The US passport photo size
The passport application form DS-11 from the U.S. Department of State asks for one color photograph 2x2 inches in size. In the photo, the head must measure 1 to 1 3/8 inches from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head. This passport photo maker is built around those two numbers. The edition used here is DS-11 04-2025, and the list of rules quoted from it is shown under the tool. The form's instructions also point to the full list of photo requirements on travel.state.gov/photos; read that page too before you apply, because rules can change.
The form adds more requirements that no crop can fix: a color photo taken less than six months ago, the head facing the camera with the full face in view, a plain white or off-white background, no eyeglasses or head covering unless you submit the signed statement it describes, no uniform, and printing on matte or glossy photo quality paper.
What this tool does and does not do
The tool crops your photo to a square and scales it to exactly 2 × 2 inches at the print resolution you choose. A guide over the crop frame shows where the top of the head goes and the band where the chin must land, so the head comes out between 1 and 1 3/8 inches tall. Then it lays several copies on a print sheet with cut marks.
It does not check whether your photo will be accepted. It cannot see whether the background is plain and white enough, whether the lighting leaves shadows on your face, whether your expression and eyes are right, or whether you wear glasses. It also does not change the background or retouch the face. Take the photo against a plain white or off-white wall, in even light, and compare it with the official rules yourself.
How the head-size guide works
The guide puts the top of the head 1/4 inch below the upper edge of the photo. That spot is this tool's layout choice, not a rule; it leaves room for the whole chin band and your shoulders. The green band then starts 1 inch below the top line and ends 1 3/8 inches below it. When your chin lands anywhere in the band, the head size meets the rule. The dashed line marks the middle of the photo, to help you center your face.
In pixels, the guide works out like this:
| Resolution | Photo | Head from chin to top | 4 × 6 in sheet |
|---|---|---|---|
| 300 dpi | 600 × 600 px | 300 to 412.5 px | 1,800 × 1,200 px |
| 600 dpi | 1,200 × 1,200 px | 600 to 825 px | 3,600 × 2,400 px |
The Single photo JPG is the 2 × 2 inch photo on its own, 600 × 600 pixels at 300 dpi or 1,200 × 1,200 pixels at 600 dpi. If you need a digital photo file for an online form, check that form's own file rules first, as they can differ from a printed photo.
Print sheets and cut marks
You can print the photos three ways. Each sheet keeps every photo at exactly 2 × 2 inches, with white space between them and short cut marks at every corner. The marks stop just short of the photo, so they never print on your face.
- 4 × 6 inch photo print, 2 photos: order it as a normal 4 × 6 print at a photo lab or a print kiosk, from the JPG or the PDF.
- 5 × 7 inch photo print, 6 photos: more copies on one print, for a family or for later.
- US Letter, 12 photos: for a home printer and photo paper. Use the PDF and print at actual size or 100 percent, never fit to page.
Each sheet with enough margin carries a 1 inch scale bar. Measure it with a ruler after printing: if it is exactly 1 inch, your photos are exactly 2 inches. The JPG files also store their print resolution, so programs that print by resolution use the right size. The PDF has the exact page size in inches. At 600 dpi, a Letter sheet is very large; if your browser cannot draw it, choose 300 dpi.
Getting a sharp result
Under the photo, the tool shows how many pixels of your original photo end up in the 2 inch square. When that is fewer than the print resolution, the photo has to be enlarged and can look soft. For example, if your head is 800 pixels tall in the original photo and you fit it to the middle of the band, 1 3/16 inches, the 2 inch square holds about 1,350 pixels, or about 670 per inch: enough for 300 and for 600 dpi. Zooming in on a small part of a photo leaves fewer pixels. Phone photos open upright, using the orientation saved by the camera. If a photo still lies on its side, press Rotate 90°.
For other cropping jobs, use the image cropper, and to make a copy of a photo smaller in pixels, the image resizer.
How to use the passport photo maker
- 1Take a photo facing the camera against a plain white or off-white wall, then drop it on the box.
- 2Drag and zoom until the top of your head touches the top line and your chin is in the green band, with your face centered.
- 3Choose a print sheet and resolution, and download the PDF or JPG, or the single photo.
- 4Print at actual size on photo paper, check the 1 inch scale bar, and cut along the marks.
- 5Compare the photo with the official rules yourself before you send it.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a US passport photo?
The passport application form DS-11 from the U.S. Department of State asks for one color photo 2x2 inches in size, with the head 1 to 1 3/8 inches from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head. This tool makes exactly that: a 2 × 2 inch photo with a guide for the head size.
Does this tool check whether my photo will be accepted?
No. It only helps you crop to the right size and print it. It cannot judge the background, the lighting, your expression, glasses, shadows or how recent the photo is. Check those points yourself against the rules on the form and on the State Department photo page before you send the photo.
How do I print passport photos at home or at a photo lab?
Download the 4 × 6 inch sheet and order it as a normal 4 × 6 print, or print the Letter PDF on your own printer at actual size, without fit to page or scaling. The form asks for matte or glossy photo quality paper. Measure the 1 inch scale bar on the print with a ruler, then cut along the marks.
Can I wear glasses in a passport photo?
According to the DS-11 instructions, glasses or other eyewear are not acceptable unless you submit a signed statement from a doctor explaining why you cannot remove them. Head coverings are only accepted with a signed statement for religious attire or a doctor's statement for medical use.
Can the tool change the background to white?
No. The form asks for a plain white or off-white background, and the safest way to get one is to stand in front of a plain white or off-white wall when the photo is taken. This tool does not edit the background, the face or the colors; it only crops and scales.
Can I make passport photos for other countries?
This first version follows the US rules only. The DS-11 form itself notes that U.S. passport photo requirements may differ from those of other countries, so use the official rules of the country you apply to.
Is my photo uploaded?
No. Your browser opens the photo, crops it and builds the print sheet on your own device. Nothing is sent to a server.