Costco is a behemoth. Honestly, walking into one feels like entering a small city where the currency is giant tubs of mayonnaise and very cheap rotisserie chickens. But if you're trying to pin down the exact Costco number of stores, you're chasing a moving target. The company opens new locations so frequently that the data from last month is probably already stale.
As of late 2025 and heading into 2026, the count has comfortably cleared the 890-store mark. It's a staggering figure. They aren't just in suburban America anymore. We're talking about a global footprint that stretches from the bustling streets of Seoul to the outskirts of Reykjavik. Most people think of Costco as a purely American phenomenon, but the international growth is actually where the real drama is happening right now.
The sheer scale is hard to wrap your head around. Imagine nearly 900 warehouses, each averaging about 146,000 square feet. That is a massive amount of real estate dedicated to the "treasure hunt" experience that keeps members paying those annual fees year after year.
Breaking Down the Costco Number of Stores by Region
You can’t talk about Costco without starting with the United States. It is the heart of the operation. With over 600 locations in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, the density in places like California and Washington is intense. California alone often boasts more than 130 stores. That's more than some entire countries.
Canada follows as the second-largest market. It’s actually fascinating how well the model works there. Canadians love Costco. With over 100 locations across the provinces, the per-capita spending is some of the highest in the entire company.
Then you have Mexico. It’s a sleeper hit. With roughly 40 units, Mexico has become a vital part of the North American logistics chain. But the real expansion—the stuff that gets Wall Street analysts excited—is happening across the oceans.
The Asian Expansion
The Costco number of stores in Asia is where the most aggressive growth lives. Japan has over 30 warehouses. Korea has around 18. But China? China is the wildcard. After the massive success of the Shanghai opening in 2019, where they had to shut down early because the crowds were too dangerous, the company realized they’d barely scratched the surface. They are rapidly scaling up in cities like Nanjing and Hangzhou.
Europe and Beyond
Europe is a tougher nut to crack. Land use laws and local competition make it tricky. Still, Iceland has one of the most successful stores in the world (percentage-wise based on population). The UK has nearly 30 locations. They’ve even nudged into Spain, France, and Sweden. It’s a slow burn, but it’s working. Australia is also a heavy hitter with 15+ locations and counting.
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Why the Store Count Actually Matters to Your Wallet
Why should you care if the Costco number of stores goes up by 25 or 30 every year? It’s about buying power. Pure and simple.
The more stores Costco operates, the more "units" they buy from vendors like Procter & Gamble or Tyson Foods. When Costco approaches a supplier and says they need enough Kirkland Signature olive oil to stock 900 warehouses instead of 800, they squeeze the price down.
That savings? It actually gets passed to you.
Costco famously caps its markup at about 14% to 15%. Compare that to a traditional grocery store or department store where markups can hit 30% or 50%. The higher the store count, the better the negotiation, and the more likely your favorite gallon of maple syrup stays at that "too good to be true" price point.
The Strategy Behind Picking a New Location
Costco doesn't just throw a dart at a map. Their real estate team is notoriously picky. They look for specific demographics: high median household income, a large concentration of families, and easy access to major highways.
You’ve probably noticed that Costcos are rarely in the "cheap" part of town. They want the customer who has a minivan, a mortgage, and the storage space to hold 48 rolls of toilet paper.
They also look at the "cannibalization" factor. This is a fancy way of saying they don't want a new store to steal all the customers from an existing one. However, in high-growth areas like Florida, Texas, and Arizona, the existing stores are often so over-capacity that they want a new location nearby to bleed off some of the crowd. If you've ever spent 20 minutes looking for a parking spot on a Saturday morning, you know exactly what I mean.
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Surprising Facts About Specific Warehouses
Not all stores are created equal.
- The World's Largest Costco: Located in Salt Lake City, Utah. It’s a massive 235,000 square feet. It includes a business center and a regular warehouse under one roof. It's basically a marathon if you try to see every aisle.
