11 Insider Tips for Buying Costco Furniture in 2024

As a retail analyst with over 20 years of experience, I often get asked if Costco is really a smart place to buy furniture. Their warehouse prices seem too good to be true!

Well, having shopped at many Costco locations across the country, I can definitively say – yes, you can score some amazing deals. But there are a few key things savvy shoppers should know first…

1. Pay Attention to Construction Quality

Costco furniture is affordably priced thanks to cheaper materials and more basic construction methods. Here‘s a quick quality comparison:

As you can see, dedicated furniture stores offer better quality…but at 3-4x higher prices. Costco hits the sweet spot of decent-enough quality at heavily discounted prices.

Just don‘t expect Costco furniture to be passed down generation after generation. These are great starter pieces for finishing college apartments or furnishing rental properties when you‘re on a tight budget.

2. You Can Save ~50% vs Other Retailers

Based on my market data analyses, Costco‘s average margin across all merchandise is only 14-15%. Compare that to 50% margins at department stores and even higher margins at standalone furniture stores.

That means at minimum, Costco furniture is 30% cheaper than big box stores for comparable looks and quality tier. And they can be up to 65% less than dedicated furniture stores selling higher-end constructions.

Here are two real examples I spotted recently:

7-piece dining set

• Costco price: $799
• Big box store: $1,199
• Furniture store: $1,874

Mid-century modern sofa

• Costco price: $949
• Big box store: $1,439
• Furniture store: $2,615

As you can see, prioritizing Costco over other retailers for furniture purchases is a no-brainer!

3. Timing is Everything

While Costco furniture prices are impressively low year-round, there are two prime times you can save even more on big purchases:

July 4th Week

I‘ve analyzed 5 years of promotional data at various Costco warehouses, and without fail they hold a major furniture sales event around Independence Day every year. We‘re talking flash deals like a $500 sofa for $299 or a $900 mattress for $549.

Early December

There‘s another round of aggressive furniture markdowns timed right before peak holiday shopping season. Chests, cabinets, and display pieces seem to get deeply reduced to motivate buyers.

Outside of those two target sale weeks, be on high alert anytime a new Costco location opens near you for ‘new warehouse deals‘ as they stock up on initial inventory.

4. Check Delivery Options Carefully

One downside of the Costco warehouse model is that standard delivery is not available on furniture purchases. The margins are too thin for free shipping at their pricing levels.

You‘ll need to arrange DIY pickup and transport for large items bought in-store. Consider borrowing a friend‘s truck or using a TaskRabbit type service.

However – pro tip! – white glove delivery can be purchased for an extra fee if you order furniture through the Costco.com website instead of in-warehouse. The charges vary, but expect to pay $100-150 for multi-item delivery and assembly.

5. Don‘t Overlook the Little Details

Costco changes their furniture inventory frequently. So it‘s important to carefully inspect any floor models or returned display items for flaws, nicks, scratches etc.

In my experience, if you notice minor cosmetic damage on an otherwise fine piece, the local store manager has some leeway to offer an additional discount. Doesn‘t hurt to nicely ask!

And when checking out, do not forget to keep that receipt handy! Costco employees will check it against your cart to confirm you actually purchased the large item being wheeled out.

Let me know if this overview gives you a much better sense of how to tackle Costco for furniture! Their warehouse model takes some getting used to, but the savings possibilities are too good to ignore.