Costco puts patio furniture out early and marks it down late. Patio pieces are on sale in Costco warehouses by February in some years, and the markdowns come from late summer into fall. In the 60 days before early October 2026, a Costco price tracker logged Agio and SunVilla sets dropping about $100 to $400, roughly 12% to 24%, to prices ending in .97.
So the trade-off is simple. Buy in spring for the widest choice at full price, or wait until after Labor Day for a smaller discount on whatever is left. The end-of-season Costco markdowns we could track were modest, not half off.
In Southern California, waiting costs you less than it does elsewhere. Downtown Los Angeles averages a high of 83°F in September and 79°F in October, so a set bought on clearance gets used right away. What doesn't sell, and what members return, goes to liquidators. We're one of them: a warehouse in Santa Fe Springs that sells Costco overstock, open-box units and returns, graded by condition. Francis Retail is not affiliated with Costco.
The Costco patio calendar at a glance
| When | What happens | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| February to April | New patio sets arrive in warehouses and online | Widest choice, full price |
| May to early September | Main selling season | Buy if you need a specific set or color |
| Late summer to fall | Warehouse markdowns, often to prices ending in .97, varying by location | Lower prices on a shrinking selection |
| All year | Members return sets; returns and excess stock go to liquidation buyers | Open-box and returned sets turn up at liquidators |
When Costco's patio season starts
Costco doesn't publish a seasonal calendar, so the best evidence is in public records. A U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recall shows Costco selling the Agio Menlo woven patio swing in its warehouses and online from February through March 2026, at $549 to $649. An earlier recall shows SunVilla's 10-foot solar LED market umbrellas on sale at Costco from December 2020 through May 2022, which takes in two winters.
Across retail in general, NerdWallet says new outdoor furniture usually reaches store floors between mid-March and mid-April. Costco's patio items can show up earlier, as the Agio swing did.
Early is when selection is best. Shopper guides such as Chowhound report that an asterisk on a Costco price sign means the item won't be restocked, and Chowhound warns that seasonal items can sell out before the season ends. If you want a particular SunVilla or Agio set in a particular color, spring is the time, and you'll pay list price for it.
When Costco marks patio furniture down
NerdWallet puts the best outdoor furniture sales between the Fourth of July and Labor Day, with the steepest markdowns after Labor Day and sales that often run to the end of September. Its summary of the trade-off is accurate: "Discounts widen as the season winds down, but the selection narrows."
Costco's own pattern looks similar. Here is what one Costco price tracker, Warehouse Runner, logged for three patio sets in the 60 days before early October 2026:
| Set | Higher price in the window | Low in the window | Drop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agio Nicolet 7-piece high dining with fire table | $1,729.99 | $1,499.97 | about 13% |
| Agio McKinnon 7-piece high dining with fire table | $1,699.99 | $1,499.97 | about 12% |
| SunVilla Sorrento 4-piece seating set | $1,699.99 | $1,299.97 | about 24% |
Three things stand out.
The cuts are real but not dramatic. You'll see claims online that Costco patio furniture goes half off at the end of summer. We couldn't verify those claims. The tracked sets above dropped 12% to 24%.
Prices vary by warehouse. Trackers note that prices differ from store to store. One location may have a clearance tag while the next still charges list price, or has already sold out.
Watch for .97. Costco doesn't publish what its price endings mean. Shopper guides, including Chowhound, report that prices ending in .97 are markdowns. All three low prices above end in .97. Treat it as a useful hint, not a rule.
If you buy on Costco.com instead, Costco's price-match policy for online orders covers items that drop in price within 30 days of purchase. You have to request it. Costco says it doesn't match its own warehouse prices for Costco.com purchases, and it can deny a request at its discretion. That makes buying online early in the season a little less risky.
Why late buying works better in Southern California
The standard advice, buy at the end of summer and use it next year, was written for places where patio season ends in October. Here it doesn't.
NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals put the average daily high in Downtown Los Angeles at:
| Month | Downtown Los Angeles | Chicago (O'Hare) |
|---|---|---|
| September | 83.0°F | 75.5°F |
| October | 78.6°F | 62.7°F |
| November | 72.9°F | 48.4°F |
| January | 68.0°F | 31.6°F |
Downtown L.A. also averages about 14.25 inches of rain a year, and only about half an inch of that falls from May through September. A dining set bought on a September markdown here gets two months of 75- to 83-degree afternoons before it gets close to cool, and many winter weekends are usable too.
There is one local hazard to plan for. The National Weather Service defines Santa Ana winds as "strong, hot, dust-bearing winds" that descend to the coast around Los Angeles from the inland deserts. When one is forecast, close umbrellas and secure cushions and lightweight chairs. If you're buying shade along with your set, read our guide to anchoring a gazebo against Santa Ana winds.
What happens to Costco patio furniture after the season
Unsold and returned patio sets don't disappear when the warehouse floor switches to holiday stock.
Returns keep coming. Costco's return policy lists time limits for electronics, major appliances and a few other categories. Furniture and patio sets aren't on that list, and Costco's policy page says freight-delivered items have their own return procedures. A set bought in April can come back in October.
