Costco Is Closed for Labor Day — But Its Credit Card Perks Work Every Other Day
“Is Costco open on Labor Day” pulled ~20,000 searches in 24 hours this holiday weekend (the answer: no — Costco warehouses, banks, and the post office are all closed, per ABC News’ holiday roundup). The closure question spikes every holiday, but the smarter question for the 70+ million Costco members is the one behind it: which card should you actually use there? The Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi is the only card accepted at Costco warehouse registers, and for the right household it is arguably the best no-annual-fee cashback card in America.
Here is the full 2026 breakdown — rewards, the gas math that makes or breaks it, and who should look elsewhere.
The Rewards Structure, Line by Line
Per Citi’s official terms and Costco’s card page:
- 5% cash back on gas at Costco stations (and 4% elsewhere) — up to $7,000 combined spend per year, then 1%
- 3% on restaurants and eligible travel, including Costco Travel and the food court
- 2% on all other Costco and Costco.com purchases
- 1% everywhere else
- $0 annual fee — but you must hold a paid Costco membership (currently $65 Gold Star or $130 Executive)
- No foreign transaction fees, which quietly makes it a travel card too
CNBC’s August 2026 review confirms the 5%/4%/3% tiers as current.
The Gas Math Is the Whole Card
At 5% back, filling up at Costco is the single richest cashback rate on any mainstream US card. Costco fuel typically runs 10–30 cents per gallon below the station across the street — so you stack a discount and 5% back. A household buying 150 gallons/month at, say, $3.10 earns roughly $280/year from gas alone; a big-SUV or road-trip household at 250 gallons/month clears $450+, still inside the $7,000 annual cap. If you do not have a Costco station within a reasonable detour, the card loses its anchor — 2% at the warehouse is good, but not card-changing.
How the 2% Warehouse Rate Stacks Against the Executive Membership
Costco’s Executive membership adds a 2% annual reward on warehouse spending (capped at $1,250/year). The card’s 2% and the Executive 2% are separate: card cashback is paid as an annual Shop Card credit in February, and Executive rewards stack on top. A family spending $15,000/year at Costco earns ~$300 card cashback plus ~$300 Executive reward — which pays the $130 membership twice over before you touch a single restaurant meal.
The Fine Print Most Reviews Skip
- Gas tiers reset annually and the 5%/4% rates share the $7,000 combined cap — truckers and mega-commuters hit it by October, then drop to 1%.
- The Shop Card is only redeemable at Costco (physical or online) — it is store credit, not cash, unless you add it to a Costco Anywhere card.
- Membership is the real annual fee. If you spend under ~$3,000/year at Costco and buy no gas there, the $65 membership quietly outearns the card’s benefits — a flat 2% cashback card with no membership beats it.
- Only Citi reports this product’s terms — verify APR and fees at citi.com before applying; variable APRs on premium cards currently run in the low-to-mid 20s.
Who Should Use It — and Who Should Not
Perfect fit: Costco members who buy gas at Costco, drive 100+ miles a week, or spend $5,000+/year in the warehouse. Wrong fit: non-members (you literally cannot get the card without one), anyone who carries a balance — one year of ~25% APR erases five years of 5% gas rewards — and households without a Costco station nearby. If you carry balances, fix that first with our consolidation vs balance transfer guide; rewards only make sense on paid-in-full cards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Costco open on Labor Day 2026?
No. Costco warehouses close on Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and a handful of other holidays, per Costco’s official closure list. Costco.com orders still ship.
Can I use any other Visa card at Costco?
In-warehouse, Costco accepts only the Costco Anywhere Visa by Citi (plus Costco Shop Cards). Visa, Mastercard, Amex and Discover work at Costco gas stations and online.
Does the card build credit?
Yes — it reports to all three bureaus like any Visa. Used for gas with autopay on, it is a low-utilization credit builder. See our credit-building guide.
The Bottom Line
The Costco Anywhere card is a gas card with a warehouse attached: if you fill up at Costco, the 5% tier alone justifies it; if you do not, shop our other card guides instead. Related: secured card guide for building the score that qualifies you.
Educational content only, not financial advice. Terms verified September 2026; confirm current offers with Citi and Costco.
