How Costco Works
Costco Shop Card in Canada: how it works, where you can use it and who can buy one
A Costco Shop Card is a prepaid card from $50 to $2,000 with no expiry date. Members buy them; non-members can spend one in the warehouse. Where it works (gas, food court, Costco.ca), how to check and reload it, and the digital card's limits.
By Cost Check Editorial · Last reviewed Oct 1, 2026 · 3 min read
A Costco Shop Card is Costco's prepaid gift card: you load $50 to $2,000 on it, it has no expiry date, and it works at any Costco warehouse in Canada, the U.S. and Puerto Rico and on Costco.ca. Only members can buy one, but a non-member can spend one in the warehouse. Our advice: give the physical card, not the digital one, if the person will use it for gas or the food court.
What is a Costco Shop Card?
A prepaid card for spending at Costco, sold as a physical card or a digital card sent by email. Each card holds $50 to $2,000, and Costco caps purchases at $10,000 a day. Costco lists no expiry date. Shop Cards are non-refundable and can't be redeemed for cash, except where the law requires it.
| Physical Shop Card | Digital Shop Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | $50 to $2,000 | $50 to $2,000 |
| Delivery from Costco.ca | Mail, 7 to 10 business days, no tracking | Email, within 24 hours |
| Costco gas stations | Yes | No |
| Food court kiosks | Yes | No |
| Warehouse registers and Costco.ca | Yes | Yes |
Who can buy and use a Costco Shop Card?
You need a Costco membership to buy a Shop Card. Anyone can use one in the warehouse: a non-member shows the card at the entrance and registers for a day pass, which Costco allows 2 times a year. Shopping on Costco.ca with a Shop Card needs a member with a Costco.ca account, so a non-member can only spend it in person.
Where can you use a Costco Shop Card?
| Where | Physical card | Digital card |
|---|---|---|
| Costco warehouses in Canada, the U.S. and Puerto Rico | Yes | Yes |
| Costco.ca and costcobusinesscentre.ca (members) | Yes | Yes |
| Costco gas stations | Yes | No |
| Food court kiosks | Yes | No |
| Same-day delivery powered by Instacart | No | No |
At the pump, a Shop Card is one of the ways to pay alongside Mastercard and debit; see our Costco gas page.
Can you pay for a Costco membership with a Shop Card?
Yes. Costco says Shop Cards can be used toward a membership as well as merchandise, so a Shop Card can cover a renewal: $65 for Gold Star or $130 for Executive. See what each membership costs and how to renew.
How do you check or reload a Costco Shop Card balance?
Check the balance on Costco.ca or in the Costco app with the card number and its 4-digit PIN. To add money, take the card to any warehouse register: Costco does not reload physical or digital Shop Cards online.
What if you lose a Costco Shop Card?
Costco replaces a lost or stolen Shop Card for the value shown on its records, as long as you have proof of purchase. Keep the receipt, or the email for a digital card, until the balance is spent.
Can you return a Costco Shop Card?
No. Shop Cards and gift cards are on the list of exceptions in the Costco return policy, and they are also excluded from price adjustments.
Frequently asked questions
- Can non-members use a Costco Shop Card?
- Yes, in the warehouse, with a day pass that Costco allows 2 times a year. Shopping online with one needs a member account.
- Do Costco Shop Cards expire?
- No. Costco lists no expiry date on its Shop Cards.
- Can you use a Costco Shop Card for gas?
- Yes with a physical Shop Card. Digital Shop Cards can't be used at Costco gas stations, food court kiosks or self-checkout.
- How much can you put on a Costco Shop Card?
- $50 to $2,000 per card, with purchases capped at $10,000 a day.
- Can you reload a Costco Shop Card online?
- No. Reload it at any warehouse register; checking the balance works online with the card number and 4-digit PIN.
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