Why is passport photo 4x6 instead of 2x2?

If you’ve tried printing a 2×2 passport photo directly at CVS, Walgreens, or Walmart, you may have noticed the system often enlarges, crops, or misaligns it. The easiest way to get accurate passport photos is to place them on a standard 4×6 print layout. Here’s why.

1. Printing Machines Expect Standard Sizes

Most photo kiosks and online print services are designed for standard consumer photo sizes—like 4×6, 5×7, or 8×10. When you upload a 2×2 image, the system tries to "fit" it into these dimensions, often resulting in scaling or cropping errors.

2. 4×6 Layout Prevents Resizing Issues

By placing four 2×2 passport photos onto a single 4×6 image, the printing system recognizes it as a normal print size and reproduces it exactly—no stretching or automatic cropping.

3. Lower Cost

Printing a single 4×6 photo at most stores costs about $0.39–$0.50. That’s four passport photos for less than 50¢, compared to $16–$18 for an in-store passport photo service.

4. More Convenient

Print multiple copies at once
Keep the layout file for future reprints
Use the same file at any store or online print service

How to Make a 4×6 Passport Photo Layout

You can create a perfect 4×6 passport photo layout using an online passport photo generator. It automatically:

Crops your photo to the correct proportions
Checks compliance with official size requirements
Places four 2×2 images onto a 4×6 canvas

Tip: Always preview your layout before printing to ensure the background is pure white and all measurements are correct.

Get a Ready-to-Print 4×6 Layout Now

Upload your photo, preview it for free, and download a perfect 4×6 passport photo layout ready for printing at CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, or anywhere else.