How Much Are Passport Photos at Staples? 2026 Cost, Digital Options, and Cheaper Alternatives

Does Staples Do Passport Photos?

Yes. Staples offers passport photos at most US locations through their in-store print and copy center. The service is walk-in at the majority of branches — no appointment required. A staff member takes your photo against a compliant background, prints two 2×2 inch photos on photo paper, and hands them to you in a few minutes.

But there are important caveats.

Not every Staples location offers the service. Smaller format stores and some locations in low-traffic areas have reduced services. Before you drive there, use the Staples store locator at staples.com and call your branch directly to confirm:

• Do you offer passport photos?
• Are they available right now or only during certain hours?
• Do you provide a digital file or prints only?
• How long is the wait time today?

That call saves you a wasted trip. Services can vary significantly between locations — always verify before you go.

How Much Is a Passport Photo at Staples?

Staples passport photo pricing is typically around $17.99 for a set of two 2×2 inch printed photos. USB or print-plus-digital bundles can cost more, and some locations vary by region.

Here is how that stacks up against every major option:

Staples is not the budget choice. It is usually more expensive than Walmart and often slightly more expensive than CVS or Walgreens for prints only. The reason to choose Staples is convenience: a nearby print counter, a short wait, or a bundle you specifically want.

What You Get at Staples

A standard Staples passport photo session includes:

• Two printed 2×2 inch photos on photo paper
• Staff-assisted photo capture
• Basic framing and background check
• Immediate pickup

What you usually do not get:

• A downloadable digital JPEG
• Automated compliance checking against all State Department criteria
• A guaranteed free retake if the photo is rejected
• The lowest price available

That is the core limitation. If your application is digital — online passport renewal, DS-160, USCIS online filing, DV Lottery — a printed photo from Staples does not solve your problem. You still need a compliant JPEG, and Staples usually cannot provide that.

US Passport Photo Requirements 2026

The rules are the same everywhere. Whether you use Staples, CVS, or PixID, the State Department requirements do not change.

Your photo must be:

• 2×2 inches (51×51 mm)
• Plain white or off-white background
• Taken within the last 6 months
• Head height 1 to 1 3/8 inches from chin to crown (50–69% of frame)
• Neutral expression, mouth closed
• Eyes open and looking directly at the camera
• No glasses (banned since 2016, no exceptions)
• No hats unless worn daily for religious reasons
• No AI alteration — portrait mode, beauty filters, skin smoothing all prohibited as of January 2026

That last point is increasingly important. The State Department's automated review systems have gotten significantly better at detecting AI-processed photos. Portrait mode blur, skin smoothing, and background enhancement are all flagged. Retail staff at Staples may not check for this — they are printing what you look like in front of their camera, but they are not running a full compliance audit.

The 2026 AI Ban — What It Means for In-Store Photos

Since January 2026, the State Department explicitly prohibits passport photos that have been processed by AI tools. This includes:

• iPhone Portrait mode background blur
• Android beauty mode and face smoothing
• Samsung Scene Optimizer
• Google Pixel face retouching
• Any app that smooths skin, removes blemishes, or alters facial features
• AI background replacement that leaves visible artifacts

In a Staples setting, the risk is lower than taking your own phone photo with portrait mode on, because Staples uses a dedicated camera setup. But the risk is not zero. Some in-store systems apply automatic image enhancement. Some staff do not check.

If your photo gets rejected for AI alteration after being taken at Staples, you will pay again for new photos. Staples does not offer refunds for State Department rejections.

PixID explicitly does not apply AI face alteration. The system corrects background, crop, and file specifications only — your face remains completely unmodified, which is exactly what the 2026 rules require.

Staples vs Walmart for Passport Photos

Walmart is usually the better walk-in option if price matters.

Walmart wins on price almost every time. The only reason to choose Staples over Walmart is if there is no Walmart nearby, or if you are already at Staples for printing or office supplies and want to combine errands.

Staples vs CVS and Walgreens

Staples is usually not cheaper than CVS and Walgreens for the basic print package. It can still make sense if the print counter is nearby, better staffed, or offering a bundle you actually need.

If you are choosing between the three, location and wait time usually decide it. None of the three should be your first choice if you mainly need a digital file.

Staples vs PixID

This is where the real comparison matters.

PixID wins on every dimension except one: you have to print the photo yourself. That means uploading the 4×6 sheet to Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, or any photo kiosk as a standard 4×6 print for about $0.35, then cutting the two photos yourself.

If that extra step is worth roughly $13 in savings to you, PixID is the better choice. For most people, it is.

When Staples Makes Sense

Staples is a reasonable choice if:

• You are already there for printing or office supplies
• You need a passport photo immediately and there is no Walmart nearby
• You only need printed photos and have no digital application to file
• You do not want to deal with uploading and printing yourself
• You are in a hurry and Staples is the most convenient option right now

It is not the best value. But convenience has value too, and Staples is a legitimate option if the situation calls for it.

