offer consistently low, member-exclusive prices. With the Costco app, you can check Costco gas prices on your phone. On the app, find your local warehouse to see hours of operation, gas prices and more warehouse details.

Why is gas so much cheaper at Costco? ›

So why is it so much cheaper than the competition? 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.

Does Costco add additives to their gas? ›

Deposit control additives - Gasoline

These additives are designed to minimize engine deposits that can affect vehicle performance and emissions. The various proprietary deposit control additive formulations are the main difference between brands of gasoline. All gasoline at Costco contains deposit control additives.

Where does Costco get their gasoline from? ›

Costco does not purchase its gasoline from a single supplier; we receive our gasoline from the same major refineries and distributors that supply all of the gas stations in your area. All Costco gasoline is fully guaranteed to meet or exceed the standards of the major branded outlets.

How do you know if a gas station is Top Tier? ›

Many fueling stations selling TOP TIER™ Licensed Brands prominently display the TOP TIER™ logo on the pump, pump handle, canopy or in a station window. The TOP TIER™ logo means you're getting fuel that meets the performance requirements set by engine manufacturers.

Which brand of gasoline is best? ›

The 55 Top Tier fuel brands in the U.S.
  • Aloha.
  • ARCO.
  • Beacon.
  • Belmont Car Wash.
  • CITGO.
  • Cenex.
  • Chevron.
Jan 19, 2024

Which gas lasts the longest? ›

93 octane fuels are more refined and contain more stable hydrocarbons. These stable hydrocarbons can last 2-3 times longer than 87 octane fuel. Even in proper storage 87 octane gas can start to degrade in 3 months, 93 octane fuel should last closer to 9 months before degradation is noticeable.

Do some gas stations really have better gas? ›

Different brands may use different refining techniques or additives to achieve specific characteristics in their gasoline. Gasoline brands do differ in their additives and quality, but the impact on engine performance is minimal.

Which is better Sam's Club or Costco? ›

Costco has more stores across the globe, is expanding rapidly, and generally offers cheaper prices than Sam's Club does, although the latter charges slightly less for membership, has a bigger presence in the U.S., and stocks more name brands.

Is Costco fuel good? ›

Good station operation and maintenance means the fuel is filtered and that contaminants, such as sediment and water, do not find their way into our members' vehicles. Costco fuel stations are well-maintained by our capable attendants so you may be confident that the fuel going into your car is clean.

Which Costco card is best for gas? ›

Leverage bonus categories

When you're buying gas, the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi is a good card to use because it earns 4% cash back on gas and EV charging purchases on up to $7,000 of spending a year (1% after that).

Is all gasoline the same quality? ›

Gasoline brands do differ in their additives and quality, but the impact on engine performance is minimal. Premium gasoline may not be worth the extra cost for most drivers, unless their vehicle specifically requires it.

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