12 Best Costco Items for When You Have Company Over (#8 Is a Big Crowd-Pleaser)

There are plenty of Costco membership perks that make the annual fee worth it, from saving on groceries to finding top-quality, affordable home decor. 

That's why Costco is a great place to get all your supplies if you're throwing a party or hosting visitors from out of town.

Here are some of the best things to buy at Costco if you're expecting guests.

Editor's note: Prices and availability are subject to change and may vary by location.

If you're having people over, naturally, you want your home to look nice. So not only should you deep clean the place, but you should also invest in some home decor.

A throw pillow can change the look of a chair or sofa instantly, such as this Washluxe Decorative Pillow, 2-pack.

A few well-placed pillows can also make a guest room, living room, or outdoor seating area feel more finished without requiring a major decorating project. If you're hosting overnight guests, adding a fresh pillow or two is an easy way to make the space feel more welcoming. Just keep in mind that Costco's selection, colors and prices can change by warehouse or online.

If you prefer the real stuff to the faux plants that Costco sells, you'll find a pretty nice variety of fresh-cut flowers for sale to brighten your interior spaces. Bouquets start in the mid $40s, with different colors and themes available.

Custom items like garlands, of course, cost more, but still less than a florist. And if you want something that will last after the party is over, Costco often has potted orchids that will run you around $50 as well.

Flowers can do double duty as party decor and a simple way to make a kitchen, dining table, or entryway feel more inviting. Fresh-cut arrangements also make an easy host gift if you're visiting someone else's home. Because floral inventory is seasonal, the available varieties and pricing can change, so it's worth checking your local warehouse or Costco's current online selection before planning your decorations around a specific bouquet.

Who has time to do the dishes when you have 20 people over for a sports-related Sunday or a dinner party? With all the snacks and drinks you'll be serving, you'll want to stock up on disposable dishes and utensils.

When it comes to disposable cutlery and plates, we're a fan of Costco's own Kirkland Signature. This value pack is $18.99 for 360 forks, knives, and spoons. The clear cutlery comes individually wrapped in 20-count packs, making it easy to grab what you need without opening the entire package. Costco describes the pieces as premium strength, so they're designed to hold up when you're serving a crowd. For $18.99, that's a lot of cutlery to have on hand for parties, holidays or unexpected guests, and you can stash the extras for your next gathering. Just keep in mind that Costco notes prices may vary by location.

You can count on Costco for all of your paper towels, napkins, and toilet paper needs. Guests can go through a lot of these items, so it's a smart idea to stock up.

The 30-pack of Kirkland toilet paper, one of Costco's most popular products, costs $24.99. Napkins are even cheaper at $14.99 for over 1,000 of them.

Buying these basics in bulk can help you avoid making a last-minute store run when guests arrive. Napkins are especially useful to have in more than one place, such as the kitchen, dining table, and snack area. And because these are everyday essentials, any extras won't necessarily go to waste after your guests leave. Stocking up at Costco can give you one less thing to worry about when you're focused on feeding and entertaining a crowd.

It can be tough to prepare all of the appetizers people like to snack on at a get-together. 

To that end, one smart way to save money at Costco is to buy premade frozen appetizers that you can just throw in the oven. Like this 50-count box of spring rolls for under $10. It doesn't get more budget-friendly than that. 

Frozen appetizers can save you time in the kitchen while still giving guests something tasty to grab between meals. They're especially handy for game days, holidays, or parties when you're already juggling multiple dishes. And because they're easy to heat and serve, you can put out smaller batches and keep the rest in the freezer until you're ready for more. That means less food sitting out and fewer leftovers to deal with after everyone heads home.

Speaking of healthy options, you may want to offer overnight guests an alternative to salty, processed foods. Fortunately, Costco has a wide variety of shrimp options, including its cocktail platter (price varies), which is always a crowd-pleaser.

Frozen shrimp are offered in many ways, depending on your needs. You can get a bag of raw, peeled, and deveined shrimp, cooked for use in a salad or hors d'oeuvres, or panko breaded.

Shrimp can also be a convenient choice because it works as an appetizer, salad topping, or part of a larger meal. A cocktail platter can go straight onto a serving table, while frozen shrimp give you more flexibility if you want to cook them yourself. Costco's seafood selection changes, so check the current warehouse or online inventory for the size, preparation and package that best fits your guest list. That can also help you avoid buying more seafood than you'll use after the party.

If you're feeling a bit fancy and want to impress your guests, considering ordering the Costco's Hickory Farms Sparkling Cider and Gourmet Grazing Board Gift Set. It's only available online, but it's a crowd pleaser worth planning ahead to be the party spread champion in just a few clicks. 

