Sam's Club hiking membership fees May 1
It will soon be a little more expensive to obtain an annual membership at Sam’s Club.
The warehouse club subsidiary of Walmart is increasing the fees to join both its Club and Plus membership tiers. In an email to Chain Store Age, Sam’s Club will raise the annual cost of a basic Club account from $50 to $60 and the yearly price of a premium Plus membership from $110 to $120, effective Friday, May 1, 2026.
“We have adjusted our membership pricing to support the things our members love,” a Sam’s Club spokesperson said in the email. “We will continue to provide innovative, tech‑driven tools and a curated assortment of the best national brands and Member’s Mark (editor’s note - Sam’s Club private label brand) items—while also giving members greater flexibility to shop how they want with expanded in-club hours, curbside pickup and enhanced delivery options, reinforcing Sam’s Club’s value promise of exceptional products and service and an elevated shopping experience."
Plus membership perks include 2% back in Sam’s Cash rewards on qualifying purchases, free shipping with no minimum purchase, free curbside pickup, early in-store shopping hours, exclusive pharmacy savings and 50% off tire installation. As part of the adjustment to the Plus membership, Sam’s Club is boosting the amount of rewards funds members can earn on qualifying purchases annually to $750 from $500.
Current Sam’s Club members will begin paying the higher prices when they renew their membership accounts at the end of their current billing cycles. When the new pricing kicks in, Sam’s Club will charge the same for basic and premium membership as BJ’s Wholesale and slightly less than Costco for basic membership, which currently costs $65 per year. Costco’s premium membership level also has an annual price tag of $120.
In commentary provided to CNBC, Mizuho Securities retail analyst David Bellinger said Sam’s Club’s higher membership fees could increase its annual subscription revenue by more than $200 million, which would increase annual earnings per share at Walmart by two cents. Sam’s Club does not disclose total membership numbers.
In a recent limited time offer, Sam’s Club actually slashed its membership fees in time for holiday shopping. During October 2025, the retailer offered new members a Club membership for $15, or a $35 discount, and a Plus membership for $50, or a $60 discount.
[READ MORE: Sam’s Club offers seasonal reduced-fee membership deal]
Based in Bentonville, Ark., Sam’s Club operates more than 600 clubs across the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
