Costco Kirkland-Brand Home Items That Are & Aren't Worth Buying, According To Reviews

You can buy many of your home essentials by sticking with Kirkland Signature brand items from Costco. From decor and textiles to cleaning supplies and furniture, the warehouse sells hundreds of products under the Kirkland umbrella. As you move through Costco, or shop its website, you might be tempted to grab any of the store brand's products over its pricier, name-brand competitors. Plus, it's public knowledge that the chain works with many different manufacturers to produce its Kirkland offerings. However, that means that there are differences in quality from item to item.

Luckily, an army of loyal shoppers have shared their unbiased opinions on all things Kirkland-related. Between reviews on Costco's website and other places online, it just takes a little digging to sort out the must-have items from the not-worth-it ones. Here's the scoop on eight Kirkland-brand items that are worth buying and three that aren't, according to first-hand experience and real customer reviews.

Of all the home items sold under the Kirkland brand, their Signature 680 Thread Count sheets are among the most popular. They currently have an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars on Costco.com, representing 28,000 reviews and counting. They're available in four sizes and four colors (white, dark blue, gray, and beige). Reviewers love the softness of the fabric and the way the corners of the fitted sheet are designed. One user raved, "The fitted sheet has wonderful elastic-reinforced corners that make the sheets easy to put on the mattress and KEEP it on the mattress if you are not a sound sleeper." And the price is reasonable. Depending on the size of your bed, a set of Kirkland sheets currently costs between $75 and $90. For comparison, a set of sheets with similar specs would currently cost you upwards of $150 at Macy's.

No one set of sheets is perfect for everyone's tastes, though. Many reviewers note that the top sheets aren't wide enough for their preferences. Reddit commenters also say they aren't great for hot sleepers. So, if you tend to wake up feeling sweaty and overheated, percale or linen bedding might be better choices than these pima cotton sheets.

If you run your dishwasher every day, the cost of the detergent can really add up. The price of Kirkland Platinum Performance UltraShine detergent pacs is one of the things that reviewers praise the most. With the 115-count package, currently priced at $13.99, you pay 12 cents per load for these Kirkland pacs. For comparison, the largest package of Cascade Platinum Plus sold at Costco works out to cost 32 cents per load.

Reviewers are generally pleased with the effectiveness of the UltraShine pacs and give them an average rating of 4.6 stars. One person simply wrote: "Work as well as any name brand." They get the stamp of approval from Consumer Reports, too. In their lab tests, the Platinum Performance UltraShine packs performed "excellently" at removing food and resisting the buildup of film or white spots. 

A few reviewers have complained about disliking the odor of the detergent, which one person described as a "sterile, false lemon scent." They also noted that washing plastic dishes with these detergent pacs caused them to absorb the smell. So, you might want to hand wash anything plastic if you use UltraShine at home.

If there's anything dog people feel passionate about, it's the comfort and safety of their pups. So the fact that the Kirkland Signature Rectangular Bolster Pet Bet has an overall rating of 4.8 stars is a good indicator that a lot of dogs (and their owners) really love it. One reviewer explained, "My dog is a 72 lb. Golden Retriever and she just loves this bed. Her options are my $3,500 couch, her $500 fancy bougie dog bed, and this. SHE PICKS THIS." Currently priced at $59.99, it's big enough for even a large dog to stretch out on and has a machine-washable cover.

With more than 400 reviews, the bed has only a handful of critical comments. One mentions that their dog tore the bed apart within 24 hours of getting it. But others mention that it is durable and that their dogs scratch and dig into this bed without ripping it. Plus, the photos of real dogs snoozing and smiling on the bed are further proof of this bed's popularity.

Kirkland Signature Paper Towels have long been a staple in many households. They've been reviewed by more than 34,000 people on Costco's website, and have a very impressive 4.8-star rating. They're also known to be reliably sturdy and absorbent but sold at a lower price than the name brands. What's not to like?

There's been some controversy in recent years, when Costco shoppers noticed some changes in their Kirkland paper towels. People aired their complaints on social media: the rolls were no longer individually wrapped, and the paper quality seemed to have dropped. One 2024 Reddit thread shows paper towels with different patterns, both sold under the Kirkland brand. Reviewers also noted that the paper towels seemed to shift in quality at one point. However, many recent reviews still give the product five-star marks.

Plus, the value is where these shine. You can find packs for the same amount in other stores, but you get more bang for your buck with Kirkland. For example, Target currently sells 12-roll packs of their up&up store-brand paper towels for about the same price. However, you'll get over 200 square feet more of paper towels in the Kirkland package.

A lot of happy sleepers swear by the Kirkland Signature by Stearns & Foster Lakeridge Mattress. There are several specific things reviewers say they like about the bed that's currently rated 4.3 stars. For one, they love that it's firm and supportive for people of all sizes. One satisfied buyer wrote, "We LOVE this bed. I am a powerlifter that weighs 275 pounds, and I am obviously dense. My wife is 5'2 and petite. We had a very tough time finding a mattress that offers enough support for my weight while being comfortable enough for her." 

And, on the r/Mattress subreddit, another reviewer wrote: "I sleep with two dogs and my partner. I don't wake up when they move in bed, as it's firm enough to prevent the mattress from moving." One criticism that comes up in multiple reviews is the fact that this mattress sleeps a little hot. On the flip side, if you tend to be cold at night, it could be a great fit.

Costco gave their beds some serious credibility by partnering with Stearns & Foster on their Kirkland mattresses. But no bed is perfect for everyone, and unfortunately, the mattress is a direct-order item, so it likely won't be available in warehouses for you to try out. Costco's return policy is notoriously flexible, though. So, you can get your money back if it turns out not to be the mattress of your dreams.

