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Guide

How to print passport photos at CVS, Walgreens or Walmart for under $1

Instead of paying for a store passport photo service, order your passport photos as one ordinary 4×6 in photo print: upload a 4×6 sheet that already has the photos at the official size, choose glossy or matte with same-day pickup, check that the preview doesn't crop the sheet, then measure and cut the photos at home. At the time of writing a 4×6 print cost well under $1 at all three stores. IDPlain makes the 4×6 sheet from your photo for $3.99.

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  1. 1

    Make the 4×6 in sheet

    Check your photo on IDPlain and unlock it, then download the "4×6 in sheet (JPG)" from the "Print at a store" group. It has two or more photos at your document's exact size, for example 2×2 in for a US passport, laid out on a 4×6 in page at 300 dpi with cut guides. Use the JPG: store photo sites print images, not PDFs.

  2. 2

    Open the store's photo site or app

    Go to the photo section of CVS, Walgreens or Walmart on the web or in their app, choose ordinary photo prints, size 4×6, and glossy or matte. Choose in-store pickup and the store you'll go to. Same-day pickup is usually free, but each store has a cut-off time for same-day orders.

  3. 3

    Upload the sheet

    Upload the JPG from your phone or computer. Order one print; it already holds two or more photos. Add a second only if you want spares.

  4. 4

    Check the crop preview before ordering

    A 4×6 print has the same 3:2 shape as the sheet, so nothing should need cropping, but check anyway. Open the print's preview or edit view and make sure the whole sheet, including the cut guides at the edges, is inside the print area. On Walgreens, Edit shows a dotted line for what will print and offers a full-photo option. Don't zoom, rotate or crop, and switch off any automatic "enhance" or "fix" option: it would change the photo.

  5. 5

    Pick it up and check the print

    Pick up the print at the photo counter. Before you leave, look for colour casts, streaks or smudges. If the print is clearly off, ask for a reprint.

  6. 6

    Measure, then cut

    At home, measure one photo with a ruler: a US passport photo must be exactly 2×2 in (51×51 mm). If it measures right, cut along the guides with a paper trimmer or a sharp craft knife. If it is even slightly smaller, the print was scaled or trimmed: reorder it with the full-photo option, or print the Letter or A4 sheet at home instead.

Why a 4×6 print instead of the store’s passport service

A store passport photo service sells you two photos taken at the counter. Printing your own sheet as an ordinary 4×6 photo costs a fraction of that, you choose the photo yourself, and you can check it against the official rules before you print. The quality is the same photo paper the store uses for its own prints.

If the size comes out wrong

The usual cause is cropping or scaling in the store’s editor. Order again and check the preview more carefully, or choose a full-photo or no-crop option if the store offers one. If the store’s editor keeps cropping, print the Letter or A4 sheet at home instead: it has a measuring ruler, so you can confirm the size before you cut.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost?

An ordinary 4×6 print, which holds two or more passport photos. When we checked the stores' own websites in November 2026, a single 4×6 print cost between about 20 and 45 cents, while the stores' own passport photo services cost roughly $8 to $18. Prices and promotions change often, so check the store's site.

Glossy or matte?

Either is usually fine. For a US passport, the rule is "matte or glossy photo-quality paper". Matte shows fewer reflections; glossy is what most stores print by default.

Will the store refuse to print it?

Usually not: it's an ordinary photo print. Stores can hold prints that look professionally taken until you confirm you have the right to print them; Walgreens, for example, has a declaration form for photos you took yourself. If a counter asks, explain that it's your own photo.

Can I bring my own photo to the store's passport photo service?

Not necessarily: some store passport services only take the photo themselves. Ordering a regular 4×6 print of your own sheet avoids the question and costs far less.

Does a borderless print cut off the edges?

Borderless printing can trim a tiny sliver from the edges. The photos on IDPlain's sheet sit at least 3 mm inside the page edges, but always measure one photo before cutting.

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