Snacking and shopping—the way it's meant to be
Costco’s free samples are one of life’s simple pleasures. There you are, perusing bulk buy after bulk buy, and, like an oasis in the desert, a kind soul offers you a snack. Maybe it’s a piece of bread slathered with Kirkland butter, or perhaps a cocktail meatball. Whatever the bite happens to be, it’s just a sweet little perk waiting for you at the warehouse club.
Some people love Costco’s free samples so much, they actually plan their shopping trips around them. Between these nibbles and the best deal in Costco’s food court, you can practically carve out a little meal for yourself for 25 cents, plus the cost of admission (aka your membership card).
If you’d like to be one of these people, then knowing the best time to hit Costco for free samples is imperative. So let’s get some clarity on that from shoppers in the know.
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When is the best time to go to Costco for free samples?
“The best time to go for free samples is, unfortunately, when the store is busiest—on the weekends,” says consumer savings expert Andrea Woroch. “This is when the store has more sample offers.”
Costco members on Reddit (who are a very vocal bunch) tend to agree that this is when you’ll find not only the biggest quantity of samples but also the most variety.
“Sample stations are more plentiful during the busiest times and days,” says one Reddit user. “The sample crew start to haul stuff out around lunchtime, and there seem to be more on the weekends compared to weekdays.”
Is there a time of year when samples are more plentiful?
Generally speaking, you’ll find more samples around big holidays. One Redditor even mentioned seeing more full-size samples around Christmas—including trays of regular-sized Ferrero Rocher chocolates.
“Big times for samples are the shopping days for the major holidays, like the days headed to the Fourth of July, Labor Day, etc., when manufacturers want their products moving,” says another Reddit user.
Is it OK to take seconds?
It’s absolutely OK to take seconds—as long as you keep the crowd around you in mind. On Reddit, a Costco free-sample employee echoes this sentiment.
“There are no rules for how many samples you can take, just don’t go crazy and make sure to let others have some too,” says Redditor Beansy2000. “I’ve given a guy probably two pounds of those Bare chicken nuggets before because he kept coming back in between rushes.”
How about thirds?
As long as you’re sharing and leaving enough for the rest of the crowd, you can go back for free samples as many times as you like. But grabbing an entire tray with a long line of people behind you might be the most annoying thing to happen at Costco.
However, the sample givers do have one unwritten rule—and it should be common sense for shoppers too: Let them finish cooking the samples before you grab one.
“If you’re upset the sample isn’t as hot as you want it, you cannot reach onto the griddle or other tool to take it,” says Redditor WantDastardlyBack, a former Costco sample handler. “I had a woman reach over and pick up a piece of pork from the griddle. I told her it wasn’t cooked yet and that she had to take one from the tray, but she argued that she wanted a hot one and reached over my barrier.”
When are you almost guaranteed not to find free samples?
Costco members on Reddit agree that you’re unlikely to see free samples when the store first opens, especially on a weekday. In fact, they tend to start seeing the sample stations just begin setting up by the time those early shoppers are leaving the store, between 11 a.m. and noon. This is helpful for the folks who don’t want to be tempted into overbuying because of the tasty treats being offered.
However, while the samples can certainly be a pitfall when trying to stay on budget, they can also work in your favor. “If you are shopping on an empty stomach, it’s easy to fill up your cart with impulse food purchases, even when you’re not sampling something,” Woroch says. “Get strategic by trying a few of the samples around the store before filling up your cart. This can tame some of your hungry impulse shopping!”
Do you have to buy the item if you take a free sample?
You’re under no obligation to purchase the item you’re sampling. But it doesn’t hurt to chat with the sample employee for a minute as a courtesy. They likely have supervisors nearby watching to make sure they aren’t just giving away free products but also trying to talk up—and sell—the item.
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Sources:
- Andrea Woroch, consumer savings expert; interviewed, August 2025
- Reddit: “Best time/days for Samples”
- Reddit: “Tips From a Sample Giver”
- Reddit: “When does Costco store have most food tasting/sampling counters?”
