CVS passport photos: what they cost, and the cheaper way
CVS charges $16.99 for two passport photos at the counter, plus $3.99 again if you want the digital copy that online passport renewal requires. You can make the same compliant photo here for free and print it at the same CVS for about 42 cents, because a sheet of six 2x2 photos is just an ordinary 4x6 print.
(two printed 2x2 photos)
(six photos)
How to print your passport photo at CVS
- Make your photo here and download the free 4x6 print sheet.
- Go to cvs.com/photo (or open the CVS app) and sign in, or use the Kodak Moments kiosk in store.
- Upload the 4x6 sheet and choose 4x6 prints, quantity 1.
- Turn off any crop, zoom or fill option. Pick the setting that shows the whole sheet with nothing cut off — cropping changes the size of your photos and is the most common reason a printed photo is rejected.
- Choose same-day store pickup, pay about $0.42, and cut along the light grey lines when you collect it.
What to watch out for at CVS
- The $16.99 counter price gets you two printed photos only. A digital copy — which you need for online passport renewal — is a further $3.99, or $10.99 on a Kodak USB.
- Sources disagree on the current counter price: some 2026 pages quote $17.99. Check the price at your store before you decide.
- The kiosk will offer to 'fit' or 'fill' your image. Always decline — that crops the sheet and changes the 2x2 size.
Turnaround
Ready in minutes at the photo counter or Kodak kiosk; online orders are usually ready for same-day pickup.
Common questions
How much does a passport photo cost at CVS?
$16.99 for two printed 2x2 photos at the photo counter. A digital copy costs an extra $3.99 (or $10.99 on a Kodak USB drive). Some 2026 sources quote $17.99, so prices may vary by location — check before you go.
Can I print my own passport photo at CVS instead?
Yes. Passport photos are just photo prints. Download our free 4x6 sheet, order it as a standard 4x6 print at CVS for about 42 cents, and cut out the photos. The State Department cares about the size, background and quality of the photo, not who pressed print.
Does CVS take the photo for me?
Yes, a staff member photographs you at the counter and prints it while you wait. That convenience is what the $16.99 pays for. If you would rather take it yourself, use a phone, a plain wall and this tool.
Will the State Department accept a photo I printed myself at CVS?
Yes, provided it meets the rules: 2x2 inches, correct head size, plain white background, taken in the last 6 months, and printed in colour on photo-quality paper. A CVS 4x6 print on their standard photo paper meets the paper and quality requirements. A home inkjet print on plain paper does not.
Do I need a digital copy as well as prints?
It depends how you apply. Renewing online requires a digital file you upload; applying on paper (form DS-11 or DS-82) requires a physical printed photo stapled or attached to the form. Our tool gives you both files free, so you are covered either way.
Matte or glossy paper at CVS?
Either is fine. The State Department's own wording is 'printed on matte or glossy photo quality paper'. Some websites claim glossy is required — that is not correct. CVS standard 4x6 photo paper works.
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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.