A Sam’s Club membership is worth it for fresh groceries only if the savings on food your household actually uses exceed the membership fee plus any extra travel or delivery costs. There is no established universal savings figure or evidence that Sam’s Club’s fresh food is better quality than local alternatives, so compare a realistic basket using prices and package sizes in your area.
What a Sam’s Club membership costs in 2026
Axios reported that Sam’s Club raised its annual fees effective May 1, 2026: Club membership is $60, up from $50, and Plus is $120, up from $110. Plus members can earn up to $750 a year in Sam’s Cash rewards, up from $500, according to the same report. These are reported current terms, not a guarantee that prices or reward limits will remain unchanged. Axios reported the change.
The Club fee gives you a straightforward break-even target: your net annual savings must exceed $60. For Plus, count only the additional benefits you will use against its $60 higher annual fee—not the full $120 fee again if you are comparing it with Club.
How to calculate whether fresh groceries pay for the fee
- Choose a small basket you already buy. Include repeat purchases such as produce, meat, dairy, or bakery items. Compare equivalent items at Sam’s Club and nearby stores using current local prices.
- Compare usable unit prices. Divide each price by the amount your household expects to consume, not simply the package’s total weight or count. A larger pack is not a saving if part of it spoils or goes unused.
- Estimate the annual difference. Multiply the realistic per-trip savings by how often you expect to make those purchases. Do not count products you would not otherwise buy.
- Subtract added costs. Account for extra driving, delivery charges, and the expected cost of food that will be wasted. Include only rewards you qualify for and expect to redeem.
- Compare the result with the fee. For Club, the net annual savings need to be more than $60. To decide whether Plus is worthwhile instead, assess whether the benefits you will actually use justify the extra $60 over Club.
This calculation depends on your household’s basket and local prices. The available sources do not provide a current, like-for-like price basket or a representative estimate of savings, food waste, or grocery quality.
#1 Best Overall
- Stands Up & Stays Open: Making shopping so much easier! With a rigid box structure, our reusable bags are super easy to load & unload compared to ordinary floppy bags – Long handles let you carry tall items or sling a tote bag over your shoulder
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What grocery categories and shopping options are available
Walmart’s FY2026 annual report lists grocery categories that include meat, bakery, deli, and produce. That establishes categories at the company level; it does not establish what a particular club stocks, how fresh its food is, or how it compares in quality with another store. Walmart’s annual reports do not provide a local assortment or quality comparison.
You can shop in club, use curbside pickup, or use Delivery from Club where available. The official membership benefits page says Club members get free curbside pickup on eligible orders over $50; Plus members have no pickup minimum. For Delivery from Club, Plus members receive free select same-day or next-day delivery on eligible orders over $50, while Club members pay $12 for that delivery. Check whether the service and order qualify in your area.
Rank #2
- STURDY & DURABLE: There are reinforced handles sewn to the bottom of the tote bag for extra durability, and there is a thick removable plastic bottom insert for extra strength while grocery shopping.
- LARGE CAPACITY: 15" H x 13" L x 10" W. After extensive research, we believe this size is the most practical size. You can carry the grocery bags over your shoulder and easily carry heavy loads.
- ECO-FRIENDLY: Made of recycled polypropylene, use reusable bags to protect the environment.
- EASY TO CLEAN: Machine Washable, Hand Washing recommended, easy to fold after wash the tote bags, Hang dry only.
- VERSATILITY: These heavy duty reusable shopping bags are great for GROCERY SHOPPING, picnics, laundry, the beach, travel, and more.
For Delivery from Club, item prices match in-club and curbside prices. Some weighted items—including fresh meat and certain bakery and cheese products—are priced finally according to actual weight; the online listing shows a maximum price. Sam’s Club’s Delivery from Club FAQ explains this pricing detail.
Delivery and guest shopping are not the same as in-club prices
Nonmembers can order grocery delivery through Instacart, but Sam’s Club says members who enter their membership number receive lower prices than nonmembers. Its help page says Instacart prices are higher than in-club prices, delivery fees may apply, and Instacart orders do not earn Sam’s Cash. Check the Instacart FAQ before using delivery costs in your comparison.
