What's the Cheapest Way to Get Passport Photos?
Every option ranked from $0 to $18 — with the hidden costs most people miss.
Quick Answer
The cheapest passport photo is $1.35 — use a $1 online tool and print at any drugstore for $0.35. The cheapest retail store is Walmart at $7.44.
Bottom Line
The cheapest passport photo is $1.35 — a $1 online tool plus a $0.35 drugstore print. That gets you 6 compliant photos and a digital copy. The cheapest retail store is Walmart at $7.44 for 2 prints.
Every Option Ranked: Cheapest to Most Expensive
| Option | Total Cost | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Dollar Passport Photo + print | $1.35 | 6 photos + digital copy |
| iVisa Photos | $5.99 | Digital only (no print) |
| Costco | $6.99 | 2 photos, members only |
| Walmart | $7.44 | 2 photos |
| AAA | $10-15 | 2 photos, members get discount |
| UPS Store | $11.99 | 2 photos |
| PhotoAiD | $13.95 | Digital + print shipped |
| FedEx Office | $14.95 | 2 photos |
| Walgreens | $14.99 | 2 photos |
| USPS | $15.00 | 2 photos |
| Target (online) | $15.49 | 4 photos, ships in 6-14 days |
| CVS | $16.99 | 2 photos |
| Passport Photo Online | $16.95 | Digital + print shipped |
| Staples | $17.99 | 2 photos |
| Photo studio | $25-100+ | 2+ photos, retouching |
Prices verified April 2026. Prices may vary by location.
The Catch With Each Option
Under $2 (online tool + self-service print): You take your own photo with a smartphone. The tool handles background removal, sizing, and compliance checking. Then you print the 4x6 sheet at any drugstore’s self-service kiosk. Total time: about 5 minutes at home plus a print pickup. The tradeoff is doing it yourself instead of having someone else point and shoot.
Under $8 (Walmart, Costco): Walmart at $7.44 is the cheapest retail store, but Walmart Photo Centers are closing at many locations — call ahead. Costco at $6.99 looks cheaper, but you need a $65/year membership. If you’re already a member, it’s a good deal. If you’re not, the math doesn’t work for passport photos alone.
$10-18 (drugstores, UPS, USPS, FedEx): The convenience tier. Walk in, get your photo taken, walk out with 2 prints. No smartphone needed. The downside: you get exactly 2 prints, no digital copy, and most charge $14-18 for something that costs them pennies to produce. If your photo gets rejected, you pay the full price again for retakes.
$25+ (photo studios): Professional lighting, retouching, multiple poses. Overkill for a passport photo where the State Department wants a plain, unretouched image. Studios make sense for professional headshots or formal portraits — not for a 2x2” ID photo.
Hidden Costs Most People Miss
The sticker price isn’t the full cost. A typical retail store trip involves:
- Drive time: 30-60 minutes round trip
- Gas: $2-5 depending on distance
- Wait time: 10-30 minutes in-store (especially at CVS and Walgreens)
- Retake risk: If your photo is rejected, you make the whole trip again and pay full price
- No digital copy: Most stores only give you prints. Need a digital file for online passport renewal (DS-82 online)? That’s a separate charge — CVS adds $3.99 for digital
The Real Cost of a CVS Trip
$16.99 (photos) + $3-5 (gas) + 45 minutes of your time. If the photo gets rejected, double it. A $17 passport photo can easily become a $35-40 experience.
Best Option by Situation
| Single person, not urgent | Online tool + drugstore print — $1.35 |
| Family of 4 | Online tool + drugstore print — $5.40 (vs $28-68 at retail) |
| Need it in 10 minutes | Nearest Walmart or CVS — $7.44-16.99 |
| Online passport renewal (DS-82) | Online tool — need a digital file, most stores don't provide one |
| USCIS forms (multiple photos) | Online tool — 1 sheet = 6 photos, covers I-485 + I-765 + I-131 |
The $1.35 Route: Step by Step
Take a photo with your phone (30 seconds)
Any smartphone works. Stand in front of a plain wall near a window for natural light. Have someone else take the photo, or use a timer.
Upload and download — $1 (60 seconds)
The tool removes your background, crops to exact passport dimensions, checks compliance (head size, eye position, centering), and generates a 4x6 printable sheet with 6 photos plus a digital file.
Print at any drugstore — $0.35 (pick up on your schedule)
Upload the 4x6 sheet to CVS, Walgreens, or Walmart's photo printing. Standard 4x6 print costs $0.35-0.38. Order online, pick up in an hour or same day.
Total: $1.35 for 6 passport photos + a digital copy. Compare that to $16.99 for 2 photos at CVS.
When Spending More Makes Sense
Paying $8-17 at a retail store is reasonable if:
- You need photos in the next 10 minutes — an online print order takes at least an hour for pickup
- You’re not comfortable taking your own photo — some people prefer having a store employee handle it
- You want someone else to deal with everything — walk in, sit down, walk out with photos
- You’re already at the store — if you’re picking up a prescription at CVS anyway, the convenience might be worth $17
For everyone else, $1.35 gets you the same compliant result with more photos and a digital copy included.
Related Guides
- Passport Photo Cost 2026 — full price breakdown by store
- CVS Passport Photo — $16.99 review
- Walmart Passport Photo — cheapest retail option
- Costco Passport Photo — $6.99 members only
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest place to get passport photos?
The cheapest way is online ($1) + drugstore print ($0.35) = $1.35 for 6 photos. The cheapest retail store is Walmart at $7.44 for 2 photos. Costco is $6.99 but requires a $65/year membership.
Can I get free passport photos?
Some free apps exist but add watermarks or limit resolution. A few passport acceptance facilities include photos with application processing. The cheapest reliable option is $1.35 using an online tool + drugstore print.
Is Walmart or CVS cheaper for passport photos?
Walmart is significantly cheaper: $7.44 vs CVS's $16.99. But both are more expensive than online alternatives ($1-6). The cheapest option is an online tool ($1) plus self-service print ($0.35).
How can I save money on passport photos for a family?
A family of 4 pays $28-$68 at retail stores. Using an online tool, each person costs $1.35 — that's $5.40 total for the whole family, saving $23-$63.
Are cheap passport photos accepted by the State Department?
Yes. The State Department doesn't care where your photo came from — only that it meets their specifications (size, background, head position). A $1.35 photo that meets specs is identical to a $17 photo that meets specs.
Can I take my own passport photo for free?
You can take the photo yourself for free. The challenge is meeting the strict requirements (exact head size, white background, no shadows). An online tool handles compliance checking and background removal for $1.
Get 6 Photos for $1.35
Take a photo with your phone, get 6 compliant passport photos. Print at CVS, Walgreens, or Walmart for $0.35-0.38.
Create Your Photo — $1Cheaper than every retail store