Costco makes six different varieties of Kirkland garbage bags, including heavy-duty and outdoor trash bags, and they're all well-reviewed by shoppers. Their basic kitchen drawstring bags have the most fans, though. With more than 10,000 ratings, Kirkland Signature Flex-Tech 13-Gallon Trash Bags rate an average of 4.8 stars.

What makes a basic kitchen trash bag so popular? It's really what these trash bags don't do that matters. Reviewers note that they don't rip easily, they don't slip around in your trash can, and they don't have a strong scent. (Kirkland does make a scented version of the same bag for shoppers who prefer it.) The price point is part of their popularity, too. A box of 200 Kirkland bags currently costs $20.99, or 11 cents per bag. For comparison, a 200-count box of Walmart's Great Value bags breaks down to 12.3 cents per bag.

As liquid dish soap goes, Kirkland Signature Ultra Shine liquid dish soap ticks all the boxes. It's reasonably priced (11 cents per ounce), and a 90-ounce bottle should last for many months. The actual bottle itself is too unwieldy to keep at your sink, but the handle and easy-pour cap allow you to decant some into a smaller container.

With regards to its cleaning power, users are overall impressed and the product has a 4.6 rating on Costco's site. Plus, more than 80 percent of buyers gave it 5-star reviews. One person raves: "I have been using this product for maybe a year; it degreases well. I'll also use it for spot remover for laundry. We use it to wash our dishes. We also use it on our cars and our cars' tires. It gets grease off of the driveway." (And those are just some of the things around your home that can be washed with dish soap!) Over on Reddit, one commenter said they had switched from Dawn Platinum to Ultra Shine without noticing any difference in cleaning quality. As with many other Kirkland cleaning products, the most common complaints are about the strong perfume-like fragrance. So, keep that in mind if you're sensitive to smells. 

With an average rating of 4.6 stars, Kirkland Signature Ultra Clean Laundry Pacs have a lot of fans. Reviewers say they're "just as good as Tide," that clothes come out smelling pleasantly clean, and that they're a great value. The price of the 152-count box breaks down to just 15 cents per load. For comparison, the liquid version of Kirkland's Ultra Clean laundry detergent breaks down to a cost of about 14 cents a load. But the pacs might actually be more cost-effective over time. Measuring out your own laundry detergent for each load means you might use a little more than the allotted amount.

These detergent pacs do have some detractors, though. One Reddit commenter said they'd stopped using the pacs because they weren't fully dissolving in cold water, leaving the plastic casing dried to clothing. Other reviewers had similar complaints about residual plastic mixed in with their clean laundry. That should be a pretty easy problem to resolve, though. When laundry pods don't dissolve, just switch up your routine a bit. Add an UltraClean pac and water to the washing machine before adding clothes so the capsule can be fully submerged and start to break down. 

Kirkland Signature Oxi Powder is one of Costco's newest products, but shoppers were pretty much immediately unimpressed when this stain remover hit shelves in 2024. Reviewers are put off by the "cloying obnoxious floral" odor, especially because the packaging doesn't clearly note that it's a scented product. Some users describe being unable to enter the laundry room or sleep at night on sheets that were washed with it. A few users are unbothered by the smell, but the Oxi Powder still averages just 3.5 out of 5 stars.

What about using Oxi Powder for non-laundry purposes? The product is labeled as a laundry booster and multipurpose stain remover, safe for use on things like carpets, appliances, and patio furniture. Be wary of using it on any absorbent surfaces. One Reddit user tried soaking the rubber seals and caps of some coffee mugs in it and said that they still smelled like perfume after several washes. Although it's more expensive, name-brand OxiClean actually works and is a more promising bet for stain removal, with a 4.8 out of 5 rating and thousands of glowing reviews on Amazon.

Kirkland Signature Ultra Fresh Scent Boosters do have some fans, who say they love the product's "clean laundry" smell, but too many reviewers warn their fellow shoppers to steer clear. With an overall score of just 3.5 out of 5 on the Costco website, about one-third of reviews rate these scent boosters one star. The primary complaint has nothing to do with odor. Reviewers say that the scent booster beads don't dissolve completely, leaving sticky bits of semi-melted material stuck to their laundry and on the insides of their washing machines.

In Kirkland's defense, you should think twice before adding scent boosters to your laundry, no matter what brand they are. Repair technicians say that undissolved scent beads cause damage by clogging up drain pumps and other components of washing machines. Clothing washed with scent boosters may also irritate people with sensitive skin. Prolong the life of your washing machine by skipping scent beads altogether, and try making a DIY laundry scent booster instead!

From a quick glance at Costco's site, you'd probably assume that their Kirkland Signature Bath Tissue would be a good buy. With more than 14,000 reviews, its average rating stands at 4.7 stars. But this is one case where reviews tell a different story, and it's not flattering. The Costco subreddit is flooded with comments from people who have noticed a change in the quality of Kirkland toilet paper since the pandemic. Many people say it makes a mess, with one Costco reviewer saying, "It looks like it snowed in the bathroom with ALL the PAPER FIBER FUZZ that explodes out of the package when opened." Several Redditors agree that lint from the paper gets all over their bathrooms and even gets stuck to themselves.

Perhaps the most damning review of all comes from Consumer Reports, which described the product as "weak" and "uncomfortable to use" — two very troubling qualities in toilet paper. If you're willing to pay a little more for comfort, try Kirkland's Ultra Soft Bath Tissue. It costs $2.40 per 100 square feet, compared to $1.75 per 100 square feet for the basic bath tissue.