How Much Is a Sam’s Club Membership?
Sam's Club is a wholesale club that offers two memberships, Club for $50 and Plus for $110. Sam's stands out for its Scan & Go shopping option and early hours for Plus members.
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Buying from a warehouse club could potentially help you save money and time.
Sam’s Club is a membership-based wholesale retailer, similar to Costco and BJ’s, that lets shoppers buy in bulk. It also gives customers access to discounted prices on groceries, clothing and household items. Members can also get discounted gas at the pump.
While shopping at wholesale clubs isn’t right for everyone, it can be a great choice if you live in a big household or want to save money on products that you use often.
How much is a Sam’s Club membership?
The Sam’s Club membership program consists of two tiers, with different prices for each. Keep in mind that some states collect taxes on Sam’s Club membership fees.
Club Membership: $50 per year.
Plus Membership: $110 per year.
You must be 18 and older and have a valid form of identification to get a membership.
What is the difference between Sam’s Club memberships?
The Club membership is the cheaper option and grants you access to Sam’s Club prices. The Plus membership is more expensive and offers additional benefits, such as free shipping on orders over $50 and early shopping hours. Both memberships provide one card for the primary account holder and a complimentary card for a second household member.
Only Plus members are eligible to earn Sam's Cash — 2% cash back on qualifying purchases, adding up to $500 per year. There's a fairly long list of exclusions, including alcohol and tobacco products, fuel, milk and gift cards, so be sure to check online for more details.
Sam's Cash is awarded on a monthly basis and loaded onto your membership card for purchases in store, online or on the app. You can also cash out with member services.
Here are the perks of a Sam’s membership:
Club Membership
Add up to eight additional members at a reduced rate of $45 each.
Avoid the checkout line by using the Scan & Go feature, which allows you to scan items as you add them to your cart and pay using the Sam’s Club app.
Free curbside pickup on eligible orders over $50.
If you’re unsatisfied, cancel anytime and receive a refund of the amount paid toward your current year membership.
Plus Membership
Add up to 16 Club-level members at a reduced rate of $45 each — however, the add-on memberships are at a Club level, not a Plus level. Only one Plus membership is allowed per household.
Early shopping hours to avoid the crowd. Plus members can access the club starting at 8 a.m. The store opens at 10 a.m. for Club members.
Access to the Scan & Go feature to pay for items in-club.
Free curbside pickup on all orders over $50 and free shipping on eligible online items over $50.
Additional optical and pharmacy discounts.
Get 2% in Sam’s Cash back on qualifying purchases.
If you’re unsatisfied, cancel anytime and receive a refund of the amount paid toward your current year membership.
» Explore an alternative: Costco membership costs
Nerdy Perspective
My family has a Sam’s Club Plus membership and I think it’s worth every penny. It’s convenient to our weekday driving route, which means I can easily utilize those early store hours after school dropoff or on weekend mornings. Not having to push my huge cart through crowded aisles and spend 30 minutes in line to check out make shopping here delightful. Another perk: Scan & Go. As someone who tries to be mindful of my budget, I love being able to scan items and get a running total as I shop. Sometimes you get unexpected discounts for shopping this way, and when my total starts creeping up too high, I know to stick to my list or put back those impulse buys.
My family of four has a Sam’s Club Plus membership, and I think it’s worth every penny. It’s convenient to our weekday driving route, which means I can easily utilize those early store hours after school drop-off or on weekend mornings. Not having to push my huge cart through crowded aisles and spend 30 minutes in line to check out make shopping here delightful. Another perk: Scan & Go. As someone who tries to be mindful of my budget, I love being able to scan items and get a running total as I shop. Sometimes you get unexpected discounts for shopping this way and, when my total starts creeping up too high, I know to stick to my list or put back those impulse buys.
My family has a Sam’s Club Plus membership and I think it’s worth every penny. It’s convenient to our weekday driving route, which means I can easily utilize those early store hours after school dropoff or on weekend mornings. Not having to push my huge cart through crowded aisles and spend 30 minutes in line to check out make shopping here delightful. Another perk: Scan & Go. As someone who tries to be mindful of my budget, I love being able to scan items and get a running total as I shop. Sometimes you get unexpected discounts for shopping this way, and when my total starts creeping up too high, I know to stick to my list or put back those impulse buys.
Is a Sam’s Club membership worth it?
If you have the storage space and shop in bulk — or host events often — a Sam’s Club membership could be a smart choice, especially if you live near a store.
Another way to make it more affordable and practical is to split the membership with a friend or family member and divide purchases so food or other items don’t go to waste.
The Plus membership might be worth the upgrade if you: fill prescriptions regularly, need optical services or want perks like free shipping or early shopping hours when the store is quieter.
Like with any warehouse club membership, a Sam’s Club membership may not be worth the cost if you don’t plan to shop there consistently, or if bulk shopping doesn’t fit in your living arrangement.
If you’re unsure whether a membership makes sense for you, consider the 15-day membership trial.
Take a look at the store's offerings and see how they fit into your lifestyle and shopping habits. Then, revisit your budget to see if the membership fee makes sense based on how often you'd shop and what you'd likely save. Thanks to the occasional promotion, you might be able to snag a Club membership for less than full price.
» Learn more: how to save money on groceries