If you've been thinking about joining Sam's Club — or you're an existing member — now's a good time to pay attention. Starting May 1, 2026, Sam's Club is raising their membership prices for the first time since 2022. Both membership tiers are going up by $10 per year, so here's what you need to know before that deadline hits.
The good news? There's still a lot of value in a Sam's Club membership, and there are ways to soften the price bump. And you don’t have to pay full price for a Sam’s Club membership if you're new to the club.
What's on this page:
How much does a Sam's Club membership cost?
Club Membership
The entry-level Sam's Club membership (aka the "Club" membership) currently costs $50 per year — but on May 1, 2026, that price is increasing to $60 per year (a 20% jump).
A basic membership gets you access to all of the member-only prices at Sam's Club locations and on SamsClub.com, as well as member prices at gas pumps and other perks like Scan & Go savings and free curbside pickup with no minimums.
As soon as you join, either online or in person at the Member Services desk, you’ll get a digital membership card. They no longer mail out physical membership cards, but if you really want a printed card, you can ask for one at the Member Services desk.
Current deal for new members (40% off Club Membership):
KCL TIP: Already a member? You can renew your Sam's Club membership early — up to 75 days before your renewal date — to lock in the current $50 rate before the May 1, 2026, price increase kicks in.
Plus Membership
Once you get the hang of shopping at Sam’s Club, you might find that you’re ready to upgrade to the Plus membership, which is their next higher tier. The upgraded Plus membership currently costs $110 per year, but starting May 1, 2026, it's going up to $120 per year (about 9% higher).
At the Plus level, you get all the perks of the Club membership, plus 2% cash back on qualifying purchases, cheaper same-day delivery fees for orders under $50, early shopping hours, and more.
Sam's Club is also raising the annual rewards cap for Plus members alongside the price increase. Plus members earn 2% cash back on qualifying in-club purchases, and that cap is going from $500 to $750 per year. Worth noting: You'd need to spend $37,500 in-club annually to actually hit that new maximum — so for most shoppers, it won't change much in practice.
If you want to get into the nitty-gritty details, we wrote a whole post on how to figure out if a Sam’s Club Plus membership is worth it .
Current deal for new members (45% off Plus Membership):
KCL TIP: Current Plus members can renew early (up to 75 days out) to lock in the $110 rate before it goes up on May 1, 2026.
How to Get a Discounted Sam's Club Membership
1. Take advantage of new membership deals to save at least 50% on your first year.
Sam's Club offers sign-up incentives like gift cards and discounts pretty regularly if you're new to the club (or if it's been at least six months since your membership lapsed). Right now, new members can join for $30 at the Club level (40% off the current rate) or $60 at the Plus level (45% off). Not a bad deal, especially before prices go up on May 1.
The lowest we've EVER seen a Sam's Club membership go is $8, but that was back in 2022. But we frequently see deals that save you 50% - 70% on your first year, so if you're not seeing a deal you love, it's worth waiting for the next one.
2. Verify your status as a student, veteran, or military member to save up to 60% on your first year.
If you’re a military member, veteran, student, or senior, you can verify your status online with ID.me and get a discount when you sign up for a new membership.
You can qualify as a new member if your Sam's Club membership lapsed at least six months ago or if you've never been a member before. Here are the current discounts and links to use:
KCL TIP: According to the Sam's Club Help site, if you qualify for certain government assistance programs like SNAP or Head Start, you may also be eligible for a discount of 46% - 60% off the Sam's Club membership cost for your first year.
3. Use your earned Sam's Cash toward your membership cost.
Any credits you earn in the form of Sam’s Cash can be used for purchases you make at the club, online on SamsClub.com, or in the Sam’s Club app. You can also apply them to your membership cost when it's time to renew.
If you’d rather just have the cash, stop by Member Services at your local Sam’s Club to cash out your credits.
You May Also Be Interested In:
Download the KCL app to add and redeem coupons in store
For iOS and Android users.
