12 Costco Items I Never Thought I'd Buy (But Now I Always Do)

We're all looking for ways to stop overspending. There are obvious ways to save money at Costco — but we've also found a few hidden gems that can keep your budget on track. And these aren't one-time, super-special sale deals. These are items you'll buy over and over again.

Our list of favorite finds includes store-brand generics, dupes, and more. From gourmet goat cheese to top-quality shampoo, these club buys are bargains you might not think of buying but deserve a spot in your cart.

Costco's return policy also gives shoppers extra peace of mind on these buys: most items, including many on this list, can be returned for a refund if they don't work out, making it easier to try a new brand with less risk.

Editor's note: Prices and availability are subject to change and may vary by location.

Price: $13.99

Pass on pricey pet clothes from stores like Petco. Reddy's sweatshirt for pups is $24.99 at the retailer. But this Kirkland logo hoodie is only $13.99 at Costco.

If you're wondering whether you should really buy generic pet clothes, take it from Costco shopper LoLo, "When we put this on our dog, he turned into a whole new dog. The confidence is unmatched…It's an amazing sweatshirt."

The hoodie is made from stretch cotton and polyester fleece and features an all-over reflective print for nighttime visibility, plus a reinforced leash hole and a kangaroo pocket. It comes in Black and Grey and runs from small through extra large, so it fits most dog breeds and sizes.

Price: $20.99

Do you only buy EVOO from gourmet brands? Specialty e-tailer Olio2Go sells a fancy 500 mL bottle of Frescobaldi Laudemio Tuscan olive oil for $45.95. Kirkland's version is only $20.99 for two liters (or 2,000 mL).

The oil is 100% Italian, first cold-pressed, and certified by Bureau Veritas for a traceable chain of Italian origin, which verifies its authenticity through third-party testing. It's kosher-certified, has a smoke point of at least 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and works well for sautéing, roasting, or drizzling over finished dishes. 

Costco's price has crept up slightly over time, with recent in-store checks putting the 2-liter bottle closer to $22 to $25, so it's worth confirming the current price at checkout.

Price: $21.99

Sensitive skin? You might need a free-and-clear detergent. And Costco has a generic that works just as well as brand-name equivalents. A 100-load bottle of Tide's Free and Gentle HE costs $19.99 at Target. Kirkland's generic costs slightly more, but you get 146 loads.

Kirkland's UltraClean Free & Clear detergent is HE compatible and formulated without dyes or perfumes, which can make it gentler on sensitive skin than many scented, brand-name options. 

It's designed to work in both standard and high-efficiency washing machines and tackles everyday stains and odors in cold or warm water. 

At $21.99 for 146 loads, the per-load cost works out to about 15 cents, compared with roughly 20 cents per load for the smaller Tide bottle, making the bulk buy the better long-term value even before factoring in fewer store trips.

Price: $11.99

Generic shampoo may not have the same cachet as salon buys. But that shouldn't stop you from grabbing this 33.8-ounce bottle of hydrating cleanser. Costco customers praise this pick. Shopper Sonny raved, "Like you, I've tried about a trillion shampoos…I got this bottle expecting to add to my collection of failures and was thrilled to finally succeed."

The formula is sulfate-free, paraben-free, and free of phosphates and dyes, and it's made with rainforest botanical extracts, avocado, and argan oils to help nourish dry or damaged strands. 

It's also safe for color-treated hair and marketed as a professional salon formula, positioning it as a dupe for pricier salon brands. The 33.8-ounce pump bottle typically runs under $12 at Costco, roughly the cost of a much smaller bottle of many name-brand moisturizing shampoos.

Price: $11.99

Surprise, this Kirkland generic has the same active ingredient as Zyrtec. CVS sells a 40-count bottle of the name-brand OTC med for $24.49. For $10 less, you can get 365 Aller-Tec tablets. And both allergy options contain 10 mg of Cetirizine HCL.

Cetirizine, the active ingredient in both products, is a non-drowsy antihistamine that starts working within about an hour and relieves indoor and outdoor allergy symptoms like sneezing, itchy eyes, and a runny nose for a full 24 hours. 

At roughly 4 cents a tablet, the 365-count Kirkland bottle works out to a fraction of the per-pill cost of most brand-name allergy medications, and it has consistently earned high ratings from Costco shoppers who buy it to cover a full year of daily allergy season.

Price: $16.99

Are you used to paying high prices for batteries? Four Energizer AAs cost $6.99 at Walgreens. We found this 48-pack of Kirkland's generic for under $17. To match Costco's bulk deal, you'd need to buy 12 packs of Energizer (over $83 total).

Kirkland's alkaline AA batteries carry a shelf life of up to 12 years and contain no added mercury, making them a solid option for stocking up on batteries for remotes, flashlights, toys, and other everyday devices without worrying about them losing power in storage. 

In-store pricing on the 48-pack typically runs between about $13 and $17, depending on the warehouse and any current promotions, and Costco members note the batteries rarely go on sale since the everyday price is already competitive with name brands bought in bulk.

