The $10 increase hit renewals staggered across the year here’s what changed, what you get in return, and how the new price compares to Costco and BJ’s
Published: Monday, 27 July 2026 | BrandClickX News Desk
Summary
Sam’s Club raised annual membership fees on 1 May 2026 the Walmart-owned warehouse chain’s first increase since October 2022. Club memberships went from $50 to $60 a year, and Plus from $110 to $120. Plus members got a bigger perk in exchange: their Sam’s Cash rewards cap rose 50%, from $500 to $750. Because the change applies at renewal, many members are only now being charged the higher rate.
What Happened?
Sam’s Club announced the increase on 1 April 2026 and emailed members directly. The new prices took effect on 1 May.
Both tiers rose by $10. For Club members that is a 20% jump. For Plus members it is roughly 9%.
The company told USA TODAY it had “adjusted our membership pricing to support the things our members love”, pointing to its product range, extended hours and improved curbside pickup and delivery.
Crucially, nobody was charged on 1 May. Existing members pay the new rate when their billing cycle renews which is why the story keeps resurfacing months later as different cohorts hit their anniversary date.
What Are the New Sam’s Club Prices?
A Club membership now costs $60 a year and a Plus membership costs $120. Both include a free second card for someone in your household.
| Tier | Old price | New price | Change |
| Club | $50/year | $60/year | +20% |
| Plus | $110/year | $120/year | +9% |
The last increase, in October 2022, took Club from $45 to $50 and Plus from $100 to $110. Then-CEO Kathryn McLay softened that one by giving renewing members store credit equal to the rise. No equivalent credit accompanied the 2026 increase.
What Do Plus Members Get Now?
The headline addition is a higher rewards ceiling. Plus members earn 2% Sam’s Cash on qualifying in-club purchases, and the annual cap climbed from $500 to $750 a 50% increase.
To hit the new cap you would need to spend $37,500 a year in club. Few households will. But heavy shoppers and small-business members who previously maxed out at $500 now have meaningful headroom.
Plus membership also includes:
- Early shopping access from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
- Free shipping on most online orders
- Reduced same-day delivery fees on orders under $50
- Free curbside pickup
Club members do not earn Sam’s Cash on purchases. That gap is the main reason Sam’s Club keeps nudging shoppers toward Plus and Walmart’s earnings calls repeatedly cite “higher Plus member penetration” as a growth driver.
How Does It Compare to Costco and BJ’s?
Sam’s Club is still the cheapest of the three major US warehouse clubs. Even after the increase, it undercuts Costco at both tiers.
| Club | Basic | Premium |
| Sam’s Club | $60 | $120 |
| BJ’s Wholesale | $60 | $120 |
| Costco | $65 | $130 |
The 2026 increase closed the gap with BJ’s entirely. Sam’s Club and BJ’s now charge identical fees at both levels.
That matters competitively. Sam’s Club’s long-standing pitch was that it delivered warehouse-club value for less than Costco. It still does, but by $5 and $10 rather than $15 and $20.
Why Did Sam’s Club Raise Prices?
Membership fees are close to pure profit, and Walmart wanted more of them. Analysts quoted by CNBC estimated the increase could add more than $200 million in annual membership income worth about 2 cents a share to Walmart.
The business was not struggling. Sam’s Club US net sales grew about 3.1% to roughly $93 billion in the last full fiscal year. Membership hit a record high in the quarter ending 31 January 2026, though the company does not disclose an actual member count.
Inflation and operating costs are the stated reason. Three and a half years had passed since the previous increase.
There is also an ironic tailwind. Higher gas prices driven by the Iran war pushed the US national average to $4.018 a gallon in early April, the highest since August 2022. Discounted fuel is one of the strongest arguments for a warehouse membership, and it got stronger right as fees went up.
What Else Changed in 2026?
The fee rise arrived alongside the biggest operational overhaul in years.
Checkout is disappearing. Sam’s Club is remodelling all roughly 600 US clubs to run on Scan & Go, its app-based system where members scan items as they shop and pay on their phone. AI-powered archways at the exit verify purchases automatically, replacing manual receipt checks. Scan & Go adoption reached 36% in the third quarter of fiscal 2026, up 4.5 percentage points year over year.
Member’s Mark was reformulated. Walmart’s fourth-quarter results confirmed Sam’s Club reached its 100% “Made Without” milestone, removing ingredients including artificial flavours, aspartame, synthetic colours, high-fructose corn syrup, BHA, BHT and talc from its private-label range.
Expansion resumed. Six new clubs are planned for 2026 across Tennessee, California and Texas, after only one opening in 2025.
Digital growth continued. Sam’s Club e-commerce rose 22% in Q3 and 23% in the holiday quarter.
Timeline
| Date | Development |
| Oct 2022 | Previous fee rise: Club $45→$50, Plus $100→$110 |
| Oct 2025 | Sunday hours extended after member feedback |
| 31 Jan 2026 | Membership hits record high in Q4 FY26 |
| 19 Feb 2026 | Walmart confirms 100% Member’s Mark “Made Without” |
| 1 Apr 2026 | Fee increase announced; members emailed |
| 1 May 2026 | New prices take effect |
| 6 Jul 2026 | Summer new-member promotion opens |
| Ongoing | Renewals hit the new rate at each billing anniversary |
Was There a Way to Avoid It?
