US Passport Photo Maker — Free 2×2 Photo + Print Sheet
Make a US passport photo at home for free. Upload your photo, position your face inside the 2×2 inch frame with simple sliders, then download the digital 600×600 JPEG for online applications — and a 4×6 inch print sheet you can print for pennies at Walgreens, CVS or home. 100% private: your photo never leaves your browser.
Position your head so it fills roughly the middle of the frame: US rules ask for the head (chin to top) to be 1 to 1-3/8 inches tall in the 2-inch photo — about 50–69% of the frame height. Keep your face centered and straight.
How to make your US passport photo
- Take your photo in bright, even light against a plain white wall — no shadows on your face, no glasses, neutral expression, mouth closed, looking straight at the camera.
- Upload it above and use the Zoom and Move sliders until your head is centered and fills about half to two-thirds of the square frame.
- Download the digital 600×600 JPEG if you are applying or renewing online — it is automatically compressed to under 240KB.
- For a paper application, download the 4×6 print sheet instead, print it as a normal 4×6 photo (actual size, no scaling), and cut out a 2×2 photo along the guide lines.
US passport photo rules, explained
Passport photo mistakes are one of the most common reasons US passport applications are delayed. These are the main official rules your photo must follow:
- Size: exactly 2×2 inches (51×51 mm) — the digital version is 600×600 pixels, square.
- Background: plain white or off-white, with nothing else visible — no patterns, doors, people or shadows behind you.
- Head size: your head, measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, must be between 1 inch and 1-3/8 inches (25–35 mm) — roughly 50–69% of the photo's height.
- Recent: taken within the last 6 months, showing how you look now.
- Expression: neutral facial expression or a natural smile, both eyes open, facing the camera directly.
- No glasses: eyeglasses are not allowed (since 2016), and remove hats, caps, headphones and earbuds — head coverings are only accepted for religious or medical reasons with the required signed statement.
- Quality: in focus, proper lighting with no harsh shadows or red-eye, printed on matte or glossy photo paper when submitting on paper — and not digitally altered or filtered.
How to print the 4×6 sheet
The print sheet is a standard 4×6 inch photo (1800×1200 pixels at 300 DPI) holding six 2×2 inch copies of your photo with light cut guides. Upload it to Walgreens, CVS or Walmart photo printing — or print it at home on 4×6 glossy photo paper — and order/select a plain 4×6 print, which usually costs well under a dollar. The one setting that matters: choose "actual size" / 100% and turn off any "fit to page" or cropping option, otherwise your photos will come out the wrong size. Then cut carefully along the light gray guide lines and check one photo with a ruler — it should measure exactly 2×2 inches.
Applying for something else as well? The same 600×600 file works for US visa (DS-160) uploads — and our Form Photo & Signature Validator checks photos for Schengen, UK, Canada and other applications too.
Disclaimer: MakeHumanAI is not affiliated with the US government. Requirements can change — always confirm the current rules on the official US Department of State passport photo page (travel.state.gov) before submitting your application.
Passport photo prices compared
If you have searched for a "walmart photo" for your passport application, you have found the store passport-photo services: Walmart, CVS and Walgreens will all take your picture at the photo counter and hand you two printed 2×2 photos. It is convenient — but you are paying for the service, not the paper. Those counters typically charge around $17 for the pair, and prices vary by store and location.
| Option | What you get | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Walmart / CVS / Walgreens passport-photo service | Staff take your photo and print two 2×2 copies | Around $17 |
| This free maker + a standard 4×6 print | You make the photo free here, then print the sheet as a normal 4×6 photo at any counter or at home | Free + well under $1 |
| MakeHumanAI Done-For-You service | We prepare your passport photo and print sheet for you, checked against the official rules | $14 |
In other words, you can make a passport size photo online free with the maker above and spend less than a dollar on printing — or skip the DIY entirely and let our Done-For-You photo service prepare everything for $14, still less than a typical store service. Either way, the photo is checked against the same official 2×2 rules the stores work to.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size is a US passport photo?
A US passport photo must be 2x2 inches (51x51 mm). The digital version is 600x600 pixels. Your head must be between 1 inch and 1-3/8 inches (25–35 mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, on a plain white background, taken within the last 6 months, with a neutral expression and no glasses. Always verify the current requirements on the official US Department of State website.
How do I print my passport photo sheet cheaply?
Download the 4x6 inch print sheet from this tool and print it as a standard 4x6 photo at Walgreens, CVS, Walmart or at home on photo paper. Make sure printing is set to actual size / 100% with no fit-to-page scaling, then cut each 2x2 photo along the light guide lines.
Is my photo uploaded to a server?
No. The maker runs 100% inside your own browser using JavaScript. Your photo is never uploaded, stored, or sent anywhere.
Can I wear glasses in a US passport photo?
No. Glasses have not been allowed in US passport photos since 2016, except for rare documented medical reasons. Take off your glasses, hat and headphones, and use a plain white background with a neutral expression.
How much does it cost to print passport photos at a drugstore?
Printing a 4×6 sheet costs only a few cents at most drugstore photo counters — the expensive part is the store's passport-photo service, which does the same job for many times more. Making the sheet here is free: download it, print the 4×6 at Walgreens, CVS or at home, and you get 6 regulation passport photos from one sheet.
How much do Walmart, CVS and Walgreens charge for passport photos?
Their passport-photo services typically charge around $17 for two printed 2x2 photos, though prices vary by store and location. With this free maker you only pay for a standard 4x6 print — usually well under a dollar at the same counters — or you can have the photo and print sheet prepared for you with our Done-For-You service for $14.