Merchants · Sam's Club
Does Sam's Club count as groceries for credit card rewards?
· Category rules checked against issuer terms
Usually not. Like Costco, Sam's Club is classified as a warehouse club, and most cards exclude warehouse clubs from their grocery bonus. Unlike Costco, it takes all the major card networks.
- Warehouse club purchases
- Grocery on cards whose definition includes wholesale clubs (reported for Bank of America Customized Cash)
- U.S. supermarkets on American Express
- Grocery or online grocery on Chase
- Gas bonuses at Sam's fuel on Amex and U.S. Bank Altitude Go
How Sam's Club is coded
Sam's Club sells groceries alongside electronics, furniture and household goods in bulk, so it's classified as a wholesale club. Your card issuer doesn't choose that code; the merchant and its processor do.
| MCC | Category | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|
| 5300 | Wholesale Clubs | In-club purchases (commonly reported) |
| — | Sam's Club fuel stations | No reliable published code. Check your statement. |
How card issuers treat it
- American Express. Warehouse clubs "are NOT considered supermarkets," and warehouse clubs that sell gasoline aren't considered gas stations.
- Chase. Warehouse clubs are excluded from grocery and online grocery. Gas bought at a wholesale club doesn't count toward Chase's separate Wholesale Clubs category.
- U.S. Bank. On Altitude Go, wholesale clubs earn the base rate for grocery and gas.
- Bank of America. Its Customized Cash grocery category is reported to include wholesale clubs. Confirm in your card agreement.
Good to know before you pay
- Sam's Club accepts all major credit card networks on U.S. accounts, including Visa (since 2016), Mastercard, American Express and Discover.
- Sam's Club has its own co-brand Mastercard, issued by Synchrony Bank. Check its current terms for gas and dining rates.
Getting the most from Sam's Club purchases
- Because Sam's Club takes every network, compare your flat-rate cards, not just your grocery card.
- Gas at Sam's Club often earns the base rate on cards that exclude warehouse clubs from gas.
- Look at how a recent purchase posted on your statement or in your card app. That shows the category your issuer actually assigned.
Common questions
Does Sam's Club count as groceries on the Amex Gold Card?
No. American Express says warehouse clubs are not considered supermarkets.
Does Sam's Club take American Express?
Yes. Sam's Club accepts all major credit card networks on U.S. accounts.
Does Sam's Club gas count as gas?
On many cards, no. American Express says warehouse clubs that sell gas aren't gas stations, and U.S. Bank Altitude Go pays the base rate. Check your own card's gas definition.