Will Costco Put a Name on a Cake? (Ordering Tips & Surprising Facts)

Wondering if Costco will actually add a name to your birthday cake? Yes, they totally will. Costco’s sheet cakes are famous for being big, budget-friendly, and customizable. When you order, the bakery lets you pick a message—like a simple 'Happy Birthday, Jen!' They’ll write it right on top, usually for no extra charge.

Sounds pretty straightforward, but here’s where people get tripped up: Costco doesn’t do wild, super-complex designs or long-winded messages. If you want a short name, a number, or a classic 'Congrats!', you’re good. Planning to ask for a long poem or a detailed cartoon? Probably not happening. Their order form has a little box for your greeting, so you’ll need to keep it short and sweet.

Ordering a cake with a name at Costco is pretty easy, but you have to do it in person—there’s no official online custom cake order yet (as of May 2025). That means you fill out a paper form at the bakery counter, usually two days ahead. Need something fast? Sometimes they have a few ready-made cakes in the cooler, and those are grab-and-go, but you won’t be able to customize them.

• Does Costco Personalize Cakes?
• How to Order a Cake with a Name at Costco
• What You Can (and Can't) Personalize
• Timeline and Pickup Tips
• Pricing, Flavors, and Sizing
• Little-Known Facts & Common Issues

Does Costco Personalize Cakes?

Costco absolutely personalizes cakes, and that’s a huge reason why their Costco cake is so popular for birthday parties and celebrations. What they offer is basic, but it covers most people’s needs. When you order a cake from the Costco bakery, you can pick out a design from their order form—think balloons, flowers, sports themes, and seasonal basics. Next, you write your message. This is where putting a name or simple note like 'Happy Birthday Sam' comes in.

The customization is all done for free. There aren’t any hidden fees to add a name or greeting, no matter what you pick from the standard options. Just keep in mind: Costco doesn’t do custom printed images (like a photo of your dog), complicated drawings, or fancy fondant work. They don’t handle trademarked characters (so, no Spider-Man or Elsa), and the font style is always their standard piping—no script or glitter.

Here’s a quick rundown of what you can personalize with a personalized cake from Costco:

• Name or short message (for the top of the cake)
• Design choice (from their standard catalog: sports, flowers, balloons, classic themes)
• Frosting color options (some designs let you pick base or accent colors)

If you’re hoping for something unique, always ask the bakery when you’re there. Some locations might bend the rules very slightly, mostly with color accents or minor tweaks to the standard designs. But if you want a cake with totally custom artwork or a ton of detail, you’ll get better results at a dedicated specialty bakery.

Want to know how many personalized cakes fly out the door? A manager at a busy California Costco said their store decorates more than 250 custom cakes alone on a single weekend in spring. That’s a lot of birthdays, graduations, and team parties to keep up with—so they keep customization simple and efficient to handle the volume.

How to Order a Cake with a Name at Costco

If you want a Costco cake with your kid’s name (or any special message), you’ll need to place your order right at the bakery counter in your local warehouse. As of May 2025, there’s still no online custom cake ordering, so don’t bother searching the website for a form. It’s all old-school and paper-based.

Here’s what actually happens:

1. Grab an order form at the bakery counter (they’re usually on a clipboard or in a stack near the display).
2. Choose your cake flavor—chocolate or white cake are the main options, and they come with a basic filling.
3. Pick a design from the templates (these include balloons, flowers, sports themes, and a handful of others). No custom artwork, but you can personalize the wording inside the design.
4. Write the message you want—like “Happy Birthday Alex!”—in the box for personalized text. Keep it short, since space is limited.
5. Add your name and phone number so Costco can contact you if there are questions.
6. Pick your pickup date (they need at least 48 hours’ notice for a personalized birthday cake).
7. Drop the form in the collection box or hand it directly to a bakery staffer.

Many people ask if they can call in an order for a personalized cake—Costco doesn’t allow this for custom messages due to the high number of orders and the need for a written record. If you forget the form, you’ll have to go back in person.

Here’s a quick table to compare ways to order a Costco cake in 2025:

If you need the birthday cake for a weekend, fill out the form midweek—by Wednesday for a Saturday pickup—to avoid rushes or bakery shortages. Ask the staff which forms apply because every once in a while, they update the designs or wording options.

For folks who love things short and easy, bring a pen (in case the bakery is busy) and jot down your custom message before you arrive. There’s nothing worse than standing there, blanking on how to spell your niece’s name in front of a growing line.

What You Can (and Can't) Personalize

The Costco cake customization menu is all about keeping things simple. You get to pick a basic design, a color or two, and your message. Want them to write “Happy Birthday, Derek!” or just a name? No problem. Most Costco bakeries will add a short, simple message for free on any custom birthday cake order. They’ll even let you choose from a few standard pictures—think balloons, roses, or an occasional sports theme.

Here’s what you get to pick on the Costco cake order form:

• Flavor: Chocolate or white cake is the classic choice (sometimes called vanilla at some locations).
• Filling: Chocolate mousse or vanilla cheesecake mousse.
• Design style: Classic options like balloons, roses, rainbow, or “over-the-hill.” Your store might rotate options, so it’s good to check the updated form in person.
• Colors: Basic colors for icing and decoration—usually a couple of combo choices.
• Custom message: Your short message—the space is tiny, so keep it under 40 characters. Most people just go with a name and an occasion.

