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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 KJQcztKBpNJYTosrJclQ+BMpDnt4lGdUSXP83Lru72sWGCIPfoUBc+Tnmgc4sTjh
 vPmdcsjTSSnp2Uoozc52Xg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001078511-03-000002.txt : 20030929
<SEC-HEADER>0001078511-03-000002.hdr.sgml : 20030929
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030929183220
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001078511-03-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030831
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030929

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP /NEW
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000909832
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-VARIETY STORES [5331]
		IRS NUMBER:				911223280
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			WA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0830

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		999 LAKE DRIVE
		CITY:			ISSAQUAH
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98027-
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4253138100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		999 LAKE DRIVE
		CITY:			ISSAQUAH
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98027

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	COSTCO COMPANIES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19970401

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PRICE/COSTCO INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930728

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MUNGER CHARLES T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001078511

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	333-82782
		FILM NUMBER:		03916047

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		355 S GRAND AVE
		STREET 2:		34TH FL
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90071
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2136839239

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		355 S GRAND AV
		STREET 2:		34TH FL
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90071
</SEC-HEADER>
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<TYPE>5/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001078511d20030929f5af.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>5/A</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-31</periodOfReport><dateOfOriginalSubmission>2003-09-29</dateOfOriginalSubmission><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported><form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported><issuer><issuerCik>0000909832</issuerCik><issuerName>COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP /NEW</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>COST</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001078511</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>MUNGER CHARLES T</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>355 SOUTH GRAND AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>34TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>LOS ANGELES</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>90071</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</
isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>151768</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2002-12-18</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><tran
sactionShares><value>11623</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>19565</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Alfred C. Munger Foundation</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable></derivativeTable><footnotes></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Charles T Munger</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-29</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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