How Much Does a Costco Sheet Cake Cost?

Updated on June 28, 2026 | Written by Alec Pow
This article was researched using 8 sources. See our methodology and corrections policy.

A Costco half-sheet cake usually costs about $24.99 to $27.99, depending on location and current warehouse pricing. Each cake serves up to 48 people, which puts the cost at about $0.52 to $0.58 per serving. That makes Costco one of the cheapest places to buy a large decorated cake for a birthday, graduation, office party, school event, or casual wedding dessert table.

Costco sheet cakes are sold through the warehouse bakery under the Kirkland Signature bakery lineup. The standard custom half-sheet cake is large, filled, frosted, and decorated with a selected design and message. Costco’s biggest advantage is not unlimited customization, but the combination of low price, large serving count, simple ordering, and a cake that can feed a crowd without a bakery quote.

Article Highlights

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• A Costco half-sheet cake usually costs $24.99 to $27.99 (at $30 per hour, earning that amount would take about 50 to 56 minutes, before taxes) and serves up to 48 people.
• The per-serving cost is about $0.52 to $0.58, depending on the final warehouse price.
• Costco custom cake orders can now be placed through the Costco app in participating U.S. warehouses.
• Costco requires a verified membership for app-based custom cake orders.
• Custom cake orders need at least three days of lead time through the app.
• The main hidden cost is the Costco membership, which starts at $65 per year for Gold Star.

How Much Does a Costco Sheet Cake Cost?

Most shoppers should budget about $25 to $28 (about 50 to 56 minutes at $30 per hour) for a Costco half-sheet cake. The Kitchn reported Costco half-sheet cakes at $24.99 and 10-inch round cakes at $15.99 in its Costco cake ordering guide, while newer price checks from Costco deal trackers and grocery writers put the half-sheet cake closer to $27.99 in some warehouses.

That small price difference changes the per-serving math, but Costco still stays inexpensive for a large event cake. At $24.99, a 48-serving cake costs about $0.52 per serving. At $27.99, it costs about $0.58 per serving. The old $0.41 figure is not accurate for a $25 cake because $25 divided by 48 servings equals about $0.52.

Costco’s same-day grocery pages can show different prices for smaller bakery cakes because same-day delivery is handled separately. For example, the Costco Same-Day listing for a Kirkland Signature 10-inch white cake with vanilla mousse showed a $20.42 price and describes the cake as two layers of white cake with vanilla mousse and white buttercream through its same-day cake listing. That does not replace the warehouse custom sheet cake price, but it shows why pickup, delivery, cake size, and location need to be separated.

Costco cake option	Typical price	Servings	Approximate cost per serving
Half-sheet custom cake	$24.99 to $27.99	Up to 48	$0.52 to $0.58
10-inch round cake	About $15.99 to $20.42	About 16	About $1.00 to $1.28
Two Costco half-sheet cakes	$49.98 to $55.98	Up to 96	$0.52 to $0.58
Costco half-sheet cake plus Gold Star membership	$89.99 to $92.99	Up to 48	About $1.88 to $1.94 if bought only for one cake

Size, Servings, and Per-Slice Math

A Costco half-sheet cake is commonly described as a 12-by-16-inch cake. That gives the cake about 192 square inches of surface area. If it is cut into 48 pieces, each piece is about 4 square inches, or roughly a 2-by-2-inch party serving.

That serving size works well when the cake is part of a larger food table. For a party where cake is the only dessert, or where guests expect larger slices, one half-sheet cake may be safer for 35 to 40 people instead of the full 48. For a school event, office lunch, or graduation party with other food, the full 48-serving estimate is more realistic.

The value is strongest when the cake is used for a large group. A $27.99 (about 56 minutes at $30 per hour) cake for 48 people costs less per guest than buying 48 cupcakes at $1 each, and two Costco half-sheet cakes can serve up to 96 people for about $49.98 to $55.98.

Costco App or Warehouse Bakery

Costco now lets members place custom cake orders through the Costco app in participating U.S. warehouses. Costco’s official custom cake ordering FAQ says the feature is under the Warehouse tab, custom cake ordering is not available on Costco.com, members must be signed in with a verified membership, orders must be placed at least three days in advance, and cakes can be ordered up to two weeks ahead.

Paper ordering has not disappeared. Costco says warehouse bakeries will continue to accept paper orders in-store. That matters for members who do not see the app feature yet, need help from the bakery counter, or want to confirm design options at their local warehouse.

The old advice to fax an order form should be removed. Some individual bakeries may still handle unusual local requests by phone or in person, but the current official route is the Costco app or an in-warehouse paper order. The safest wording for readers is to tell them to check the app first, then call or visit the local bakery if the option is not visible.

Flavors and Fillings

Costco custom sheet cakes are known for having a small flavor menu. The two standard options are white cake and chocolate cake. The white version is usually paired with vanilla cheesecake mousse and white buttercream, while the chocolate version is usually paired with chocolate mousse and chocolate buttercream.

That limited flavor selection is part of how Costco keeps the price low. A local bakery may offer red velvet, lemon, carrot, almond, fruit fillings, specialty buttercreams, fondant, tiered construction, and custom artwork, but those choices usually move the cake into a higher price range. Costco is better for a simple large cake than for a highly designed centerpiece.

Seasonal bakery cakes, bar cakes, round cakes, cheesecakes, and other desserts may also be available in the warehouse or online. Costco’s main site shows a changing selection of birthday cakes and shipped desserts, but those items are separate from the in-warehouse custom half-sheet cake program.

Decorations, Messages

Costco custom cakes usually allow shoppers to choose a design, flavor, and written message. Designs vary by warehouse and season, but common choices include birthday, graduation, flowers, sports, balloons, seasonal themes, and simple celebration layouts.