For $64.99, the artisanal spread includes sausage, smoked Gouda cheese blend, three cheese & opinion blend, sweet hot mustard, J&M Gouda cheese straws, crackers, nut mix, J&M chocolate chip cookies, Martinelli's sparkling cider, chocolate truffles, pineapple rings, and a cutting board.

That's a lot of variety packed into one ready-to-serve gift set, with plenty of sweet and savory bites for guests to pick at throughout the party. The included cutting board makes serving even easier, while the sparkling cider gives you a festive drink option to round out the spread. If you're hosting on short notice, just remember to plan ahead since this set is available online only.

For the main meal at birthday parties or a fast dinner that all your guests will like, pizza is always a good option. Of course, there's plenty of the frozen stuff at Costco, but we're a bigger fan of the pies they make at the food court.

Prices may vary based on your location, but word on the street is that you can get a pie for just under $10. That's an easy and cheap way to feed a crowd.

Costco's food court is particularly useful when you're hosting because you can pick up a ready-to-serve meal without spending time preparing another dish. A pizza can also be paired with salads, appetizers and drinks to create a simple spread without requiring every guest to have the same toppings. Food court menus and prices can vary by location, so check with your warehouse before budgeting for a specific number of pizzas. Costco also offers frozen pizzas for shoppers who prefer to cook at home.

If you're throwing a big party, then you probably need to provide adult beverages. This has the potential to break the bank, as alcohol isn't cheap. Fortunately, Costco sells plenty of beer, wine, and liquor.

The prices are better than liquor store prices, and good enough to fool folks into thinking it's top-shelf stuff. There are lots of quality wines and beers, too.

The main advantage for a large gathering is variety: You can shop for beer, wine, and spirits in the same place as your food and other party supplies. That can make it easier to plan a bar setup without making several separate shopping trips. If you're serving alcohol, it's also smart to have plenty of nonalcoholic drinks available for guests who don't drink. Selection, pricing, and alcohol availability vary by state and location, so check your local Costco before building your party budget around a particular bottle.

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When you have a lot of folks over, it's only natural that they'll use the restroom. That means it's time to stock up on hand soap. Fortunately, the Home + Body Floris Hand Soap, 21.5 fl oz, 8-pack ($39.99) should keep your refill game on point for a while. 

As for shower supplies, we like Neutrogena's Rain Bath shower gel, which costs $24.99 for a 40-ounce container.

Having plenty of toiletries on hand is one of those small hosting details that can make a big difference. You don't want guests hunting for soap or discovering an empty bottle when they need it. An eight-pack of hand soap gives you plenty to place around the house and keep extras tucked away for later. And if you're hosting overnight guests, keeping a large bottle of shower gel in the bathroom means one less thing to worry about when your visitors settle in.

Sweet tooths, rejoice: The variety of desserts you can get at Costco is vast, so there will be no need to bake a pie for your next get-together if you don't want to. From the famous tuxedo cake to cheesecakes, chocolate mousses, and pies, dessert will be a snap.

The price of each dessert from the bakery varies, but you're not going to have to spend more than you feel comfortable with. 

Costco's current same-day listing for its Kirkland Signature Tuxedo Chocolate Mousse Cake shows a 42-ounce cake with chocolate cake, white chocolate mousse, chocolate mousse, brownie chunks, chocolate ganache, and chocolate decorations. The current listed price is $21.55, although prices can vary by location and service. For a gathering, a bakery dessert can save you the time and ingredients required to make a cake or pie yourself. You can also cut smaller portions when serving a crowd and offer coffee or ice cream alongside dessert for an easy finish.

You may not need the entire 48-case pallet that delivers you nearly 2,000 bottles of Kirkland brand water for about $440, that's a mere $0.23 per bottle, but it's not a bad idea to have bottled water on hand when your family is home for the holidays.

The price for one or two (instead of 48) cases varies at each location, but there's a reason you always see them piled in people's carts: They're cheap, which means you'll save plenty of money on this essential.

Bottled water is one of those party staples that's easy to underestimate until a house is full of guests. Keeping a case chilled in the refrigerator and another nearby gives visitors an easy self-serve option throughout the day. It can also reduce the need to keep refilling pitchers when people are coming and going. 

Fortunately, Costco can help you prepare for celebrations with affordable products, especially when you use the best cash back credit cards. 

At the end of the day, however, people are just happy to be together again. Some of the old hosting pressures are off; you don't have to be perfect. Still, being able to entertain in high style on a budget is an extra reason to party.

The biggest benefit is convenience. Instead of making separate trips for food, paper goods, drinks, toiletries and last-minute party supplies, you can often handle much of the shopping in one place. Just remember that Costco prices and availability can change by location and over time, so use current listings as a guide rather than assuming an older price will still be available. Planning your menu and guest count before you shop can also help you avoid buying more in bulk than you can use.