BJ’s Club vs. Club+: Is the $120 Upgrade Worth It?

If you’re signing up for BJ’s (or your renewal is coming up), you’ve probably stared at the two options and wondered if Club+ is worth paying double. The regular Club membership is $60 a year. Club+ is $120.

The quick answer: Club+ pays for itself once you spend about $250 a month at BJ’s (not counting gas). Spend less than that and the regular Club membership is the better deal. Spend more and Club+ puts real money back in your pocket.

Below I’ll walk through exactly what you get with each one, the simple math, and how to figure out which one fits your family.

BJ’s Club vs. Club+ at a Glance

The only real difference between the two is the 2% back in rewards. Everything else, like the warehouse prices, coupons, and BJ’s Gas, is available with either membership.

	Club	Club+
Yearly cost	$60	$120
Rewards on purchases	None (except special events)	2% back on most BJ’s purchases
Rewards cap	—	Up to $500 per membership year
When you can use rewards	—	Once you reach $10
Do rewards expire?	—	No, as long as your membership is active
Shop the same low prices + coupons	Yes	Yes
BJ’s Gas + Fuel Saver program	Yes	Yes

One thing to know: gas purchases don’t earn the 2%. So if you mostly go to BJ’s for the gas, Club+ won’t help you much.

[PERSONAL COMMENT: Which membership do you have, and why?]

Perks as listed on BJ’s Club+ membership page. Double-check before you sign up, since BJ’s changes perks from time to time.

The Simple Math: When Does Club+ Pay for Itself?

Club+ costs $60 more per year than Club. To earn that $60 back at 2%, you need to spend:

$60 ÷ 0.02 = $3,000 a year, or about $250 a month

That’s your break-even point. Every dollar you spend past $250 a month is extra money back in your pocket.

Here’s an easy way to check your own number: look at your last few BJ’s receipts (or your order history in the BJ’s app), add up a typical month, and leave out gas. If you’re over $250, Club+ is the better deal.

What It Looks Like for Different Families

Here’s how the numbers work out at different spending levels. “Extra you keep” is the 2% rewards minus the extra $60 Club+ costs.

Who	Monthly BJ’s spend (no gas)	Yearly Club+ rewards	Extra you keep with Club+
Single shopper, stock-up trips only	$100	$24	–$36 (stick with Club)
Couple, mostly paper goods + snacks	$200	$48	–$12 (stick with Club)
Break-even point	$250	$60	$0
Family of four, weekly groceries	$400	$96	+$36
Big family or homestead, buying in bulk	$600	$144	+$84

Keep in mind the rewards cap out at $500 a year, but you’d have to spend over $2,000 a month to hit that.

So Which BJ’s Membership Should You Get?

Pick the regular Club membership if:

• You shop BJ’s once or twice a month for a few stock-up items
• You mostly go for the gas
• You’re trying BJ’s for the first time and aren’t sure how much you’ll use it

Pick Club+ if:

• You spend $250 or more a month at BJ’s
• You do most of your weekly grocery shopping there
• You have a big family or buy in bulk for meal prep, freezer stocking, or the farm

Not sure? Start with the regular Club membership. You can always upgrade later once you see how much you’re spending.

If you don’t want to commit to the higher priced membership test it out on the $10 Groupon Membership deal here.