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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 WojPp7l9xmzOcTQyO36Cjy+5cVc1v/gVbpneVJ4Ily6NXN5fhPqT9jDCcv49vkZL
 UyvV9+QEiN1uAE8p+9Vqhg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001228977-03-000002.txt : 20030924
<SEC-HEADER>0001228977-03-000002.hdr.sgml : 20030924
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030924134921
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001228977-03-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030831
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030924

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GATES WILLIAM H II
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001228977

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	333-82782
		FILM NUMBER:		03907545

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP.
		STREET 2:		999 LAKE DRIVE
		CITY:			ISSAQUAH
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98027

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001228977d20030924f5f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>5</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-31</periodOfReport><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>0001228977</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>GATES WILLIAM H II</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>5161 NE 41ST</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>SEATTLE</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>98105</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></o
fficerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>30.41</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-04-01</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>12000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-04-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-04-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></under
lyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>12000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>12000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Granted pursuant to the Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>William H Gates</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-24</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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