Can I Get Passport Photos At Staples? | Store Cost And Fit

Yes, Staples takes passport photos in store, with print and digital choices that can work for first-time applications, renewals, and kids.

Yes, you can get passport photos at Staples. For a lot of people, it’s one of the easiest places to handle the photo part without setting up lights at home, trimming a 2×2 print, or guessing whether the crop is right.

That said, Staples is only a good pick if the service matches what you need. Some travelers just want two printed photos and nothing else. Others want a digital file for an online renewal, a visa form, or a backup copy they can keep. Staples covers those cases better than many drugstores, and the service is built around passport-style shots instead of general photo printing.

The bigger question is whether the store trip is worth the price. If your goal is speed, a clean white background, and fewer chances of rejection, Staples can make sense. If you already have a solid digital photo setup at home, the math changes.

Can I Get Passport Photos At Staples For Same-Day Orders?

In most cases, yes. Staples says passport and visa photos are available in store with no appointment needed, and the photo is usually ready within minutes. That’s the main draw: you walk in, get the shot taken, and leave with a print set, a digital copy, or both.

The service is set up for more than one use. Staples offers passport photos for first applications, renewals, children’s passports, visas, and ID needs. That matters if you don’t want to pay for one photo now and another one next month for a different form.

What You Get At The Counter

• Two printed 2×2 photos if you buy the print-only service
• A digital copy on a USB drive if you buy the digital service
• A print-plus-digital bundle if you want both
• Photos for babies and children, with a little extra time built in
• A free retake if the store-made photo is not accepted the first time

Staples also says the service is offered at its stores and that you can ask for passport or visa photos for many countries, not just U.S. passports. That’s handy if your travel paperwork isn’t limited to one application.

What You’ll Pay

Staples currently lists the print-only passport photo service at $19.99, the digital file at $21.99, and the bundle with prints plus digital at $24.99. Extra printed copies are sold for an added fee. For someone who may need both a paper application photo and a saved file, the bundle is often the better value than buying twice.

Where Staples Fits Best

Staples works best for shoppers who want a clean, one-stop photo errand. The store photo setup cuts out the usual home-photo headaches: crooked framing, dim light, gray shadows on the wall, and paper that doesn’t look like a real photo print.

Staples lays out its service details on the Staples passport and visa photo services page, and the store’s rules line up with the federal photo standards on the U.S. passport photo rules page. That mix is the real selling point: store convenience plus a service built around the same size, pose, and background rules your application has to meet anyway.

If you’re the kind of person who hates redo work, this is where Staples earns its keep. A cheap do-it-yourself photo can turn into a time drain if the crop is off or the print quality looks weak. A rejected passport photo doesn’t just sting a little; it can stall the whole application.

Feature	What Staples Lists	What That Means For You
Store access	Passport photos offered in store	No need to hunt for a specialty camera shop
Appointment	No appointment needed	Good for last-minute errands
Turnaround	Ready within minutes, often under 10	You can finish the task in one stop
Print-only service	Two 2×2 photos for $19.99	Works for paper passport forms
Digital service	Digital file for $21.99	Useful for online renewal or saved backup
Bundle	Prints plus digital for $24.99	Best fit if you may need both formats
Kids and babies	Photo service offered for children too	One place can handle the whole family
Retake policy	Free retake if the first photo is not accepted	Less risk if a photo gets kicked back
Refunds	Service is non-refundable	Pick the format you want before paying

Photo Rules Still Apply At Staples

A store photo is not a free pass around the passport rules. You still need a photo that matches the federal specs. The State Department wants one recent color photo, taken within the last six months, with a plain white or off-white background, no shadows, and a direct face view.

For printed U.S. passport applications, the photo must be 2 x 2 inches, with your head sized and placed inside a narrow range. Glasses are out unless you have a medical note. Filters, phone edits, and AI cleanup are out too. Those details come straight from the State Department page, not a store preference.

What To Wear So The Photo Passes

• Wear a dark, solid top if you can
• Skip white or pale shirts that blend into the background
• Leave off glasses, hats, and sunglasses
• Skip big reflective jewelry that throws glare
• Keep your face straight toward the camera with your mouth closed

Staples gives similar clothing tips in its service notes, and that’s a good sign. The store is trying to avoid the same rejection triggers the passport office flags.

What About Babies And Kids?

Staples says it takes passport photos for babies and children too. That can save a pile of hassle for parents, since getting a child centered against a plain background at home can feel like herding cats. The trade-off is time. A child photo may take longer than an adult shot, so don’t dash in five minutes before closing.

Common Problem	Why It Gets Rejected	Better Move
White shirt on white backdrop	Low contrast around shoulders	Wear a dark plain top
Glasses or rim glare	Eyes are partly blocked	Take glasses off
Head tilted or turned	Face is not straight to camera	Face front with full view
Smile with teeth showing	Expression can change facial shape	Keep a neutral face or soft closed-mouth smile
Shadow behind head	Background is not clean	Use store setup or even light
Phone filter or touch-up	Digital edits are not allowed	Use the plain photo only
Wrong print size	Application specs are strict	Use a true 2×2 passport print

How To Make The Store Visit Go Smoothly

1. Pick your format before you go: prints, digital, or both.
2. Wear a dark top with no busy pattern.
3. Take off glasses and bulky jewelry before the photo.
4. Go early if you’re bringing a baby or toddler.
5. Check store hours so you’re not rushing near closing time.
6. Keep the printed set flat and clean after pickup.
7. If you need to file at the post office, check the USPS passport application and photo service details page first, since some locations also handle both the photo and the application in one visit.

That last point matters more than people think. Staples is strong on the photo side. A post office can make more sense if you want to knock out the application and photo in one stop. Staples can still win if you want the digital file, a bundle, or a store that’s closer and easier to reach.

Staples Vs A Post Office Vs A Home Photo

Staples is the middle ground. It’s less fussy than doing the photo yourself, and it gives you more format choice than many acceptance facilities. The post office has a different edge: you may be able to handle the application and the picture during the same appointment.

A home photo can still be the cheapest route. But cheap only stays cheap if you already have good light, a clean white background, a steady camera, proper photo paper, and the patience to nail the crop. Miss one of those, and the savings can vanish fast.

• Pick Staples if you want a store photo, a digital file, or both formats in one errand.
• Pick USPS if you want to pair the photo with the application visit.
• Pick home photos if you already know the rules and trust your setup.

The Best Fit For Most Travelers

For most applicants, Staples is a solid yes. The service is built for passport-style photos, the prices are plain to compare, and the print-plus-digital bundle gives you more wiggle room than a basic two-photo pack. If you care most about speed and a lower chance of having to redo the shot, Staples is one of the cleaner picks.

If you only need the cheapest paper photo and nothing else, another vendor may beat it on price. If you want one stop for both photo and passport paperwork, the post office may be a better match. Still, if your goal is simple, clean, and done in one short store visit, Staples is an easy answer.