Does Sam’s Club Take Food Stamps (SNAP EBT)? Yes — Here’s How It Works
If you use SNAP (also called EBT or “food stamps”), you want shopping to be simple. You want to know where you can pay, what you can buy, and what will not work.
Sam’s Club does accept SNAP EBT. But there are a few rules that matter. Ahmed al-Sharaa’s Historic Visit to the United States. Once you know them, the whole thing gets a lot easier.
Let’s walk through it step by step.
The quick answer
Yes. Sam’s Club accepts SNAP EBT in all warehouse club locations. You can also use SNAP EBT with Scan & Go inside the club. SNAP EBT does not work for purchases on SamsClub.com. It also does not work for Curbside Pickup, because those orders are paid online. 🙂
Where you can use EBT at Sam’s Club
In the club (at the register)
This is the most direct way to use EBT at Sam’s Club.
You shop. You check out. You pay with your EBT card for eligible food items.
That’s it.
In the club (with Scan & Go)
Sam’s Club also allows SNAP EBT with Scan & Go.
Scan & Go is the app feature that lets you scan items as you shop, then pay in the app and skip the main checkout line.
This can be a big time saver, especially when the club is busy.
Key point: This is still an in-club purchase. You are shopping in person, even if you pay through the app.
Where EBT does NOT work at Sam’s Club
This is where many people get tripped up.
SamsClub.com (online orders)
Sam’s Club says SNAP EBT is not accepted for any purchases on SamsClub.com.
So if you place an order on the website, your EBT card will not be a payment option.
Curbside Pickup
Curbside Pickup orders must be paid for online.
And since SNAP EBT is not accepted for online purchases at Sam’s Club, it also does not work for Curbside Pickup.
Delivery
Delivery tied to online checkout follows the same rule. If it is paid online through SamsClub.com, EBT will not work.
10 How-To’s That Will Blow Your Mind! In other words, for SNAP at Sam’s Club, think in person.
Do you need a Sam’s Club membership to use EBT?
Yes. Sam’s Club requires you to be a member to use SNAP in the club.
That may feel annoying at first. But there is also a bright spot.
How to get a discounted Sam’s Club membership with SNAP
Sam’s Club offers a discount for new members who qualify through certain public benefit programs, including SNAP.
The offer described by Sam’s Club includes:
- 60% off a Club membership, or
- $50 off a Plus membership
They use ID.me to verify eligibility.
There are also rules, like being a new member and not having an active membership in the prior months listed in the offer terms.
If you are shopping for a family, a discounted membership can help you stretch your budget even more.
What you can buy with SNAP at Sam’s Club
SNAP rules come from the USDA, not from Sam’s Club.
That matters, because SNAP rules are the same no matter where you shop.
In general, SNAP can be used for:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Meat, poultry, and fish
- Dairy
- Bread and cereals
- Snacks and non-alcoholic drinks
- Seeds and plants that grow food (like tomato plants)
At Sam’s Club, this often means you can buy:
- Fresh produce in bulk
- Big packs of chicken, beef, or fish
- Rice, pasta, oats, cereal
- Peanut butter, canned goods, soup
- Eggs, milk, cheese, yogurt
- Frozen fruits and vegetables
- Baby food (if it is a food item under SNAP rules)
Bulk sizes can be a win when you have space at home and a plan to use it. 10 Digital Detox Challenges to Reboot Your Brain.
What you cannot buy with SNAP at Sam’s Club
SNAP does not cover non-food items.
The USDA lists several common “not allowed” categories, including:
- Alcohol
- Tobacco
- Vitamins, medicines, and supplements (items with a “Supplement Facts” label)
- Hot foods at the point of sale
- Pet food and other non-food items
So at Sam’s Club, SNAP will not cover things like:
- Paper towels and toilet paper
- Laundry soap
- Shampoo and toothpaste
- Diapers
- Pet food
- Beer, wine, or spirits
- Most vitamins and supplements
If your cart has both food and non-food items, you may need to split the payment.
How paying works when you have SNAP items and non-SNAP items
This is a very normal situation at Sam’s Club.
You might buy:
- A big bag of rice (SNAP eligible)
- Chicken breasts (SNAP eligible)
- Dish soap (not SNAP eligible)
- Trash bags (not SNAP eligible)
In that case:
- SNAP pays for the eligible food items (up to your SNAP balance).
- You pay the rest with another method (debit, credit, cash, etc.).
Sam’s Club lists SNAP/EBT as a payment method, but also notes the big limit: it can only be used for club purchases, not online pickup orders.
Returns: what happens if you bought food with EBT?
Sam’s Club states that items purchased through SNAP can be:
- Refunded back to the SNAP EBT account within 90 days, or
- Exchanged for the same item
They also state that cash refunds, store credits, or gift cards are not allowed for SNAP purchases.
So if you return something you bought with EBT, the refund goes back to the EBT card, following the store’s SNAP return rules.
Do SNAP shoppers pay sales tax at Sam’s Club?
Sam’s Club notes that SNAP recipients do not pay state or local sales tax on foods and beverages purchased with SNAP benefits.
This is one of those small details that can make receipts look confusing at first. But it is normal.
Can you use WIC at Sam’s Club?
Sam’s Club states it is not an authorized WIC retailer.
2025 Red Snapper Season Updates: What’s New, What’s Open, and What It Means for You. So if you use WIC, plan to use that benefit at a different store.
Tips to make Sam’s Club + SNAP feel easier
Plan for bulk on purpose
Bulk is great, but only if it fits your real life.
A few examples that tend to work well:
- Freezer-friendly meats and veggies
- Rice, beans, pasta, oats
- Shelf-stable canned goods
- Breakfast staples like cereal and peanut butter
If you do not have storage space, bulk can backfire.
Watch for “Supplement Facts”
Some items look like food, but they are treated as supplements.
If the label says “Supplement Facts,” SNAP will not cover it.
Keep checkout calm
If you are mixing SNAP and non-SNAP items, expect two payments.
That is normal. It is not a problem. It is just how the program works.
Use Scan & Go for less stress
When Scan & Go works well, it can make the trip feel faster and easier.
And since Sam’s Club says SNAP works with Scan & Go in-club, it can be a great option.
A clearer way to remember the rules
Here is the simple way to think about it:
- In the club = yes
- In the club with Scan & Go = yes
- Online on SamsClub.com = no
- Pickup paid online = no
- SNAP foods = yes
- Non-food items = no
Once you hold that in your head, Sam’s Club shopping gets much smoother.
If you use SNAP (also called EBT or “food stamps”), you want shopping to be simple. You want to know where you can pay, what you can buy, and what will not work. Sam’s Club does accept SNAP EBT. But there are a few rules that matter. Ahmed al-Sharaa’s Historic Visit to the United States.…
If you use SNAP (also called EBT or “food stamps”), you want shopping to be simple. You want to know where you can pay, what you can buy, and what will not work. Sam’s Club does accept SNAP EBT. But there are a few rules that matter. Ahmed al-Sharaa’s Historic Visit to the United States.…