10 Genius Ways To Make The Most Out Of Old Costco Boxes

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Raise your hand if all the boxes from your last few Costco runs are currently piled up in the garage. Don't worry, everyone has been there: Shoppers tend to toss them out of sight and out of mind until they have the energy to break them all down and (hopefully) stuff them into the recycle bin. And with all the new Costco home finds to check out in 2026, you've probably started to acquire your own hidden mountain of cardboard. If you'd rather reuse those boxes instead of tossing them into the dark recesses of your garage or basement, there are plenty of creative ways to repurpose them around the house — from getting crafty with the kids to making your own elevated storage bins. There's even a little something for cat lovers, too.

If you love sustainability and keeping things out of the landfill, you'll be happy to know that by repurposing your Costco boxes, you're not just giving them a second life, you're actually reusing them a third time. That's because the boxes Costco offers its customers in lieu of grocery bags have come from its own back storage room. They are the original boxes Costco receives its products in. Once the items are put out on the shelves, the empty boxes are brought up front to the registers for customers to use as a means of transporting their purchases home. And once you put all your groceries away, there's no limit to the things you can do with the remaining cardboard boxes.

If your kids have a million different toys, and you find it hard to keep up with organizing them effectively, a few good Costco cardboard boxes can be helpful. Use them to store indoor toys in a bedroom or playroom, or at the bottom of a closet. They can also be used as outdoor toy storage in the garage. Choose larger boxes for hard-to-store items like sports equipment and smaller boxes for easily lost objects like dolls and their myriad accessories. You can have the kids get creative with paints and markers to decorate their boxes, too.

You can make a jumbo-sized art canvas for kids (or yourself) by opening up a cardboard box and laying it out. Simply pull the sides of the box apart at the seams and flatten it out with the blank side facing up. Place it on the floor so it's easy for kids to maneuver around or even put it outside if the weather is nice. Your kids can use paints and paintbrushes or finger-paint on the blank cardboard. Alternatively, they can create an artful scene with crayons or markers and add stickers or colorful tape as creative details.

If your closet is looking a bit disheveled, there's a good storage solution you can DIY from cardboard boxes that involves repurposing them into elevated storage bins. Reinforce any loose edges, bottoms, or sides of a box with masking tape or a hot glue gun. Then line the inside and outside of the box with colorful or floral contact paper like Qoubao self-adhesive contact paper and add detail with PAGEMORE vintage washi tape. Use the boxes to store scarves, sweaters, socks, or anything else that tends to get lost in the abyss of the closet.

Cats love a good tower, and they will love you for making them their own with a few Costco boxes. This DIY is particularly great if you have multiple cats at home. Boxes that are open in the front are ideal, but you can also cut a hole or the entire side yourself. Stack up the boxes with the open side facing the front. Glue or tape them together as you stack them, so they don't fall over. Add a few fun things like blankets and cat toys, and your cats can settle in to rest or play.

If your kids have a play kitchen, you know how many accessories these toy sets come with and how impossible it is to keep them organized. To ease the task of corralling the mini plates, pots, and cookware, build a small storage unit from a Costco cardboard box. Turn it on its side and glue a second piece of cardboard in the middle as a shelf. Line the inside and outside of the box with self-adhesive contact paper to make it look nice. Then set it next to the kids' kitchen and stock it with all their supplies.

Did you happen to buy any snacks in that Costco haul? An easy way to reuse those boxes is to set them up as a grab-and-go snack station. Line up a few open top boxes and put your favorite treats in them so they are easily accessible. This is great for kids who need a quick bite on their way out of the door for sports practices (and for the adults who have to shuttle them around). You can set this station up on the floor of your pantry or any other available space.

Cardboard comes in super handy for arts and craft projects, whether it's the entire box or just pieces of it. You may have an idea in mind already, or maybe you just want to keep a few on hand for when inspiration strikes. For example, you can turn old cardboard into chic decor that doubles as storage with this clever DIY. It's also a great way to let your kids get creative and come up with their own art projects. Give them a box or two with other art supplies and see where their imagination goes.

Pet lovers know how much their furry friends like a cozy place to rest. You also know how much they love to be near their humans. Place a blanket at the bottom of a Costco cardboard box and cut down the sides to help the pets step in, and you've got a pet bed. You can do this with several boxes, so your bestie has a place to settle in every room — especially if your pet never wants to leave your side. Toss in a favorite toy or two and you're set.

If you want playroom ideas that will make other parents envious, save those Costco boxes and be prepared to get creative. You can use multiple boxes to create themed play stations for the kiddos with a little paint and glue or tape. Form the box into a rocket ship, cutting extra parts of a second box into the wings and the triangle top. Glue or tape them together and paint it your child's favorite color. You can also fashion a Costco box into a car wash, a doll house, or a pet store. Your imagination is the limit.

Lest your pets get jealous, grab a few more boxes and make a playhouse for the family cat, too. Use two boxes that have an open top and one open side. Identical boxes are ideal, but you can cut any boxes you have to make sure they line up together. Turn one box upside down and place it on top of the other, securing them together with tape or glue, to create one big enclosure with an opening at the front. Decorate it by painting a scene on the outside, cut windows, or use self-adhesive contact paper for decoration.