You’re standing in your kitchen on the morning of January 1st. The fridge is basically a graveyard of leftover cocktail shrimp and half-empty bottles of sparkling cider. You realize you’re out of coffee, eggs, and—somehow—toilet paper. Naturally, your brain goes straight to the warehouse. You want those Kirkland signature staples. But before you grab the keys and head out into the crisp morning air of 2025, there is a reality check you need to hear.
Costco is closed on New Year’s Day 2025. It’s a hard truth. While many other retailers are trying to squeeze every last cent out of the first day of the year, Costco sticks to a very specific tradition. They are one of the few massive chains that stays shuttered on major holidays to give their employees a genuine break. Honestly, it’s kind of refreshing, even if it’s inconvenient when you’re craving a rotisserie chicken.
The company has a very public list of "Holiday Closures" that they stick to like glue. New Year’s Day is one of the big ones, right alongside Thanksgiving and Christmas. If you show up at the warehouse on Wednesday, January 1, 2025, you’re going to find a very empty parking lot and very locked doors.
Why the Costco New Year's Day 2025 closure is a thing
Costco isn't being mean. They have a long-standing corporate culture that prioritizes "work-life balance"—a phrase that usually sounds like corporate fluff, but in this case, it actually means something. By closing on January 1st, they ensure that the person who checked your receipt on December 31st actually gets to recover from their New Year's Eve festivities.
Most retail giants like Walmart or Target stay open. They want that "New Year, New Me" fitness equipment revenue. Costco takes the opposite path. They’ve decided that the loss in sales for one day is worth the boost in employee morale. It’s a move that has helped them maintain one of the highest employee retention rates in the entire retail industry.
The New Year’s Eve scramble
If you’re panicking because you need supplies for a bowl game party or a quiet New Year's Day brunch, you have to look at Tuesday, December 31, 2024.
Costco will be open on New Year's Eve, but don't expect the usual 8:30 PM closing time. Typically, warehouses across the United States and Canada shift to "Holiday Hours" for the final day of the year. This usually means they open at their standard time—often 9:00 AM or 10:00 AM depending on your location—but they pull the plug early.
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Expect the doors to close at 6:00 PM on December 31st.
If you’ve ever been to a Costco at 4:30 PM on New Year's Eve, you know it's a special kind of chaos. It’s a sea of people grabbing last-minute charcuterie boards, cases of Prosecco, and those giant packs of wings. If you aren't inside by 5:45 PM, you’re probably not getting in. The staff wants to go home. Can you blame them?
Navigating the 2025 holiday schedule
Once the calendar flips to Thursday, January 2, 2025, everything goes back to the status quo. You can expect standard operating hours to resume. For most locations, that means 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM, though some "Business Centers" operate on a much earlier schedule, often opening at 7:00 AM.
It is worth noting that while the physical warehouses are closed on the 1st, Costco.com is technically "open." You can place orders for delivery, but keep in mind that shipping carriers like UPS and FedEx also observe the holiday. Nothing is moving on the 1st. Your order won't actually start its journey to your doorstep until at least the 2nd or 3rd.
What about the Gas Station?
This is where people usually get tripped up. Many members think the gas station might be automated and therefore open even when the store is closed.
Nope.
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Costco Gas Stations usually close about a half-hour after the warehouse closes on New Year's Eve and remain closed the entire day on New Year's Day. If you’re planning a road trip to start 2025, fill up the tank on the 30th or 31st. Don't be the person rolling into the Costco lot on empty on January 1st only to see the yellow tape across the pumps. It's a lonely feeling.
Survival tactics for the New Year's Day closure
Since you can't go to Costco on the 1st, you have to be strategic. The three days leading up to New Year's are some of the busiest in the retail calendar.
- The 48-Hour Rule: Buy your perishables (like that massive tub of spinach that you definitely intend to eat for your resolution) on December 30th.
- The Pharmacy Factor: If you have prescriptions at the Costco Pharmacy, remember that they follow the warehouse hours. They will be closed on the 1st. If you’re running low on a vital medication, get that refill handled by the 29th to avoid the New Year's Eve rush.
- Alternative Options: If you absolutely must have groceries on January 1st, you’ll likely have to head to a local grocery chain like Kroger, Publix, or Safeway. Most of these remain open, though often with reduced hours. Even Whole Foods usually keeps its doors open for the "resolution crowd" looking for green juice.
The bigger picture of retail holidays
There’s a growing trend in the U.S. where consumers are starting to appreciate these closures. A few years ago, there was a massive push for "Gray Thursday," where stores opened on Thanksgiving evening. That backfired. People hated it. Employees hated it.
Costco has stayed consistent. By keeping the Costco hours New Year's Day 2025 strictly "Closed," they reinforce their brand as a company that cares about its people. For a member-based business, that reputation matters. You pay $65 or $130 a year for a membership partly because you trust the way the company operates.
Interestingly, this closure applies globally to most Costco locations, though local labor laws in places like the UK, Australia, or South Korea can sometimes shift these patterns slightly. But for the vast majority of North American shoppers, the rule is absolute.
Common Misconceptions
People often ask: "What if I have an Executive Membership? Do I get special hours?"
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Sadly, no.
The Executive Membership gets you 2% back and some extra perks on services, but it doesn’t get you a key to the building on a national holiday. The doors are locked for everyone.
Another common mistake is checking "Google Maps" for hours on the morning of the 1st. While Google is getting better at updating holiday hours, it isn't always 100% accurate for every specific location. If a manager forgot to update their local profile, Google might tell you they are open. Don't trust it. Trust the official Costco corporate policy: they are closed.
Planning your first 2025 trip
When the doors finally swing open on January 2nd, expect the "Resolution Rush." This is the week where Costco sells an ungodly amount of:
- Treadmills and rowing machines
- Large bags of frozen protein and kale
- Vitamin supplements and protein powders
- Storage bins for people trying to "organize their life"
If you want a peaceful shopping experience, wait until the following Tuesday. Mid-week, mid-day is the sweet spot for avoiding the crowds.
Honestly, the best way to handle the New Year's Day closure is to just embrace it. Take the day off. Stay in your pajamas. Eat the leftovers. The bulk-sized boxes of granola bars will still be there on the 2nd.
Actionable Next Steps for Costco Members
- Check your pantry by December 28th: Make a list of everything you need for New Year's Eve dinner and New Year's Day breakfast.
- Visit the warehouse on December 29th or 30th: These are the "Goldilocks" days—the Christmas returns have slowed down, and the New Year's Eve panic hasn't quite peaked yet.
- Refill prescriptions early: Ensure any maintenance medications are picked up by the 30th.
- Top off your gas tank: Do this on your way home from work on the 30th to avoid the long lines at the pumps on the 31st.
- Confirm local opening times for January 2nd: Use the official Costco app to check if your local warehouse has any specific "inventory day" shifts, though this is rare for the start of January.