Does Costco Do Passport Photos in 2026? (No — Here's What to Do Instead)
For years, Costco was the cheapest place in the U.S. to get a passport photo at $4.99. That ended in 2021 when the company permanently closed all in-store photo centers. This page covers why, when it changed, and the cheapest 2026 alternatives.
Costco no longer takes passport photos.
In early 2021, Costco closed every in-store photo center across the U.S. and Canada. Walk-in passport photo service ended at the same time. There is no online substitute through Costco — they redirected online photo orders to Shutterfly, which does not offer compliant passport photo prints.
Why Costco shut its photo centers
Costco cited a multi-year decline in demand for physical photo printing as customers shifted to storing photos on smartphones and cloud services. Running staffed photo labs in 500+ warehouses became unprofitable. The passport photo service — historically a side product attached to those labs — went away with them.
In 2023, Costco moved its online photo product to Shutterfly. Costco members get a small discount on Shutterfly orders, but Shutterfly's product line is centered on photo books, calendars, and family prints — there is no government-compliant 2×2 inch passport photo product.
Cheapest 2026 alternatives
None of the remaining national chains match Costco's old $4.99 walk-in price. But the print-at-home approach actually beats it. Here is the 2026 landscape:
| Where | Service price | 4×6 print hack | Walk-in | Available 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Print at Home | $0.40 | $0.40 | Yes | Yes |
| Walmart | $7.64 | $0.16 | Yes | Yes |
| FedEx Office | $15.95 | $0.49 | Yes | Yes |
| USPS Post Office | $15.00 | — | By appt | Yes |
| CVS | $17.99 | $0.39 | Yes | Yes |
| Walgreens | $16.99 | $0.38 | Yes | Yes |
| Costco | Discontinued | — | — | No |
Service price = standard passport-photo service. 4×6 hack = print a self-formatted 4×6 photo and cut out the 2×2. Prices are 2026 retail and may vary by location.
The cheapest path: format the photo yourself with a free online tool, lay it out as a 4×6 print, and order that 4×6 at the lowest-priced chain. At Walmart, that comes out to $0.14 — far below Costco's old $4.99.
The print-at-home / print-at-Walmart method
Since you can no longer rely on Costco, here is the workflow that beats the old Costco price:
- Take a photo against a plain wall in good light.
- Use the free passport photo maker to remove the background and format to U.S. 2×2 spec.
- Download the 4×6 print layout.
- Order a standard 4×6 print at Walmart ($0.14), CVS ($0.39), or Walgreens ($0.38).
- Cut along the crop marks. Done — under $0.50, comparable quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Costco still do passport photos in 2026?
No. Costco permanently closed all in-store photo centers across the United States and Canada in early 2021. You can no longer walk into a Costco warehouse to have a passport photo taken or printed. The decision was company-wide and has not been reversed.
Why did Costco stop offering passport photos?
Costco cited the long-term decline in physical photo printing demand as customers moved to digital storage. Maintaining staffed photo labs across hundreds of warehouses was no longer profitable. The passport photo service — which used to cost just $4.99 — was discontinued along with all other in-store photo services.
How much was a Costco passport photo before they ended it?
Before the 2021 closure, Costco passport photos were $4.99 for two prints. That made Costco the single cheapest national chain by a wide margin — Walmart, the current cheapest option, costs $7.44.
Can I get passport photos through Costco's online photo center?
No. In 2023, Costco transitioned its online photo services to Shutterfly. While Costco members get a discount on Shutterfly products, Shutterfly does not offer a dedicated, government-compliant 2×2 inch passport photo service. You would have to format the photo yourself and order a regular print.
What is the cheapest alternative to Costco for passport photos in 2026?
Walmart at $7.44 is the cheapest walk-in chain in 2026. Cheaper still: format the photo yourself with a free tool, then order a standard 4×6 print at any pharmacy. Walmart 4×6 prints are $0.14, CVS and Walgreens are $0.38–$0.39. Printing at home is roughly $0.40 if you own a photo printer.
Will Costco bring back passport photos?
Unlikely. The 2021 closure was a strategic decision driven by long-term industry trends, not a temporary cut. Costco has shown no public intention to reopen photo centers. Plan around the alternatives.
Where can I find passport photo services near me besides Costco?
CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, FedEx Office, and participating USPS post offices all offer in-person passport photos as a walk-in service. Walmart is the cheapest at $7.44. CVS and Walgreens are most ubiquitous at $16.99. The 4×6 print hack works at all of them and drops the cost to under $0.50.
Sources
- Costco Wholesale 2021 photo center closure announcement
- Shutterfly (Costco's 2023 online photo successor)
- U.S. Department of State — Passport Photo Requirements
Beat Costco's old $4.99 price.
Format yourself, print at Walmart for $0.14.