Costco Sees Sunday Crowds Peak Between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Customers looking to avoid long lines and crowded aisles at Costco may want to reconsider their weekend shopping plans. Sunday between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. is potentially the busiest period at the warehouse retailer, according to a report by Simply Recipes, although traffic patterns vary by location.

Customer experiences shared on Reddit describe particularly heavy weekend traffic, with some shoppers reporting lengthy checkout lines and crowded stores during Sunday visits.

One Reddit user described a particularly difficult afternoon shopping trip and said the experience changed their weekend shopping habits.

"I stopped by once on a Sunday afternoon, just to see how it was, and it was crazy. Never doing that again," a Reddit user wrote in a Costco discussion.

Another shopper recalled encountering exceptionally long checkout lines during a Sunday visit.

"I've learned the hard way not to shop on Sundays," another Reddit user wrote, describing a line that extended to the back of the store.

Fox News Digital contacted Costco, which is headquartered in Issaquah, Washington, for comment.

Weekday shopping patterns also depend on customers' work schedules. People working traditional 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. shifts from Monday through Friday may find it difficult to visit warehouses during less crowded hours.

Monday may offer a quieter shopping environment because weekend traffic has subsided. However, customers prioritizing product availability may prefer Tuesday or Wednesday, when store inventories are more likely to have been replenished, according to Southern Living.

One Reddit contributor who said they had lived in several parts of the country recommended visiting earlier in the week.

"In my experience, having lived all over the country, Tuesdays earlier in the day seem to be the best option," the user wrote.

The same shopper advised avoiding several high-traffic days and identified the middle of the week as a better alternative.

"In general, I would avoid Friday, Saturday, Sunday [and] Monday at any time," the Reddit user added.

"Tuesday, Wednesday [and] Thursday are generally safe bets, especially earlier in the day."

Other shoppers also recommended adjusting visit times rather than focusing exclusively on the day of the week.

"First hour or last hour seems to be the best times in general. … Going after 6:30pm on a weeknight seems to be the best for my Costco," another Reddit user wrote.

Holiday periods can bring additional pressure on warehouse traffic. According to The Takeout, Costco locations are likely to experience increased customer volumes on the day before a holiday, particularly when warehouses close for the occasion.

Costco generated $297.3 billion in revenue during fiscal year 2025, representing a 10.2% increase from $269.9 billion in the previous fiscal year, according to the company's website.

Costco warehouses generally operate seven days a week for members. Individual store hours and holiday closures are available through the company's official website.