Why this saves money
Most CVS and Walgreens in-store photo counters charge a separate service fee to shoot and print a passport or ID photo — commonly in the $15–17 range. If you already have a correctly sized, correctly cropped photo file, you don't need that service at all: you only need a regular 4x6 photo print, which is priced the same as printing any other photo (typically a few dollars).
ID Photo Maker is a free browser tool that crops your portrait to the exact official size (passport, visa, or ID, 40+ countries) and lays it out on a single print-ready 4x6 in or A4 sheet — with no signup, no watermark, and no upload (all processing happens on your device). Print that sheet like any other photo.
Step by step
- Make your sheet. Open ID Photo Maker, choose your photo size, upload a portrait, and download the 4 x 6 in printable sheet from Step 3.
- Send it to CVS or Walgreens. Upload the sheet through the CVS Photo or Walgreens Photo app or website, or bring it on a phone or USB drive to an in-store photo kiosk.
- Order a plain 4x6 print. Choose a 4 x 6 in, borderless, actual-size (100%) print. Do not let the app auto-crop, auto-enhance, or resize it — those settings can throw off the built-in sizing.
- Pick up and cut. Cut along the thin gray guide lines on the print to separate your individual photos.
Prefer printing at home? Any inkjet or laser printer works — print the same sheet at 100% scale on 4x6, A4, or US Letter photo paper.
Tips for a clean print
- Look for a "borderless" or "actual size / 100%" print option — some store apps crop or scale by default.
- Skip any "auto-fix," "auto-enhance," or color-correction toggle on the print order — the sheet is already sized correctly, and auto-adjustments can shift it.
- If picking up in-store, a same-day 1-hour or same-day pickup option is usually available for a plain photo print, separate from any passport-photo-specific service.
- Double-check your document's official size and background requirements before printing — see travel.state.gov's photo requirements for U.S. passports.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to print a passport photo at CVS or Walgreens this way?
You pay only regular 4x6 photo print pricing, typically a few dollars, instead of an in-store passport-photo service fee. Check your local store's current print pricing, since it varies by location.
Do I need to tell the photo kiosk it's for a passport?
No. Order it as a regular 4 x 6 in photo print, borderless, at actual size (100%, no scaling, no auto-enhance). The sheet from ID Photo Maker already has the correct photo sizes and cut guides built in.
Can I print the sheet at home instead?
Yes. Any inkjet or laser printer works. Print the same sheet at 100% scale on 4x6, A4, or US Letter photo paper, then cut along the guide lines.
Will CVS or Walgreens reject the sheet or resize it automatically?
Some store apps auto-crop or auto-enhance by default. Look for a borderless, actual-size (100%), or "no auto-fix" print option so the sheet's exact sizing and cut lines are preserved.