2 × 2 inch passport photo
Drop in a front-facing photo against a plain light background, line your face up with the guide (head height 1 to 1 3/8 inches in a 2 × 2 inch photo) and adjust the zoom. You get the official US size at 600 × 600 pixels, 300 dpi. The preview is free; the clean printable sheet is optional.
- ✅ Free
- 🔒 No sign-up
- 📱 Works on mobile
- ⚡ Instant results
Framing aid only. Requirements can change, so check the current rules with the agency that asked for the photo. Estimate only, not a guarantee of acceptance.
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US passport photo requirements
A US passport photo is 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm). The head, from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, must measure 1 to 1 3/8 inches (25 to 35 mm), which is 50% to 69% of the photo height.
| Requirement | Value |
|---|---|
| Photo size | 2 × 2 in (51 × 51 mm) |
| Head height (chin to top of head) | 1 to 1 3/8 in |
| Digital size | 600 × 600 px minimum, 1200 × 1200 px maximum |
| Background | plain white or off-white, no shadows |
| Expression | neutral or natural smile, both eyes open |
| Age of photo | taken within the last 6 months |
The tool outputs 600 × 600 px, the minimum accepted size at exactly 300 dpi for the print size.
How the framing guide works
The guide draws a red line for the chin and a green band where the top of your head should fall. If your head fits that band, its height sits inside the allowed range of 1 to 1 3/8 inches.
\[ \text{head height (in)} = \dfrac{\text{head height in pixels}}{600} \times 2 \]
Example: a head that is 400 px tall in a 600 px photo measures \( \dfrac{400}{600} \times 2 = 1.33 \, \text{in} \), inside the range. A 450 px head is 1.5 in, too large; zoom out a little. Drag the photo with your finger or mouse to center it, and use the slider to zoom.
- Keep the eyes roughly halfway down the head.
- Center the face horizontally.
- Leave a little background above the head.
Taking a good source photo
- Light: face a window, never stand with your back to it, and avoid shadows or glare on your face.
- Background: a plain light wall about 20 inches behind you. If the wall is uneven, run the photo through the background remover first.
- Distance: hold the camera at eye level about 5 feet away and crop in, instead of shooting a close-up that distorts your face.
- Resolution: at least 800 × 800 px so the crop stays sharp.
This tool helps with framing only. It does not guarantee your photo will be accepted; the final decision rests with the State Department or the agency asking for it.
3 real-life examples
A 3,000 × 4,000 px selfie
Your head is 1,100 px tall in the original. Without zoom the output is a 3,000 × 3,000 px window scaled to 600 px, so the head measures \( 1{,}100 \times 0.2 = 220 \, \text{px} \) or 0.73 in, too small. Zoom to 1.75: \( 220 \times 1.75 = 385 \, \text{px} \), which is \( \dfrac{385}{600} \times 2 = 1.28 \, \text{in} \). Inside the range.
Uploading to the online passport renewal
Digital submissions need a square JPEG between 600 and 1200 px per side. The 600 × 600 px export fits, and you can save it as a high-quality JPG.
Printing at a drugstore
A 4 × 6 inch print holds six 2 × 2 inch photos (3 across, 2 down): \( \dfrac{6}{2} = 3 \) columns and \( \dfrac{4}{2} = 2 \) rows. Cut along the lines for six photos.