How to Get 50% Off Shutterfly with Costco Membership

If you’ve ever printed photo books or albums through Shutterfly, you know how quickly the price adds up. A simple 20-page album can cost $40-or more-before shipping and add-ons. But here’s the secret: Costco members can get 50% off Shutterfly orders through exclusive coupons that appear in their online account. It’s not a rumor. It’s not a one-time promotion. It’s a regular, reliable discount that’s been active since 2021 and still works in 2026.

How the Costco-Shutterfly Discount Actually Works

Costco doesn’t sell Shutterfly products directly. Instead, they partner with Shutterfly to give members access to a digital coupon code that cuts the price of most photo products in half. You won’t find this coupon in your monthly Costco magazine or on the website’s homepage. You have to log into your Costco member account, go to the Member Benefits section, and look under Photo Services.

The coupon usually appears as a banner or link labeled “50% Off Shutterfly Orders”. When you click it, you’re taken to a special Shutterfly landing page with the discount already applied. No need to enter a code. The discount is automatic. You’ll see your cart total drop by half as soon as you add any item-whether it’s a photo book, calendar, canvas print, or greeting cards.

This discount applies to most Shutterfly products, but not everything. Custom framing, premium leather-bound albums, and some international shipping options are excluded. But for standard 8x8, 11x14, or 12x12 photo books, the 50% off is real and consistent.

Why Costco Offers This Deal (And Why It’s Still Available)

Costco doesn’t give away discounts just to be nice. They make money by driving volume. Shutterfly handles the printing, shipping, and customer service. Costco gets a referral fee every time a member uses the coupon. The more people who print, the more Costco earns. And since photo albums are a high-margin, low-return product, Shutterfly is happy to pay for the traffic.

This deal has survived because it works. Costco members love it. Shutterfly gets consistent sales. And Costco keeps members engaged with a benefit that feels personal-something you can actually use, not just a cashback offer on gas.

Unlike other retailers that offer one-time promo codes that expire in 24 hours, Costco’s Shutterfly coupon is renewed every few months. You’ll usually see it pop up in January, May, and October. But it’s not tied to a calendar. It appears when Shutterfly’s inventory is high and Costco wants to boost usage.

How to Find the Coupon (Step-by-Step)

Here’s exactly how to find the discount right now:

1. Log in to your Costco.com account. (You must be a current member.)
2. Hover over the Photo tab in the top menu and click Member Benefits.
3. Scroll down to the Photo Services section.
4. Look for the banner that says “50% Off Shutterfly Orders”. Click it.
5. You’ll be redirected to Shutterfly’s site with your discount already applied.
6. Build your photo book or album as usual. Everything you add will be 50% off.

If you don’t see the banner, try clearing your browser cache or switching to the Costco mobile app. Sometimes the offer appears differently on mobile. If it’s still missing, check back in a week-it often reappears without warning.

What You Can Save With This Deal

Let’s say you want a 20-page, 8x8 hardcover photo book with glossy pages. The regular price? $39.99. With the Costco discount? $19.99. Add a second book? $19.99 again. That’s $39.98 for two books-less than the price of one without the coupon.

Need a 12x12 album for your wedding? Normally $79.99. With the discount? $39.99. That’s a $40 saving on one item. Add a matching photo calendar ($19.99 → $9.99) and a set of 20 photo cards ($24.99 → $12.49)? You’ve saved $52.50 on three items alone.

Most people don’t realize how much they can save if they print in bulk. Instead of making one album per year, use the discount to make one for each child, each holiday, and each family trip. You’ll end up with a library of memories-and pay less than you would for a single full-price album.

When the Discount Doesn’t Work (And What to Do)

There are a few situations where the coupon might not apply:

• You’re not logged into your Costco account.
• You’re using a shared or guest browser.
• You’re trying to use it on a Shutterfly gift card purchase.
• You’re on a mobile app that doesn’t redirect properly.
• You’re trying to apply it to a sale item already discounted by Shutterfly.

If the discount disappears, don’t panic. It’s not gone forever. Check back in 3-7 days. Or try accessing the offer from a different device. Some members report the coupon appears more reliably on desktop browsers than on smartphones.

Also, don’t use third-party coupon sites. Sites like RetailMeNot or Honey rarely have the Costco Shutterfly code because it’s not a public promo. They often list expired or fake codes. The only reliable source is your Costco member portal.

Is Costco Worth It Just for This Discount?

Costco membership costs $60 a year. If you use the Shutterfly discount just once a year to print two photo books, you’ve already saved $40. That’s two-thirds of your membership fee covered by one deal. Add in the free tire rotations, discounted gas, or bulk groceries you buy, and the membership pays for itself many times over.

For families with kids, grandparents, or anyone who takes lots of photos, this deal alone makes Costco worth it. You’re not just saving money-you’re preserving memories in high-quality, archival-grade prints that won’t fade or curl like cheap online prints from unknown services.

Alternatives to Shutterfly (And Why They Don’t Compare)

There are other photo printing services: Snapfish, Mixbook, Mpix, and Walgreens. But none offer a consistent 50% discount through a warehouse club.

Snapfish has occasional sales, but they’re often limited to specific products and require coupon codes that expire fast. Mixbook is beautiful but expensive-no membership deals. Mpix offers premium quality but no bulk discounts. Walgreens has in-store deals, but their photo books feel cheap, and the colors often don’t match what you see on screen.

Shutterfly, combined with Costco’s discount, gives you the best balance of quality, variety, and price. Their paper is thick, their binding is durable, and their color matching is accurate. Plus, you can edit your photos right in their app before ordering.

Pro Tips to Maximize Your Savings

• Wait until you have 50+ photos ready before starting a book. More photos = better layout options.
• Use the same theme across multiple books (e.g., “2025 Family Trip”) to save time and create a cohesive collection.
• Order during the discount window and pick up your prints at a Costco photo center if you’re near one-some locations offer free same-day pickup.
• Don’t wait until the holidays. The best deals come in January and October, when people are clearing out old photos.
• Use the “Auto-Design” feature. It’s faster than manual layout and often looks better than you expect.

One member I spoke with printed 12 photo books last year using the Costco discount. Total cost? $192. Regular price? $768. That’s $576 saved. She gave one to each grandchild, one to her parents, and kept four for herself. No one knew she got them for half price.

FAQ

Next Steps

Log into your Costco account right now and check the Member Benefits section. If you see the Shutterfly banner, start building your first discounted photo book. If you don’t see it yet, set a reminder to check back in 5 days. Don’t wait until you have a big event-start small. Print a 10-page book of your last vacation. See how it looks. Then do another. Before you know it, you’ll have a shelf of beautiful, affordable keepsakes.