Best Web Tools Free: Best 2x2 Passport Photo Maker Apps (US Size Guide)

What the US Government Requires in a 2x2 Passport Photo

If you are applying for a US passport, you cannot just crop a selfie and hope for the best. The photo must be exactly 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), your head has to be a set size inside that square, and the background has to be plain white or off-white. That is where a good 2x2 passport photo app helps: it gives you the correct square frame, so your head lands in the right spot and the file comes out at the right size.

The rules come from the US Department of State, and they are strict. A photo that is a little too big, a little too dark, or touched up with a filter can slow down the application or get it rejected. Here are the main points.

Requirement	Official rule
Photo size	2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm)
Head size	1 to 1 3/8 inches (25 to 35 mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head
Background	Plain white or off-white with no shadows, textures or objects
How recent	Taken within the last 6 months
Glasses	Not allowed; a signed doctor's note is needed for medical exceptions
Editing	Submit the original, unedited photo; no filters, phone app edits or AI changes
Expression	Face the camera directly, eyes open, mouth closed; a closed-mouth smile is allowed
Hats and head coverings	Not allowed, except with a signed statement for religious or medical reasons
Clothing	No uniform, uniform-like or camouflage clothing
Quality	High resolution, sharp, with no blur, grain or pixelation and no visible printer dots
Paper	Print on matte or glossy photo-quality paper; no photocopies or scanned photos

The head size rule is the one people miss most often. In a 2 x 2 inch photo the distance from your chin to the top of your head must be between 1 and 1 3/8 inches, which is about 300 to 412 pixels if you work at 300 DPI. Too small and the photo looks like a portrait; too large and the top of your head may be cut off. A good 2x2 passport photo maker shows you guide lines so you can see this before you print.

One more thing: the State Department wants the original photo, not a retouched one. Cropping, resizing and arranging copies on a print sheet is normal preparation. Changing how your face looks is not. If you apply online, the Department of State also offers a free photo tool on its website that checks a digital image against the rules.

Best 2x2 Passport Photo Apps for US Passports

These apps and web tools all support the US 2 x 2 inch photo. Prices, ratings and features change often, so check the store listing before you download or pay.

1. PhotoAiD (Android, iPhone, Web)

PhotoAiD is one of the best known names in this space. You take or upload a selfie, and the app crops it, resizes it and can replace the background. An AI system then checks the result, and a human photo expert reviews it before you download. You can get a digital file for an online application or order prints with delivery in the US. The company says more than 35 million photos made with it have been accepted.

Pros: automatic background removal, human expert check, digital and printed options.
Pros: works on Android, iPhone and in a browser.
Pros: a stated acceptance guarantee on reviewed photos.
Cons: the expert check and prints are paid services, so it is not a free instant export.
Cons: you wait for the review step instead of downloading straight away.

Platform: Android (Google Play, more than 10 million downloads), iPhone and iPad (listed as free with in-app purchases, rated 4.5 out of 5 from about 19,000 ratings on the US App Store), and web at photoaid.com.

2. Passport Photo - ID Photo by Yarsa Labs (iPhone, iPad)

This app is a photo editor built around ID photos. It removes the background and arranges copies of your photo into one print sheet in 4x6, 5x7, 3x4, 4x4 or A4 size, which saves a trip to a photo booth. It supports passport, visa and ID photo sizes for the US and many other countries.

Pros: basic editing and the print sheet layouts are free to use.
Pros: standard paper sizes for printing at home or at a store.
Pros: works for baby and child photos.
Cons: background removal is a paid upgrade.
Cons: paid options run from about $3.99 for a credit pack to $6.99 for a lifetime ad-free version, according to the App Store listing.

Platform: iPhone, iPad and Mac with Apple silicon; free to download with in-app purchases; rated 4.7 out of 5 from about 9,100 ratings on the US App Store.

3. Passport Photo Maker - VISA/ID (Android)

A Google Play app that creates passport, visa and license photos using country templates, including the US 2 x 2 inch size. You pick the document, and the app applies the matching frame, so you do not have to type measurements in by hand.

Pros: country templates, including the US passport size.
Pros: a simple template-based workflow, free to install.
Cons: the store page says the app contains ads and in-app purchases.
Cons: the listing does not offer an acceptance guarantee, so check the crop and head size yourself.

Platform: Android, free to install.

4. Passport Size Photo Editor (Android)

This Android app focuses on print sheets. It combines several passport, ID or visa photos into a single 4x6, 5x7 or A4 page, which is handy when you want spare copies for a family application.

