Why Sunday Afternoons at Costco Are the Worst Time to Shop

Sunday afternoons at Costco are a minefield. Specifically, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., the chaos peaks. Simply Recipes reported that this window is often the slowest and most congested time to shop. One Reddit user in a dedicated thread described a previous visit as "crazy." They vowed, "Never doing that again." Another shopper echoed the sentiment, noting they learned "the hard way" to avoid Sundays. In their memory, the checkout line snaked all the way to the back of the store.

Fox News Digital reached out to Costco for comment. The company is headquartered in Issaquah, Washington. For those working standard 9-to-5 jobs Monday through Friday, midweek trips can be a logistical headache. Weekends naturally draw massive crowds as people stock up for the week ahead. Monday offers a quieter alternative. Fewer shoppers means less friction. However, shelves might not be fully stocked. Southern Living suggested Tuesday or Wednesday as the smarter choice. By then, supplies are likely replenished.

One Reddit user, who has lived all over the country, swears by early Tuesday mornings. "Tuesdays earlier in the day seem to be the best option," they said. They advised avoiding Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday entirely. "Tuesday, Wednesday [and] Thursday are generally safe bets," the user continued, especially earlier in the day. Another shopper found success with timing rather than just days. The "first hour or last hour" strategy works well. For their local store, going after 6:30 p.m. on a weeknight proved best.

The financial stakes are high. Costco raked in $297.3 billion during the 2025 fiscal year. That represents a 10.2% jump from $269.9 billion the previous year, according to the company's website. The Takeout reported that high volumes of shoppers hit stores the day before holidays. This is especially true if the warehouse remains open on the holiday itself.

Costco warehouses typically operate seven days a week for members. Customers can find specific operating hours and holiday closures on the website. Navigating these crowds requires planning. Ignoring the peak times saves time and sanity. The data points to clear patterns. Avoid the Sunday afternoon rush. Target early weekdays instead. The experience improves dramatically when you dodge the bottleneck.