What Do Costco Price Codes Really Mean? Here's How To Read Them

Budget and affordable living expert Karrie Thatcher shares how to find deals with Costco’s pricing codes

Co-authored by Karrie Thatcher and Maryana Lucia Vestic, MFA, M.Phil.

Last Updated: January 30, 2026 Fact Checked

Costco is known for saving you money through great deals, but have you ever wondered what those pricing codes you see on different items actually mean? We’re here to simplify your shopping experience by deciphering the price codes of your favorite items. Plus, get helpful shopping tips to make your trip to Costco the most cost-effective it can be, with insights from budget and affordable living expert Karrie Thatcher.

Costco Price Code Cheat Sheet

An illustration of different Costco pricing codes and what they mean.

Budget and affordable living expert Karrie Thatcher says that Costco’s pricing codes signal a product’s status and discounts. Look at the ending numbers to figure out if items are full price, on sale, or won’t be restocked. This can be a good way to get good deals on discounted or discontinued items.

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Items Ending in $.99

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Items with a price that ends in $.99 are full-priced items. “Costco uses pricing codes on its price tags to signal product status and discounts,” explains Thatcher. “Shoppers who understand these codes can identify deals more easily. Prices ending in .99 indicate a regular price.”^{[1]
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- Whether the item is $.99 or $59.99, it’s listed as full price with no sales, markdowns, or specials. While these items (sometimes called “code 99”) are often cheaper at Costco than at other grocery stores, those ending in $.99 aren’t considered an especially good deal.
- Shopping tip: If you purchase a Costco item at full price and it does get marked down, save your receipt so you can get the adjusted price; Costco gives you 30 days for adjustments.
- Costco’s most famous item ending in $.99 is likely its rotisserie chicken, which costs $4.99.^{[2]
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Meet the wikiHow Expert

Karrie Thatcher is an affordable living expert, lifestyle content creator, and the founder of Goglitch deals. She has over 135,000 followers on her social media channels, where she shares tips on finding deals and saving money.

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Items Ending in “9” (but not $.99)

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Items with any price ending in “9” cover manufacturer's special discounts. This is true for any Items with Costco price signs ending in “9,” but not for items ending in $0.99. Examples include $.49, $.69, $.79, $.29, $.39, etc. Costco likely received a special deal from the manufacturer, which may be due to a product’s trial run to see if it becomes popular with shoppers.^{[3]
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- Shopping tip: If you try and like an odd-priced Costco item ending in “9” (other than $0.99), stock up on it. If many shoppers do the same, Costco may keep the item in stock.

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Items Ending in $.00 or $.88

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Items that end in $.00 or $.88 are the most discounted manager specials. Thatcher says that prices ending in $.00 or $.88 are store-specific sales or final markdown items.^{[4]
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Expert Interview} Unlike items ending in $.97, which may be marked down further, $.00 and $.88 items are considered a clearance item. The low price may be due to low inventory or because someone returned it. These items are marked down directly by the manager, so be on the lookout.^{[5]
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- Shopping tip: Inspect items with prices ending in $.00 or $.88 for damage, since they may have already been returned.
- Fun fact: According to Reddit user and former Costco employee, Hot_West8057, “Costco does inventory twice a year. It's an entire store effort (~250 employees) and happens after work in ONE night."

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Items Ending in $.97

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Prices for items that end in $.97 are marked down. Thatcher says that these are clearance or markdown items.^{[6]
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Expert Interview} Also known as a “manager’s special,” they have been marked down as a Costco clearance item. Items ending in $.97 can be found in nearly every section of the store; the purpose of the markdown is to clear the shelves for newly stocked items asap, so grab them while you can!
- Shopping tip: If you see an item with a price ending in $.97 for a few weeks, consider holding out—it may just drop to $.00 before too long.

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Items with an Asterisk (*) in the Corner

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An asterisk in the corner means an item won't be restocked. “An asterisk on the price sign indicates the item will not be restocked once it sells out,” says Thatcher.^{[7]
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Expert Interview} Costco won’t be carrying the item anymore, or it may have been discontinued by the manufacturer. The asterisk appears in the upper right-hand corner.^{[8]
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- Thatcher says the asterisk on Costco tags is also known as “the Death Star.”^{[9]
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- Shopping tip: When you see an item with an asterisk, it’s not necessarily a special discount, but chances are, the price won’t get any lower before the items sell out, so it might be time to buy.
- Thatcher recommends watching for .97 prices and asterisks to find “discounted or discontinued items before they’re gone for good.”^{[10]
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Green Tagged Items

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A green tag means the item is organic. A white tag typically indicates any standard Costco item, but if your olive oil, nuts, or yoghurt are confirmed organic by the USDA, you’ll see a green tag. Keep in mind that every state is different, and not every single Costco store location uses green tags.^{[11]
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- Shopping tip: Some popular organic items at Costco include almond flour, frozen berries, and peanut butter under Costco’s Kirkland Signature brand.^{[12]
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The Date Below the Price

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This date reflects the last time the price was updated. It may also indicate the date when the sign was printed. The date you see below the price can help you decide whether the item is going to be marked down. If the date is not older than a few days or a week, it’s probably a new item that may be reduced to move out all the stock.
- Shopping tip: Watch out for older dates. especially on items with prices ending in $.97; The older the date is, the more likely it may be reduced again.

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$1.50 Hot Dogs

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The $1.50 Costco hot dogs are used to attract new members. Because Costco intentionally loses money on each hot dog sold, pricing hot dogs at $1.50 is considered a “loss leader strategy.” The company is willing to take a loss if the hot dogs help bring in new Costco shoppers and/or members and increase sales overall. The hot dogs are also a major symbol of Costco’s affordable brand.^{[13]
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- Shopping tip: Take advantage of the low-priced hot dogs at Costco by asking for all the extra toppings you want!

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Tips

When shopping at Costco, head to the back of the store first. The best deals can usually be found in the center court or the back aisles–avoid the busy front section if you’re looking for the best deals.^{[14]
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Markdowns happen as needed at Costco (sometimes on a daily basis), so there is no need to wait for special sales or events. Keep your eyes open for ongoing deals, discounts, and markdowns as you shop!^{[15]
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Costco offers great prices on non-food items as well—they’re known for having movie tickets that cost less than buying at the theater, as well as tickets to local attractions, like zoos, theme parks, sporting events, or retail shops.

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