4 Things To Know Before You Buy Glasses From Costco Optical

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4 Things To Know Before You Buy Glasses From Costco Optical Written by Clark.com Staff | February 12th, 2026

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You may wonder how to save money on your glasses and contact lenses. Costco Optical is a great way to save. It offers a full range of eyeglasses and eye exam services right inside the warehouse clubs. For many, access to Costco Optical makes a Costco membership worth it.

In this article, we’ll take a look at Costco eye exams, the cost of eyeglasses and the options for sunglasses, contact lenses and more. Plus, read on for real customer reviews from Clark.com readers who’ve bought eyewear from Costco Optical.

This article was updated in January 2026, and I review it every three months. Detailed notes on all updates are available here.

Costco Optical: A Great Choice for Eyeglasses, Eye Exams, Contacts and More

Costco Optical was named the best place to buy eyeglasses in a Consumer Reports survey of more than 11,000 CR members.

“What you’re getting at Costco is a good price, and hopefully, really good customer service,” says money expert Clark Howard.

The warehouse club chain’s optical department earned winning marks on price, service after the sale, quality of frames and lenses and more.

Here are details on what to expect when you shop at Costco Optical.

1. How Much Is an Eye Exam at Costco?

A Costco eye exam will generally run you somewhere in the neighborhood of $79-$110, depending on where you live. Most major insurance plans are accepted.

Costco Optical employs independent doctors of optometry who are located within the store or nearby.

Because the doctors are independent contractors, you can ask for the doctor’s name at your local warehouse club. That way, you can read online reviews before making an appointment for your Costco eye exam.

2. What Is the Cost of Eyeglasses at Costco?

When we checked prices over the phone at Costco Optical locations across the country in January 2026, we found that single-vision lenses start at $66, and frames start at around $63 on average. Based on these numbers, you can get a basic pair of prescription eyeglasses from Costco starting at around $129.

Atlanta, Georgia	Lexington, Kentucky	Denver, Colorado	Seattle, Washington	Chicago, Illinois	Queens, New York
Single Vision Lenses	$66	$66	$66	$66	$66	$66
Frames Starting Price	$60	$60	$70	$65	$65	$60
Eye Exam	$110	$79	$80	$110	$90	$75

Of course, prices will vary based on where you live, the style of frames you choose and how complicated your prescription is. To get a better idea of how much your glasses will cost at Costco, call or visit your nearest Costco Optical and have your prescription details available.

3. Costco Carries a Wide Variety of Designer Sunglasses

In addition to a wide range of eyeglasses brands, Costco Optical offers a variety of top names in sunglasses, including:

Christian Lacroix
David Beckham
Fossil
Hackett Bespoke
Hobie
Jimmy Choo
Lancel
Maui Jim
O’Neill
Oakley
QUAY
Ray-Ban
Saint Laurent
Tumi
Valentino

4. Costco Has Great Prices on Top-Selling Contact Lens Brands

The selection at Costco Optical doesn’t stop at just eyeglasses and sunglasses! You can also buy a variety of contact lenses through the warehouse club.

Here’s a look at a selection of major brand names and prices as of January 2026.

Brand	Lens Type	Price
Acuvue (Moist)	Daily (30-pack)	$34.87
Acuvue (Vita)	Monthly (6-pack)	$60.99
Air Optix	Monthly (6-pack)	$51.87
Biofinity	Monthly (6-pack)	$38.87
Dailies (AquaComfort)	Daily (30-pack)	$33.98
Proclear	Daily (90-pack)	$60.99

Costco also offers its own brand of contact lenses. The Kirkland Signature Daily Disposable 90-pack costs $58.99 per box and includes 90 disposable lenses.

Meanwhile, you can see how Costco’s prices compare to a variety of other sellers, including 1-800 Contacts, Lens.com and LensDirect.com, in our comparison of the best places to buy contact lenses.

Costco Optical Reviews

I recently went with my dad to purchase new glasses, and he decided to check out the selection at Costco Optical. In the past, he’s typically bought new frames and lenses from Walmart. However, he was surprised by the selection and prices at Costco. After talking to a specialist in the optical department, he decided to order the glasses.

When the glasses came in the following week, he noticed something wasn’t exactly right with the prescription. After investigating, he discovered his optometrist (not at Costco Optical) had made a mistake with the written prescription. After getting it corrected, he went back to Costco Optical and they re-ordered the glasses for him with the right prescription and replaced them free of charge. Between the low prices and excellent services, he hasn’t stopped raving about Costco Optical since.

While this is only his first pair of glasses from Costco, Clark.com readers have extensive experience with Costco eye exams and purchasing eyewear through Costco Optical.

When we asked readers to share their personal experiences with Costco Optical, the majority of comments we received were positive. However, we strive to convey both the good and the bad aspects of our readers’ reports.

Here’s what our readers had to say:

L H: Love Costco Optical! Our Optometrist has significantly better tools and detailed exams than other opticians I’ve seen. His rates are beyond reasonable and cheaper than “in-network providers,” so much so, I dropped optical coverage at work. The frames are fabulous, too.

Lorilu: I’ve been very happy with Costco Optical and their prices/service, even having glasses repaired at a Costco far from home while on vacation. The selection of inexpensive frames is extensive, and I’ve had great luck with the Kirkland frames. I’ve been using Costco Optical for about 20 years, but I have never used the Optometrist, preferring my own ophthalmologist.

SamRay: I got a couple of eyeglasses from Costco. I am not sure how much time passed before one pair broke, but I think it was less than a year. We took them back and we were told they cannot be fixed. I treated them well; they must have been defective (definitely at least a poor design).

Dawn Scire: Worst glasses I’ve ever owned – from Costco! The lenses had tiny scratches/pitting within 2 months; 6 months later, I can hardly see through them! I went with them because everyone raved at how cost-effective they are … not so much if they must be replaced every few months!

Have you ever purchased eyeglasses from Costco? Share your experience in our Clark.com Community!

Article Updates

January 23, 2026: Updated the average cost of an eye exam based on the latest data
January 23, 2026: Updated current starting prices on lenses, frames and eye exams at Costco Optical locations across the country
January 23, 2026: Updated current prescription sunglass brands available
January 23, 2026: Updated current prices on available contact lenses

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