Your Sam's Club Membership Is About To Get More Expensive — Here's What It'll Cost

Sam's Club members count on the club for low prices — but the Walmart-owned warehouse will up the cost of an annual membership on May 1, 2026. Membership will increase from $50 to $60 per year for Club members and from $110 to $120 annually for Plus members. Sam's Club communicated this to members via email, and in a screenshot shared on Reddit, the message reads, "This update helps us continue delivering unbeatable value ... while investing in an ever-expanding set of member benefits." The increase is a bigger bump for Club members than the last time Sam's Club raised its prices. In 2022, the retailer upped the price of Club membership from $45 to $50, while the Plus membership had a $10 bump.

Sam's Club confirmed the news with USA Today, saying, "We have adjusted our membership pricing to support the things our members love." However, there seems to be confusion among the megaretailer's employees. When I called Sam's Club customer service for a direct statement, a representative told me that prices were staying the same. I was unable to reach Sam's Club corporate via email.

The $10 price increase may be small, but it comes at a time when grocery prices are soaring. Some Facebook users speculated that Costco's $65 membership might be a better deal. One customer wrote, "It now makes more sense for me to let mine lapse and get Costco, instead." Admittedly, there are some things that Sam's Club does better than Costco — but Sam's Club has its downsides, too. Be careful if you plan to switch, though. Memberships renew automatically.

If you regularly spend big at Sam's Club, the changes might actually save you money. Previously, the retailer capped its 2% cashback for Plus members at $500. Now, plus members can earn up to $750 per year.

On social media, shoppers shared workarounds. "If you're a current Sam's Club member, there's a 'Renew Early' option under Account and Manage Memberships," one Facebook user wrote. "Mine expires in September, but it looks like I can renew now for the current price, and my expiration date will be bumped out to September 2027." Apparently, not everyone has the option to renew early, though.

If you were planning to join the club, check to see if you qualify for one of Sam's Club's steep membership discounts. While many businesses offer discounts to military personnel and teachers, Sam's Club's one-year, 60% membership discounts include healthcare workers, government employees, first responders, government assistance recipients, current students, and anyone who has ever graduated from an accredited college. You can't access discounts if you've had an active membership within the past 6 months, though — they're for new and returning members only.