Start the week with a change that affects how you plan your cart, your timing, and your savings at Costco. The warehouse giant is formalizing early entry for its top tier after a summer trial. Shoppers will now find quieter aisles at specific times, clearer rules at the door, and a sharper line between memberships. The move adds convenience for some, while it raises fairness questions for others. Here’s what changes, why it’s happening, and how to adapt without stress.
What the new hours change for members
Early entry is now official. Executive Members can shop from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on weekdays, and from 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on Saturdays. Sundays run 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Regular opening for others still starts at 10 a.m., so plan your arrival with that in mind.
This policy started as a June pilot and was lightly enforced, which created confusion at entrances. The company has ended that grace period. The formal rollout lands on Labor Day, so crowds and routines will shift quickly. Expect lines to redistribute toward the top of each hour as habits reset.
For Gold Star and Business members, the practical impact is timing. Arrive before 10 a.m., and you’ll wait outside while Executive Members enter. Arrive after 10 a.m., and you’ll find fuller aisles but the same prices. Either way, watch local listings since some warehouses fine-tune hours. Costco posts location details online.
Why Costco is giving early access
Crowd control drives much of the change. Spreading shoppers over a longer window reduces bottlenecks at opening, shortens lines at popular counters, and eases parking pressure. Calm aisles also improve safety and speed, which matters when pallets arrive, samples start, and bakery racks roll out hot items.
The perk also supports upgrades. Executive Membership costs $130 per year in the U.S., versus $65 for Gold Star, and includes a 2% reward capped at $1,250. That cashback, paired with earlier entry, nudges frequent shoppers to move up a tier if their annual spend justifies the math.
<p”>Competitive pressure plays a role too. Rivals court premium tiers with speed and space. Shaving minutes off a trip matters to families and small businesses alike. When early hours trim crowding and stress, loyalty often follows. That is the simple calculus: less friction, more renewal, stronger long-term value for Costco.
How the policy works in practice
<p”>Weekdays now have a true two-stage opening. Doors first swing for Executive Members, then open to all. If you rely on fresh bakery, meat, or tire appointments, the first hour can help you secure slots and avoid stockouts on flyer items. Check pharmacy rules, since services vary by day.
Saturday is special: warehouses stay open an extra hour in the evening for everyone, closing at 7 p.m. That later close offsets the shorter early window and helps spread traffic across the day. If mornings are busy for you, the final hour can deliver the calm you want.
Expect some location nuance. Mall-attached sites, urban clubs, and high-traffic nodes may adjust flows at the door. When in doubt, confirm hours on the warehouse page before you go, then arrive five minutes after the stage change to bypass the initial surge. It’s a simple hack that works at Costco.
What Costco members are saying so far
Many Executive Members welcome the shift. Quieter aisles translate to quicker decisions, shorter returns lines, and less stress with kids in tow. Parents, in particular, praise the ability to finish a weekly stock-up before school or work, and to reach the rotisserie rack without a crush.
Not everyone is pleased. Some Gold Star members view early entry as favoritism toward higher fees. They worry that perks become pressure, and that regular opening will grow more crowded. The debate tracks a wider trend of tiered services across retail and travel, which draws strong feelings.
Yet most shoppers adjust fast when rules are clear. If you value time over perks, aim for late evenings. If you value perks over time, consider the upgrade only if the 2% reward plus early entry beat your actual habits. Hard numbers, not emotion, should guide that call.
Tips to get the most from the change
Map your aisle order before you go. Start with back-wall proteins and produce, then hit household staples, then checkout. Because sample stations and optical lines build after 10 a.m., you’ll move faster by front-loading essentials and saving impulse zones for last. Small tweaks save minutes every trip at Costco.
Use services that shrink time. Order prescription refills ahead, book tire bays online, and pre-load gift card deals into your plan. When you arrive during the early window, head straight to the counter that’s usually your bottleneck. You’ll feel the benefit even on quick “milk and eggs” runs.
Watch your break-even. Executive Members earn 2% back up to $1,250, but only spend unlocks that value. If your annual in-warehouse and travel purchases don’t justify the upgrade, keep Gold Star and visit during calmer periods, like weeknights or the final hour Saturday when aisles thin.
Why this shift matters for the months ahead
Policies like this often stick when they smooth traffic and boost satisfaction, and Costco is betting early hours will do both. The rules bring order to opening-time chaos, while the reward structure clarifies who gains the most. If you shop often, the math can work; if not, timing tricks may work better.