Are Costco clothes worth it? Here’s everything you need to know about your favorite discount retailer’s foray into fashion.
Costco is synonymous with low prices, and people usually associate it with bulk buys, $4.99 rotisserie chicken and food-court deals. But clothes? That might feel like a bridge too far for the membership warehouse club. After all, it’s one thing to buy Kirkland Signature bottled water, but it’s another to purchase, say, Kirkland Signature dress shirts. Or is it?
Because here’s the thing: Costco’s clothing inventory isn’t limited to Kirkland Signature shirts and pants (which, by the way, you shouldn’t discount right off the bat). The retailer carries other brands too, sometimes even high-end designers. And if we trust Costco to deliver on quality in literally every other category, it makes sense to give its clothing department a second look—especially if it can save you a bundle. So are Costco clothes worth it?
To get a better handle on the situation, we took our Costco clothing questions to fashion retail experts: Ira Lysa, the CEO of Imperial Alterations; John Smith, the vice president of design at Poshéle; and designer and stylist Peter Martinez, the co-founder of Leather Skin Shop. What they have to say might surprise you. Read on to get the scoop on Costco’s apparel—and possibly find your new favorite clothing store.
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What kind of clothes does Costco sell?
Costco sells all kinds of clothes for men, women and kids. And the store doesn’t just carry clothing, but also shoes, sunglasses, handbags, hats—you name it. While there are a lot of casual pieces, like activewear, T-shirts and sneakers, dressier styles are also available. You’ll find a pretty decent assortment of men’s dress shirts at Costco, as well as daytime dresses for women. You’re just not likely to find anything formal at the warehouse club.
Why should you buy clothes at Costco?
Interestingly, there’s more than one reason why you should buy clothes at Costco. But not surprisingly, affordability and quality are at the top of the list.
Affordability
As with everything else in the warehouse, Costco keeps prices low by making the lion’s share of its revenue from membership fees. As a result, Costco’s markup on products, even clothes, is minimal. “Most stores raise prices by over 50%,” says Smith. “Costco usually adds just 10% to 15%. That means shoppers get real savings.”
Smith points to the example of a Tahari jacket that typically sells for hundreds of dollars elsewhere—yet Costco had it for just $29.99. Yes, you read that right! “They don’t carry a huge variety,” Smith says, “but they buy big quantities of each item, which cuts costs even more.”
Kirkland Signature quality
While you can find many different brands of clothing at Costco, its own private-label brand, Kirkland Signature, is well-reviewed by fashion-industry vets. “Kirkland Signature surprises me,” says Lysa, who knows a lot about textile quality. “Their pima cotton T-shirts and men’s dress shirts are surprisingly good. They’re well fitting, well sewn and even better done than most fast fashion options at twice the price.”
Selection of brands
As previously noted, you’ll find a nice range of clothing brands here—from Eddie Bauer, Banana Republic and Ella Moss to higher-end designers like Tory Burch, Burberry and even Versace (though the latter is mainly for watches and accessories).
“Costco’s approach feels like a treasure hunt,” Smith says. “You never know what brand you’ll find, but the price is usually great.” Even one great clothing buy can make you feel like your whole membership fee is worth it.
Also of note: As of spring 2025, there were industry rumblings that Saks Fifth Avenue will be entering into a partnership with Costco to produce a line of men’s apparel for the warehouse club. If that happens, hopefully a women’s line will follow shortly!
Return policy
It’s impossible not to love a retailer with a great return policy—it makes the whole shopping experience so much easier and less stressful. Costco has a very generous return policy that extends to its clothing, and while you should never take advantage of it, it is there as a guardrail in case your clothing purchase is not up to par with the retailer’s 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Cashback for Executive members
Remember: Costco’s Executive-tier members receive a 2% cashback reward on all qualifying purchases, with a maximum of $1,250 per year. So while 2% might not seem like a ton, it’s still an extra piece of savings on top of Costco’s already low prices on clothing.
So are Costco’s clothes worth it? Considering the quality, the name brands, the low prices and the perks that go hand in hand with your purchases, we’d say yes!
How much can you save on clothes at Costco?
“When it comes to prices, Costco’s are dramatically lower than what you’d typically pay elsewhere,” says Martinez. In addition to Smith’s Tahari example above, he offers this: “For example, a Calvin Klein fleece jacket that might cost around $400 normally could be just $19.99 at Costco.”
Here are some other examples: A pair of Weatherproof Vintage Pants on the brand’s website will cost you $75, but at Costco, you’ll fork over just $16.97 for them. Similarly, a pair of Three Dots Women’s Pull-On Pants cost $88 at Macy’s … and only $15.99 at Costco.
“Generally, you can expect to see prices 20% to 50% off, or even more, compared to regular stores,” Martinez says.
How does Costco offer clothing at such low prices?
It all comes down to what Martinez refers to as Costco’s “secret sauce” for those amazing prices. “A huge chunk of their profit comes from membership fees, which means they don’t have to mark up their merchandise a lot,” he explains. “They buy a massive amount of stuff, but they only add a tiny bit to the price—most items are sold for only about 10% more than what they paid for them. This forces suppliers to give Costco big discounts for bulk orders.”
And with the Kirkland Signature line, Costco is cutting out the middleman. That means these items can be priced even lower.
Costco also doesn’t spend money on the extras that other retailers do. “Their stores are pretty basic, and they don’t spend a lot on advertising, which saves them a few percent in costs,” Martinez adds. “They then use those savings to keep prices low instead of marking them up.”
Are there any downsides to buying clothing at Costco?
If you’re relying on Costco solely for clothing purchases, your options are going to be extremely limited. While the membership warehouse does offer great prices, it’s because it buys the same thing in bulk. So you won’t get a lot of variety here.
Two other downsides? There aren’t any dressing rooms in the warehouses, so you can’t try on before you buy. And many of the great designer buys are offered only to members online at Costco.com.
What’s the best strategy for buying clothes at Costco?
- Take reviews into account. While you may not be able to try on clothes at Costco, there is a reliable (and vocal) member base at the ready, and they leave reviews of products online. Check those before heading into the warehouse if you want to feel better about a potential purchase beforehand.
- Shop at just the right time. Let’s face it—weekends at Costco can be an absolute nightmare. But if you can go mid-week in the mornings, like Tuesday through Thursday, you’re likely to have a better selection of clothing to choose from. That’s because employees have had time to restock after (and before the next) weekend rush. Plus, you’ll have time to ponder an item of clothing without feeling rushed and jostled.
- Check out Costco.com for designer brands. If it’s designer deals you want, your best bet is to look for them on Costco’s website. That’s often the only place things like Tory Burch sandals, Burberry scarves and Versace watches will be available, so you don’t even have to waste your time in the store.
- Shop the Kirkland Signature basics. “Many find the basics surprisingly sturdy,” Martinez says. “The sweatpants, hoodies and loungewear are really nice quality, often better than brands costing twice as much. The thick wool socks and cozy pima cotton T-shirts are also big hits. These items hold up great over several years, with leggings and sweatshirts still looking excellent after five years.”
About the experts
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At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. For this piece on if Costco clothes are worth it, Kelly Bryant tapped her experience as a longtime journalist who frequently covers Costco and other brands for Reader’s Digest. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Ira Lysa, CEO of Imperial Alterations; interviewed, July 2025
- John Smith, vice president of design at Poshéle; interviewed, July 2025
- Peter Martinez, stylist, designer and co-founder of Leather Skin Shop; interviewed, July 2025
- Yahoo Finance: “Saks Fifth Avenue Brand Heads to Costco”
