How Much Do Passport Photos Cost in 2026?
Every retailer, online service, and DIY method — with exact prices, hidden costs, and the tradeoffs nobody mentions.
Quick Answer
Passport photos cost $1.35 to $17.99 depending on where you go. Retail stores charge $7–18 for 2 prints. Online services range from $1–17. The cheapest route: take a photo at home, process it online for $1, and print at a drugstore for $0.35.
Bottom Line
Passport photos cost $1.35 to $17.99 in 2026. The price depends entirely on where you go — not the quality of the photo. A $1.35 photo and a $16.99 photo are both 2×2”, white background, and State Department compliant. Below is every option, ranked by price.
Every Retailer, Ranked by Price
| Store | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Costco | $6.99 | 2 prints — members only, limited locations |
| Walmart | $7.44 | 2 prints — photo center required |
| AAA | $10–15 | 2 prints — members $10, non-members $15 |
| UPS Store | $11.99 | 2 prints — price varies by franchise |
| Walgreens | $14.99 | 2 prints — most locations |
| FedEx Office | $14.95 | 2 prints — not all locations |
| USPS | $15.00 | 2 prints — passport appointment required |
| Target | $15.49 | 4 prints — online order, 6–14 day delivery |
| CVS | $16.99 | 2 prints — digital copy +$3.99 extra |
| Staples | $17.99 | 2 prints — Perfect Passport Guarantee |
Prices verified April 2026. Prices may vary by location.
A few things the price list doesn’t show: Costco requires a membership ($65/year minimum) and many locations have dropped passport photo service entirely. Walmart’s $7.44 price is only at stores with an active photo center — not every location has one. Target doesn’t offer in-store service; you upload a photo online and they mail you prints in 6–14 days.
None of these retailers include a digital copy. If you need one for an online passport application, that’s extra — CVS charges $3.99 on top of the $16.99, bringing the real total to $20.98.
Online Passport Photo Services
| Service | Price | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Dollar Passport Photo | $1.00 | 6 photos on 4×6 sheet + digital — print for $0.35 |
| iVisa Photos | $5.99 | Digital only — you print separately |
| PhotoAiD | $13.95 | Digital + print-ready file |
| Passport Photo Online | $16.95 | Digital + print-ready file |
Online services give you a digital file you print yourself. The advantage: you get both a digital copy (for online applications) and a printable sheet (for mail-in). The disadvantage: you take the photo yourself, which means you need decent lighting and a plain background.
With online services, printing costs $0.35–0.50 at any drugstore’s self-service photo kiosk. A standard 4×6” print fits 6 passport photos, so the total cost of the cheapest option is $1.35 for 6 photos — compared to $16.99 for 2 at CVS.
The Hidden Costs of Retail
The sticker price at a retail store isn’t the full cost. Here’s what actually happens when you go to CVS for a passport photo:
| Photo service | $16.99 |
| Digital copy (optional) | +$3.99 |
| Drive to store | ~$2–5 in gas |
| Time at store | 20–45 min (drive + wait + photo) |
| Retake if rejected | Another trip, another $16.99 |
| Realistic total | $20–25 and 1+ hour |
The retake risk is real. The State Department rejects photos for reasons the store employee may not catch: head too large or small, eyes not at the right height, shadows on face or background. If your photo is rejected weeks later, you’re making another trip and paying again.
What Retail Gets Wrong
- ✕ $15–18 for 2 photos — $7.50–9.00 per photo
- ✕ No digital copy included at most stores (extra $4 at CVS)
- ✕ Retakes mean another trip and another charge
- ✕ Employee skill varies — some stores use a phone camera against a wall
- ✕ 30–60 min round trip for something that takes 2 minutes online
What Retail Gets Right
- ✓ Walk in, walk out with prints — no tech skills needed
- ✓ Someone else takes the photo for you
- ✓ Immediate: you leave with physical prints in hand
Three Ways to Get Passport Photos
1. Retail In-Store ($7–18)
Walk into a drugstore, pharmacy, or shipping store. An employee takes your photo, crops it, and prints two 2×2” photos. You leave with prints in hand.
Best for: People who want someone else to handle it, or who need prints in the next 30 minutes and happen to be near a store.
Watch out for: Not all locations offer the service. Call ahead. Walmart requires a photo center. Costco requires membership. USPS requires an appointment. And most stores only give you 2 prints — if you need more, you pay full price again.
2. Online Service + Self-Print ($1.35–17)
Take a photo at home with your phone. Upload it to an online service that crops it to spec, checks compliance, and generates a printable 4×6 sheet. Print at any drugstore kiosk for $0.35.
Best for: Anyone comfortable taking a selfie or having someone snap a photo with their phone. Also the only option that gives you both a digital file and prints.
Watch out for: You need decent lighting — stand facing a window during the day. A plain white or light wall behind you works best. Avoid overhead-only lighting, which creates shadows under the eyes.
