Costco Return Policy
The Bottom Line
Costco's guarantee is unusually broad: no stated return deadline for most merchandise, and your membership fee is also refundable anytime. Electronics and major appliances are the main exception — 90 days from receipt. A short list of items (cigarettes, airline tickets, precious metals, gift cards) are final sale. Returns work at any warehouse location, or online through Costco.com.
How did you get this item?
Key Facts
- Return window
-
Most items (satisfaction guarantee) No deadline Electronics, major appliances, recreational carts 90 days - Condition required
- No explicit condition requirement for most items. Diamonds over 1.00 ct must include IGI/GIA certificates. Apple products require a factory reset and Activation Lock disabled before return.
- Proof of purchase
- Not required. Order history is in your Costco.com account.
- Ineligible items
- Cigarettes, airline and live-event tickets, precious metals, Shop Cards See full list →
- Refund method
- Original payment method used on Costco.com. Shipping and handling fees are also refunded.
- Refund timeline
- UPS label/drop-off: 2–3 business days after scan. Freight pickup: 2 business days after carrier pickup. Check: 15 business days by mail. Some items need 3–5 additional business days for verification.
- Return shipping
- Free. Costco provides a UPS label or arranges freight pickup.
How To
- Sign in at Costco.com. Go to Orders & Returns.
- Find the order and click "Return or Replace Items." Follow the prompts to select the return reason.
- Receive a UPS return label within the hour, or schedule a freight pickup for large items. Some items (food, high-end jewelry, floral) may take additional processing time.
- Drop off at a UPS location or hand off to the freight carrier. Refund is issued once Costco confirms pickup; timing depends on return method and payment type.
Key Facts
- Return window
-
Most items (satisfaction guarantee) No deadline Electronics and major appliances 90 days - Condition required
- No explicit condition requirement for most items. Diamonds over 1.00 ct must include all IGI/GIA certificates.
- Proof of purchase
- Helpful but not required. Costco may not need receipt or original packaging.
- Ineligible items
- Cigarettes, airline and live-event tickets, precious metals, Shop Cards See full list →
- Refund method
- Original payment method where possible. Accepted methods may differ from online — check Costco.com for current list.
- Refund timeline
- Processed at the returns counter. Timing depends on your payment method and financial institution.
How To
- Bring the item to the returns counter at any Costco warehouse. Items purchased online can be returned in-warehouse.
- Bring your receipt or original packaging if you have them — not strictly required but speeds processing.
- Member Services will process the return. For large diamonds, expect a Jewelry Credit Memo and a 48-hour authenticity inspection before your refund is finalized.
- Refund is applied to your original payment method. Refund posting time depends on your financial institution.
Watch Out For
- Electronics and major appliances have a hard 90-day cutoff from the date you received the item. TVs, computers, tablets, smartphones, cameras, drones, and wearables must be returned within 90 days of receipt — not 90 days from purchase. The same 90-day rule applies to major appliances and recreational carts. After that, the manufacturer's warranty is your only path.
- A specific list of items cannot be returned at all. Non-returnable items include: cigarettes and alcohol where prohibited by law, airline and live performance event tickets, precious metals, Shop Cards, gift cards, and custom/special order items manufactured to your specifications (except for warranty failure). Tires and batteries may carry a product-specific limited warranty instead of the standard guarantee.
- Apple products require a factory reset and device unlock before return. Before returning any Apple device to Costco, you must perform a factory reset and turn off Activation Lock. Costco's FAQ links to Apple's own instructions for each device type. Returning a locked device will complicate or delay your refund.
- Freight returns require a carrier call within 5–7 business days — you have to be available. For large items shipped by freight carrier, Costco arranges a pickup, but the carrier will contact you within 5–7 business days to schedule. You must be present. The refund isn't processed until Costco confirms the item is in transit.
Read the full breakdown
What the satisfaction guarantee actually covers
Costco’s guarantee applies to both your membership and your merchandise. For merchandise, the policy text is “we guarantee your satisfaction on every product we sell, and will refund your purchase price” — with named exceptions. There is no universal return deadline stated in the policy for most product categories. In practice, Costco customer service has broad discretion, but the written policy is what this summary reflects.
