Costco Tightens Gold Bar Sales Amid Surging Demand

Costco Tightens Restrictions on Gold Bar Sales Due to High Demand

Costco’s gold bars have become a hot commodity, with the warehouse giant quietly tightening restrictions on its precious metal sales due to overwhelming demand. Originally, members could purchase two 1-ounce, 24-karat gold bars per transaction, but Costco has since changed its policy. Shoppers can still buy up to two bars, but they can only place one transaction every 24 hours. This change is reflected in the listings for the two 1-ounce gold bars currently available on Costco’s website – the Rand Refinery and PAMP Suisse Lady of Liberty – which state a “Limit of 1 Transaction Per Membership, with a Maximum of 2 Units Per 24 Hours.”

In addition to gold bars, other gold and silver products sold on Costco.com also have purchase limitations. For example, members can buy up to two 1-ounce gold coins in one transaction every 24 hours, and sales of 10-ounce silver bars are limited to one transaction, with a maximum of 10 units per day.

Costco began selling 24-karat gold bars in 2023, and the Swiss- and South African-made bullion quickly gained popularity, sparking an online gold rush. The retailer has seen significant success from its gold bar sales, with analysts at Wells Fargo estimating that Costco earns between $100 million and $200 million a month from these sales. In fact, gold was listed as one of Costco’s top-selling product categories in its first-quarter earnings report for 2025.

The latest restrictions from Costco come in response to the soaring demand for gold this year. Gold prices have hit record highs in 2025, driven by economic uncertainty and inflation fears, leading investors to seek out tangible assets like gold. Since the beginning of 2024, the price of gold has risen by more than 60%.

The price of gold bars has also seen a significant increase. Two years ago, the 1-ounce Rand Refinery gold bar sold for just under $2,000 on Costco’s website. Today, the same bar is priced at approximately $3,250, with the current market price for one ounce of gold around $3,295.

While Costco has not issued an official statement or responded to requests for comment about the new restrictions, reactions from members have been mixed. Some users on online forums like Reddit support the limitations, citing concerns about overwhelming demand and the difficulty of obtaining even a single bar. Others, however, are less enthusiastic, stating that they regularly buy the maximum limit and may look for better deals if the restrictions continue.

Overall, Costco’s decision to tighten restrictions on gold bar sales reflects the high demand for precious metals and the retailer’s efforts to manage inventory and customer expectations in a rapidly changing market.