When to Skip Staples

Skip Staples if:

• You need a digital JPEG for any online application
• You are filing a DS-160 visa application
• You are renewing your passport online
• You want the lowest total cost
• You are filing a USCIS form that requires digital upload
• You want a 100% money-back guarantee if the photo is rejected
• You are photographing a baby or toddler and need more flexibility

In all of those cases, PixID plus a cheap retail print is the better workflow.

The $0.35 Print Hack — How It Works at Staples

You can actually use Staples for cheap printing even if you do not use their passport photo service.

Here is how:

1. Create your compliant passport photo at PixID ($4.99)
2. Download the 4×6 printable sheet with two 2×2 photos
3. Go to Staples and use their self-service print kiosk
4. Upload the 4×6 file and order a standard 4×6 color print
5. Pay the standard print price (typically around $0.49 to $0.99 at Staples, slightly more than pharmacy kiosks)
6. Cut the two photos yourself using the crop marks on the template

Staples print pricing is slightly higher than Walmart or CVS for standard photo prints, so the $0.35 hack works better at pharmacy kiosks. But if Staples is the most convenient option and you already have a PixID file, this still gets your total cost well below the passport-photo package.

Baby and Child Passport Photos at Staples

Staples can handle baby and child passport photos, but it is not always the easiest setting.

The print and copy center is a retail environment with counters and staff who are primarily focused on print jobs. Getting a newborn or toddler into a compliant passport photo position requires patience and space that a busy Staples counter does not always provide.

For babies and young children, better options are:

• Staffed photo studios like Snappy Snaps (UK) or dedicated portrait studios
• Home flat-lay method — lay the baby on a plain white sheet, photograph from above, upload to PixID
• Walmart Photo Center — larger physical space, staff sometimes more experienced with children

If you do try Staples for a baby photo, call ahead and ask whether they have experience with infant passport photos. The answer will tell you whether it is worth the trip.

How to Take Your Own Passport Photo Instead

If you want to skip Staples entirely and do it yourself, here is the setup that works:

What you need:

• A plain white wall or white foam board
• Natural light from a large window
• Someone else to hold the camera at eye level
• A smartphone with portrait mode and beauty filters disabled
• PixID to format the final file

Step by step:

1. Stand 2–3 feet in front of the white wall to prevent background shadows
2. Face a large window for even natural light — no direct flash, no overhead ceiling lights
3. Turn off portrait mode, beauty mode, and all AI enhancements in your camera settings
4. Have someone hold the rear camera at your eye level, about 4–6 feet away
5. Keep your expression completely neutral — mouth closed, eyes open
6. Remove glasses
7. Take 15–20 shots and choose the sharpest one with the best framing
8. Upload to PixID, select United States Passport, download the compliant JPEG and 4×6 sheet
9. Print the 4×6 at any retail kiosk for about $0.35

Total cost: approximately $5.34. Total time: about 20 minutes including the kiosk pickup. For more detail, read Can I take my own passport photo?

Staples Passport Photo Hours

Staples stores are typically open:

• Monday to Friday: 8 AM to 9 PM
• Saturday: 9 AM to 9 PM
• Sunday: 10 AM to 6 PM

Hours vary by location. The print and copy center inside Staples may have different hours from the main store, and passport photo service may not be available first thing in the morning or late in the evening when staffing is reduced.

Always call your specific Staples branch and ask for the print center directly. Confirm that passport photos are available when you plan to arrive.

Common Mistakes with Passport Photos at Retail Stores

These mistakes happen at Staples, CVS, Walgreens, and most retail photo services:

Glasses left on. Staff sometimes forget to remind customers. Glasses have been banned in US passport photos since 2016.

Slight smile. A relaxed face is not always a neutral face. Even a small upward movement of the mouth corners can trigger rejection at manual review.

Head tilt. Looking slightly to one side or tilting the head is natural in casual photos but not allowed in passport photos.

Wrong background. Staples uses a compliant background in their photo setup, but if anything is visible behind you that should not be, it can cause issues.

Photo older than 6 months. If you get photos today and do not apply for 7 weeks, the photos may already be out of date by the time your application is processed.

No digital file for online applications. Taking a Staples photo and then trying to scan it for a digital application is not a reliable workflow. Scanned photos often fail file size, resolution, or format requirements.

If you are uploading a passport-style image to USCIS with forms such as I-485 or I-130, read the agency's photo specifications on uscis.gov alongside the State Department rules above. Digital uploads have their own cropping and file expectations; a Staples visit that only yields paper photos still leaves you to build the compliant JPEG yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources: US Department of State passport photo requirements · DS-160 photo requirements · USCIS photo specifications · ICAO Doc 9303

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