Yes, but the window closed. Before 1 May, members could use the “Renew Early” option under Account and Manage Memberships to lock in the old rate for another full year, pushing their expiry into 2027.
The workaround circulated widely on social media in April. It no longer works early renewals now price at the current rate.
What still exists are new-member discounts. Through the end of July, Sam’s Club’s own site advertised $35 off a Club membership and $65 off Plus, bringing first-year costs to about $25 and $55. Some coverage indicated the offer was extended into early August.
These are for genuinely new members only. You do not qualify if you are renewing, currently a member, or held a membership within the past six months.
Discounted memberships are also available through ID.me verification for military personnel, teachers, healthcare workers, first responders, students, seniors aged 50 and over, and recipients of government assistance.
Promotions change frequently. Check samsclub.com before assuming any offer is live.
Who Is Affected?
US and Puerto Rico members only. This is the point most global coverage skips. Sam’s Club operates about 600 clubs in the United States and Puerto Rico, and separately in Mexico and China under different structures and pricing.
If you shop at Sam’s Club in Mexico or China, these figures do not apply to you.
Within the US, the impact splits along usage lines. Members who visit weekly absorb $10 easily one or two fuel stops can cover it. Occasional shoppers who visit three or four times a year face a genuine value question, especially now that BJ’s charges the same.
What Experts Say
Analysts have treated the increase as low-risk. Membership renewal rates at Sam’s Club have held steady through the change, and Walmart has repeatedly described them as strong and consistent.
The structural argument is that warehouse clubs are unusually insulated during price-sensitive periods. When households trim spending, bulk buying and cheap fuel become more attractive, not less.
The counter-argument is the BJ’s parity problem. Sam’s Club’s price advantage over Costco used to be its clearest differentiator for value-focused shoppers. It has narrowed at exactly the moment the club is asking members to learn a new checkout system.
Retail analysts also note that fee increases are typically timed to periods of membership strength rather than weakness which is what the record membership figure in the January quarter suggests.
What Happens Next?
Three things worth watching.
Renewal data. Walmart’s next quarterly results will be the first clean read on whether the increase cost the club any members.
The Scan & Go transition. Removing staffed lanes is a bigger behavioural change than a $10 fee. Member reaction to the remodels will matter more to retention than the price.
Competitor response. Costco has not signalled a matching increase. If it holds at $65 while Sam’s Club sits at $60, the gap tightens further.
Key Takeaways
- Club membership is now $60 a year; Plus is $120, effective 1 May 2026
- It was the first increase since October 2022
- Plus members’ Sam’s Cash cap rose from $500 to $750 annually
- Sam’s Club now matches BJ’s exactly and stays below Costco
- Renewals hit the new rate at each member’s billing anniversary
- The early-renewal workaround expired on 1 May
- New-member promotions cut the first year to roughly $25 for Club
- All figures apply to the US and Puerto Rico only
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a Sam’s Club membership in 2026?
A Club membership costs $60 per year and a Plus membership costs $120. Both prices took effect on 1 May 2026, rising $10 from the previous $50 and $110 rates.
When did Sam’s Club raise its membership fees?
Sam’s Club announced the increase on 1 April 2026 and applied it from 1 May. Existing members pay the new rate when their individual billing cycle renews, not immediately.
Is Sam’s Club cheaper than Costco?
Yes. Sam’s Club charges $60 and $120 for its two tiers, against Costco’s $65 and $130. BJ’s Wholesale now matches Sam’s Club exactly at both membership levels.
What is Sam’s Cash and what changed?
Sam’s Cash is 2% back on qualifying in-club purchases, available only to Plus members. The annual earning cap rose from $500 to $750 on 1 May 2026, a 50% increase.
Can I still lock in the old membership price?
No. The “Renew Early” workaround only worked before 1 May 2026. Early renewals now charge the current rate. New-member promotional discounts remain the main way to pay less.
Is a Sam’s Club membership worth it after the increase?
It depends on visit frequency. Weekly shoppers typically recover $60 through fuel savings alone. Occasional visitors should compare against BJ’s, which now charges identical fees.
Do these prices apply outside the United States?
No. These fees cover Sam’s Club in the US and Puerto Rico. Locations in Mexico and China operate under separate pricing and membership structures.
What is Scan & Go at Sam’s Club?
An app feature letting members scan items while shopping and pay on their phone, skipping checkout. Sam’s Club is remodelling all US clubs around it, with AI archways verifying purchases at exits.
Conclusion
A $10 increase is not, on its own, a big story. What makes 2026 notable is everything arriving at once higher fees, a new checkout system, a reformulated private label and price parity with BJ’s.
Members who use the club heavily will barely notice the fee. Those who joined for the price gap with Costco have a narrower reason to stay.
The honest test is arithmetic: count your visits, add up your fuel savings, and see whether $60 still clears.
