12 Best Costco Items for When You Have Company Over (#8 Is a Big Crowd-Pleaser)

There are plenty of Costco membership perks that make the annual fee worth it, from saving on groceries to finding top-quality, affordable home decor. 

That's why Costco is a great place to get all your supplies if you're throwing a party or hosting visitors from out of town.

Here are some of the best things to buy at Costco if you're expecting guests.

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

If you're having people over, naturally, you want your home to look nice. So not only should you deep clean the place, but you should also invest in some home decor.

A throw pillow can change the look of a chair or sofa instantly, such as this Brentwood one sold at Costco for $22.99. This item comes in different colors and shapes, all featuring a textured fabric that elevates its look. Weather resistant, it's made to be used indoors or outdoors.

A great (and thrifty) addition to your home that your guests will surely notice.

If you prefer the real stuff to the faux plants that Costco sells, you'll find a pretty nice variety of fresh-cut flowers for sale to brighten your interior spaces. Bouquets start in the low $40s, with different colors and themes available.

Custom items like garlands, of course, cost more, but still less than a florist. And if you want something that will last after the party is over, Costco often has potted orchids that will run you around $50 as well.

Who has time to do the dishes when you have 20 people over for a sports-related Sunday or a dinner party? With all the snacks and drinks you'll be serving, you'll want to stock up on disposable dishes and utensils.

When it comes to disposable cutlery and plates, we're a fan of Costco's own Kirkland Signature. This value pack is $18.99 for 360 forks, knives, and spoons.

You can count on Costco for all of your paper towels, napkins, and toilet paper needs. Guests can go through a lot of these items, so it's a smart idea to stock up.

The 30-pack of Kirkland toilet paper, one of Costco's most popular products, costs $23.49. Napkins are even cheaper at $14.49 for over 1,000 of them.

It can be tough to prepare all of the appetizers people like to snack on while watching the game or preparing Thanksgiving dinner. 

To that end, one smart way to save money at Costco is to buy premade frozen appetizers that you can just throw in the oven. Like this 50-count box of spring rolls for under $10. It doesn't get more budget-friendly than that. 

Speaking of healthy options, you may want to offer overnight guests an alternative to salty, processed foods. Fortunately, Costco has a wide variety of shrimp options, including its cocktail platter (price varies), which is always a crowd-pleaser.

Frozen shrimp are offered in many ways, depending on your needs. You can get a bag of raw, peeled, and deveined shrimp, cooked for use in a salad or hors d'oeuvres, or panko breaded.

If you're feeling a bit fancy and want to impress your guests, you really can't go wrong with Costco's Hickory Farms Charcuterie Board Gift Set. This spread has something for everyone.

For $44.99, the artisanal spread includes crackers, pretzels, olives, spreads, plus more, and even comes with a bamboo wood serving tray.

For the main meal at birthday parties or a fast dinner that all your guests will like, pizza is always a good option. Of course, there's plenty of the frozen stuff at Costco, but we're a bigger fan of the pies they make at the food court.

Prices may vary based on your location, but word on the street is that you can get a pie for just under $10. That's an easy and cheap way to feed a crowd.

If you're throwing a big party, then you probably need to provide adult beverages. This has the potential to break the bank, as alcohol isn't cheap. Fortunately, Costco sells plenty of beer, wine, and liquor.

The prices are better than liquor store prices, and good enough to fool folks into thinking it's top-shelf stuff. There are lots of quality wines and beers, too.

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When you have a lot of folks over, it's only natural that they'll use the restroom. That means it's time to stock up on hand soap. Fortunately, the Home + Body Floris Hand Soap, 21.5 fl oz, 8-pack ($34.99) should keep your refill game on point for a while. 

As for shower supplies, we like Neutrogena's Rain Bath shower gel, which costs $24.99 for a 40-ounce container.

Sweet tooths, rejoice: The variety of desserts you can get at Costco is vast, so there will be no need to bake a pie for your next get-together if you don't want to. From the famous tuxedo cake to cheesecakes, chocolate mousses, and pies, dessert will be a snap.

The price of each dessert from the bakery varies, but you're not going to have to spend more than you feel comfortable with. 

You may not need the entire 48-case pallet that delivers you nearly 2,000 bottles of Kirkland brand water for about $440 — that's a mere $0.23 per bottle — but it's not a bad idea to have bottled water on hand when your family is home for the holidays.

The price for one or two (instead of 48) cases varies at each location, but there's a reason you always see them piled in people's carts: They're cheap, which means you'll save plenty of money on this essential.

Fortunately, Costco can help you prepare for celebrations with affordable products, especially when you use the best cash back credit cards. 

At the end of the day, however, people are just happy to be together again. Some of the old hosting pressures are off; you don't have to be perfect. Still, being able to entertain in high style on a budget is an extra reason to party.