Costco does not do passport photos any more
Costco used to be the price leader for passport photos at $4.99, which is why so many pages still recommend it. It is not an option any more: the in-store photo departments closed in February 2021 and the online photo service shut down in January 2023. Here is what to do instead.
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This service no longer exists
Costco closed its in-store photo departments in February 2021 and shut its remaining online photo service on 28 January 2023. It no longer offers passport photos at any location. Pages still quoting a Costco passport photo price of $4.99 or $6.99 are out of date.
How to print your passport photo at Costco
- Make your photo here and download the free 4x6 print sheet.
- Use a store that still prints photos — Walmart is cheapest at about 19 cents for a 4x6, Walgreens about 39 cents, CVS about 42 cents.
- Upload the 4x6 sheet and order a single 4x6 print.
- Decline any crop, zoom or fill option so the sheet prints at actual size — cropping changes the 2x2 photo dimensions.
- Pick it up the same day and cut along the light grey lines.
What to watch out for at Costco
- Costco members sometimes still see old blog posts advertising $4.99 Costco passport photos. That service ended in 2021 and cannot be booked.
- Costco's photo partnership with Shutterfly covers photo gifts and prints ordered online, not in-store passport photo services.
Turnaround
Not applicable — the service no longer exists.
Common questions
Does Costco still do passport photos?
No. Costco closed its in-store photo centres in February 2021 and ended its online photo service on 28 January 2023. No Costco location offers passport photos today, regardless of what older articles say.
What is the cheapest passport photo now that Costco has stopped?
Making it yourself. This tool is free, and printing the 4x6 sheet costs about 19 cents at Walmart or 39 to 42 cents at Walgreens and CVS. Among staffed counters, Walmart is cheapest at $7.64, then USPS at $15, then Walgreens and CVS at about $17.
Why did Costco close its photo centres?
Costco cited the decline in printed photo demand as customers moved to smartphones and digital sharing. The in-store departments went first, in early 2021, and the online service followed in January 2023.
Can I still print photos through Costco?
Costco directs photo customers to Shutterfly for prints and photo gifts ordered online. That is a mail-order service, so it is not practical when you need a passport photo the same day — use a local drugstore or Walmart instead.
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Checked August 2026 Specifications and prices on this page come from the sources below. Rules and prices change — if you spot something out of date, please tell us.