Costco Passport Photo: Cost, Availability, and Better Alternatives
Want to print your passport photo at Costco? You can skip the in-store photo booth and create a compliant 51x51mm passport photo online — fast and free. Our tool lets you upload a photo, crop it to the official size, and download a print-ready template that fits Costco’s photo printing specs. Whether you're at home or on the go, get your passport photo in minutes and print it at your nearest Costco Photo Center.
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Costco Passport Photo Options: In-Store vs Online + Printing
Costco In-Store Passport Photo Services Today
Most Costco locations no longer offer full in-store passport photo services. While some warehouses previously provided passport photo capture, Costco today generally supports photo printing only, not photo taking or passport photo verification.
💡 Note: While Costco no longer operates its own in‑store photo centers, it has partnered with Shutterfly to provide online photo printing services for Costco members.
This means you usually cannot walk into a Costco and have a staff member take your passport photo. However, Costco remains a popular option for printing passport photos when you already have a compliant image.
Online Passport Photo + Costco Printing: The Recommended Solution
A reliable and cost-effective alternative is to create your US passport photo online, then print it at Costco.
By using an online passport photo tool, you can ensure your photo meets all official US passport requirements — including size, background, and head positioning — before sending it to Costco for printing.
This approach reduces the risk of rejection and avoids relying on in-store availability, which may vary by location.
How to Create a US Passport Photo Online (Step-by-Step)
1
Take or Upload Your Photo
Use a photo from your phone or take a new one. Our tool supports all common formats.
2
Automatically Adjusted to Meet Standards
We crop, center, resize, and format your photo to meet official ID photo requirements – all done for you.
3
Download Your Photo Instantly
Save your digital photo or printable version immediately – perfect for online applications or printing at home.
How Much Is a Passport Photo at Costco?
You can upload digital photos to Shutterfly and print them at prices similar to standard photo prints — though passport photos must be prepared in advance as digital files.Shutterfly offers a variety of print sizes with affordable pricing that can be used for passport photo printing once you have a compliant 2×2 passport photo file ready:- 4×6 Prints: typically around $0.29 per print – this is a common size used to include multiple 2×2 passport photos on a single sheet.
💡 Note: The passport photo file generated by our online tool is already arranged as a 4×6 inch layout, so simply print it on 4×6 photo paper at Costco or any photo center.
- Other Sizes Available: wallet prints (~$1.99), 8×10 prints (~$3.95), larger formats, and more. These prices reflect Shutterfly’s standard photo product offerings available to all users (Costco members may receive special pricing when logged in with a linked Costco membership).
Official US Passport Photo Requirements & Costco Tips
To ensure your US passport photo meets official standards, please refer to the official requirements illustrated in the image module below.
Size
51x51 mm
Resolution (DPI)
300 dpi
Background Color
Suitable for online use?
Yes
Can Be Printed?
Yes
- Costco-specific tips:
- Use a pre-formatted digital file (our tool generates a 4×6 layout with multiple 2×2 photos).
- Avoid cropping or resizing in-store — Costco prints exactly what you upload.
- Verify lighting, background, and head position in the digital file before printing.
More Printing Options & Photo Types You Can Use
Print Your Passport Photo at Other Stores
After creating your passport photo online, you are not limited to printing at Costco.You can choose the most convenient store near you and use the same digital photo file for printing. Common alternatives include:- CVS Passport Photo Printing
- Duane Reade Passport Photo Printing
- Sam’s Club Passport Photo Printing
- Walmart Passport Photo Printing
Create More Than Just Passport Photos
Create compliant passport or visa photos quickly with our online tools. Choose from a variety of pre-made templates on our home page for standard sizes, or use our Custom ID Photo Maker to define any size and adjust the face-to-photo ratio. Each country-specific tool is optimized to meet official requirements.
Australian Visa Photo - 35x45mm
Canada Visa Photo - 35x45mm
China Visa Photo 33x48 mm
US Passport Photo 51x51 mm
Saudi Arabia Visa Photo 2x2 inches (51x51 mm)
Schengen Visa Photo 35x45 mm
US Visa Photo 2x2 inch (51x51 mm)
United Kingdom Visa Photo 35x45 mm
Costco Passport Photo FAQs & Practical Tips
Find clear answers to common questions about Costco passport photos, printing options, pricing, and compliance. This section also explains how to prepare a passport photo online and print it correctly at Costco or other photo centers.Can Costco still take passport photos in-store?
Most Costco locations no longer offer in-store passport photo shooting services. Today, Costco’s photo services are primarily online printing through Shutterfly. To get a compliant passport photo, you should prepare it digitally first and then print it at Costco or another photo center.
How do I print my passport photo at Costco?
After creating your passport photo online, upload the digital file to Costco’s photo printing service via Shutterfly. Choose the correct print size (e.g., 4×6) and complete your order. A 4×6 print can usually fit multiple 2×2 passport photos.
How much does it cost to print passport photos through Costco’s photo printing service?
Costco partners with Shutterfly for photo printing. Standard 4×6 prints — commonly used for passport photos — generally cost around $0.29 per print before shipping. Actual prices may vary based on promotions and shipping options.
What size photo should I upload for Costco printing?
To ensure proper printing, use a 2×2 inch passport photo layout placed on a 4×6 inch print sheet. Our free online passport photo tool automatically formats your photo into this layout, so you can upload and print without resizing.
Does Costco check if my passport photo meets official requirements?
No. Costco’s photo printing service does not verify compliance with official passport guidelines. For best results, use an online passport photo tool that formats your photo to the official US passport specifications before printing.
Can I order passport photo prints online and pick them up at Costco?
Yes. After uploading your photo file through Shutterfly, you can choose shipping or, when available, local pickup options. Availability of pickup may depend on your location and store policies.
Can I use Costco’s photo printing service for other documents besides US passport photos?
Yes. Once you have a compliant digital photo, you can use Costco’s photo printing for various document photos (visa, ID, etc.). Just select the correct template when creating your photo online.
What should I do if my passport photo gets rejected?
Rejections often occur because of incorrect size, background, lighting, or head positioning. Make sure your photo meets official requirements — use our online tool to format it correctly — before printing at Costco or any other store.
Can I print a digital passport photo file from my phone at Costco?
Yes. Simply upload the digital passport photo file (formatted to 2×2 inch on a 4×6 layout) from your phone to Costco’s photo printing service via Shutterfly. Ensure your file is high quality and compliant before printing.
Is printing at Costco cheaper than other stores like CVS or Walmart?
Costs vary by location and promotions. Costco’s partner pricing via Shutterfly can be very competitive, especially for 4×6 prints. Compare prices at CVS, Walmart, Sam’s Club, or other local photo centers to find the best deal.