3. Professional Photo Studio ($25–100+)
A photographer takes your photo with professional lighting and a proper backdrop. Some studios offer retouching and multiple sizes.
Best for: Visa applications where photo quality matters more (some embassies are stricter). Also worth it if you want the photo for a professional headshot too.
Watch out for: Overkill for a standard US passport. The State Department doesn’t give extra credit for studio lighting — they just check that the photo meets the spec.
When Retail Is the Better Choice
Being fair: retail stores aren’t always the wrong call.
- You need it right now. If your appointment is tomorrow and you don’t have a photo, the nearest CVS or Walgreens gets it done in 15 minutes.
- You’re already at the store. If you’re picking up a prescription at Walgreens anyway, adding a passport photo is zero extra travel time.
- You’re not comfortable with technology. Taking, uploading, and printing your own photo involves multiple steps. Retail is one step: show up.
- You want a human to check it. Some people prefer having an employee look at the photo before printing. (Though store employees aren’t trained passport photo experts — they rely on the same software an online tool uses.)
For everyone else — especially if you need more than 2 photos, want a digital copy, or are price-conscious — an online service saves both money and time.
The $1.35 Route, Step by Step
Take a photo with your phone (30 seconds)
Stand facing a window for even lighting. Use a white or light-colored wall as your background. Have someone else take the photo, or prop up your phone and use the timer. No selfies — the State Department requires a front-facing photo from arm's length or farther.
Upload and process — $1 (60 seconds)
Upload to 1 Dollar Passport Photo. The tool removes the background, crops to 2×2" at the correct head size and eye position, and runs a compliance check. You get a 4×6 sheet with 6 photos plus a digital file. Preview before paying.
Print at any drugstore — $0.35 (5 minutes)
Send the 4×6 file to CVS, Walgreens, or Walmart's photo kiosk. Select 4×6 glossy print. Pick up in-store, usually within an hour. If you only need a digital copy for online renewal, skip this step entirely.
Total: $1.35 for 6 printed photos + digital copy. Compare that to $16.99 for 2 prints at CVS with no digital copy.
Family and Multi-Form Savings
Passport photos add up fast when more than one person needs them.
| Family of 4 at CVS | 4 × $16.99 = $67.96 for 8 photos |
| Family of 4 online | 4 × $1.35 = $5.40 for 24 photos |
| USCIS (I-485 + I-765 + I-131) | 6 photos needed — 3 sets at CVS = $50.97 |
| USCIS online | 1 sheet = 6 photos = $1.35 |
USCIS immigration forms are where the savings are most dramatic. Each form (I-485 for Green Card, I-765 for Work Permit, I-131 for Travel Document) requires 2 photos. At CVS, that’s three separate $16.99 purchases. With an online service, one 4×6 sheet covers all three forms.
Related Guides
- CVS Passport Photo — Full $16.99 breakdown, what to expect
- Walgreens Passport Photo — $14.99 pricing and process
- Walmart Passport Photo — Cheapest retail option at $7.44
- USPS Passport Photo — $15, requires passport appointment
- Cheapest Passport Photo — All budget options compared
- US Price Comparison — Side-by-side comparison of every US option
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do passport photos cost at CVS?
CVS charges $16.99 for two printed passport photos. A digital copy for online applications costs an additional $3.99, bringing the total to $20.98 for prints + digital.
What is the cheapest place to get passport photos?
The cheapest option is to take your photo at home using an online tool ($1) and print a 4×6 sheet at a drugstore ($0.35), giving you 6 photos for $1.35 total. For in-store service, Costco is cheapest at $6.99 (members only), followed by Walmart at $7.44.
Why are passport photos so expensive at drugstores?
Drugstores charge $15–18 because they bundle the service with convenience — you walk in, they take the photo, and you walk out with prints. But the process itself is simple: a basic camera, cropping software, and a standard photo printer. There's no specialized equipment involved.
Can I take my own passport photo at home?
Yes. The State Department accepts home-taken photos as long as they meet the official requirements: 2×2 inches, white background, specific head size and eye position, no glasses. Online tools can validate these automatically before you print.
Do I need a printed or digital passport photo?
It depends on your application method. Online renewal through MyTravelGov requires a digital photo (JPEG). Mail-in applications (DS-82) and in-person applications (DS-11) require printed 2×2" photos. Some applications need both.
How many passport photos do I need?
A standard passport application (DS-11 or DS-82) requires one photo. However, USCIS immigration forms like I-485, I-765, and I-131 each require two photos. If you're filing multiple forms, you may need 6 or more identical photos.
Are online passport photos accepted by the State Department?
Yes, as long as the photo meets all official requirements (size, background, head position, lighting). The State Department doesn't care where or how the photo was taken — only that it passes their compliance checks.
The $1.35 Route
Take a photo with your phone, get a compliant 4×6 sheet with 6 passport photos, and print it at any drugstore for $0.35. Same 2×2" size, same white background, same State Department compliance.
Create Your Photo — $1Preview your photo before paying