Does Costco Have Curbside Pickup or In-Store Pickup Options?

If you’ve ever stared at a Costco parking lot and thought, “I would rather wrestle a 40-pack of water bottles than fight for a spot,” you’re not alone.
The good news: Costco does have pickup-style options. The slightly complicated news: Costco’s definition of “pickup” is not always the same
as Target’s “pull up, pop trunk, go live your best life.”

In other words, Costco isn’t anti-convenience. It’s just… Costco about itbig carts, big quantities, and big opinions about how you should shop.
Let’s break down what’s actually available, what’s limited, and what to do if you want the convenience without the cardio.

Quick Answer (Because You’re Busy)

• Curbside pickup: Not widely available nationwide. Costco has offered curbside pickup in a limited market (notably Albuquerque, New Mexico) through Costco Grocery Same-Day pickup.
  Outside of limited programs, most Costco warehouses do not offer traditional curbside pickup for regular warehouse shopping.
• In-store pickup: Yesbut mostly for select Costco.com items (think certain electronics/jewelry categories) via Warehouse Pickup.
  You pick up inside the warehouse (usually at merchandise pickup), and only the eligible purchaser can collect the order.
• Best “close enough” options: Costco Same-Day Delivery (powered by Instacart), CostcoGrocery 2-Day Delivery, and (for some locations) Costco Business Center order pickup.

What Costco “Pickup” Means (and What It Doesn’t)

When people ask about pickup, they usually mean one of two things:

1. True curbside pickup: You order online, drive up, and someone brings it to your car.
2. Buy Online, Pick Up In Store (BOPIS): You order online, walk in, and grab it at a pickup counter.

Costco’s everyday superpower is getting members into the warehouse where one “quick run for eggs” magically becomes a kayak, a 10-pound bag of rice,
and a hot dog you swear you didn’t need but spiritually required. That business model is part of why Costco’s pickup options are more selective than many
big retailers.

Also, quick heads-up: Costco sometimes uses the phrase “curbside delivery” for certain big-item shipping methods (that’s delivery to your driveway).
That’s different from curbside pickup, which is what most people mean when they say “Can you bring it to my car?”

Curbside Pickup at Costco: The Real Story

Where curbside pickup actually exists (limited markets)

Costco has offered curbside pickup in a limited test market through its grocery programmost famously in the Albuquerque, New Mexico area.
In that setup, you shop through Costco Grocery Same-Day, choose Pickup, select a warehouse, and book a pickup window.
Costco employees prepare the order and bring it out to your vehicle.

In that program, Costco has described details like:

• Pickup available at specific warehouses in the market
• One-hour pickup windows (availability can be limited)
• Dedicated pickup parking spaces and text-message check-in
• A pickup fee per order and a minimum order size
• Roughly ~2,000 eligible items, including groceries and select non-food items

The big takeaway: Costco curbside pickup is not a standard, nationwide Costco benefit the way it is at many grocery chains.
If you’re not in a market where Pickup appears as an option during checkout, you’re likely looking at delivery or in-warehouse pickup instead.

Why Costco doesn’t offer widespread curbside pickup

Costco warehouses are designed for speed-through-volume, not backstage order staging. Most items move from pallet to floor fast, and backroom space is
famously tight compared to retailers built for pick-and-pack.

Add in crowded parking lots, weekend traffic, and the operational reality of staging hundreds of giant orders (because Costco members do not do “small orders”
unless they’re emotionally compromised), and you can see why Costco has been selective about curbside.

In-Store Pickup Option 1: Costco.com “Order Online Pickup in the Warehouse”

Costco’s most consistent in-store pickup option is Warehouse Pickup for certain Costco.com products.
This is not “order your weekly groceries and pick them up,” but it can be a great solution for select categoriesespecially higher-value items where you’d rather not
gamble with porch delivery.

What kinds of items qualify?

Eligibility varies, but Costco lists categories like select laptops, tablets, cameras, jewelry, wearables, and related tech items
among common Warehouse Pickup candidates. If an item qualifies, you’ll see Warehouse Pickup indicated during shopping/checkout.

How it works (step-by-step)

1. Shop on Costco.com and look for an item that offers Warehouse Pickup.
2. Select your pickup warehouse (you’ll choose a location as part of the order flow when eligible).
3. Wait for the “ready for pickup” notice. This is important: even if your warehouse sells the item in-store, your pickup order may still follow
   the online fulfillment process and standard delivery timelines.
4. Go to the warehouse’s merchandise pickup area (signage varies by location, but many warehouses have a designated pickup counter/area).
5. Bring the right ID and order details. Costco generally requires that the bill-to credit card addressee (the purchaser) picks up the item and shows
   valid government-issued photo ID.

