Where to use your Costco reward certificate
You can use a Costco reward certificate at any Costco warehouse location in the United States, Canada, or online at Costco.com. The certificate works like a prepaid voucher — you hand it to the cashier during checkout, or enter the certificate number during online payment. It reduces your total bill by the dollar amount printed on the certificate.
Costco does not mail certificates to your home address. You receive them either in your email inbox (if you signed up for digital delivery) or printed at the register after your purchase. Check your email spam folder if you do not see a digital certificate within a few hours of earning it.
The certificate has an expiration date printed on it, usually 30 days from the date it was issued. After that date, Costco will not honor it, so note the important date as soon as you receive it.
Key Takeaways
- Present your certificate to the cashier at checkout, or enter the certificate number online before you pay.
- Certificates expire 30 days from the issue date, so check the printed or emailed certificate for the exact important date.
- You can combine multiple certificates in a single transaction, and any remaining balance stays on the certificate if you do not spend it all.
- Costco will not refund the unused portion of a certificate, but you can use it across multiple shopping trips before it expires.
- Digital certificates appear in your email within a few hours; check spam folders if you do not see it in your inbox.
How to redeem a certificate at the register
When you reach the checkout line, tell the cashier you have a Costco reward certificate. Hand them the physical certificate or show them the digital version on your phone. The cashier will scan or manually enter the certificate number into the register.
The certificate amount will subtract from your total when ready. If your purchase is less than the certificate value, the remaining balance stays on the certificate — you do not lose it. You can use the same certificate on your next shopping trip until the expiration date passes.
If your purchase is more than the certificate value, you pay the difference with your regular payment method (debit card, credit card, or Costco Cash Card). Costco does not issue change or refunds for unused certificate balances.
How to redeem a certificate online
Log into your Costco.com account and add items to your cart as usual. At checkout, before you enter your payment information, look for a field labeled "Promo Code" or "Certificate Number." Enter the 16-digit number printed on your digital certificate or physical voucher.
The certificate amount will subtract from your order total. If you have multiple certificates, you can enter them one at a time during the same checkout session. Costco.com will explore each one in order until you run out of certificates or complete your purchase.
Shipping and taxes are calculated after the certificate is applied, so your final total reflects the reduced amount. If your order total is less than your certificate value, the leftover amount remains on the certificate for future use.
What happens if you lose or do not receive your certificate
If you earned a certificate but did not receive it by email, check your spam and promotions folders first. If it is not there, log into your Costco.com account and go to your account settings or rewards page — many members can view and reprint digital certificates from there.
If you received a physical certificate at the register and lost it, Costco cannot reissue it. The certificate is treated like cash once it leaves the register. If you lost a digital certificate, you may be able to retrieve it from your email history or your Costco account, depending on how your membership is set up.
Contact Costco member services with your membership number if you cannot locate a certificate you know you earned. They can sometimes confirm whether a certificate was issued and help you access it if it is stored in your account.
Using multiple certificates in one transaction
You can combine as many certificates as you want in a single shopping trip. At the register, hand the cashier all your certificates at once, or tell them you have multiple ones. They will scan or enter each certificate number separately, and the total value will subtract from your bill.
Online, enter each certificate number in the promo code field one at a time. After you enter the first certificate, the system will usually prompt you to add another code if you have more. Keep entering certificates until all of them are applied or your order total reaches zero.
If your combined certificate value exceeds your purchase total, the unused portion stays on each certificate. You can use the remaining balances on future shopping trips before the expiration dates pass.
Certificates that expire and what to do about it
Costco reward certificates expire 30 days after they are issued. The expiration date is printed clearly on the certificate itself. After that date, the certificate has no value and Costco will not accept it at checkout.
If you have a certificate nearing expiration, plan a shopping trip before the important date. You do not have to spend the full amount — any balance you do not use stays on the certificate until it expires. Once the expiration date passes, that remaining balance is lost.
Costco does not extend expiration dates or issue replacement certificates for expired ones. Set a phone reminder for a few days before the expiration date if you tend to forget, or use the certificate on your next regular shopping trip to avoid losing it.
Certificates and Costco membership types
Reward certificates work the same way regardless of whether you have a Gold Star membership, Executive membership, or a business membership. The certificate value and expiration date do not change based on your membership level.
If you have a household card linked to your membership, both the primary member and the household member can use certificates earned on that account. The certificate does not belong to one person — it belongs to the membership account.
Non-members cannot use Costco reward certificates. You must have an active Costco membership and present your membership card at checkout to redeem any certificate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a Costco reward certificate to buy a Costco gift card?
No. Costco does not allow you to use reward certificates to purchase gift cards or Costco Cash Cards. You must pay for gift cards with cash, debit, or credit. However, you can use a reward certificate on any other merchandise in the warehouse.
What if I use only part of my certificate — do I get the rest back?
The unused balance stays on the certificate and you can use it on your next shopping trip. You do not get cash back. The certificate remains valid until the 30-day expiration date passes, even if you use it multiple times.
Can I transfer my certificate to someone else?
Physical certificates can be given to anyone, since they work like cash vouchers. Digital certificates are tied to your Costco.com account, so you cannot transfer them directly. If someone else wants to use a digital certificate, you would need to make the purchase on their behalf or have them log into your account.
Do Costco reward certificates work at Costco Gas or the pharmacy?
Certificates work at the main warehouse checkout and online. Costco Gas stations and the pharmacy have separate payment systems and do not accept reward certificates. You must use them on regular warehouse merchandise.
What if my certificate number did not scan at the register?
Tell the cashier the number did not scan and they can manually enter the 16-digit certificate number into the register. If the number is damaged or unclear, the cashier may ask you to provide it verbally or check your email for a digital copy. If the certificate is expired, the register will reject it and the cashier cannot override it.