For membership: if you are dissatisfied for any reason, Costco will cancel and refund your annual membership fee. No deadline or pro-ration condition is listed.
Electronics and major appliances: the 90-day rule
These categories have an explicit 90-day return window measured from the date you received the item:
- Electronics: Televisions, projectors, computers, touchscreen tablets, smart wearable devices, cameras, aerial cameras (drones), camcorders, MP3 players, and cellular phones. Note that cellular phone return details may vary by carrier service contract.
- Major appliances: Refrigerators above 10 cubic feet, freezers, ranges, cooktops, over-the-range and under-counter microwaves, range hoods, dishwashers, water heaters, washers, and dryers.
- Recreational carts (ordered online): 90 days from receipt; see the product page for return instructions.
Costco extends the manufacturer’s warranty on major appliances to two years and provides free warranty assistance through Costco Technical & Warranty Services. The warranty mirrors the manufacturer’s in the second year; coverage specifics depend on the individual manufacturer. Costco reserves the right to fulfill the second-year warranty through repair, replacement, or refund up to purchase price.
Items not returnable through Costco.com Self Service
Several categories require a warehouse visit or a customer service contact rather than the online self-service flow:
Special Order Kiosk items (custom countertops, flooring, garage doors, home organization, generators, HVAC, water treatment, solar, gutters, water heaters), optical items, tires, tickets and digital goods, iTunes and Google Play, jewelry, perishable items, all Apple products, and Costco Shop Cards.
Shop Cards are non-refundable. All other categories in this list can be returned; they just can’t be initiated through Costco.com Self Service.
Jewelry returns
Online jewelry purchases can be returned at any Costco warehouse or by contacting customer service to arrange UPS pickup. For both paths:
- Bring or include all IGI and/or GIA certificates provided with the order.
- Diamonds over 1.00 carat receive a Jewelry Credit Memo upon return, not an immediate refund. A Costco Graduate Gemologist inspects for authenticity; allow 3–5 business days for processing (and up to two weeks if you use the UPS pickup path, due to shipping and verification time).
- Refund — including all original shipping and handling fees — is issued once verification is complete.
For jewelry purchases made in-warehouse, return them to the Optical Department (for contact lenses and eyeglasses) or to the returns counter for other items.
Contact lenses and eyeglasses
Contact lens orders: return to the Optical Department of any Costco warehouse. No need to wait in the general returns line. If you can’t return in-warehouse, contact customer service; have your order number ready.
Eyeglasses: in-warehouse purchases go to the Optical Department at a Costco warehouse. Online prescription eyeglass purchases follow the instructions in Costco’s Online Prescription Eyeglasses FAQ.
Freight returns
For large items delivered by freight carrier, Costco arranges a pickup through the same carrier that delivered the item (Curbside, Threshold, or White Glove — matching the original delivery). Exceptions: freight pickup does not apply to Special Order Kiosk items, Custom Installed Programs, or Costco Warehouse Special Event purchases that include delivery.
Process: once your return is initiated, the carrier contacts you within 5–7 business days at the phone number on your order. You schedule a pickup window, must be present, and hand off the item. Costco issues your refund after confirming the item is picked up and in transit. You’ll receive a confirmation email when the credit is issued; allow additional time for your card company or bank to process.
Special Order Kiosk and Custom Installed Programs
Items manufactured to your personal specifications — custom countertops, garage doors, home organization systems, built-in generators, HVAC units, and similar — cannot be returned or refunded. The only exception is warranty repair or replacement for failure to meet specifications. This is the most absolute restriction in Costco’s return policy.
Cigarettes, alcohol, and age-restricted items
Cigarettes: Costco does not accept returns. No exceptions stated.
Alcohol: Costco does not accept returns where prohibited by law. Because each US state regulates wine, beer, and spirits returns differently, the policy directs you to check with your local Costco warehouse for the rules in your state.
Hearing aids and other specialty items
Hearing aids: contact the Hearing Aid center at your Costco warehouse directly.
Large freight-delivered items: follow the freight pickup process described above.
Any item with technical issues covered by Costco Technical & Warranty Services (TVs, computers, cameras, printers, and more): Costco offers free technical support across the lifetime of the product, which may resolve the issue without a return.
What changed
- Initial summary published with two-channel tabs (Online, In-warehouse).