Walgreens Passport Photo Cost 2026: $16.99 (Or $0.38 With the Print Hack)
Most Walgreens stores take passport photos as a walk-in service. The retail price is $16.99 for two prints in 2026. With a free formatter and a standard 4×6 print order, the same photos cost $0.38. Full breakdown below.
Walgreens service
$16.99
Two 2×2 prints, taken by an associate.
4×6 print hack
$0.38
Same prints — formatted yourself, ordered as 4×6.
You save
$16.61
~98% off, ready in about 15 minutes.
How much does Walgreens charge for passport photos?
Walgreens charges $16.99 for a standard passport photo package in 2026. The package includes two identical 2×2 inch prints taken by a Walgreens associate at the photo counter. There is no per-photo discount — you always get two. Walgreens occasionally publishes in-app coupons (often around Black Friday or major travel weekends) dropping the price to ~$11.99, but the standard rate is $16.99.
A free digital copy via email is included with the standard $16.99 service — Walgreens is the only major U.S. chain that bundles it at no extra charge. (CVS sells the same as a $3.99 add-on; Walmart doesn't offer one at all.) A USB copy can be purchased separately at the counter. If you need only the digital file (for an online application like a UK passport or DS-160), the cheaper approach is still to format the photo yourself — you have the file before you spend a cent.
The $0.38 Walgreens Print Hack
Walgreens charges around $0.38–$0.39 for a standard 4×6 inch glossy print. The $16.99 service is mostly labor — the actual paper is the same. By formatting the passport photo onto a 4×6 layout yourself, you skip the labor charge and get the same physical print at the same store.
Step-by-step ($0.38, 15 minutes):
- 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 spec at 300 DPI.
- Download the 4×6 print layout — two 2×2 photos on one 4×6 sheet with crop marks.
- Upload the 4×6 file to walgreens.com/photo or the app. Order a standard 4×6 glossy print — not the "Passport Photo" service.
- Pick up for ~$0.38, cut along the crop lines, and you have two compliant prints.
The U.S. State Department's photo requirements are size (2×2 inches), paper (matte or glossy photo paper), and image compliance. A standard Walgreens 4×6 print uses exactly that paper. The $16.99 service tax is for the associate's time at the white screen.
Walgreens vs. other 2026 options
Walgreens is the most ubiquitous walk-in option in the U.S. but tied with CVS for the most expensive. Walmart is roughly half the price. Costco is no longer an option since they shut their photo centers in 2021. Printing at home undercuts everyone.
| 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a passport photo at Walgreens in 2026?
A standard Walgreens passport photo costs $16.99 in 2026. That covers two 2×2 inch printed photos taken at the photo counter. Walgreens occasionally runs in-app coupons that drop the price to ~$11.99, but the chain-wide retail rate is $16.99.
Does Walgreens do passport photos?
Yes. Almost every Walgreens with an in-store photo center takes and prints passport photos on the spot. You can walk in without an appointment, an associate photographs you against a white screen, and you walk out with two prints in about 5–10 minutes.
Do I need an appointment at Walgreens for a passport photo?
No. Walgreens passport photos are walk-in. There is no appointment system. Wait times are usually short except on weekends or right after the U.S. State Department raises passport fees and demand spikes.
Are Walgreens passport photos accepted by the U.S. State Department?
Yes. Walgreens guarantees their U.S. passport photos meet State Department requirements and will reshoot for free if your application is rejected for photo reasons. Bring the rejection notice back to the same store.
Will Walgreens take baby and infant passport photos?
Walgreens will photograph babies, but the white screen and adult-height lighting make it hard. Many parents lay the baby on a white sheet at home, photograph from above, format with a free maker, and bring a 4×6 print to Walgreens for $0.38. See our baby passport photo guide for the full method.
Can I get a digital copy from Walgreens?
Yes — Walgreens includes a free digital copy via email with the standard $16.99 service. It is the only major U.S. chain that bundles a digital copy at no extra charge (CVS sells the same as a $3.99 add-on, Walmart does not offer one at all). A USB copy is available for an extra fee at the counter.
What if my Walgreens passport photo is rejected?
Bring the rejection notice and your original receipt back to the same Walgreens. They will reshoot for free under their U.S. compliance guarantee. The guarantee does not cover non-U.S. embassies — if a UK or China visa office rejects, you are not covered.
Does Walgreens print 2×2 photos directly?
Walgreens does not sell a "2×2 inch print" as a standard product. Their cheapest print is the 4×6 inch photo at $0.38–$0.39. The print hack works because you can lay out two 2×2 photos on one 4×6 sheet with crop marks, print it as a normal photo, and cut.
Can Walgreens take photos for a China visa?
Walgreens can take a 33×48mm China visa photo on request, but the staff is not consistently trained on the spec. The safer route is to format the China visa photo yourself with a country-specific tool and order a 4×6 print at Walgreens. China visas are rejected often for white-background non-compliance — handle the formatting yourself.
Can Walgreens take UK or Schengen passport photos?
Walgreens defaults to the U.S. 2×2 inch format. They will resize on request, but their guarantee does not extend to non-U.S. governments. For UK (35×45mm), Schengen (35×45mm), Canada (50×70mm), or other foreign passports, format with the country-specific spec yourself and use Walgreens only as a printer.
Does every Walgreens take passport photos?
No. Only Walgreens locations with an in-store photo center offer the service. Some smaller-format urban stores do not. Use the Walgreens store locator and filter for "Photo" services to confirm before you walk over.
Sources
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