Best Credit Card for Costco in 2026
Costco is classified under MCC 5300 (Wholesale Clubs). The best card for Costco purchases is the Shopper Cash Rewards ($95/yr annual fee), earning 6x on wholesale clubs — an effective return of 6.00%.
Does Costco accept Mastercard? Yes — Costco accepts Mastercard, Visa, American Express, and Discover at all locations, including in-store and mobile app payments.
Costco (MCC 5300) is key for credit card rewards, especially if you're a member and shop frequently. Cards in the premium category often offer high rewards here.
Maximize your rewards by using a Costco Visa or American Express card which doubles the Shopper Cash Rewards to 12x on up to $8,000 in purchases annually.
Spending Math
If you spend $200/month at Costco with Shopper Cash Rewards earning 6x points, that's $144.00/year. A basic card at 1% would only net you $24.00/year.
Costco purchases are classified under MCC 5300 (Wholesale Clubs).
MCC Details for Costco
Best Credit Cards for Costco (2026)
How Costco Codes on Your Statement
When you pay at Costco at their locations, your card issuer sees MCC 5300 in the transaction data. This code tells your bank that the purchase was made at a wholesale clubs merchant. Bonus reward rates on your card apply based on this MCC — not the merchant name itself.
If your card earns bonus points on "wholesale clubs" purchases, Costco transactions will qualify — even if your card terms only mention a category name and not Costco specifically. The key is that the MCC matches your card's bonus category definition.
You can verify the MCC on any Costco transaction by checking your card's mobile app or statement. Some issuers display the merchant category alongside the transaction details. For the most accurate information, contact your card issuer's customer service and ask whether MCC 5300 qualifies for bonus rewards.
Bonus Category Match — Costco
About MCC 5300: Wholesale Clubs
Merchant Category Code 5300 is assigned by card networks (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover) to classify businesses in the Wholesale Clubs industry. Issuers use MCCs to determine which transactions qualify for bonus reward rates. When a merchant is assigned MCC 5300, all qualifying card programs that include wholesale clubs as a bonus category will apply the elevated earn rate.
The Retail industry group encompasses several related MCCs. Not all merchants in a similar business will share the same MCC — for example, a grocery store inside a warehouse club may code as wholesale ({"5300"}) rather than grocery ({"5411"}). Always verify with your issuer if you're unsure whether a specific merchant qualifies for bonus rewards on your card.
Other Wholesale Clubs merchants: BJ's Wholesale Club, BJ's Wholesale Club, Boxed.
What You Could Earn at Costco
Spending $200/month at Costco with the Shopper Cash Rewards (6x on wholesale clubs) earns approximately $144/year in rewards. A basic 1% card earns $24 on the same spending. After the $95 annual fee, that is $49 more per year.
Prefer no annual fee? The AAA Daily Advantage earns 3x at Costco merchants, earning $72/year with no annual fee.