You walk into the warehouse. The air smells like rotisserie chicken and tire rubber, but then, suddenly, it hits you. That spicy, sweet, cinnamon-heavy scent that practically screams November. You know exactly where it’s coming from. It’s that massive, orange disc of holiday tradition sitting on a white cardboard base. People are loading them into their carts like they’re preparing for a global pumpkin shortage. And the first thing everyone asks while hovering near the bakery is: how much is pumpkin pie at costco this year?
Honestly, the price is almost suspicious.
While everything else in the world seems to get more expensive every five minutes, the Costco pumpkin pie remains one of the greatest anomalies in retail history. For years, the price has hovered right at $5.99. Sometimes you’ll see it for $6.99 depending on the specific region or if there's a weird localized supply chain hiccup, but for the vast majority of members in the United States, that six-dollar price point is basically a law of nature. It’s roughly 3.6 pounds of food. Think about that for a second. You are paying less than two dollars per pound for a fully baked, ready-to-eat dessert that can easily feed eight to twelve people.
Why the Costco pumpkin pie price is a total steal
It’s a loss leader. Plain and simple.
Just like that $1.50 hot dog combo or the $4.99 rotisserie chicken, Costco isn't exactly retiring on the profit margins of their bakery department. They want you in the building. They know that if you come in for a cheap pie, you’re probably going to leave with a 75-inch television, a gallon of olive oil, and a three-pack of wool socks you didn’t know you needed. It’s brilliant business.
But there’s more to it than just the sticker price.
The scale of production is what keeps the cost down. We are talking about millions of pies. During the window between September and December, Costco bakeries turn into high-efficiency machines. They use a specific variety of pumpkin—the Dickinson variety, which is actually more closely related to a butternut squash than the carving pumpkins you put on your porch—to ensure consistency. If they bought smaller batches of ingredients, that price would double overnight.
Breaking down the five-pound (almost) beast
When you look at the sheer size of this thing, the value becomes even more ridiculous. Most grocery store pies are 8 or 9 inches. They look tiny and sad. The Costco version is a 12-inch behemoth.
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Weight matters here. A standard pie from a place like Safeway or Kroger usually weighs in around 24 to 30 ounces. The Costco Kirkland Signature Pumpkin Pie officially weighs 58 ounces. That’s 3.6 pounds. It’s dense. It’s heavy. If you dropped it on your foot, you’d probably need an X-ray.
It’s also surprisingly "clean" for a mass-produced item. While it’s certainly not health food, the ingredient list is shorter than you’d expect for something that costs less than a fancy latte. It’s mostly pumpkin puree, sugar, eggs, and a blend of spices. No weird chemical aftertaste that you sometimes get with shelf-stable pies at the gas station.
The secret to finding them in stock
Timing is everything.
If you show up at 4:00 PM on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, you are going to have a bad time. I’ve seen people nearly get into fistfights over the last pie on the pallet. It’s wild. The bakery staff works around the clock during peak season, but even they can’t keep up with the demand of five hundred people all wanting the same thing at the same time.
Pro tip: Go early in the morning on a weekday. Tuesday or Wednesday morning is the sweet spot. The pies are fresh, the aisles aren’t a mosh pit, and you can actually browse the bakery without being run over by a flatbed cart full of bottled water.
Does the low price mean lower quality?
This is where the debate gets heated. Some people swear it’s the best pie on the planet. Others think the crust is a bit soggy.
Look, is it as good as a pie made by a boutique bakery that charges $45 and uses hand-milled flour? Probably not. But for $5.99, it is unbeatable. The custard is smooth. It isn't overly sweet. The spice profile is heavy on the cinnamon and ginger, which helps cut through the richness of the pumpkin.
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The crust is the most common complaint. Because the pies are so large and heavy, the crust has to be sturdy. This means it can sometimes be a little dense or "doughy" at the bottom. A quick fix? Throw a slice in the air fryer for three minutes. It crisps up the edges and makes the whole thing taste like it just came out of your own oven.
Variations and availability
You won't find these all year. That’s part of the charm.
The pumpkin pies usually start appearing in late August or early September. It’s the unofficial start of autumn for Costco fans. They generally stick around through the end of the year, disappearing shortly after Christmas. Once they’re gone, they’re gone. You can’t special order them in July for a "Christmas in July" party. Costco is very strict about their seasonal rotations.
In some international locations, the price and size vary. In Canada, you’re looking at around $6.99 CAD. In the UK, they occasionally show up but are much less of a "cultural event" than they are in North America. But regardless of where you are, the value proposition remains the same: you get way more than what you paid for.
How to handle a 3-pound pie at home
Most people don't realize how big these are until they get home and realize it doesn't fit on a standard dinner plate.
If you aren't feeding a small army, you’re going to have leftovers. Lots of them. The good news is that these pies freeze surprisingly well. You can cut the pie into individual slices, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap, then a layer of foil, and toss them in the freezer. When the craving hits in February, you just thaw a slice in the fridge.
Actually, eating it semi-frozen is a move. It almost tastes like pumpkin ice cream.
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Is it worth the membership?
If you only buy one pie a year, no, the $65 or $120 membership fee doesn't make sense. But for families hosting Thanksgiving, the math changes fast. When you factor in the turkey prices, the massive bags of potatoes, the 2-pack of whipped cream, and the pumpkin pie, you’ve basically paid for half your membership in one trip.
There's a reason Costco sells over 6 million pumpkin pies in the three days leading up to Thanksgiving alone. It’s a cultural touchstone. It represents a specific type of American consumerism that prioritizes scale and value without completely sacrificing the "home-cooked" feel.
Expert Tips for Your Costco Pie Run
Don't just grab the first one you see. Look for the "sell by" date. Because they are preservative-light, they have a relatively short shelf life. You want a pie that was baked today or yesterday.
Also, check the middle. Sometimes, in the rush of holiday production, a pie might have a slight crack in the center. It doesn't affect the taste, but if you’re a perfectionist who wants a pristine table setting, look for the smooth tops.
Finally, consider the "glaze." Some locations have a slightly glossier finish on top than others. This is just a result of how the sugars in the pumpkin caramelize during the bake. The darker the top, the deeper the flavor—usually.
Actionable Steps for the Best Experience
- Check your local warehouse price: While $5.99 is the standard, high-cost-of-living areas or remote locations (like Alaska or Hawaii) may see a slight bump to $7.99. Still a deal, but good to know before you hit the register.
- Clear out fridge space: This pie is 12 inches wide. It will not fit in a crowded refrigerator. Measure your shelf height before you buy it.
- Upgrade the topping: The pie is great, but it’s basic. Grab the Kirkland Signature heavy whipping cream while you’re there. Whip it yourself with a dash of bourbon and some real vanilla bean. It elevates a $6 pie to something that feels like it cost $30.
- Transport with care: Because the pie is so heavy and the box is relatively thin cardboard, do not carry it with one hand. Support the bottom. Many a Thanksgiving has been ruined by a pie sliding right through the bottom of a damp box in a parking lot.
The reality is that how much is pumpkin pie at costco is a question with an answer that defies modern inflation. It’s a six-dollar miracle in a cardboard box. Whether you’re serving it at a formal dinner or eating it with a fork directly out of the container at midnight, it remains the undisputed heavyweight champion of the bakery aisle. Keep an eye on the bakery pallets starting in September, and make sure you have enough room in the trunk for the rest of the stuff you're inevitably going to buy.