Costco turkey in Canada (2026): price per kg, fresh birds, and the rest of Christmas dinner

A Costco turkey in Canada costs $6.99 a kg for a fresh Grade A air-chilled bird, the same price at every Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter from 2024 to 2026, and $9.99 a kg for organic. So a 7 kg bird is about $49. For Christmas, fresh turkeys arrive 10 to 13 days before the day; the rest of dinner (ham, tourtière, stuffing, gravy and pies) is in from the fall.

How much is a turkey at Costco Canada?

The price is per kilogram, so the label on your bird gives the total (Costco West, Costco West, Costco East). Air-chilled birds are cooled with cold air rather than a water bath, so they don't take on water weight.

Are Costco turkeys fresh or frozen?

Fresh. Every whole turkey in the Canadian fan blog posts from 2024 to 2026 was fresh or air-chilled, and none was frozen. For Christmas they arrived in Western warehouses on December 13, 2024 and December 12, 2025 (Costco West, Costco West), and for Thanksgiving about 10 days ahead. None showed up in November. Buy close to the day, keep it in the fridge, and check the best-before date on the label. Bought a frozen bird elsewhere? Health Canada says to "defrost poultry 24 hours for each 2.5 kg (5 pounds)" in the fridge (Health Canada).

Is a Costco turkey cheaper than the grocery store?

Close to it, and it's fresh. On October 29, 2026, Walmart.ca listed a frozen Butterball seasoned turkey of 5 to 7 kg at $43 and 7 to 9 kg at $57: about $6.14 to $8.60 a kg depending on the bird (Walmart). Costco's $6.99 a kg is cheaper than a small frozen bird and a little dearer than a heavy one. Grocery flyer loss-leaders at Christmas can go lower, but usually on frozen turkeys with a minimum purchase.

What else does Costco sell for Christmas dinner?

Ham is sold by the kilogram like turkey (Costco East). The tourtière is in from September (Costco West) and the fruit cake from early September. For appetizers and trays, see Costco party platters.

When do Costco holiday foods go on sale?

Turkeys don't go on sale per kg. After each holiday, Costco takes a flat amount off each remaining bird: $20 off after Thanksgiving 2025 (Costco West), $15 off ($25 off organic) after Thanksgiving 2026 (Costco East) and $25 off after Easter 2026 (Costco West). The rest clears after Christmas: on December 29, 2025 the tourtière was $6.97 and the fruit cake $9 off in Ontario and Atlantic warehouses (Costco East). A turkey for the freezer is cheapest the day after the holiday, if your warehouse has any left.

How do you cook a Costco turkey safely?

Health Canada's rules (Health Canada):

• Cook a whole bird until "the thickest part of the breast is 82°C (180°F)", and pieces to 74°C (165°F). Use a food thermometer.
• "The stuffing should reach an internal temperature of at least 74°C (165°F)."
• Thaw a frozen bird in the fridge, never at room temperature; in cold water, "change the water every 30 minutes to keep the surface cold until it is thawed."

Costco closes on Christmas Day and closes early on Christmas Eve, so plan the shop; the hours are in Costco Christmas hours.

Can someone do the Christmas Costco run for you?

Yes. An independent local helper can pick up your turkey and the rest of the list in the busy week before Christmas: a Costco grocery run is $39 for up to 30 items, kept cold on the way and brought in to your kitchen, at Flatcart's set price. Want help choosing the bird or checking dates? A personal Costco shop is $45 for up to 90 minutes.