But you can’t request everything under the sun:

• No copyrighted characters (so forget about a Mickey Mouse or Marvel design).
• No super-long messages—Costco limits the text so it’ll fit and still look neat.
• No custom photos or edible images—most locations don’t offer image printing.
• No super-fancy decorating (like fondant, metallics, or detailed drawings).

Here’s a quick comparison table of what you can and can’t personalize at Costco:

If you want a super unique cake, you might need a specialty bakery. But if you’re looking for a big, tasty Costco cake with a classic look and your own message, you’ll get exactly what’s promised—no headaches, no surprises.

Timeline and Pickup Tips

If you don’t want to scramble on party day, knowing when and how to order your Costco cake is a must. The bakery usually asks for at least 48 hours’ notice for customized cakes with a name or special message. This two-day window lets the staff decorate your personalized cake and make sure it’s fresh for pickup.

Here’s how it works: Head to the bakery counter, fill out the order form, and pick your pickup date (and time, if that’s an option at your warehouse). Most bakeries offer a pickup window all day, from opening until a couple hours before closing. If you have a super specific event time, plan to pick up earlier — especially on weekends when things get crowded.

• Order in person: There’s no official online custom order yet. You need to visit your local store to place your cake order.
• Order at least two days ahead: Some Costco bakeries fill up early, especially around holidays and graduation season. If in doubt, order further in advance.
• Keep your receipt: You’ll need it when you arrive, especially if the bakery is slammed.
• If you’re ordering for a weekend or holiday, consider adding an extra day—Fridays and Saturdays are when most people are picking up their birthday cake.

Some locations get more cake orders than others, but across the U.S., the 48-hour rule is standard. Below is a quick look at store hours and order policies from a few major cities in 2025:

If you forget to order on time, ready-made cakes are almost always in the cooler section, but you won’t get a custom message or name. Want a stress-free pickup? Go early, double-check your message on the cake, and don’t toss your receipt just yet.

Pricing, Flavors, and Sizing

Costco keeps it simple with their Costco cake pricing: as of now, a decorated half-sheet cake costs right around $24 in most stores across the U.S. That gets you a big cake that feeds about 48 people—that’s crazy value, especially if you’ve checked prices at regular bakeries lately. You won’t find sneaky upcharges for writing a name or adding a basic design; it’s all included in that price.

Talking flavors, you’ve basically got two choices: white cake with vanilla cheesecake mousse filling, or chocolate cake with chocolate mousse. That’s it—no red velvet, carrot, or unicorn-sparkle-marshmallow flavors. But both flavors are super popular and known for being surprisingly moist for a warehouse cake.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

If you’re hoping for odd sizes or tiers, don’t get your hopes up—Costco’s custom cakes are only available in the classic half-sheet size. That might sound “big,” but for parties or office celebrations, it’s honestly perfect. The cake comes pre-scored, which makes it super easy to slice and keep things moving when people line up for dessert.

Quick tip: If you want more than one cake or need to serve a huge crowd, no one’s stopping you from just ordering two (or three). For the price, doubling up beats running out of sweets.

Little-Known Facts & Common Issues

People are always surprised by just how many birthday cakes Costco sells each year. According to store managers and several Reddit threads, it’s over a million sheet cakes in the US alone. That’s a lot of frosting and a lot of personalized names.

Let’s start with a common confusion: Costco won’t put anything “offensive” or brand-related (like Disney or Marvel characters) on your Costco cake. They actually have a list of phrases and names they can't use. If you write something questionable, don’t be shocked if they call to double-check or even refuse the order. One former bakery worker explained it straight up:

"If people ask for copyrighted characters, we have to say no. The same goes for rude language or anything sketchy. We can decorate with balloons or flowers, but nothing beyond what’s approved."

Another surprise? The bakery folks will try their best to hand-write unusual names, but if it’s tricky to spell or super long, double-check your order slip and be as clear as possible. Customers have reported the occasional spelling slip—especially with unique names. So, always review your confirmation before you leave.

Lots of people want logos, unicorns, or fancy themed images added. Here’s the fact: the answer will almost always be a polite "no." But you can choose from about 30 pre-set designs (think balloons, roses, soccer balls). If you want the classic “sheet cake with name” style, you’re solid. If you need more, maybe try a specialty bakery.

• Allergy alert: Costco’s cakes do not have customization for allergies. All cakes are made in-house, so there’s a chance of cross-contact with nuts, dairy, and gluten.
• If you bought a ready-made cake from the fridge, you won’t get a name added in-store—what you see is what you get.
• Sometimes messages are squished or not perfectly centered. These cakes are decorated fast, so don’t expect fine bakery art.

Here’s a quick run-down on common cake order headaches at Costco:

So if you want a personalized cake from Costco, keep things clear, simple, and double-check the order. The bakery team moves fast, but they definitely want your birthday cake to come out right.