You're standing in the middle of a Sam’s Club aisle, staring at a 48-pack of toilet paper and a rotisserie chicken, wondering if you can just tap your phone and walk out. Most of us live our lives through digital wallets these days. So, naturally, the question is: does Sam's take PayPal?
The short answer? It's complicated. Honestly, if you try to find a "PayPal" button at the physical checkout register, you’re going to be disappointed. Sam's Club doesn't natively support PayPal at their traditional POS terminals. But don't throw your membership card across the warehouse just yet.
There are actually three or four ways to make this work, depending on how much you care about rewards and how much you hate waiting in line.
Does Sam's Take PayPal? The In-Store Reality
If you walk up to a cashier or a self-checkout machine, you won't see a "PayPal" option. You also won't see Apple Pay, which is a whole other headache for people used to contactless payments. Sam’s Club is owned by Walmart, and they’ve historically pushed their own proprietary systems.
However, if you have a PayPal Debit Card or a PayPal Cashback Mastercard, you're in luck. Since these are physical cards (or digital cards added to your phone's wallet where Mastercard is accepted), they work just like any other plastic.
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I’ve seen plenty of people use the PayPal Debit Card at Sam’s Club because it often codes as "Groceries." In early 2026, some users are still reporting getting that sweet 5% cash back on the debit card's rotating categories by using it at the self-checkout.
Why the App is Your Best Friend
The real "hack" for using PayPal at Sam's Club isn't at the register at all. It’s the Scan & Go feature in the Sam's Club app.
- Open the app while you shop.
- Scan your items as you put them in the cart.
- When you're done, you pay inside the app.
Now, here is the nuance: While the app allows you to link credit and debit cards, it doesn't always show a direct "Log in with PayPal" button for every user. Most people link their PayPal Debit Card directly as a Mastercard. It bypasses the cashier entirely and lets you walk out the door after a quick QR code scan at the exit.
Using PayPal for Online Orders and Curbside
When you move away from the physical warehouse floors and onto SamsClub.com, the rules change a bit. For online orders—whether you’re getting a patio set shipped to your house or doing a curbside pickup—the payment landscape is a little more flexible.
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Actually, buying Sam's Club Gift Cards via the PayPal Gift Card store is one of the most reliable ways to "use" your PayPal balance. You buy the digital gift card on PayPal's site using your balance or linked bank account, then apply that gift card to your Sam's Club account. It sounds like an extra step. It is. But it works 100% of the time.
The Cash Back Strategy
If you’re a rewards hunter, the PayPal Cashback Mastercard is basically a cheat code. It gives you 3% back when you check out using PayPal and 1.5% on everything else. Since Sam's is a "wholesale club," it sometimes gets excluded from high-tier grocery rewards on other cards.
Using the PayPal card ensures you're at least getting that 1.5% to 3% baseline, which adds up when you're buying bulk.
What About the Gas Pump?
This is where most people get stuck. You're at the Sam's Club Fuel Center, the line is ten cars deep, and you realize you left your wallet at home. Does Sam's take PayPal at the pump?
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Directly? No. The pumps are old-school swipe or dip. They don't have NFC (tap-to-pay) enabled for PayPal or Apple Pay.
The Workaround: You can use the Sam's Club app to pay for gas. If you have your PayPal Debit Card linked as your primary payment method in the app, you scan the QR code on the pump screen, and it authorizes the transaction through the card. It's a lifesaver if you're prone to forgetting your physical wallet.
Breaking Down the Methods
- Physical PayPal Debit/Credit Card: Works everywhere in the club. Just swipe or chip it.
- Sam's Club App (Scan & Go): Link your PayPal card here to skip the lines.
- SamsClub.com: Use your PayPal card for shipping or curbside orders.
- Gift Card Loophole: Buy a Sam's gift card on the PayPal website using your balance.
Basically, Sam's Club wants you to stay within their ecosystem (Scan & Go), and PayPal wants you to use their "Everywhere" initiative. When the two meet, you get a functional, if slightly indirect, way to shop.
Actionable Next Steps:
To make your next trip seamless, download the Sam's Club app and add your PayPal Debit Card or Mastercard to the "Payments" section before you leave the house. This allows you to use Scan & Go immediately, which is the only way to effectively use your PayPal-linked funds while avoiding the standard checkout lines. If you rely on your PayPal balance specifically, purchase a digital Sam's Club gift card through the PayPal app's gift card store and load it into your Sam's account for instant use.