13 Best Items To Buy in Bulk at Sam’s Club This Summer

Sam’s Club is full of great bargain buys for the summer for everything from sunscreen to outdoor party essentials. To find the best of the best, GOBankingRates spoke to shopping and money-saving experts to find out what their picks are for the items to buy in bulk for the upcoming season.

Here are 13 expert-approved Sam’s Club bulk buys you should stock up on this summer.

“This three-pack of Neutrogena sunscreen is an essential to keep your skin protected this summer, whether you’re relaxing at home or adventuring,” said Peggie Li, CEO and founder of Prismpop, a social shopping platform. “Between the high SPF and easy-to-use spray, this formula is my favorite because it’s weightless and has no white cast, which makes it perfect for all skin tones. The bulk size is perfect to keep up with reapplications for the whole family.”

“This trio of body washes from Olay is the best summer steal for under $15,” Li said. “My favorite part about this line is the refreshing scents, and this pack offers three different varieties that make your skin feel clean and moisturized. These body washes are generously sized, so they last forever.”

“All your picnic supplies and basics for outdoor entertaining are a great deal at Sam’s Club,” said Carolyn Erickson, publisher of WichitaOnTheCheap.com, a resource for living on the cheap.

She recommends stocking up on paper plates, napkins, paper towels, cups, disposable flatware, foil and foil trays.

“The cost of these items at a regular grocery store really adds a lot to your total bill, so purchasing them at Sam’s saves you money,” Erickson said. “You also save time — one stop in May to buy bulk supplies, and you’re pretty much outfitted for the rest of the summer.”

“I’ve priced out the water that comes in bottles, and Sam’s has been the cheapest in my area,” Erickson said.

“Another really great deal for outdoor entertaining are cases of sodas, sports drinks and sparkling water,” Erickson said. “They are less expensive at Sam’s every day, whereas to get a deal on them at the grocery store, you have to wait for a sale.”

“If you don’t mind instant (and sugar), Sam’s also has a large container of Country Time Lemonade Mix that is a real bargain,” Erickson said.

The 82.5-ounce container is enough to make 17 2-quart pitchers of lemonade.

“Pork loin roast is another smokin’ hot deal at my local Sam’s Club, and those can be great for smoking and serving to a large gathering,” Erickson said.

“Sam’s Club has options to spruce up your outdoor environment,” Gramuglia said. “A patio umbrella at Sam’s Club, including base, Sunbrella fabric and auto-tilt, runs for under $130. The same umbrella on Amazon sells for nearly $160. Not only does Sam’s Club offer more color options, but you’ll also save around $30 when you shop through the wholesale club.”

“If you’re looking for a five-person inflatable lounge, Sam’s Club offers one from Intex for around $80,” Gramuglia said. “Walmart sells the exact same item for around $122, so you’ll save over $40 by purchasing from Sam’s Club instead.”

“If you use a charcoal grill, you can’t go wrong with a two-pack of 20-pound bags [of charcoal] to prep for the summer,” said Julie Ramhold, senior staff writer and spokesperson with DealNews.com. “They’ll [usually] set you back about $22, but with summer looming, they’re on sale right now so you can get them for closer to $18. Depending on how many BBQs you have planned, these could get you through the whole summer and Labor Day without issue.”

“If you have any parties planned for summer, the cookie tray is such a great way to provide dessert with minimal effort,” Ramhold said. “It comes with three flavors of regular-sized cookies, including oatmeal raisin, chocolate chunk and white chunk macadamia nut, as well as mini candy cookies. And they’re baked fresh in-club daily, which means you won’t have to worry about getting stale cookies.”

“If you want to try these highly-rated plant-based patties, now’s a good time to do so,” Ramhold said. “You can get a package of 10 patties for around $14 through June 5, which is $3 off the normal price. These are good to keep on hand if you have any vegetarian guests lined up for your BBQ, but also good if you just want to cut back on your red meat consumption.”

Photo Disclaimer: Please note photos are for illustrative purposes only. As a result, some of the photos might not reflect the exact items listed.