Walgreens Passport Photos: What It Costs, How It Works, and When DIY Saves You $16
How Walgreens Passport Photo Service Works
Walgreens offers passport photo printing at most locations with a photo counter. The process is walk-in: find the photo department, ask a staff member for a passport photo, and they will photograph you using a dedicated camera and white backdrop setup built into the photo counter area. Most locations have the equipment at the photo desk — some smaller or remodeled stores may have a kiosk-only setup without dedicated photo staff, so calling ahead is worth doing if your nearest store is unusual. The photographer will show you the image on screen before printing. You receive two identical 2×2 inch prints on photo-quality paper that meet US passport specifications. The whole process typically takes under 15 minutes from walk-in to prints in hand.
Walk in to the photo department
Head to the photo counter inside Walgreens. No appointment is required at most locations. Ask a staff member for passport photos.
Get photographed at the counter
Staff will position you against their white background backdrop. Remove glasses before the photo — they are not permitted in US passport photos.
Review and receive prints
Approve the image on the screen before it prints. You receive two compliant 2×2 inch prints ready for your application.
Verify current price before visiting
Prices can vary by location and may change. Check walgreens.com or call your store to confirm current passport photo pricing.
Cost, Hours & What to Expect
Walgreens passport photos cost around $16.99 for two prints at most locations as of 2026, but prices vary by location — verify at walgreens.com before your visit. Photo services are available during regular store hours, which vary by location; most Walgreens stores are open from early morning until late evening daily. Weekend and holiday availability is generally the same as weekday hours. Staff coverage at the photo counter is the variable — peak times and staffing gaps occasionally mean a short wait. If you have an urgent same-day need (applying for a passport appointment that afternoon, for example), call ahead to confirm staff is available. Prints are typically ready within a few minutes of the photo being taken.
Expect to pay around $16.99
Price is for two printed 2×2 inch passport photos. Confirm current pricing at walgreens.com — it can vary by location.
Available during store hours
Most Walgreens locations are open daily. Photo counter staff availability may vary — call ahead for same-day urgent needs.
Ready in under 15 minutes
From walk-in to prints in hand typically takes under 15 minutes, making it a fast option for most applicants.
The Same-Store Hack: Under $1 at the Same Counter
There is a way to use the same Walgreens photo printing infrastructure at a fraction of the cost. Take your own photo at home against a plain white wall in good natural light — a smartphone works perfectly. Upload it to EditThisPic's free passport photo formatter to crop it to the correct 2×2 inch dimensions, set the background to white, and verify the head positioning meets US requirements. Then download the formatted image and submit it through the Walgreens photo printing website as a standard 4×6 print order for pickup at your store. A standard 4×6 print at Walgreens costs around $0.35–0.49. Two 2×2 passport photos fit on one 4×6 with room to spare. Pick up the print and cut out the two 2×2 squares. The total cost is under $0.50 compared to $16.99 for the full service. This approach produces compliant photos — the State Department's requirements are about the photo's content and dimensions, not how it was produced or where it was printed.
Take a compliant photo at home
Smartphone against a white wall, natural light from in front, no glasses, neutral expression, eyes fully open.
Format it free with EditThisPic
Upload your photo, crop to the correct 2×2 inch US spec, set the white background. Free, no account required.
Order a 4×6 print at Walgreens
Submit your formatted image through walgreens.com photo printing as a standard 4×6 print order. Pick up in store for around $0.35–0.49.
Cut out the 2×2 prints
Two 2×2 passport photos fit on one 4×6. Use scissors to cut them out. You now have two compliant prints for under $0.50.
When the Walgreens Counter Service Is Worth It
The full $16.99 service is the right call in several situations. If you don't have a compliant white wall or good lighting at home, the counter setup handles those requirements automatically. If you're applying the same day or within an hour, walking in and paying for the service is faster than the home-photo process, formatting, online ordering, and print pickup. If you lack confidence in whether your home photo meets specifications — particularly on head proportions, which are easy to misjudge — having a trained photo staff member do it provides built-in quality assurance. For children, especially young ones who can be difficult to position and keep still, the counter service is considerably easier than managing the home setup. For any of these situations, Walgreens is a reliable and fast option.
Same-day urgent need
If you need the photo within the hour, walk-in counter service is faster than the DIY + online order process.
Poor home setup or uncertain results
No white wall, bad lighting, or low confidence in the result — the counter guarantees a compliant photo.
Young children or infants
Getting compliant photos of babies and toddlers is much easier with photo counter staff who do this regularly.
Independent Guide Notice
This is an independent editorial guide. EditThisPic is not affiliated with Walgreens, and this page is not sponsored by or connected to Walgreens in any way. Pricing and service information is based on publicly available data as of June 2026. Walgreens pricing and service availability can change — always verify current prices and photo center availability directly at walgreens.com or by calling your local store. References to Walgreens trademarks are for informational purposes only under nominative fair use.
Verify pricing at walgreens.com
Counter passport photo prices vary by location and can change. Always check walgreens.com or call your store for current pricing.
Confirm photo center availability
Not all Walgreens locations have staffed photo counters. Use the Walgreens store locator to find a location with photo services near you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Format your passport photo free — print it anywhere
Upload your photo and format it to US passport specs in seconds. Print at any photo counter for under $0.50.
Format Passport Photo Free
"format this as a US passport photo with proper white background, correct 2x2 crop, and head positioned to official specifications"
Release to upload