Hearing Tests
A Costco test and a full audiology evaluation are not the same visit. Costco describes its test as a way to learn whether hearing aids may help you. An audiologist's evaluation sets out to find the type of loss, how severe it is, what may have caused it, and what your options are. Both can be useful. This page explains what each one does so you can pick the right starting point.
We are an audiology practice with offices in San Mateo and San Carlos. We are not connected to Costco. We kept this page fair and stuck to what Costco says on its own pages.
At a glance
- Costco says its hearing test is free. Its pages describe the test as being for members 18 and older.
- Costco's pages say to contact a Hearing Aid Center to schedule. They do not say whether walk-ins are accepted.
- The test takes about an hour in a private sound booth, and Costco's non-commissioned hearing aid staff do the testing.
- Costco says the test shows whether hearing aids may help. A full audiology evaluation also looks for the type and cause of the loss.
Does Costco do hearing tests, and is the test free?
Yes. Costco's Hearing Aid Center page lists a free hearing test. A footnote on that page says the test is for members 18 or older and that it determines whether hearing aids may help. Costco's pages do not tell you what happens if you are not a member, so ask the center before you drive there. Costco also lists free service appointments for hearing aids that you buy from its Hearing Aid Center. A free test is a real benefit. It costs you an hour and no money, and it gives you a first picture of your hearing.
Do you need an appointment for a hearing test at Costco?
Costco's hearing aid FAQ says to contact a Costco Hearing Aid Center near you to schedule a hearing test appointment. Costco's pages say you can book by calling. They do not mention walk-ins, so we cannot say whether a center will test you without a booking. A phone call answers that in a minute. Costco also asks you to print and fill in a patient intake form before you go. If you have no printer, its page says to arrive early and fill it in at the warehouse. The form is available in English and Spanish.
What happens during the test
Costco says the test takes about an hour and takes place in a private sound booth. Costco says its non-commissioned hearing aid staff handle testing, fitting and follow-up visits. Its pages do not say what license or degree those staff members hold, so ask who will test you if that matters to you. Costco's pages also do not list every test in the visit. We cannot tell from them whether the visit includes a look in the ear, a middle-ear test, or speech testing in background noise. Ask the center what is included before you book.
What a full audiology evaluation adds
A diagnostic evaluation by an audiologist is a complete hearing test. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) says it can tell you the type of hearing loss, how severe it is, what might have caused it, and what treatment options you have. At our offices it has several parts. We start with questions about your health, noise exposure, ringing, and dizziness. We look in your ear canals for wax. We test tones in a quiet booth. We test how well you understand speech, including in noise. We check how your eardrum moves with tympanometry, and we can measure inner-ear hair cell function with otoacoustic emissions. Then we go through your audiogram with you. Our page on hearing testing has the full list, and our guide to what to expect at a hearing test walks through the visit.
Why the type of test matters
Most hearing loss is gradual and affects both ears the same way. Some hearing loss is not. Sudden hearing loss, hearing that is much worse in one ear, ear pain or drainage, dizziness, and ringing in only one ear can point to a medical problem. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) says sudden deafness should be treated as a medical emergency, and that earwax, allergies and sinus problems are common wrong guesses. If you have any of those signs, see a doctor or an audiologist first. Do not wait for a hearing aid appointment. Our guide to the red flags for audiology referrals lists the signs in plain words.
Costco test or audiology exam: how to choose
Neither visit is wrong. A free test is a fair way to learn whether you have a measurable loss. If you have no warning signs and you are mainly curious, a Costco test can be a reasonable first step. Choose an audiology evaluation if you have any warning sign listed above, ringing or dizziness, a known medical history that touches the ears, or if you want the cause and not just the level. Choose it too if you want a second look at a result you did not understand. Whichever you pick, ask for a copy of your audiogram. It is your record. The next section sets the two visits side by side.
| Costco hearing test | Audiology evaluation at our offices | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free, according to Costco, for members 18 and older | Call us. Our biller can check your plan's benefits first |
| Booking | Contact a Costco Hearing Aid Center. Walk-ins are not mentioned | Call 650-342-9449 to book |
| Length | About an hour in a private sound booth, according to Costco | About an hour, with the results explained at the same visit |
| Who tests | Non-commissioned hearing aid staff, according to Costco | An audiologist |
| Stated goal | To find out whether hearing aids may help | To find the type, degree and likely cause of any loss, and your options |
| Tests listed | Costco's pages do not list the full set of tests | Case history, ear exam, tones, speech, tympanometry and otoacoustic emissions |
| Next step | Hearing aid fitting and free follow-up if you buy there | Monitoring, wax removal, a referral, or a hearing aid fitting. The choice is yours |
If you buy hearing aids after any test
The test is only the first step. What decides how well hearing aids work is the fitting, the verification and the follow-up care. We explain that in our post on warehouse-club hearing aids, which covers the models and the questions to ask before you buy anywhere. If you already own hearing aids from Costco or elsewhere, we can often clean, check and adjust them for a fee, depending on the model. Call us to ask about your device. Original Medicare does not pay for hearing aids or for exams to fit them, which is explained in our page on Medicare and audiologists. Our biller can check any plan's benefits for you.
Sources and last update
Last updated October 7, 2026. Costco prices, rules and wording can change, so confirm with your local Hearing Aid Center. Sources: Costco Hearing Aid Center, Costco Hearing Aid Frequently-Asked Questions, Costco General Information About Hearing Aid Centers, ASHA: Hearing Testing and NIDCD: Sudden Deafness.
Book a full hearing evaluation
Want the complete picture? Call 650-342-9449 to book at our San Mateo office, 88 N. San Mateo Drive, or our San Carlos office, 1008 Laurel Street. This page is general information and not medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
Your questions, answered
How much does a Costco hearing test cost?
Costco's pages say the hearing test is free. They describe it as being for members who are 18 or older. Hearing aids are a separate purchase. Prices can change, so check with your local Hearing Aid Center.
Do I need a Costco membership for the hearing test?
Costco's Hearing Aid Center page says the free test is for members 18 or older. It does not explain what happens for non-members. Ask the center before you go.
Do you need an appointment for a hearing test at Costco?
Costco's FAQ tells you to contact a Hearing Aid Center to schedule a hearing test appointment. It does not mention walk-ins. Call the center to ask.
How long does the Costco hearing test take?
Costco says it takes about an hour and happens in a private sound booth.
Is a Costco hearing test the same as an audiologist's exam?
Not exactly. Costco says its test shows whether hearing aids may help. An audiology evaluation also looks for the type of loss and its likely cause, and it can lead to a medical referral. The two visits answer different questions.
Should I get a hearing test before buying hearing aids anywhere?
Yes. Any hearing aid should be set to your measured hearing. Ask for a copy of your audiogram wherever you are tested, and ask whether the fitting will be checked with real-ear measurement.