- The Smallest Costco: Often cited as the one in Juneau, Alaska. It’s a "prototype" store, much smaller than your average warehouse, designed for a smaller population that still wants those bulk prices.
- The Most Remote: The Reykjavik, Iceland store is a bit of a trek for the corporate office, but it has become a cultural staple for locals.
Addressing the Membership Model and Growth
The Costco number of stores is directly tied to membership growth. Costco isn't really a retail company; it’s a subscription business that happens to sell groceries.
Over 90% of members in the U.S. and Canada renew every year. That is a retention rate most tech companies would kill for. Every new store opening represents roughly 50,000 to 100,000 new potential members. That’s the engine. The membership fees represent the vast majority of Costco’s net profit.
So, when you see a headline about "Costco opening 28 new stores this fiscal year," read it as "Costco adding 2 million more paying members."
Logistics: The Hidden Machine
Keeping the Costco number of stores supplied is a nightmare of logistics that they make look easy. They use a "cross-docking" system.
Trucks from suppliers arrive at a central depot, goods are moved directly across the dock to a Costco-bound truck, and they head out. No sitting in a warehouse for weeks gathering dust. This efficiency is why you see pallets being moved by forklifts while you’re shopping. They don't have backrooms. The sales floor is the warehouse.
This model limits the number of individual items (SKUs) they carry. A typical Walmart might have 100,000 different items. Costco has about 4,000. By keeping the store count high but the item count low, they maximize every square inch of those 900 locations.
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Challenges to Future Expansion
It isn't all smooth sailing. Expansion is getting harder.
Construction costs have skyrocketed. Interest rates make financing new builds more expensive than they were five years ago. Furthermore, in many urban areas, there simply isn't enough land to build a 150,000-square-foot box with 700 parking spots.
This is why we're seeing more "vertical" Costcos in places like Vancouver or Mexico City, where the parking is underneath or on top of the store. It's expensive and complicated, but it's the only way to get into dense, wealthy city centers.
How to Track New Openings Near You
If you're waiting for a store to hit your zip code, there are a few ways to stay ahead of the game.
- The Official New Openings Page: Costco maintains a list of "Coming Soon" locations on their website. They usually update this every month.
- Local Planning Commissions: Big box stores have to go through months (or years) of public hearings. If a Costco is coming to your town, the local newspaper or city council minutes will mention it long before the sign goes up.
- Real Estate News: Sites like CoStar or local commercial real estate blogs often break news about land sales that fit the Costco profile.
The 2026 Outlook
Looking forward, the Costco number of stores will likely continue its 2% to 3% annual growth rate. They are a conservative company. They don't overextend.
We expect to see a massive push into South China and more "In-Fill" locations in the U.S. Southeast. States like Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida are still seeing huge population shifts, and Costco is following the moving trucks.
Actionable Next Steps for Enthusiasts and Investors
If you are tracking the growth of this retail giant, here is how you can use this information:
- For Job Seekers: Keep an eye on the "New Openings" list. Costco is famous for promoting from within, but they hire hundreds of local staff for every new warehouse opening. Getting in on the ground floor of a new store is the best way to secure a spot.
- For Investors: Look at the "International" segment in the quarterly earnings reports. U.S. growth is steady, but the international store count is where the higher margins and untapped markets live.
- For Shoppers: If your local store is becoming a nightmare to navigate due to crowds, check the 50-mile radius for new construction. Often, a new store opening will significantly drop the "stress levels" at the older locations nearby.
- For Real Estate Watchers: Notice the "Costco Effect." Properties near a new Costco often see a bump in value because of the improved infrastructure and the influx of other retailers like gas stations and restaurants that want to be near that foot traffic.
The footprint is huge. The growth is calculated. And honestly, as long as people want a $1.50 hot dog and a 5-pound bag of coffee, that store count is only going one direction.
Keep an eye on the quarterly reports released in March, June, September, and December. These provide the most "to the minute" updates on exactly where the company stands. Whether they hit 900 stores this year or early next, the momentum is undeniable.