A visit to Costco is not at all the same as a visit to a regular supermarket, or even big-box store.
When you walk around Costco, you can never be quite sure what you’re going to get.
Costco might surprise you with a bulk version of your favorite pretzels or chips. Or, you may find that Costco has produced its own version of a product you love under its Kirkland Signature line — and at a price point that’s too great to ignore.
Now, Costco isn’t necessarily a holiday gift hotspot the way Walmart or Target might be.
As fun as Costco’s treasure hunt-style shopping experience can be, it can also be inconsistent. And when you’re trying to check specific holiday items off your list, you don’t want to risk coming up short.
Still, there are many staple items you can count on finding at Costco — milk, eggs, toilet paper, and last-minute holiday gift baskets and candy, to name a few. And one thing that is consistent at Costco are the store’s incredibly low prices.
At a time when inflation is still up 2.7% on an annual basis, per the most recent Consumer Price Index, and many Americans are struggling to cover their costs, that’s huge.
Costco will soon do something it only does seven times a year.Shutterstock
Many of us know the drill when it comes to preparing for Christmas. You think you’ve got everything under control, only to realize you’re missing a key ingredient for Christmas dinner, or a last-minute gift for your niece or sibling who’s coming over in just a few hours.
Unfortunately, Costco won’t be able to come to your rescue in that situation. That’s because the warehouse club giant is closing its doors to members on Christmas Day.
Related: Costco sees major shift in member behavior
Costco does its best to only close stores sparingly. But there are seven times during the year when the store doesn’t open.
Here are the days Costco closes every year:
It’s also worth noting that Costco stores may close early on Christmas Eve. Your best bet is to check with your local warehouse club to verify its hours if you’re planning to do some down-to-the-wire shopping.
Costco isn’t the only major retailer to close its doors to shoppers on December 25. A number of Costco’s competitors will also be closed on Christmas Day, including:
Walmart/Sam’s Club
Target
BJ’s Wholesale
Trader Joe’s
Publix
But closing on Christmas Day makes sense for Costco for a few reasons.
First, given the size of its warehouse club stores, it costs money to operate individual locations on a daily basis.
While some people may be inclined to run over to Costco for last-minute Christmas needs, for the most part, it’s unlikely to be a heavy shopping day. So it doesn’t pay for Costco to sink money into staying open.
Related: Costco quietly lowered prices on key items
Also, Costco believes in treating its employees well so that they remain loyal to the company and are more motivated to help enhance the member experience. If Costco were to remain open on Christmas Day, it might have a mutiny on its hands.
More Retail:
So all told, Costco is making a smart decision with its Christmas Day closure. That just means that as a member, you’ll need to plan accordingly and finish your shopping ahead of the holiday.
Maurie Backman owns shares of Costco.
Related: Costco fixing a major customer complaint
This story was originally published by TheStreet on Dec 20, 2025, where it first appeared in the Retail section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here.