'The #1 Thing You Should Be Buying at Costco, But Probably Aren’t' In Lifestyle
If you’ve never bought clothes at Costco … this is your sign.
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The No. 1 thing you should be buying at Costco, but probably aren’t, is clothes.
In 2024, Costco sold $9.7 billion in apparel, making it a popular destination for clothing.
If you’re looking to save money without sacrificing quality, shopping for clothes at Costco may be a good idea.
I never leave Costco without a bulk pack of toilet paper, my favorite coffee and a rotisserie chicken or two. But between the produce cooler and the paper goods, I always take a detour through the massive clothing section. The tables of $12 tees, kids’ pajamas and silky-soft joggers that look an awful lot like ones selling for three times the price easily suck me in.
If you haven’t yet ventured into the world of Costco clothing, you may want to give it a second look. In 2024, Costco sold an incredible $9.7 billion in apparel, which, for context, was more than actual clothing brands like Old Navy or Abercrombie & Fitch.1 Keep reading to learn why, if you’re not already shopping for clothes at Costco, you should be.
Why We Love Buying Clothes at Costco
Costco isn’t a fashion retailer, and you won’t find fitting rooms, styled mannequins or attendants helping you find your size. But among the pallets and folding tables, you’ll find pieces of clothing just as good as the name-brand options, with prices that make them hard to pass up. Here are just a few reasons to take a detour through the maze of clothing tables during your next Costco trip.
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You’ll Find Name Brands at Warehouse Prices
While the exact Gap sweatshirt I bought my daughter from Costco isn’t available at an actual Gap store, you wouldn’t be able to tell by the quality or style—just the price tag. “Costco has partnered with many popular fashion brands like Gap, Carter’s, Eddie Bauer, Frye, Fabletics and Roxy, offering low prices on exclusive clothing items to members,” says Andrea Woroch, a consumer-savings and smart shopping expert. These partnerships make it easy to buy the brands you love at prices that make it easier to stick to a budget.
It’s a Great Place to Stock Up on Seasonal Staples
While the main clothing section is tucked toward the back of the store, you can’t walk in the door without passing by the new seasonal apparel, which seems to change every visit. You’ll find kids’ snow pants in the winter, men’s and women’s jackets in the fall, plus plenty of tees, shorts and swimsuits as spring break and summer roll around, making it easy to stock up on what you need for each season.
“You’ll find Costco has a lot of staple trends in clothing, such as sweaters, polos, jackets, activewear and pants,” says Cesar Cruz, a fashion designer. “These can be a great starting point for a wardrobe, and if you focus on great basics, you let your statement pieces do the talking and draw the attention.” So even if you’re not buying your entire wardrobe at Costco, it’s a great place to stock up on the basics.
The Store-Brand Dupes Are Too Good to Pass Up
Kirkland Signature is Costco’s exclusive private label brand.2 Just as many of the Kirkland food products are comparable (and sometimes superior) to their name-brand counterparts, the clothing is no exception.
“Their in-house basics and trendy items are all at a much more affordable price than you’d find at other retail stores,” says Cruz. “This means you can buy with a focus on quality and not go over your budget too much with your daily purchases.” I’ve found jackets, sweaters, shorts and pants that look and feel just like higher-end brands like Lululemon, Vuori and Athleta, at a fraction of the price.
The Return Policy Is Unbeatable
Without fitting rooms, you have to take a best guess that something will fit. This alone would be enough to turn me away from buying clothes at Costco if it weren’t for their insanely good return policy. If you’re also someone who will let a bag of returns sit in your trunk for three months before it actually gets taken back to the store, that’s not a problem with Costco.
While returns are ultimately up to the store manager, their 100% satisfaction guarantee return policy allows you to return clothing at any time. And if your kids yanked the tag off before they tried them on, no worries. In most cases, products don’t even need the tag, ideally just the receipt or the card you purchased it with.3
Our Expert Take
If you’re looking for ways to save money without sacrificing quality, shopping for clothes at Costco, especially when it comes to seasonal staples and basics, is a good place to start. While it may take some searching, you’re likely to find deals on high-quality clothing. And if something doesn’t fit right or the quality isn’t what you expected, Costco’s generous return policy makes it less risky to take a chance!
