Make a US Passport Photo 2×2 on 4×6 Paper

The US Department of State requires passport photos to be exactly 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm). Your head, measured from the bottom of your chin to the top of your hair, must be between 1 inch and 1⅜ inches (25–35 mm). The background must be plain white or off-white, with no shadows, patterns, or other people visible.

Glasses are not permitted in US passport photos since November 2016. You must have a neutral facial expression with both eyes open and your mouth closed. The photo must have been taken within the last 6 months.

Printing your passport photo on 4×6 inch photo paper is the most cost-effective approach. A single 4×6 sheet fits six 2×2 passport photos with room for cut lines. Here's how to do it:

1. Upload your photo — use a well-lit photo with a plain background, taken from 4 feet away.
2. Check the alignment — the tool positions your photo using three guide lines: chin, eyes, and top of head.
3. Download the 4×6 sheet — you'll get a print-ready PDF or JPEG at 300 DPI.
4. Print on photo paper — use matte or glossy 4×6 photo paper. Set your printer to "actual size" or "100% scale" — never "fit to page."
5. Cut along the guides — use a paper cutter or scissors to trim each 2×2 photo.

If you don't have a photo printer, save the 4×6 sheet to your phone and print at any CVS, Walgreens, or Walmart photo kiosk for about $0.35 per print.

A standard 4×6 inch sheet fits six 2×2 inch passport photos in a 3-column × 2-row grid. Each photo has 2 mm spacing for cut lines, so you can trim them cleanly without cutting into the image area.

If you need fewer copies, the tool still lays out the maximum number — just print one sheet and keep the extras as spares. Passport photo services typically charge $15 for two photos; printing at home gives you six for under $0.50.