Skip to content
Returns & Refunds

Returns Without a Receipt

Costco Return Without a Receipt: Your Membership Is the Receipt

By the Returns & Refunds team · How we research

Summary

  • Costco records every purchase on your membership, so a receipt is helpful but often not needed.
  • You can see two years of warehouse receipts online under Orders & Returns, In-Warehouse.
  • Electronics and major appliances still have a 90-day limit, receipt or not.
  • Items bought through Instacart need the Instacart receipt and a government ID.
On this page (5 sections)
  1. How it works at the warehouse
  2. Print the receipt yourself
  3. What a missing receipt doesn’t change
  4. Costco.com and Instacart orders
  5. When it gets harder

Costco is the easiest big store to return something to without a receipt. Every purchase is recorded on your membership, so the returns counter can usually see what you bought, when, and what you paid.

Source: Costco’s return policy, warehouse returns, and viewing warehouse receipts.

How it works at the warehouse

Take the item to the returns counter at any Costco warehouse and show your membership card. Costco says having the receipt or the original packaging helps, but may not be necessary. Staff look the purchase up on your membership, and the refund normally goes back to the original payment method.

  1. Sign in at costco.com.
  2. Open Orders & Returns and choose the In-Warehouse tab.
  3. Receipts appear in six-month blocks, going back two years.

For a purchase older than two years, ask at the membership desk.

What a missing receipt doesn’t change

  • Electronics and major appliances have to come back within 90 days: TVs, projectors, computers, tablets, smartwatches, cameras, drones, phones, and major appliances.
  • Some things can’t be returned at all, including gift cards and Shop Cards, precious metals, airline and event tickets, custom-made items, and cigarettes and alcohol where the law prohibits it.

The full list is in our Costco return policy guide.

Costco.com and Instacart orders

Costco.com orders can be returned at a warehouse or started online under Orders & Returns. Same-day orders placed through Instacart are different: the returns counter needs your Instacart receipt and a government-issued ID.

When it gets harder

The lookup only works when the purchase is on your membership. If a friend bought the item on their card, the record is on their account, so bring their receipt or bring them.

Comparing Costco with other stores? See returns without a receipt at 30+ stores.

Common questions

Can you return to Costco without a receipt?

Usually, yes. Costco tracks purchases by membership, so Member Services can look up the transaction. Costco says a receipt or the original packaging helps, but may not be necessary.

How do I find an old Costco receipt?

Sign in at costco.com, open Orders & Returns, and choose the In-Warehouse tab. It shows receipts in six-month blocks going back two years. For anything older, ask at the membership desk in a warehouse.

Does it matter how I paid at Costco?

Not for finding the purchase, because it's tied to your membership card rather than your payment card. The refund normally goes back the way you paid.

Can I return a Costco item someone else bought?

Purchases are recorded on the member's account that made them. Returning an item bought on someone else's membership is up to the warehouse, so it's easiest if the member comes along or you bring their receipt.

Related guides

We have no business relationship with the stores or brands on this page. Policies change without much notice, so check the store's own policy page before you count on a deadline. If something here is out of date, let us know.