Compliant Passport Photo

How much does a US passport photo cost, and where to get one

A US passport photo usually costs about $10-20 in store: roughly $15-17 at pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens, about $15 at USPS post offices, and around $5-6 at warehouse clubs like Costco. You can also take a compliant photo yourself against a plain white wall and check and crop it online for less.

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

Where to get a US passport photo

Pharmacies (CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid) and post offices offer walk-in passport photos for around $15-17. Warehouse clubs such as Costco are usually cheapest at about $5-6 but require a membership. Prices change, so check locally.

The catch with in-store photos is that rejections still happen for framing, background, or lighting — and you pay again to redo them. Taking your own photo against a plain white wall and validating it against the official spec avoids the repeat trips.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make my own US passport photo for free?

You can take the photo yourself for free against a plain white wall in good light. To be sure it meets the official 2 x 2 inch spec and to get it cropped correctly, use a checker like this one — you only pay when it passes.

Is it cheaper to take a passport photo at home?

Usually yes, especially if you'd otherwise pay $15-17 per attempt at a pharmacy and risk a rejection. Taking it at home and validating it against the spec first avoids paying twice.

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