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Rank #3
- Sturdy Rip-stop Fabric: the WISELIFE reusable grocery bag is made of heavy-duty non-woven fabric reinforced with finished stitches; these large grocery shopping bags are strong and can accommodate odd-shaped items and hold up to 50 lbs
- Super Easy To Clean: the shopping totebags' special fabric is easy to clean; simply use a wet cloth to wipe off the dirt or rinse off under cold water and allow the bag to air dry
- Two Ways of Carrying: the grocery bag has a long and wide handle for easy carrying by hand or over the shoulder; the handle is 9.5 inch long to fit any body type; sturdy fabric ensures that the bag will not break
- Foldable and Portable : each grocery bag measures 16.1” x 13” x 10.2” (L x H x W); folds flat for easy storage in your kitchen, car, handbag, backpack, and luggage; great not only for veggies and fruit, but also great for food shopping, or clothes
- Reusable: one reusable shopping bag is equivalent to 1000+ times of using plastic disposal bags; as an alternative to single-use plastic bags, reusable shopping bags make the future cleaner and more livable
Guest online purchases are also a poor substitute for a membership if you are trying to assess member pricing: guests pay a 10% surcharge and do not receive member-only savings. Guests cannot shop in club or use curbside pickup. Sam’s Club’s guest membership FAQ describes these restrictions.
When Plus may make sense for grocery shoppers
Plus costs $60 more per year than Club under the fees effective May 1, 2026. Its strongest grocery case is for members who will use eligible Delivery from Club orders: Club members pay $12 for that delivery, while Plus includes free select deliveries on qualifying orders over $50, subject to local eligibility. Pickup is free for Club members on eligible orders over $50, so it does not necessarily justify Plus if pickup is the service you use.
Rank #4
- Extra-Large 35L Capacity: Measuring 16.1×10.2×13.0, each spacious collapsible grocery tote bag accommodates up to 35L of groceries, household items, or clothing. Long, sturdy handles offer multiple ways to comfortably carry the bag, by hand, over the arm, or over the shoulder
- Easy to Clean & Reuse: The large reusable shopping bags have a protective coating that resists water and stains, making the bags effortless to clean with a damp cloth. They serve as a long-lasting alternative to flimsy plastic bags or paper bags that are prone to ripping for all your daily errands
- Premium Details: The thick non-woven fabric of the kitchen reusable grocery bags withstands tears and daily wear. Designed for heavy-duty use, these reusable shopping bags with handles feature reinforced stitching and well-finished edges, capable of holding up to 30
- Foldable to Save Space: At only 0.15 per bag, these foldable grocery bags with handles are incredibly easy to carry anywhere without extra weight. Fold the bag flat for compact storage in your trunk, handbag, or backpack, saving space when not in use
- Versatile Use: WISELIFE reusable tote bags with handles are reliable for grocery shopping, trunk organization, camping, picnics, storage, and more. They keep your items neat and organized on the go, offering a portable storage solution for all kinds of outings
Plus also offers the opportunity to earn Sam’s Cash, up to the reported annual maximum of $750. Treat rewards as a potential reduction in cost only if your purchases qualify and you will redeem them; do not assume the maximum is automatic grocery savings.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.A practical verdict
Join for fresh groceries if your own repeat basket clears the fee after realistic package use, waste, and transportation or delivery costs. If the comparison is close, price a few routine purchases locally and track what your household finishes before committing to the assumption that bulk packs save money. Sam’s Club said, as reported by Axios, that “adjusting our membership pricing will help support the things our members love.” That statement explains the company’s rationale for the fee change, not whether a particular household will save.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Large Capacity w/ Front Pocket & Hanging Loop – 14.6” W x 14” H x 10” D - 8.7 Gallons or 32.9 Liters of storage capacity. Fit more items than your traditional plastic grocery bags with its spacious nature. Place your grocery list, phone, or money in the convenient outside pocket which is located on the front of the bag for easy retrieval. You can even hang the bag on a shopping cart with the small loop that is located at the top of the bag for convenient and easy grocery shopping!
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- Multi-Functional – Multi-purpose and can be used for various occasions such as grocery shopping, beach, work, picnics, or trips! Perfect for packing your groceries, bringing food for a picnic, carrying your beach essentials, and transporting your work supplies. VENO reusable bags are versatile, functional, and fashionable for everyday use and timelessness. U.S. Patent Pending, Application Number 29887865.
- Reusable & Sustainable to Protect the Environment – VENO reusable grocery shopping bags are created through maximizing the use of post-consumer material to make high-grade bags that save plastic from ending up in oceans, lakes, and landfills. Help us in protecting our environment to create a cleaner, more livable future. Collapsible and foldable for future use and easy storage in your car, glove compartment, kitchen, cabinet, drawer, luggage, or purse!
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
