More and more devices in our lives are powered by USB charging, but for everyday items, like clocks and kid’s toys, batteries still reign supreme. Next, we have our vehicles – as long as cars are gas-powered, they’ll need batteries to keep them going.
You can always count on Costco to have great prices, but before you head to the store, let me share 15 things to know before buying Costco batteries, to save you time and money!
15 Things to Know Before Buying Costco Batteries In [currentyear]
1. You Can Buy Costco Batteries for Electronics
Costco sells its own line of Kirkland Signature batteries in AAA and AA alkaline. In addition, you can find brand names like Duracell and Energizer, plus some other lesser-known brands like Ecoflow and Massimo.
You can find AA, AAA, 9-Volt, C, and D battery types, which are the most common batteries that work with many devices. Unfortunately, though, Costco does not sell specialty batteries, like those for watches.
2. You Can Get Costco Batteries for Vehicles
Costco also sells batteries for vehicles, including cars and trucks, but also for recreational vehicles like motorhomes, golf carts, mowers, boats, ATVs, and motorcycles.
3. Costco Batteries are Manufactured By a Well Known Brand
If you’ve ever tried Kirkland Signature batteries, you likely found them to be high quality. That’s because Costco batteries are one of the many products for which the company outsources manufacturing.
Costco pays the manufacturer, and in turn, can put its own store brand label on the products. In this case, the actual manufacturer of Kirkland Signature batteries is none other than Duracell!
I can tell you this with 100 percent certainty, because the CEO, Craig Jelinek, actually spilled the beans to the press.
In an interview with WSB-TV 2 Atlanta, Jelinek says on camera, “Duracell makes our Signature battery.”
There really is no reason to turn up your nose at store brand batteries at Costco – they’re just as good as name brands because they’re the exact same thing.
4. Costco Batteries Cost a Fraction of Name Brand Batteries
In a Yahoo News article from 2019, AA Kirkland batteries were found to cost $19.99 for a 72-pack, or 28 cents per battery. A pack of AA Duracells was $16.99 per 40-pack or 42 cents per battery.
While exact prices today differ (especially depending on your location), you can expect a very similar kind of price discrepancy between store brand and name brand in Costco.
However, since they’re the same thing, why would you go out of your way to spend about 11 percent more on the Duracell batteries?
5. You Can Pick up the Name Brand in the Costco Batteries Section, Too
If you have particular brand loyalty to Duracell or Energizer, Costco sells those batteries alongside its Kirkland Signature.
In fact, Kirkland Signature batteries only come in AA and AAA, so if you need anything different from those types, you will have to pick up a name brand.
6. The Quality of Costco Batteries is Assured
Duracell is one of the most trusted makers of batteries in the world, and the batteries for Costco’s Kirkland Signature line are top-notch.
They are comparable to Duracell Quantum batteries, and Consumer Reports gave them an 80/100 score, rating them a Best Buy in the AA battery field.
7. When You Buy Costco Batteries, You’re Getting a Lot at Once
If you’re planning on picking up Costco batteries during your next shopping trip, make sure you have room for them. As mentioned earlier, a AA pack of Kirkland Signatures comes with a whopping 72 batteries!
These AAA batteries come in packs of 48 (which is still a lot).
If you have a larger family with kids, this is a great place to shop and stock up on batteries for all those toys and games that they’re constantly wearing out.
8. The Company Sells One Brand of Costco Batteries for Vehicles
Moving onto Costco car batteries, the company now sells one brand particularly: Interstate.
Interstate batteries are manufactured by a number of different makers but are consolidated and sold under the Interstate label.
According to Battery Man Guide, Interstate is known for making reliable and dependable batteries. Costco exclusively sells Interstate batteries because of their known quality.
9. Interstate Makes Costco Batteries for Multiple Vehicle Types
Costco doesn’t have to partner with multiple car battery companies because Interstate has a comprehensive product line.
The company sells automotive batteries, as well as recreational, and also offers standard flooded batteries and absorbed glass mat batteries.
As mentioned above, you can find a battery for everything from your Honda Civic to your motorbike.
10. Costco Batteries for Vehicles Come With a Generous Warranty
Vehicular batteries from Costco are also covered under a generous three-year warranty, in addition to any manufacturer’s warranty.
If your battery fails you within three years of purchase, you can bring the old one into Costco and get it replaced for free. Plus, Costco disposes of old batteries, so you don’t have to worry about finding the proper channels for that task.
11. Don’t Expect the Store to Install Your Costco Batteries
The one thing Costco doesn’t do when it comes to vehicular batteries is installed them.
Therefore, if you don’t know how to do it yourself, you’ll have to find someone who does (or search for a tutorial online), because that’s not a service Costco offers.
12. Costco Batteries for Vehicles Were Once Also Made By a Name Brand
You might have been surprised that Costco doesn’t sell Kirkland Signature car batteries.
As it happens, it used to but has since discontinued them. Like Costco batteries for electronics, the vehicular batteries were manufactured by none other than Duracell.
13. The Retailer Also Got Rid of Another Manufacturer of Costco Batteries
Kirkland Signature batteries aren’t the only vehicular batteries Costco discontinued, but the company also previously sold the premium Optima brand.
Costco must have found the Interstate brand to be pretty high quality if it replaced all the other brands with just one.
14. You Can Buy Costco Batteries for Vehicles Online, Even Without a Membership
One of the nice features about Costco is that, when shopping online, you don’t have to be a member to make certain purchases (items that are “members only” are clearly marked as such on the website).
So, if you want to take advantage of Costco’s excellent value pricing (its prices average about $30 cheaper than at Walmart) you can, and without paying the $60 membership fee.
15. Interstate Costco Batteries are Still Reliable and Affordable
Reviews on Costco’s website are quite positive when discussing Interstate batteries. Six out of eight batteries under the Recreational vehicle heading have a four-star rating or higher (five max).
Under the Interstate Powersport AGM, for ATVs and motorcycles, 31 out of 36 ratings are five stars. When it comes to prices, for my particular car, a 51R battery from Costco costs $99.99.
At Walmart, a 51R from the store brand, EverStart, costs $140. And at AutoZone, the Duralast 51R costs $160.
To know more, you can also check our posts on whether or not Costco changes watch batteries, if Costco installs car batteries, and Costco battery core charge.
Conclusion
Costco batteries, whether powering electronics or cars, RVs, boats, and motorcycles, are often the cheapest option, while never skimping on quality.
Even better, non-members can purchase both types of batteries, taking advantage of Costco’s excellent savings by shopping online.
