Walmart is a general-purpose retailer with lower everyday prices and broader product selection for individual shoppers, while Sam's Club is a membership-based warehouse club offering bulk quantities and deeper discounts for high-volume buyers. Sam's Club requires a $45-$110 annual membership fee, whereas Walmart has no membership requirement.
Walmart vs Sam's Club — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Global open-access discount retailer with 10,585 stores in 19 countries and $648 billion annual revenue.
Membership-based warehouse club offering bulk quantities and wholesale pricing with 599 US locations.
Membership Fee. Average Transaction Size. SKU Count Per Store. Bulk Purchase Discount. Store Count (US). Gasoline Price Advantage. Private Label Quality Rating
Choose Walmart if you shop frequently for smaller quantities, need convenient locations, prefer no membership fees, and want maximum product variety including clothing, electronics, and home goods. Choose Sam's Club if you buy in bulk for a household or small business, want the lowest per-unit prices, use gas/fuel regularly, and can justify the annual membership through savings on groceries and essentials.
Walmart Inc.: $98 (Walmart+) | Sam's Club: N/A
Walmart Inc.: Great Value: 3.2/5 | Sam's Club: N/A
Walmart Inc.: 60-80 SKUs average | Sam's Club: N/A
Walmart Inc.: Limited (with Walmart+ only) | Sam's Club: N/A
Walmart Inc.: Walmart+ members only ($98/year) | Sam's Club: N/A
Walmart Inc.: $42 per visit | Sam's Club: $150-$200
Walmart Inc.: $648 billion | Sam's Club: N/A
Walmart Inc.: No - Standard hours only | Sam's Club: N/A
Walmart Inc.: 0% (no auto-delivery program) | Sam's Club: N/A
Walmart Inc.: Limited OTC only | Sam's Club: N/A
Walmart Inc.: $35 with Walmart+ | Sam's Club: N/A
Walmart Inc.: 12% (2024) | Sam's Club: N/A
Walmart Inc.: 5-7 days | Sam's Club: N/A
Walmart Inc.: 1,900 (40%) | Sam's Club: N/A
Walmart Inc.: -8% (lowest) | Sam's Club: N/A
Walmart Inc.: 5-15% | Sam's Club: 20-40%
Walmart Inc.: 30 days | Sam's Club: 45 days
Walmart Inc.: 10,585 stores | Sam's Club: N/A
Membership Base / Customer Accessibility
Walmart Inc.: Open access (unrestricted) | Sam's Club: N/A
Walmart Inc.: ~140,000 SKUs | Sam's Club: N/A
Walmart Inc.: 22% margin | Sam's Club: N/A
Walmart Inc.: $11.50/hour | Sam's Club: N/A
Walmart Inc.: $0/year (no membership) | Sam's Club: N/A
Walmart Inc.: N/A | Sam's Club: Sam's Club Basic
Walmart Inc.: N/A | Sam's Club: Sam's Club Plus
Walmart Inc.: N/A | Sam's Club: Sam's Club
Walmart Inc.: N/A | Sam's Club: Limited selection
Walmart Inc.: N/A | Sam's Club: Member's Mark (value)
Walmart Inc.: N/A | Sam's Club: AI integration, store upgrades
Walmart Inc.: N/A | Sam's Club: Member availability
Walmart Inc.: N/A | Sam's Club: Ready-to-serve upgrades, natural ingredients
Walmart Inc.: N/A | Sam's Club: 1,500+ (Member's Mark)
Walmart Inc.: N/A | Sam's Club: 3,700-4,000
Private Label Savings vs National Brands
Walmart Inc.: N/A | Sam's Club: 15-30% (Member's Mark)
Estimated Break-Even on Membership (annual savings needed)
Walmart Inc.: N/A | Sam's Club: 2-3 months
Walmart Inc.: N/A | Sam's Club: 10-30¢ (all members)
Walmart Inc.: N/A | Sam's Club: 3,500-4,000
Walmart Inc.: N/A | Sam's Club: 20-30% (Member's Mark)
Walmart Inc.: N/A | Sam's Club: 15-20% below average
How to choose between Walmart Inc. and Sam's Club
Walmart vs Sam's Club — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Walmart vs Sam's Club. Contains 75 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Walmart vs Sam's Club — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Walmart vs Sam's Club.
For most households, yes. A 2024 member survey found average annual savings of $1,500 through bulk grocery purchases and gasoline discounts, easily offsetting the $45-$110 annual fee. Single-person households or light shoppers typically break even or see modest savings. Families buying groceries regularly can save $2,000+ annually.
No, Sam's Club is membership-only, though you can purchase a one-day guest pass for $10-$12. Walmart is open to all shoppers without fees. Some states allow Sam's Club non-member pharmacy and optical purchases, but this varies by location.
Which has better prices: Walmart or Sam's Club?
It depends on purchase volume. Sam's Club offers 20-40% lower per-unit pricing on bulk items (case quantities), making it cheaper for regular bulk purchases. Walmart has lower overall prices on small quantities and specific promotions. For a typical family, Sam's Club is 10-15% cheaper per item when buying in bulk.
What products can only be found at Sam's Club?
Sam's Club exclusive brands include Member's Mark (private label), as well as limited selections of premium brands available in bulk. Walmart stocks apparel, home décor, and electronics, which Sam's Club doesn't carry. Neither retailer has truly exclusive products, but selection and quantities differ significantly.
Sam's Club offers significantly better fuel savings at 10-15¢ below market rates versus Walmart's 2-5¢ discount. Sam's Club members save $40-$60 per year on fuel if driving 12,000 miles annually. Both require membership/enrollment in their loyalty programs to get pump discounts.
How to Choose Between Walmart Inc. and Sam's Club
Membership Fee: Walmart Inc. has None, while Sam's Club has $45-$110/year.
Average Transaction Size: Walmart Inc. has $45-$60, while Sam's Club has $150-$200.
SKU Count Per Store: Walmart Inc. has 120,000+, while Sam's Club has 3,500-4,000.
Bulk Purchase Discount: Walmart Inc. has 5-15% savings on multi-packs, while Sam's Club has 20-40% savings vs. retail.
Store Count (US): Walmart Inc. has 4,749 locations, while Sam's Club has 599 locations.
Gasoline Price Advantage: Walmart Inc. has 2-5¢ below market, while Sam's Club has 10-15¢ below market.
Private Label Quality Rating: Walmart Inc. has Great Value (3.2/5 avg), while Sam's Club has Member's Mark (4.1/5 avg).