How much is a US passport photo? Store vs Post Office vs online
A passport photo costs about $15–17 in a pharmacy or at the Post Office, and less online if you take the photo yourself. Here is what each option includes and when it's the better pick. Disclosure: pixtidy is our product; the other prices come from each company's own page or official release, checked 2026-10-01.
| Option | Price | What you get | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walgreens (in store) | $16.99 | Two printed photos, plus a digital copy by email | Done for you in a few minutes, prints in hand Source: walgreens.com passport photos |
| USPS (Post Office) | $15 | Passport photo service at participating Post Offices | Handy if you are applying at the Post Office anyway Source: USPS newsroom, June 2025 |
| PhotoAiD (online) | $13.95 (Premium plan, as listed on its US passport page) | Photo uploaded to its service; AI crops and adjusts the background, then a person reviews it | Human review; can fix the background for you Source: photoaid.com US passport photo |
| pixtidy (online, ours) | $9.99 digital · $12.99 with 4×6 print sheet (US prices) | You take the photo; it is cropped, sized and checked in your browser and never uploaded | Online renewal or DS-160 (digital), lowest price, privacy |
Where a store or Post Office is better
- Someone takes the photo for you, with proper lighting and a white backdrop
- You walk out with printed photos
- Good if you don't have a plain light wall or anyone to take the photo
Where pixtidy is better — and its limits
- Lowest price here, and the check is free before you pay
- Your photo never leaves your device, and your face is never retouched
- Full refund if an official rejects a photo our checker passed
- Limits: you take the photo yourself; there is no human reviewer; we don't replace the background, so a grey or busy wall means a retake; you print the 4×6 sheet yourself
Check a US passport photo for freeDS-160 visa photo
Frequently asked questions
How much does a US passport photo cost?
In store, Walgreens lists $16.99 for two prints with a digital copy, and USPS charges $15 at participating Post Offices. Online, PhotoAiD lists a $13.95 Premium plan on its US passport page. pixtidy costs $9.99 for the digital photo in the US, or $12.99 with a 4×6 print sheet you print yourself. Prices checked 2026-10-01.
Is it cheaper to take a passport photo at home?
Usually, yes, if you can take a sharp photo in even light against a plain white or off-white wall. You still need the photo to meet the State Department's size and head-position rules, which is what a checker or a store does for you.
Do I need a digital or a printed passport photo?
Paper applications (DS-11, DS-82 by mail) need a printed 2×2 inch photo. Online passport renewal and the DS-160 visa form need a digital file. Walgreens includes both; pixtidy gives you the digital file and, with the print option, a 4×6 sheet to print at any photo counter.
Can an online tool change my background to white?
Some services adjust or replace the background. The State Department's photo page says photos must not be altered with software or filters, and pixtidy does not change backgrounds: if the wall behind you isn't white enough, it tells you so you can retake it.
Prices change and can vary by location; check with the provider. pixtidy is not affiliated with Walgreens, USPS or PhotoAiD.