Costco vs Sam’s Club Hours
If you hold both memberships, or are deciding between them, the opening hours are a real difference rather than a footnote. Sam’s Club stays open longer and closes on fewer holidays. Costco keeps shorter hours and shuts completely seven times a year.
Side by side
| Day | Costco | Sam’s Club |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday | 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM | 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, club varies |
| Saturday | 9:30 AM to 7:00 PM | 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM |
| Sunday | 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM | 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM |
| Early member access | Executive members from 9:00 AM | Plus members from 8:00 AM |
| All-day holiday closures | Seven per year | Two, Thanksgiving and Christmas |
The headline difference is at the front of the day. A Sam’s Club Plus member can be inside at 8:00 AM, a full two hours before a Gold Star Costco member gets through the door.
Holidays are the bigger gap
Costco closes for New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Sam’s Club typically only closes for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, and stays open with reduced hours on the rest.
If you are the person who realizes at 4:00 PM on Memorial Day that you are out of ice, that is a genuine practical difference. Costco will be dark and Sam’s Club will not.
Where Costco wins on timing
- Weekday evenings. Costco’s 8:30 PM close beats a typical Sam’s Club 8:00 PM, so an after-work run is easier.
- Gas station hours. Costco pumps often run 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM, among the longest fuel hours of any warehouse club.
- Consistency. Costco’s schedule barely varies between locations. Sam’s Club hours differ more club to club, so you have to check yours.
Where Sam’s Club wins
- Early mornings. The 8:00 AM Plus member start is genuinely useful for anyone with a school run.
- Holiday availability. Five extra regular shopping days a year that Costco does not offer.
- Scan and Go. Skipping the checkout entirely changes how long a trip takes, which matters more than a thirty minute difference in closing time.
The honest summary
Neither is dramatically better on hours. Sam’s Club gives you a wider window and more holiday cover. Costco gives you slightly later weekday evenings and a schedule that is the same everywhere. If holiday closures irritate you, that is the one difference likely to actually change your choice.
Frequently asked questions
Which opens earlier, Costco or Sam’s Club?
Sam’s Club. Plus members can enter at 8:00 AM, two hours before a Gold Star Costco member gets in.
Which closes later?
Costco on weekdays, at 8:30 PM against a typical 8:00 PM at Sam’s Club.
Which closes on more holidays?
Costco, by a wide margin. Seven full-day closures a year against roughly two at Sam’s Club.