The biggest “gotchas” people run into

• Pickup isn’t instant. “Warehouse Pickup” doesn’t mean the item is waiting in the back like a secret menu burger. Many items still ship to the warehouse first.
• The purchaser usually must pick it up. This can be inconvenient if you’re trying to send a helpful cousin with your pickup email.
• It’s pickup inside the building. It’s convenient, but it’s not curbside.

In-Store Pickup Option 2: Shipping Certain Costco.com Orders to a Warehouse

Closely related to Warehouse Pickup: Costco notes that some Costco.com products can be shipped to your local Costco warehouse when eligible.
In practice, this is one of the best “secure pickup” alternatives if you’re worried about package theft, live in an apartment with chaotic package rooms,
or just don’t want a large item sitting outside your door like a “please steal me” invitation.

The key detail is eligibility. If shipping to a warehouse is available for an item, Costco indicates it on the product page or near the “Add to Cart” area.
If you don’t see it, assume it needs to ship to a home or business address.

Pickup Option 3: Costco Business Center Order Pickup (Some Locations)

Here’s the underrated plot twist: Costco Business Center operations can have their own pickup flow.
In some areas, Costco Business Delivery offers warehouse pickupmeaning you order online and pick up at a Business Center.

This is typically designed for businesses and larger orders. Requirements and instructions can be very specific (for example, setting a particular delivery ZIP code,
choosing a pickup date, and meeting minimum order totals). If you’re a small business owner, event planner, or the friend who always gets stuck buying snacks for the whole team,
this can be a time-saver.

If You Want Grocery Pickup, These Are Usually Your Best Costco Options

1) Costco Same-Day Delivery (Powered by Instacart)

For most members in most metro areas, the practical convenience play is Same-Day Delivery.
You shop through Costco’s Same-Day interface (powered by Instacart), pick a delivery window, and an Instacart shopper handles the shopping and delivery.

A few realities to know upfront:

• Prices are typically higher than in-warehouse pricing because the markup helps cover the delivery service.
• Minimum order requirements commonly apply.
• Your Same-Day cart is separate from your Costco.com cart, so you usually can’t check out with both in the same transaction.

Still, if your goal is “avoid the warehouse today,” Same-Day Delivery is the most widely available Costco convenience option.

2) CostcoGrocery 2-Day Delivery

Costco also offers a 2-Day Delivery option for many non-perishable items and household essentials.
This can be a sweet spot when you’re stocking up but don’t need it within the hour.
Depending on order size and item type, delivery fees and surcharges can work differently than Same-Day.

3) Instacart directly (including for non-members, with trade-offs)

Costco notes that Same-Day Delivery is generally for members, but non-members may be able to shop Costco items through Instacart directly
usually at a higher cost than members see through Costco’s Same-Day experience.
Translation: it can work in a pinch, but it’s not the cheapest way to live.

How to Check Your Exact Pickup Options in 60 Seconds

1. For curbside pickup: Start at Costco Grocery Same-Day (via Costco.com/app) and see whether Pickup appears as a checkout option
   after you enter your address/warehouse area.
2. For in-store pickup: On Costco.com, open the specific product page and look for Warehouse Pickup / “Order Online Pickup in the Warehouse”
   eligibility.
3. For Business Center pickup: If you have a Costco Business Center nearby, check Costco Business Delivery pickup instructions for your area and confirm
   any minimum order requirements and pickup hours.
4. When in doubt: Treat pickup availability like a food court itemif it’s on the menu today, it exists. If not, don’t argue with the menu.

Pro Tips to Make Costco Pickup (or Delivery) Feel Less Like a Side Quest

• Use Warehouse Pickup for “porch-risk” items: Electronics, jewelry, and other high-value purchases are great candidates when eligible.
• Keep your ID situation boring: If the order requires the purchaser to pick up, make sure the name on your account/payment matches the person showing up.
  Costco is not trying to ruin your day; they’re trying to not hand a laptop to “Totally-Not-A-Scammer McGee.”
• Don’t mix carts in your head: Same-Day Grocery and Costco.com often run like two separate checkout lanes that don’t speak to each other.
  Plan accordingly.
• Timing matters: For any pickup program with windows, pick a time you can actually make. The parking lot will still be the parking lot.
• Budget for convenience: Delivery and some pickup programs can add fees or markups. Decide whether you’re paying for time, sanity, or both.

FAQ: Costco Pickup Questions People Ask While Standing in the Snack Aisle

Does Costco have curbside pickup everywhere?

No. Costco curbside pickup has been offered in limited markets (such as the Albuquerque, NM area), but it’s not a standard nationwide service at most U.S. warehouses.
In many areas, you’ll see delivery options instead.

Does Costco have Buy Online, Pick Up In Store (BOPIS)?

