Costco Gas Prices | CostContessa (2024)

FAQs

What is the best day to buy gas at Costco? ›

Gas stations can get busy (avoid weekends)

Avoid weekend fill-ups if you can. Buying gas on a weekend could be a nightmare, as waiting times could take hours. To avoid this, the best time to get gas at Costco is on weekdays between 10-11 in the morning.

If you want to save money on gas, fueling up at Costco may be the perfect solution for you and your wallet. It's also one of the many perks that make a Costco membership worth it. This article was updated in May 2024 and I review it every 12 months.

Costco opened its first gas station in 1995 with a commitment to members to provide high quality gasoline at the lowest possible prices. Members will find regular and premium grade fuel – and in some places, diesel. High quality fuel – it's another benefit of a Costco membership.

Q: Where does Costco get its fuel? A: Costco buys fuel from major refineries and distributors in each area. All Kirkland Signature™ Fuel is guaranteed, just like the merchandise we sell inside the warehouse.

Buy Gas on Monday or Tuesday

Be strategic about the days you fill up at the pump. “For gas, Mondays and Tuesdays tend to be the cheapest days to fill up your tank as demand is lower at the beginning of the week,” Anderson said.

Costco fuel stations are well-maintained by our capable attendants so you may be confident that the fuel going into your car is clean. Costco uses fuel filters in the petrol pumps to catch particles or debris larger than 10 microns in diameter. For comparison, the average human hair is seventy microns thick.

While both Costco and Sam's Club offer unleaded, premium, and diesel fuels (here's how to know which you should be getting), only Costco offers Top Tier fuel. If you don't have a Costco membership, you can still find Top Tier gas at other stations. “Yes, Top Tier gas is worth the extra money,” CarFax reported.

So why is it so much cheaper than the competition? The short answer is that unlike pretty much every other retail business that sells gasoline, Costco doesn't care about making money from its gas pumps. In fact, Costco typically sells its gas at a moderate loss.

Gas purchases, for example, do not earn you cash back as an Executive member. Neither do cigarette purchases or alcoholic beverage purchases in certain states. Additionally, Costco Shop Cards (Costco's version of a gift card) won't be eligible for cash back, and neither will postage stamps.

“Consumers see this as a customer-friendly convenience, but in truth, they help reduce congestion at the pumps, which allows more cars to pass through the pumps, which allows Costco to sell more gas,” says Bines. “It's a win-win, but only because it first benefits the consumer.”

How much do people save on gas from Costco? ›

It's a well-accepted fact that Costco gas is cheaper than the fuel at most other places. While the exact amount of savings you'll get depends on factors like where you live and which club you visit, you can reasonably expect to save around $0.15 to $0.20 per gallon. Let's say you save $0.17 per gallon when you fill up.

Buying gas at Costco can save you money -- typical savings are around $0.20 per gallon. It makes stopping at the warehouse club more convenient -- you can buy groceries and fuel up your car. The higher quality of Costco gas could help your vehicle run more smoothly.

Costco gas is EXACTLY THE SAME as Chevron, Shell, etc etc. BEFORE delivered. After being delivered the companies put their detergents/additives in, that's what makes them "unique". Costco, however, blends their own fuel onsite, and filters it as well.

Detergent additives help keep engines clean. Costco offers Top-tier gasoline with higher levels of required detergents; however, Sam's Club does not provide Top Tier gasoline.

In general, gas prices tend to be lowest at the beginning of the week, on Monday and Tuesday, GasBuddy's lead petroleum analyst Patrick De Haan told Nexstar. As the week goes on, gas prices tend to rise until they reach their most expensive point on the weekend – especially on Friday and Saturday.

If you are filling up in the middle of a hot day, the gasoline may expand, causing you to get less gasoline in your vehicle, which means you pay more for less. Filling up in the morning when it is cooler can help ensure the gasoline has contracted, and you get a larger amount of fuel for the same price.

Costco adheres to top-tier gasoline standards, enhancing fuel quality with increased detergents to maintain engine performance and cleanliness. You might wonder why top-tier gas additives are not mandated by law. The EPA's standards are primarily based on emissions associated with additive use.

Fill Up Either During the Early Morning or Late at Night. Ideally, if you are looking to save some gas money, many experts will say that your best bet is to fill up either during the early morning or late at night.