Returns and excess stock are sold in bulk. SlashGear reports that Costco sells customer returns and overstock, including furniture, through liquidation auctions on B-Stock. Only approved businesses with a valid resale certificate can bid. Items are graded visually and aren't tested. Our full explainer on where Costco overstock goes covers that pipeline in detail.
Liquidators sort, inspect and resell. This is the step that decides what you actually get. A returned patio set can be a sealed box, a set that sat on someone's patio for a summer, or a set that's missing a cushion. We inspect and grade every unit before it's listed, and our condition guide explains each grade.
The patio lines we see after the season
These are the patio brands that come through our warehouse most often, all from Costco:
- SunVilla: market and cantilever umbrellas, sling chaise lounges, seating sets such as the Sorrento and Sara, fire pit sets and dining sets. See our SunVilla review.
- Agio: Nicolet fire high-dining sets and swivel chairs, Luna woven deep seating, Oakland, Parkfield and Valmar fire sets, and Maricopa sling dining. See our Agio review.
- Seasons Sentry: market and cantilever umbrellas.
- Others: Thomasville outdoor sectionals, Nardi dining sets and chaises, and a rotating mix of other Costco seating and fire sets.
On price, our sales records give a fair picture. Our patio seating, dining and fire sets, umbrellas and chaise lounges have typically sold for less than Costco's regular price. Compare our price with Costco's current markdown on the same set before you buy.
To be fair to Costco: a .97 tag at your local warehouse can come close to liquidation pricing on a sealed set, and Costco's purchase includes its own return policy. Check both before you buy. Our stock turns over, so current prices and units are on the patio furniture collection and Costco deals pages.
Buying a returned patio set: what to check
Our SunVilla and Agio reviews have full checklists by line. The short version for any returned patio set:
- Count the cushions and hardware against the manual's parts list.
- Compare both sides of each cushion. A set that spent a summer outside can be faded on the sun-facing side only.
- Check frames and welds for bends and cracks, especially on swivel and rocker bases.
- On fire tables, confirm the burner, igniter, hose, regulator and lid are present.
- Check for recalls. In 2022 the CPSC recalled about 400,000 SunVilla 10-foot solar LED market umbrellas sold at Costco from December 2020 through May 2022; recalled units have a solar puck marked "YEEZE" or "YEEZE 1." In May 2026 it recalled about 18,500 Agio Menlo woven patio swings, model 1934256, because the seat can detach.
- Assume there's no manufacturer warranty on an open-box or returned unit. Most patio warranties cover the original purchaser only, so check the warranty PDF for your set.
On our side, we inspect and grade every unit before listing. If a part is missing, we order it from the manufacturer and ship it to you. Under our return policy, you have 48 hours from pickup, delivery or installation completion to report damage or defects with photos. Brand New and Open Box New, Like New and Good grades also get a 7-day change-of-mind return with our authorization, a 15% to 30% restocking fee and return shipping paid by you. As Is For Parts is final sale.
You can see a set in person before you buy. Pickup is free, local two-person delivery covers addresses within 50 miles starting at $59, and nationwide LTL freight is quoted at checkout. Details are on our shipping page.
How we know this
We receive, inspect, grade, photograph and deliver SunVilla, Agio and other Costco patio lines as overstock and returns. We have not tracked Costco's prices ourselves. Costco's seasonal timing comes from CPSC recall records, NerdWallet and Chowhound; markdown examples come from Warehouse Runner's price history; climate figures come from NOAA's 1991–2020 normals; and Costco's policies come from its customer service pages, all checked in October 2026. Pricing notes come from our own sales records; compare any listing with the retailer's current price.
Frequently asked questions
When does Costco put patio furniture on sale?
Costco's patio markdowns mostly come from late summer into fall, after the main selling season. In the 60 days before early October 2026, a price tracker logged Agio and SunVilla sets dropping about 12% to 24%, to prices ending in .97. Markdowns vary by warehouse, and the selection shrinks as the season goes on.
When does Costco start selling patio furniture?
As early as February in some years. CPSC recall records show Costco selling an Agio patio swing from February through March 2026. Across retail in general, NerdWallet says new outdoor furniture usually reaches store floors between mid-March and mid-April.
What is the best time to buy patio furniture?
For the lowest price, buy after Labor Day; for the best selection, buy in early spring. NerdWallet puts the best outdoor sales between the Fourth of July and Labor Day, with the steepest markdowns after Labor Day. In Southern California a fall purchase still gets weeks of warm weather, so waiting costs less here.
Does Costco price-adjust patio furniture if it goes on sale?
For Costco.com orders, Costco's price-match policy covers items that drop in price within 30 days of purchase, and you have to submit the request. Costco says it doesn't match its warehouse prices for online purchases and can deny a request at its discretion. Check Costco's member service pages for warehouse purchases.
What does Costco do with unsold and returned patio furniture?
Costco sells customer returns and overstock in bulk through liquidation auctions on B-Stock, open only to approved businesses with a resale certificate. Those items are graded visually and not tested. Liquidators then sort, inspect and resell them, which is where open-box and returned Costco patio sets come from.