The Best Time To Shop At Costco For Uncrowded Aisles

Pushing a large shopping cart through crowded Costco aisles in the pursuit of buying toilet paper and soda in bulk can get a little overwhelming. Throw in trying to navigate the heavy, packed cart around shoppers to get to the food sampling stations, and you are really starting to get a workout. Even without crowds of shoppers, Costco doesn't tend to be a store you rush in to buy one item and then checkout. With aisles of seasonal specials and displays with select items on sale, half of the experience of going to Costco is seeing what's new or is an especially good deal.

And, of course, there are also the food samples. If sampling quiche, chicken salad, Keto-friendly snacks, or any other item that Costco decides to promote is your goal, then plan to visit on the weekends between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. for the most sample options. However, that's also when the store is going to be the most crowded. If crowds aren't your thing or you simply want a faster shopping experience at Costco, you'll want to strategize the time you visit the store. And the good news is, shopping at a less busy time doesn't mean you have to miss out on those cake samples.

The deals at Costco are the same no matter what day you shop, so why not go when venturing through the warehouse-style store is a little easier? Laura Lamb, the creator of the Instagram account @CostcoHotFinds, told Delish that the least crowded days and times to shop are between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, which is after the lunchtime crowd and before the shoppers arrive after their workday. However, let's face it, not everyone has can shop on a weekday afternoon, so when is the next best time to shop at Costco to avoid crowds? In general, shopping at Costco any time Monday through Friday will be less busy than the weekends (but note there likely will be fewer samples being handed out). Also, keep in mind that Fridays and Mondays can be a bit busier than Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays because people may be visiting the store to stock up for the weekend or for the week ahead. No matter when you go to Costco, you needn't worry about a lack of inventory as the store keeps the shelves stocked at all times. 

Just remember that should you find yourself at Costco and the aisles are crowded with eager shoppers, take a deep breath and sample on.