How much do passport photos cost? (2026 price guide)
Passport photos cost $0 to make yourself online and roughly $8–$17 at a pharmacy. Compare prices for CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, the Post Office and more.
Passport photos range from completely free to around $17 in the United States, and the price varies just as widely in the UK, Canada, and Australia. The difference comes down to whether you take the photo yourself or hand the job to a store employee. This guide breaks down every major option so you can decide where to go — or whether to skip the trip entirely.
Make your own — $0 online
The cheapest route in 2026 is to make a compliant passport photo yourself at home. You take a photo on your phone, upload it to a free passport photo maker, and the tool crops it to the correct government dimensions, checks the background, and delivers a ready-to-submit digital file — at no cost.
For applications submitted online (US passport renewals, UK HMPO online applications, Canadian eTA, and many others), a digital file is all you need. You never have to print anything.
If you do need printed copies, upload your finished digital file to a pharmacy kiosk and print it on a single 4×6-inch sheet. That sheet holds multiple copies of your photo — see how many passport photos fit on a 4×6 for the layout details. Pharmacy kiosk printing typically costs $0.35–$0.50 per sheet, so your total cost stays well under $1.
US pharmacy and retail prices
If you prefer to have a store take the photo for you, prices in the United States vary more than most people expect:
| Location | Price (2026) | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Costco Photo Center | ~$5–$6 | 2 prints |
| Walmart Photo Center | ~$8 | 2 prints |
| UPS Store | ~$12–$15 | 2 prints |
| FedEx Office | ~$14–$16 | 2 prints |
| CVS Pharmacy | ~$17 | 2 prints |
| Walgreens | ~$17 | 2 prints |
| AAA (members) | ~$10–$15 | 2 prints |
A few notes on each:
Costco is consistently the cheapest in-person option — often $5.99 for two prints — but requires a membership and not every warehouse location offers the same availability.
Walmart photo centers charge around $7.44–$8.96 depending on the store, making them the best walk-in value without a membership.
CVS and Walgreens charge roughly $16.99 — a premium for convenience. Both will usually retake the photo at no extra charge if it is rejected.
UPS Store and FedEx Office fall in the middle at $12–$16. Useful if you are already shipping something, but not the best standalone value.
AAA members can get photos for $10–$15 at most branch offices. Worth asking if you are there for travel planning anyway.
The standard at all US retail locations is two 2×2-inch prints — exactly what the US State Department requires for a passport application.
US Post Office prices
Many US Post Office locations take passport photos for approximately $15. Since the Post Office also handles complete passport applications, getting the photo done there is convenient if you are applying in person. Photo availability varies by branch — call ahead to confirm.
UK passport photo prices
In the United Kingdom, the options look somewhat different:
| Location | Price (2026) | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Photo booth (high street) | ~£5–£6 | 4–6 prints |
| Post Office | ~£9 | 6 prints + digital code |
| Boots | ~£10–£12 | 6 prints |
Photo booths scattered through train stations, shopping centres, and high streets remain the cheapest in-person UK option. A standard booth session costs £5–£6 and produces a strip of four to six compliant prints. The quality is consistent and the photos are accepted by HMPO.
The Post Office charges around £9 but often includes a digital code alongside the prints — useful if you also want to submit digitally. Many applicants find this the best overall value.
Boots charges £10–£12 and uses a trained pharmacy colleague rather than a booth. The advantage is a human who can check your expression and positioning, but the higher price is hard to justify over a booth for most people.
Canada passport photo prices
In Canada, expect to pay CAD $15–$25 at most pharmacies and print shops. Major chains like Shoppers Drug Mart, London Drugs, and Black’s Photography typically charge CAD $16.99–$19.99 for two prints. Canada Post locations offer the service for a similar price.
Canadian passport applications require a guarantor to sign the back of the photo, but there is no requirement for a photographer’s name or studio stamp — so a self-taken, home-printed photo is perfectly acceptable as long as it meets the specification.
Australia passport photo prices
In Australia, passport photos cost AUD $14–$20 at most post offices and pharmacies. Australia Post charges AUD $14.95 for two prints. Chemist Warehouse and Priceline Pharmacy are slightly cheaper at some locations. Note that Australia requires a 35×45 mm photo — different from the US 2×2-inch standard — so select the correct specification when using an online tool.
Digital passport photos vs printed
Many countries now accept or prefer digital passport photos. US passport renewals by mail accept a digital upload. UK online applications accept a digital file. When you make your photo free online, you already have the digital version ready to submit.
Printed photos are still required for in-person applications, first-time adult applicants in many countries, and child passports. The cheapest approach: make the digital file free online, then print at a kiosk for under $1.
Tips to save money
- Print at a kiosk, not a counter. Self-service photo kiosks at Walmart, CVS, and Walgreens charge $0.35–$0.50 per 4×6 print. Upload your pre-formatted passport photo sheet there instead of paying $17 for someone to take the photo.
- Use a free online tool first. A free passport photo maker handles cropping, sizing, and background removal in seconds.
- Check for coupons. CVS and Walgreens regularly run photo print discounts. AAA membership discounts apply at many travel service locations.
- Avoid airports. Photo booths at international airports charge 50–100% more than the same booth on a regular high street.
When paying a studio is worth it
For most people, a free online tool plus a $0.50 kiosk print is the right answer. Paying a studio makes sense if you have struggled repeatedly to get even lighting or a plain background at home, or if you have a very young infant who needs precise positioning.
Outside those cases, the $17 pharmacy price buys convenience, not quality. The same compliant photo is achievable in minutes at home — start with the free maker and save the difference.