Sam’s Club vs Costco Mattresses: Which Warehouse Club Wins?
Two near-identical return promises, two different membership bills, and one question that decides it: how would you actually get the mattress back?
Both clubs sell mattresses behind a satisfaction guarantee with no stated deadline on most merchandise, so the return policy is close to a tie. The differences that matter are membership cost — Costco is $65 Gold Star / $130 Executive, Sam’s Club lists $60 Club / $120 Plus — the house brands (Novaform at Costco, Member’s Mark at Sam’s Club), and the fact that a warehouse purchase has to go back to the warehouse while an online order can be picked up.
| Costco | Sam’s Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Membership | $65 Gold Star; $130 Executive ($65 plus a $65 upgrade fee) | $60 Club; $120 Plus (list prices, frequently promoted lower) |
| Mattress return promise | Risk-Free 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, no stated deadline on general merchandise | 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, no stated deadline on most merchandise |
| Published exceptions | Electronics, appliances, diamonds over 1ct, custom orders, freight items and more | Category-specific limits such as electronics and cell phones |
| Restocking fees | None published for mattresses | None published for mattresses |
| House mattress brand | Novaform | Member’s Mark |
| Warehouse purchase returns | Back to any warehouse returns counter | Back to the club |
| Online order returns | Can be initiated online; freight items follow a separate process | Can be initiated online, with pickup for large items |
| Membership fee itself | Refundable at any time if you are dissatisfied | Membership satisfaction guarantee applies |
The return policies are a wash. Almost.
On paper both clubs say the same reassuring thing: if you are not happy, bring it back. Costco’s wording is a guarantee of satisfaction on every product it sells with a published exceptions list that does not include mattresses. Sam’s Club’s guarantee likewise carries no deadline for most merchandise, with time limits reserved for categories like electronics and phones.
What differs is friction. Ask, before you pay:
- Did I buy this in the building or online? Club and warehouse purchases go back to the building. Online orders can be returned through the website, with pickup arranged for something too big to ship.
- Can I physically move it? A queen foam mattress will not re-compress into its box. If you cannot fit it in a vehicle, buy online so a pickup is possible.
- Is it a freight-delivered item? Costco routes large freight returns through a separate process rather than the standard counter.
Membership: the smaller number is not always cheaper
Sam’s Club lists $60 for Club and $120 for Plus; Costco charges $65 for Gold Star and $130 for Executive, where Executive is the $65 base plus a $65 upgrade fee and earns a 2% annual reward on qualifying purchases. On a single $900 mattress purchase that reward is $18 — real, but not decisive. Sam’s Club regularly promotes discounted first-year memberships, which can make the first year materially cheaper. Both clubs will refund a membership fee if you are dissatisfied.
The real weakness of both
Neither club is built for trying mattresses. Sam’s Club displays some models in club; Costco mostly stacks boxes. That is the trade you accept for the price: you are buying a bed you have not laid on, backed by a policy that lets you undo it. That works better for a guest room or a straightforward medium-firm hybrid than for a shopper with hip pain, a side-sleeping partner and a strong firmness preference.
If you fall in the second group, test beds somewhere first and then decide where to buy. Our comparison engine and testing methodology are built around the measurements the club aisle cannot show you.
Or buy a mattress that comes to you with a trial
Free in-home trial, free return pickup, no membership fee. See what the brands we test are discounting this week.
Frequently asked questions
Which has the better mattress return policy, Sam’s Club or Costco?
They are effectively tied. Both publish a satisfaction guarantee with no stated deadline on most merchandise and no restocking fee on mattresses. Costco’s advantage is the clarity of its published exceptions list; Sam’s Club’s is that large online orders can be picked up.
How much is each membership?
Costco is $65 a year for Gold Star and $130 for Executive, which includes the $65 base fee plus a $65 upgrade fee. Sam’s Club lists $60 for Club and $120 for Plus, and frequently promotes a discounted first year.
Can I try mattresses at Sam’s Club or Costco?
Only in a limited way. Sam’s Club displays some mattresses in club, while Costco warehouses generally stock boxed inventory. Neither is a substitute for a showroom if firmness is a concern.
How do I return a mattress I bought in the warehouse?
Warehouse and club purchases go back to the building’s returns counter, which means you need a vehicle that fits it. If that is a problem, order online instead so a pickup can be arranged.
Which house brand is better, Novaform or Member’s Mark?
They target the same value shopper with foam and hybrid builds at similar prices. Compare specs, warranty length and model-level reviews rather than choosing by brand name, since both lines change models frequently.
Bottom line
Pick the club you already shop. The mattress policies are close enough that membership cost, house-brand model availability and whether you can physically move the bed back matter more than the fine print. And if you cannot test the bed and cannot haul it, buy online so a return pickup is on the table.
Related reading: Sam’s Club mattress return policy, Costco mattress return policy, best Costco mattresses and Costco mattress sale calendar.
Terms below were read directly off the retailer’s own published policy pages in September 2026. Retailers change these without notice — confirm the current terms in writing before you buy.
- Costco: What is Costco’s return policy? — customerservice.costco.com (Risk-Free 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, exceptions, freight returns, warehouse return requirement).
- Costco membership types — customerservice.costco.com ($65 Gold Star, $130 Executive).
- Sam’s Club membership pricing — samsclub.com/join ($60 Club, $120 Plus list prices).
- Sam’s Club 100% Satisfaction Guarantee — samsclub.com satisfaction-guarantee and returns help pages (no stated deadline on most merchandise; category limits apply).
Compare both beds against 142 tested mattresses
Sort all 142 mattresses we have tested by pressure relief, support, cooling, motion isolation, edge support, price, trial and warranty, then filter by how you actually sleep. Of those, 131 hold a complete standardized record and 1 a partial standardized record.