Price: $5.66

Forget about fancy French bakeries. You can buy baguettes at Costco. Yes, they're generic Kirkland items. And yes, they taste just as good as what you might find in pricier gourmet stores.

Costco's baguettes come two to a pack, weighing about 24 ounces total, and are baked in the store's own bakery using a sourdough starter along with buckwheat and malted barley flour, which gives them a slightly tangy flavor and chewy crust. 

They pair well with soups, salads, and cheese boards, or work as sandwich bread, and they stay fresh for about two days at room temperature, though you can also freeze them and reheat them in the oven to restore the crust. The two-pack typically runs close to $6, making it one of the better bakery deals in the store.

Price: $8.89

Like baguettes, this goat cheese is the kind you might expect to snag at a specialty store. But you can score a serious deal on the generic at Costco. Get two 10.5-ounce logs for $8.89. A single 10-ounce size from Whole Foods Market's 365 brand costs $9.49.

Each log has a soft, creamy texture that's easy to spread on crackers or crumble over salads, and the mild, tangy flavor works well in recipes calling for goat cheese, from stuffed peppers to baked goat cheese appetizers. 

Because it comes in a two-pack, it's also easier to keep one log on hand for cooking while saving the other for entertaining. 

Goat cheese is naturally lower in lactose than many cow's milk cheeses, which some shoppers with mild dairy sensitivities find easier to digest.

Price: $13.99

If you usually shop at sports or outdoor stores for base layers, you're probably paying too much for cold-weather gear. Costco's website lists this two-pack for $13.99, but we spotted it at a local warehouse club for $9.97. Both prices are still better than $55 for one Under Armor crew at Dick's Sporting Goods.

The 32 Degrees Heat line features moisture-wicking, brushed fabric designed to trap warmth without adding bulk, making it a popular pick for layering under sweaters or ski gear in cold weather. 

Costco typically carries the base layers seasonally, so availability can vary by time of year and location, and colors or styles may differ from one shipment to the next. 

Shoppers looking for a similar deal outside of Costco's selling window may want to check 32 Degrees' own site or other retailers, since the brand is also sold outside the warehouse club.

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Price: $6.69

Get over 1.6 pounds of sea salt, including a grinder top bottle and a refill, for under $7. Use this bulk-buy bargain to season everything from freshly baked French fries to homemade tomato sauce. Compare Costco's price for 26 ounces to Target's $5.19 for 9.5 ounces of Olde Thompson Mediterranean Sea Salt.

The set typically includes one refillable grinder with an adjustable coarseness dial and a resealable refill bag, so shoppers can restock the grinder without buying a whole new one each time it runs low. 

Sea salt like this is generally minimally processed and free of anti-caking agents found in some table salts, which some cooks prefer for both flavor and texture. Because the price per ounce is well below many specialty and grocery-store sea salts, it's a common pick for people who go through a lot of salt in home cooking or baking.

Price: $36.99 

K-Cup fans can get a better deal on medium roast pods in Costco stores. Kirkland's generic Summit Roast blend is $36.99 for 120. On Keurig's website, you'll pay over $67 for a one-time 96-count purchase of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Nantucket Blend.

The Summit Roast blend is made from 100% Arabica beans and is certified organic, Fair Trade, and kosher, with a flavor profile that includes notes of stone fruit, dark chocolate, and roasted nut. 

The pods are recyclable and work with any Keurig K-Cup brewer, and at under 31 cents a pod, the per-cup cost comes in well below many name-brand K-Cup options sold individually or in smaller boxes.

Price: $16.99

LaCroix lovers pay $4.19 at Target for an eight-pack of 12-ounce cans. Kirkland's surprisingly similar version is $16.99 for a case of 35 assorted flavors. That breaks down to $0.52 per can for the name brand versus $0.48 for the generic. Make every penny count at Costco. 

Kirkland's sparkling water comes in a variety pack with flavors like lime, grapefruit, and black cherry, and like most sparkling water brands, it's calorie-free, sugar-free, and made with natural flavors rather than artificial sweeteners. 

The case format makes it easy to keep a rotation of different flavors on hand rather than committing to a single one, which can be useful for households where everyone has a different favorite. It's a common soda substitute for shoppers looking to cut down on sugar without giving up carbonation.

Whether you want to stock up on batteries or need a new shampoo, we've scoured Costco's aisles for must-have bargains shoppers buy on repeat. Even if you don't think of a warehouse club's baguettes, coffee pods, or sockeye salmon as top choices, these (and the other picks on our list) are fan favorites.

Looking to save even more? Use the top cash back credit cards to earn cash back, points, or perks on eligible Costco purchases.

A Costco membership costs $65 a year for the basic Gold Star tier or $130 for Executive, which includes 2% cash back on most purchases. 

For households that regularly buy items like these on repeat, the membership fee is often paid back quickly through the savings on bulk staples alone, even before factoring in gas station and pharmacy discounts many locations also offer.