If there’s one universal truth about Costco, it’s that the checkout line is often the price you pay for the bargains. You save money, but you spend time.
However, Costco leadership seems to have finally heard the complaints, and 2026 is shaping up to be the year of queue busting.
The warehouse giant is rolling out operational changes designed to get you out the door faster, modernize the aisles and tighten security.
Here’s what you can expect to see at your local warehouse this year.
1. The expansion of pre-scan technology
This is the change most members will notice immediately. If you’ve visited a Chick-fil-A drive-thru recently, you know how efficient it is to have employees walk the line and take orders on tablets before you reach the window. Costco is bringing a similar concept to its warehouse checkout lanes.
In 2026, Costco is expanding its use of employee-assisted pre-scan technology. Roving employees equipped with handheld devices will scan the items in your cart while you’re still waiting in line. By the time you reach the register, your cart is already tallied. You simply pay and leave.
Early trials of this system have been promising, with some stores reporting that checkout speeds increased by up to 20%. It solves the biggest bottleneck in the building: the physical unloading and reloading of the cart.
Learn more smart shopping tips in “14 Ways to Squeeze the Most From Your Costco Membership.”
2. New store formats are being tested
2026 might be the year you see a Costco that doesn’t look like a traditional Costco. The company is experimenting with alternative footprints to serve specific needs, such as business center locations to better serve small business owners.
This includes a furniture showroom where members can test couches and mattresses that are then delivered to their homes. You could also potentially see standalone gas station locations.
3. Stricter entrance enforcement is here to stay
Costco started scanning membership cards in 2024 and keeping up the practice in 2026.
Costco has found that scanning cards at the door — rather than just flashing them at a greeter — does two things.
First, it stops non-members from slipping in to use the food court (which is increasingly member-exclusive). Second, it speeds up the checkout process because your membership is pre-verified. You won’t get to the register only to realize your card is expired.
4. A smarter mobile app
Historically, Costco’s technology has lagged behind competitors like Sam’s Club, whose Scan and Go app is a fan favorite.
While Costco hasn’t fully embraced a phone-based checkout yet, its 2026 digital strategy includes significant app improvements.
You can expect better real-time inventory tracking, meaning the app will accurately tell you if that specific sectional sofa or laptop is actually in stock at your local store.
Additionally, the retailer is refining its digital membership integration, making it easier to use your phone as your ID at both the gas pump and the front door.
Will Costco switch to digital shelf labels?
To be clear: Costco hasn’t yet announced moving toward digital shelf labels across its locations. But other retailers, from Kroger to Walmart, have.
These electronic tags allow the store to update prices instantly without an employee manually swapping out paper cards. While some shoppers worry this could lead to surge pricing, the primary benefit for a high-volume retailer like Costco is inventory management and labor efficiency.
For you, it means the price on the shelf is far more likely to match the price at the register, eliminating those annoying price-check delays. We’ll see if Costco joins the trend.