The tradeoff is that Costco does not operate like a custom bakery. The bakery may not recreate licensed characters, detailed drawings, complex color palettes, fondant shapes, tiered wedding designs, or exact inspiration photos. A simple message is usually fine, while a fully custom design should be priced through a local bakery instead.

For families who want more control without paying bakery prices, Costco can still work as a base cake. A plain or lightly decorated cake can be finished at home with toppers, candles, fresh fruit, toy figures, non-edible decorations, or themed serving pieces. That keeps the cake price near $25 to $28 while making the table look more personal.

Membership and Other Costs

The biggest extra cost is membership. Costco says a Gold Star Membership costs $65 per year and an Executive Membership is an additional $65 upgrade per year on its membership sign-up page. For someone who already shops at Costco, the cake price can be treated as the cake price. For someone joining only to buy one cake, the effective one-cake cost is closer to $89.99 to $92.99.

There may also be sales tax depending on the state and local food tax rules. Pickup is usually the cheapest path. Same-day delivery, where available, can carry service fees, delivery fees, tips, and higher item prices because Costco Same-Day orders are facilitated by Instacart.

Decorating extras bought outside Costco should also be counted. Candles, toppers, a cake board, serving knife, plates, napkins, and a refrigerated storage plan can add $10 to $40 to the real party dessert budget, even when the cake itself stays under $30.

Costco Sheet Cake vs Walmart, BJ’s

Costco remains very competitive against other big-box bakery cakes. Walmart’s custom cake ordering page lists a 1/2 sheet cake with 48 servings at $42.96 through its custom cake builder. Compared with a $27.99 Costco half-sheet cake, the Walmart half sheet is about $14.97 more, or roughly 53% higher.

BJ’s Wholesale Club lists a Wellsley Farms 1/2 sheet decorated cake at $29.99 and says it serves up to 32 guests on its decorated cake page. That makes BJ’s close to Costco on the sticker price, but Costco usually wins on servings if the event can use 48 smaller party cuts.

Delish also reported Costco’s half-sheet cake at $24.99, with BJ’s around $29.99 and Walmart near $43, while noting that Costco’s half-sheet cake serves 48 people in its Costco sheet cake guide. The comparison is strongest when all stores are judged on the same serving count, pickup method, membership requirement, and level of customization.

For readers comparing store bakeries, ThePricer also has separate guides to Walmart birthday cakes, Publix wedding cakes, and Cake Boss cakes.

Best Uses for a Costco Sheet Cake

A Costco sheet cake works best when the goal is to feed many people at a low per-person price. It is a strong fit for birthdays, graduations, retirements, team parties, church events, potlucks, school celebrations, office lunches, and casual wedding-adjacent events where the cake is not expected to be a luxury centerpiece.

It is less ideal when the cake needs to match a detailed theme, fit a color palette exactly, include allergy-sensitive recipes, use fondant, display a licensed character, or serve as the main visual feature at a formal event. In those cases, the extra cost of a local bakery may buy more design control and better consultation.

Costco also makes sense when the guest list is uncertain. If 30 people attend, the cake still costs under $1 per person at a $27.99 price. If 48 people attend, the same cake drops to about $0.58 per person. The downside is that leftovers require refrigerator space because filled and frosted cakes should not sit out all day.

Worked Budget Examples

For a small birthday with 20 guests, a Costco half-sheet cake at $27.99 costs about $1.40 per guest if every guest eats a slice. That is still affordable, but the cake may be larger than needed unless the host wants leftovers.

For a graduation party with 48 guests, the same $27.99 cake costs about $0.58 per serving. Add $15 for candles, plates, napkins, and a topper, and the dessert setup becomes $42.99, or about $0.90 per guest.

For a 90-person office event, two Costco half-sheet cakes cost about $49.98 to $55.98 and can serve up to 96 people. Even after adding $25 for serving supplies, the total is about $74.98 to $80.98, or roughly $0.83 to $0.90 per guest for 90 people.

Answers to Common Questions

How much is a Costco half-sheet cake?

A Costco half-sheet cake usually costs about $24.99 to $27.99, depending on the warehouse and current pricing.

How many people does a Costco sheet cake feed?

A Costco half-sheet cake serves up to 48 people when cut into small party slices. For larger dessert servings, plan closer to 35 to 40 servings.

How much does a Costco sheet cake cost per person?

At $24.99, the cake costs about $0.52 per serving. At $27.99, it costs about $0.58 per serving.

Can you order a Costco cake online?

Costco custom cake ordering is available through the Costco app in participating U.S. warehouses, not through Costco.com. Paper orders are still accepted in-store.

How far ahead should you order a Costco cake?

Costco says app-based custom cake orders must be placed at least three days in advance and can be placed up to two weeks ahead.

Do you need a Costco membership to order a cake?

Yes, app-based custom cake ordering requires a verified Costco membership. In-store purchase rules also generally require a membership card at checkout.

What flavors do Costco sheet cakes come in?

The standard custom sheet cake choices are white cake with vanilla cheesecake mousse and white buttercream or chocolate cake with chocolate mousse and chocolate buttercream.

Can Costco make a fully custom cake design?

Costco can add selected designs and messages, but it is not the best choice for detailed artwork, fondant, tiered cakes, exact inspiration photos, or highly specific themes.

Is Costco cheaper than Walmart for a half-sheet cake?

Usually, yes. Walmart lists a 48-serving half-sheet custom cake at $42.96, while Costco half-sheet cakes are commonly around $24.99 to $27.99.

Does Costco sell full-sheet cakes?

Costco’s well-known custom cake is the half-sheet cake. For larger events, many shoppers buy two half-sheet cakes instead of looking for a full sheet. For more general sizing, see ThePricer’s guide to full-sheet cake costs.