USPS Passport Photo: $15 at Select Post Offices — Here's What to Know
Select post offices take passport photos for $15.00, but there are three catches: an appointment is required, only participating locations offer it, and there is no digital copy. If all you need is the photo, a walk-in pharmacy — or the $3.38 print-at-a-pharmacy route — is cheaper and faster. Here is the full 2026 breakdown.
USPS service
$15.00
Two 2×2 prints, by appointment, select locations only.
Pharmacy print route
$3.38
$2.99 print sheet + $0.39 CVS 4×6 print. No appointment.
You save
$11.62
~77% off — and no waiting for an appointment slot.
How much is a passport photo at the post office?
As of 2026, the USPS passport photo service costs $15.00 for two printed 2×2 inch photos. That undercuts Walgreens ($16.99) and CVS ($17.99) and roughly matches FedEx Office ($15.95) — on price alone, USPS looks reasonable. The catch is everything around the price: the service exists only at participating post offices that operate as passport acceptance facilities, it is appointment-only, and there is no digital copy option at any price.
Remember that the post office's primary passport role is as an acceptance facility — a place that reviews and forwards your application to the State Department. The photo camera is a convenience add-on for people applying there, not a standalone photo counter. That framing explains most of the friction below.
The three catches before you book
- Appointment required. USPS passport services do not take walk-ins. You book through the USPS retail appointment scheduler, and slots at busy locations can be days or weeks out. Every walk-in chain — CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, FedEx Office — will have you photographed faster.
- Select locations only. Many post offices handle no passport services at all, and not every acceptance facility has a photo camera. Confirm "passport photo" is listed for your location in the scheduler before you commit to the trip.
- Photo-only visits vary. Many participating locations let you book a photo without submitting an application in the same visit, but this is location-dependent. If the photo is all you need, the appointment overhead rarely makes sense.
The one scenario where USPS photos genuinely shine: you already have a passport application appointment there. Adding the photo to the same visit costs $15.00 and saves a second errand.
No print hack at USPS — use a pharmacy instead
At CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, and FedEx Office you can skip the photo service by printing a self-formatted 4×6 sheet for under fifty cents. That hack does not work at USPS: post offices have no self-service photo printing. The good news is you do not need USPS for it — any pharmacy photo counter does the printing, no appointment required.
Step-by-step ($3.38, 15 minutes, no appointment):
- Take a photo against a plain wall in good light (smartphone, no selfie mode).
- Upload to the free passport photo maker. It removes the background and outputs the U.S. 2×2 inch spec at 300 DPI.
- Unlock and download the 4×6 print layout ($2.99 one-time) — places two 2×2 photos on one 4×6 sheet with crop marks.
- Order a standard 4×6 glossy print at CVS ($0.39), Walgreens ($0.38), or Walmart ($0.16) — same-day pickup, no appointment.
- Cut along the crop lines and bring both 2×2 prints to your USPS appointment (or mail-in renewal).
A self-formatted photo is fully valid for the application you hand in at the post office — the State Department only requires the 2×2 inch size, photo paper, and image compliance, not that USPS took the picture.
USPS vs. other 2026 options
USPS prices in the middle of the pack but is the only national option that requires an appointment — and the only one where the 4×6 print hack is off the table. 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 |
| Rite Aid | Discontinued | — | — | No |
| Target | Discontinued | — | — | No |
| Sam's Club | Discontinued | $0.19 | — | No |
| The UPS Store | $12.99 | — | Yes | Yes |
| AAA | — | — | Yes | Yes |
Service price = standard passport-photo service. 4×6 hack = print a self-formatted 4×6 photo and cut out the 2×2; the listed price is the print only — the print-ready sheet is a $2.99 one-time unlock, so add $2.99 once for the all-in total. Prices are 2026 retail and may vary by location.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does USPS take passport photos?
Yes, but only at select post offices — specifically participating locations that also handle passport applications as acceptance facilities. The photo costs $15.00 for two printed 2×2 inch photos. Many post offices do not offer photos at all, so check your location before going.
Do I need an appointment for a USPS passport photo?
Yes. Unlike CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, or FedEx Office, USPS does not take walk-ins for passport services. You book a slot through the USPS retail appointment scheduler, and availability at busy locations can run days or weeks out — a real problem if you need the photo today.
How much does a USPS passport photo cost in 2026?
The USPS passport photo service is $15.00 in 2026 for two printed 2×2 inch photos. That is the photo only — passport application acceptance and execution fees are separate. There is no digital copy option.
Do all post offices take passport photos?
No. Only participating post offices that operate as passport acceptance facilities offer the photo service, and not every acceptance facility has a camera. Use the USPS location finder or the retail appointment scheduler and filter for passport photo service to confirm before you book.
Can I get just the photo at USPS without applying for a passport?
At many participating locations, yes — the appointment scheduler typically lets you book a photo-only visit. But policies vary by location, and since the whole trip requires an appointment either way, a walk-in pharmacy or the print-at-a-pharmacy hack is usually faster if the photo is all you need.
Can USPS print a passport photo I took myself?
No. Post offices have no self-service photo printing, so the 4×6 print hack does not work at USPS. If you formatted the photo yourself, order a standard 4×6 print at a pharmacy instead — about $0.39 at CVS, $0.38 at Walgreens, or $0.16 at Walmart — roughly $3.15–$3.38 all-in with the $2.99 print sheet.
Does USPS give you a digital copy of your passport photo?
No. The $15.00 USPS service is prints only — there is no digital add-on. If you need a digital file (for an online renewal or a foreign visa portal), format the photo yourself with a free tool instead; the file is yours the moment you finish.
Is USPS a good place to get a passport photo?
It makes sense in one scenario: you already have a passport application appointment at that post office and want the photo taken in the same visit. As a photo-only stop it is hard to recommend — $15.00 is mid-market pricing, an appointment is mandatory, only select locations participate, and there is no digital copy. Walk-in chains or the pharmacy print hack are cheaper and faster.
Sources
Skip the appointment entirely.
Format free, print at any pharmacy — about $3.38 all-in.