Policy verified 2026-09

Costco Return Policy Explained

Costco accepts returns on most items at any time under its satisfaction guarantee, with no deadline. The big exception: electronics — TVs, computers, tablets, cameras, phones and similar — must come back within 90 days. No receipt is needed; purchases are looked up from your membership.

Standard window	No stated limit
Electronics	90 days
Receipt	not required
Official policy	Costco website

The rules the official page won't tell you

The "no deadline" is real but monitored. Warehouses track return behavior on your membership, and members who return heavily or return years-old used items have had memberships revoked. The guarantee is for dissatisfaction, not free rentals.
Diamonds over 1 carat, special-order items, and custom products have their own tighter paperwork and exclusions; alcohol and cigarettes cannot be returned where state law forbids it.
The 90-day electronics clock runs from the date the member received the item, not the purchase date — relevant for delivered TVs and appliances.
Major appliances fall under the 90-day rule too, not the unlimited guarantee.

Can I return to Costco without a receipt?

Yes. Every purchase is tied to your membership number, so the warehouse can pull up the transaction at the returns desk. This is the easiest no-receipt return in retail — but it also means your return history is fully visible to them.

Can I return opened items to Costco?

Generally yes — the satisfaction guarantee covers opened and used items if you are genuinely dissatisfied. Electronics still need to be inside the 90-day window, opened or not.

Can I return a TV to Costco after 90 days?

No. Televisions and other major electronics are excluded from the open-ended guarantee and are held to the 90-day limit. After that, you are relying on the manufacturer warranty — which Costco extends to 2 years on TVs and major appliances through Costco Concierge.

Does Costco take back mattresses or furniture?

Yes, under the general satisfaction guarantee with no stated deadline — one of the few places that is true. Be reasonable: a five-year-old mattress return is exactly the pattern that gets memberships reviewed.

For perspective: the same laptop returned at Best Buy has a 15-day window for standard members. At Costco it has 90. Where you buy sets your deadline more than what you buy.

The hard part is remembering the deadline

Scan any Costco receipt and PurchVault works out the return window and warranty, then reminds you before they close.

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More return-policy guides

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Summarized from Costco's published policy as of 2026-09; policies change and categories carry exceptions — confirm on the retailer's site before relying on a deadline. General information, not legal advice. PurchVault is not affiliated with Costco.