Costco Sells A Wild Amount Of Hot Dogs Every Year

Costco's hot dogs have a passionate following. It seems not a day goes by without a prospective food influencer showcasing how to upgrade or even simply eat one. Since they are so celebrated, it should be no surprise that these beloved hot dogs, often called glizzies, are being sold in staggering amounts year after year.

In 2023, Costco sold 200 million hot dog and soda combos. To put that number in perspective, if the big-box store were open all day, 365 days a year, that would equate to over 22,000 hot dogs being sold every hour. That figure jumps to nearly 50,000 an hour when considering the membership warehouse's typical hours of operation.

One of the main attractions to the supermarket's hot dog combo (which includes a hot dog and a soda) is the unbeatable price of only $1.50. Returning customers are familiar with this price point — being that it has remained this low since 1985. But with other hot dogs around the country costing far more than a buck and a half a piece, it's no wonder consumers can't get enough of the all-beef franks. 

Nathan's Famous is a popular chain and brand maybe most associated with its annual hot dog-eating competition that takes place at Coney Island. In 2023, Nathan's sold 700 million throughout its roughly 78,000 brick-and-mortar locations across the United States. Though that is far greater than Costco's 200 million, the membership warehouse only operates about 617 stores in the U.S., meaning that sales per location are much higher at Costco.

There are few things more American than eating a classic hot dog at a baseball game, but Major League Baseball stadium sales pale in comparison to Costco's 200 million dogs a year. In 2019, ballparks across the country sold 18.3 million franks to energetic fans, and it was estimated they would sell 19.1 million in 2022. Even if they sold 20 million, it would take them 10 years to match Costco's impressive numbers.

Before TikTok became obsessed with elevating the membership warehouse's frankfurters, the retailer sold a widely appreciated Polish dog alongside its all-beef variety that undoubtedly contributed to the extraordinary sales statistics. While these discontinued hot dogs probably aren't coming back anytime soon, with how many hot dogs Costco sells in comparison to competitors, Costco's all-beef frank combos appear to be here for the long run. Folks continue to buy them, contributing to Costco's astounding sales figures.