The Costco pharmacy is not on the same clock as the warehouse, and this is the single most common wasted trip our readers tell us about. The counter closes while the store is still open, and it does not trade at all on Sunday.
Typical pharmacy hours
| Monday to Friday | 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
With one pharmacist on duty the counter may close for 30 minutes between 1:30 PM and 2:30 PM.
Against the warehouse schedule, the gap looks like this:
| Day | Pharmacy | Warehouse |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday | 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM | 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM |
| Saturday | 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM | 9:30 AM to 7:00 PM |
| Sunday | Closed | 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM |
Read that table twice if you are planning a weekday evening pickup. The pharmacy shuts an hour and a half before the warehouse does. Turning up at 7:30 PM means you can buy anything in the building except your prescription.
The lunch-break gap nobody mentions
When only one pharmacist is on duty, the counter closes for about thirty minutes somewhere between 1:30 PM and 2:30 PM. There is no fixed time, it is not posted in advance and it is entirely down to that day’s staffing. If early afternoon is your only window, call ahead.
You do not need a membership to use the pharmacy
This surprises people. Because pharmacies are regulated differently, Costco lets non-members fill prescriptions at the counter. Walk to the membership desk, explain that you are there for the pharmacy and they will issue you a pass to get through the entrance. You cannot shop the rest of the warehouse on that pass, and depending on your state you may need to pay cash or card rather than use a Costco account.
Getting a prescription faster
- Order ahead. The Costco pharmacy app and website let you request a refill and get a text when it is ready, which turns a twenty minute wait into a two minute collection.
- Avoid the first and last hour. Opening time is when the overnight refill backlog clears and the final hour is when everyone arrives after work. Mid-morning is the calmest.
- Mail order for maintenance drugs. If you take something long term, Costco’s mail pharmacy removes the trip entirely.
Holidays
The pharmacy closes on all seven of the holidays the warehouse closes for: New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. On Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve it usually closes even earlier than its normal time, since the whole site shuts around 5:00 PM.
See the full holiday closure list
Frequently asked questions
Is the Costco pharmacy open on Sunday?
No. The pharmacy counter is closed all day Sunday at almost every warehouse, even though the store itself trades from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Can I use the Costco pharmacy without a membership?
Yes. Pharmacies are regulated separately, so non-members can fill prescriptions. Ask at the membership desk for a pass to get through the entrance.
What time does the Costco pharmacy close?
Usually 7:00 PM on weekdays and 6:00 PM on Saturday, which is an hour or more before the warehouse closes.
Why was the pharmacy closed in the middle of the day?
When only one pharmacist is on duty the counter can close for about thirty minutes somewhere between 1:30 PM and 2:30 PM. It is not posted in advance.