Costco passport photo price: why there isn't one anymore

Costco does not take passport photos. The company closed the photo department at all US locations on February 14, 2021, and the service has not returned as of July 2026; its remaining online photo printing moved to Shutterfly in 2023, which does not offer a passport photo service. If you searched for a Costco passport photo price, the practical alternatives are Walmart (about $7-8), USPS post offices ($15), Walgreens ($16.99) or CVS ($17.99), or taking the photo yourself and having it checked against the official spec online.

Check your United States passport photo against the official spec → Free check, accepted-or-money-back.

What happened to Costco passport photos

Costco announced in January 2021 that all in-warehouse photo departments would close on February 14, 2021, ending passport photos along with the rest of its photo printing services. The closure was company-wide and permanent. In 2023 Costco handed its online photo business to Shutterfly, which prints regular photos but does not produce government-compliant 2 x 2 inch passport photos.

A Costco membership does not unlock a passport photo anywhere, so there is no current Costco price to compare. Sam's Club, the other warehouse club, still offers the service at many locations for about $5-6 with a membership.

Your actual options in 2026

In store: Walmart at about $7-8 is the cheapest walk-in without a membership, USPS post offices charge $15 where they offer photos, and Walgreens ($16.99) and CVS ($17.99) are the pharmacy options, all as of July 2026.

Cheaper still: take the photo yourself against a plain white wall, check it against the official US spec, and print two copies on a 4x6 sheet at any pharmacy kiosk for about 35 cents. The free check here measures head size, eye line, and background against the State Department numbers, and you pay $9 only if the photo passes, money back if it is rejected.

Frequently asked questions

Does Costco do passport photos in 2026?

No. Costco closed all US photo centers on February 14, 2021 and has not brought the service back.

How much did Costco passport photos cost before they were discontinued?

Around $5 for two prints, which is why they were popular. That price no longer exists; the closest current equivalents are Sam's Club at about $5-6 for members and Walmart at about $7-8 for everyone.

Can I get passport photos through Costco's Shutterfly partnership?

No. Shutterfly handles Costco's general online photo printing but does not offer a compliant 2 x 2 inch passport photo service.

I found a site saying Costco still charges $6.99 for passport photos. Is that true?

No, that figure is stale and appears to be copied forward from before the 2021 closure or confused with a different warehouse club. Costco's own 2021 announcement and multiple major-outlet reports confirm the closure was company-wide and permanent, with no passport photo counters reopened as of July 2026.

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