And how to check out without making enemies
Here’s How Many Items Costco Allows at Self-Checkout
Published on Apr. 09, 2025
I love Costco’s discounted gift cards to other businesses—they’re my go-to gifts for family and friends. Who doesn’t love movie tickets or a dinner out at a fun restaurant? And I get a great deal in the process—win-win. So the other day, when I went in to buy a few gift cards, I figured I’d be extra efficient and zipped over to the self-checkout line. Easy, right? Um ….
Want to guess one of the few things you can’t buy through Costco’s self-checkout system? Yep—gift cards. What should have been a two-minute errand turned into a 20-minute ordeal involving two managers, a suspended transaction and me being escorted to a “special” register in a hallway to complete the purchase. So much for efficiency.
Lesson learned: Costco’s self-checkout is a great tool—as long as you know the rules before you scan.
One of the top rules of the self-checkout (SCO) system that you’ve probably wondered about is whether there is a limit to how many items you’re supposed to bring through these things.
Read on to find out the answer, plus get tips to maximize your shopping experience at Costco (and read some funny self-checkout horror stories from Costco employees).
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How many items does Costco allow in its self-checkout lanes?
The short answer: Costco doesn’t have an official item limit for self-checkout. But just because there’s no hard rule doesn’t mean there aren’t unwritten ones—and this non-policy policy does cause some confusion for customers and employees alike.
In multiple Costco-focused subreddits, members and employees regularly debate SCO etiquette. Some report being told at their local warehouses that the lines are for five items max, but others insist there’s never been any such guidance. A few say employees have gently discouraged them from using SCO with more than a few items, while others share experiences of hauling 60-plus items through the line without a single side-eye.
One Redditor even said an employee waved them through SCO with two carts, saying, “We’d rather you do it yourself than tie up a cashier.” Another claimed to have scanned more than 80 items solo with no complaints—although they added, “Everyone behind me hated me. Rightfully.”
Does it matter how many items you have in a Costco self-checkout lane?
So if pretty much anything goes, why does it matter how many items you take through the self-checkout lane at Costco? One Costco employee on Reddit shared why you should limit your items in the self-checkout even if Costco doesn’t:
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The machines have a weight limit on the scale. If you put too much stuff on it, it will stop the transaction and you will have to take everything off to continue.
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It leads to messy accidents. People pile too many things on the scale, balancing their chicken pot pie, eggs and street tacos on top, leading to inevitable falls and messes.
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It will slow you down at the exit. Costco policy says that the person checking the receipt at the exit door must count every single item on a SCO receipt. No matter what. So if you have 42 items on your receipt, then it’s going to take extra time.
A common customer comment is asking for signs with instructions, but one employee replied on a Reddit post about the SCOs: “Corporate literally won’t let us put an item limit or sign explaining so. It’s so dumb. But also, we have signs for lots of other things and people just don’t read. Then they yell at us when we try to educate them politely.”
So the confusion continues. And if social media posts are any indication, people have a lot of thoughts about what’s courteous and what’s just chaos. Some of the most entertaining (and painful) Reddit posts about Costco’s SCO include:
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A woman who took more than 20 minutes to scan her items—and then realized she didn’t have the proper card or payment method.
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A couple who used two side-by-side SCO stations for their one cart, treating it like a race to see who could scan the most items the fastest.
- A guy arguing out loud with the SCO, screaming, “Don’t you yell at me! I’m doing everything you said!!”
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Someone who scanned a huge case of bottled water, saw it didn’t ring up, and just shrugged and walked away—until an employee stopped them and said, “That’s not how this works.”
How many items should you take in the self-checkout line?
Most employees recommend sticking to 10 items or less, but even without an official limit, there’s still such a thing as good self-checkout manners. A few general rules of thumb:
If the store is crowded, don’t clog the line
Self-checkout is meant to be fast. If you’ve got a full cart that looks like you’re stocking a fallout shelter, maybe wait for a regular lane—or hit the SCO during off-peak hours.
Skip SCO if you’re buying certain items
Alcohol, tobacco products and gift cards are just a few of the items you can’t bring through the self-checkout lines.
Be honest with yourself about how fast you can scan
If you’re not tech-comfortable or you’re juggling kids while checking out, it might be easier (and less stressful) to use a staffed lane.
Tips for getting through self-checkout lanes faster at Costco
If you do choose the SCO lane (and thank you for being self-aware about it), here are some tips from Costco pros to keep things moving:
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Group like items together in your cart so you can scan them efficiently.
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Use your Costco app to pull up your digital membership card.
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Use a quick-pay method, like Apple Pay.
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Ask for help if something won’t scan. Costco attendants are usually standing by and happy to assist.
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Bring your own bags. Boxes aren’t offered as an option at the SCO.
Why trust us
Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of etiquette stories that help readers navigate communication in a changing world. We regularly cover topics such as the best messages to send for any occasion, polite habits that aren’t as polite as they seem, email and texting etiquette, business etiquette, tipping etiquette, travel etiquette and more. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. For this piece, Charlotte Hilton Andersen tapped her experience as a longtime journalist who specializes in etiquette and communication for Reader’s Digest. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
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