Costco offers Warehouse Pickup for select Costco.com items. This is an in-store pickup experience (usually at merchandise pickup),
but it’s not available for everything, and it’s not the same as picking up a full grocery order.

Can someone else pick up my Costco.com Warehouse Pickup order?

Often, Costco requires the bill-to credit card addressee (the purchaser) to pick up the item with valid government-issued photo ID.
Always read the pickup requirements shown on your order details.

Is Costco Same-Day Delivery the same price as in the warehouse?

Usually not. Costco notes that Same-Day item prices are typically marked up compared to local warehouse pricing to cover the delivery service,
and minimum order requirements may apply.

Do Same-Day purchases count toward Executive rewards?

Costco indicates that Same-Day Delivery purchases can count toward Executive rewards based on the original warehouse sell price (before markup),
though specific reward calculations can vary by program details.

Experiences That Make This All Click (500+ Words of Real-World “Pickup Life”)

Let’s make this practical with the kinds of situations that push people to search “Costco curbside pickup” at 11:47 p.m. like it’s a life skill.

The “I just need one thing” myth

You tell yourself you’ll pop in for paper towels. Fifteen minutes later, you’re comparing two-packs of camping chairs like you’re outfitting a wilderness expedition.
If you’re the type of shopper who genuinely wants to avoid impulse buying, Costco’s lack of widespread curbside pickup can feel like the universe is laughing.
That’s where Warehouse Pickup becomes oddly comforting: when it’s available for an item you want (say, a tablet or laptop),
it turns Costco into a more focused mission. Walk in, go to merchandise pickup, handle your business, and leave before your cart “accidentally” adopts a 12-count muffin pack.

The apartment dweller with a “package room” that isn’t

If you live in an apartment building, you might have a package room that’s basically a moodsometimes it’s organized, sometimes it’s a cardboard jungle.
For higher-value orders, shipping to a warehouse (when eligible) is like choosing peace. Instead of tracking a delivery window and hoping the box doesn’t sit out,
you wait for the “ready for pickup” message and then pick up with ID. It’s not as effortless as curbside, but it can be safer and less stressful.

The parent/guardian with a tight schedule and zero patience

Same-Day Delivery can be the difference between a calm evening and a dramatic pantry emergency. But it helps to go in with the right expectations:
you’re paying for convenience. The prices may be higher than what you’d pay walking the aisles yourself, and you may have a minimum order.
In exchange, you get time backtime you can spend on literally anything else, including not doing battle with the parking lot.
Many shoppers use Same-Day for “today necessities” and then do an in-person run less often for big stock-ups.

The small business “snack supplier” who can’t be late

If you’re buying for a team, an office, a school event, or a nonprofit, a Business Center pickup setup (where available) can feel like Costco created a cheat code
specifically for people who buy chips by the case. The order minimums can be higher, and the instructions can be very specific,
but the payoff is that you’re not wandering the warehouse trying to find 14 identical items for a big event.
It’s more “place order, show up, load up, go be the hero with the granola bars.”

The “I heard Costco has curbside!” moment

This one happens a lot because the internet loves a confident headline. Here’s the practical way to think about it:
Costco curbside pickup has existed in limited markets and can show up as an option depending on where you live.
If you’re in a supported area, you’ll see Pickup during the Same-Day grocery flow, you’ll choose a window, and the process will feel familiar:
check-in, park, trunk, done. If you’re not in that area, the Pickup button won’t magically appear because you asked nicely.
Costco is wonderfully consistent that way.

The best strategy if you want maximum convenience

Many regular Costco shoppers end up with a “two-lane” system:

• Lane 1: Same-Day Delivery for quick groceries and household essentials when time matters more than a few extra dollars.
• Lane 2: Warehouse Pickup (when eligible) for higher-value items you don’t want shipped to your doorstep.
• Lane 3 (optional): Occasional in-person warehouse trips for the full Costco experiencesamples, deals, and the weirdly emotional satisfaction of buying
  a year’s supply of olive oil.

The point isn’t to force Costco to behave like every other retailer. It’s to use the options Costco does offer in a way that fits how you actually live
whether that’s avoiding delivery theft, saving time, or simply preserving your energy for something more important than arguing with a parking lot.

Conclusion

So, does Costco have curbside pickup or in-store pickup options? Yesbut with a Costco-style asterisk.
Curbside pickup has been available in limited markets rather than as a widespread, default service.
In-store pickup exists primarily through Costco.com Warehouse Pickup for select items (especially certain electronics and jewelry categories),
plus specialized pickup flows tied to certain Business Center operations.

If you want the smoothest experience, start by checking what your ZIP code supports, then choose the option that matches your goal:
avoid porch delivery risk, avoid the warehouse entirely, or just avoid turning “one item” into a full cart (we’ve all been there).