Pros: ready-made print sheets in standard paper sizes.
Pros: standard passport and visa sizes rather than only square crops.
Cons: contains ads and in-app purchases.
Cons: printing is the main strength, so the editing tools are basic.

Platform: Android, free to install.

5. Passport Picture: ID Photo App by Eclix Tech (iPhone, iPad)

An iOS app that covers more than 150 countries and adds manual tools for brightness, contrast, saturation and background. It can also build print layouts in 4x6, 5x7, 3x4, 4x4 or A4 size.

Pros: a large number of country sizes in one app.
Pros: manual adjustment tools for light and background.
Cons: the free version is limited; the app sells subscriptions and single photo purchases.
Cons: the developer states that it does not guarantee that an authority will accept a photo.

Platform: iPhone, iPad and Mac; free with in-app purchases; rated 4.6 out of 5 from about 240 ratings on the US App Store.

6. IDPhoto4You (Web)

A free browser tool that has been around for years. You choose the country, the photo type and the print size, upload a photo and crop it manually. It covers standards for 73 countries, offers several print sizes, and includes basic brightness and contrast sliders.

Pros: free, with no account needed.
Pros: 73 country standards and multiple print sizes.
Cons: there is no face detection or automatic compliance check, so the crop is all on you.
Cons: the site advises using a private connection and deleting your files after use.

Platform: web, free of charge.

7. PassportGrid (Web)

A small free web page with one job. You upload a finished 2 x 2 inch photo and it lays out a 4 x 6 inch sheet with a cutting grid, so you can print several copies at home or order a single 4x6 print from a store such as CVS or Walgreens. It states that it does not store the images you upload.

Pros: free, simple and quick, with no sign-up.
Pros: produces a ready-to-print 4x6 sheet with cut guides.
Cons: it does not crop or resize for you, so the photo you bring must already be exactly 2 x 2 inches.
Cons: the result still depends on your printer using the correct scale.

Platform: web, free of charge.

How to Choose a 2x2 Passport Photo App

Not every app with "passport photo" in its name will give you a proper US 2 x 2 inch photo. Use this checklist before you download or pay.

Does it name US passport 2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm) as a size, not just "passport size"?
Does it show a head size guide, so you can keep the chin-to-head distance between 1 and 1 3/8 inches?
Can it export a 600 x 600 pixel JPG, which is 2 x 2 inches at 300 DPI?
Can it build a 4 x 6 inch print sheet for several copies?
Does it explain how it handles your photo, and does it avoid storing it?
Is the free version enough to finish the job, or does the download sit behind a paywall?
Can you double-check the final photo with the free official photo tool from the Department of State?

Make Your Own 2x2 Passport Photo With My Free Tool

You do not have to pay anyone to crop a photo to 2 x 2 inches. The free tool below runs in your browser. Upload a photo, drag it to position your face, and use the zoom slider until your head sits between the guide lines. Then download the 600 x 600 pixel JPG for an online application, or download a ready-to-print 4 x 6 inch sheet with several copies for your local print shop.

Files are processed in your browser and are not uploaded.

[TOOL HERE]

When you print, choose 4 x 6 inch photo paper and set the scale to 100% or actual size. If you let the printer fit the sheet to the page, your 2 inch square will not measure 2 inches.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take my own 2x2 passport photo at home?

Yes. You can take it with a phone or a camera as long as you follow the rules: a plain white or off-white background, even lighting with no shadows on your face or the wall, no glasses, plain clothing, eyes open with your mouth closed, and the photo taken within the last 6 months. Then crop it to 2 x 2 inches with the correct head size.

Is a photo made with an app accepted by the US State Department?

Acceptance is decided by the passport agency, not by an app, so no app can promise it. Apps help you hit the measurements, and some services offer an expert review and an acceptance guarantee. Even so, compare your finished photo with the official rules before you submit it.

How many pixels is a 2x2 inch passport photo?

At 300 DPI a 2 x 2 inch photo is 600 x 600 pixels. That is the size this tool exports, and it is a good size for a sharp print.

How many 2x2 photos fit on a 4x6 print sheet?

Six photos fit exactly on a 4 x 6 inch sheet in a 3 by 2 layout, because each photo is 2 x 2 inches. Some tools print four copies with white space at the sides instead. Either way, cut along the lines and keep the extra copies as spares.

Conclusion

A US passport photo comes down to a few numbers: 2 x 2 inches, a head 1 to 1 3/8 inches tall, and a plain white or off-white background, plus a recent and unedited photo. If you want a service to check your photo for you, PhotoAiD and similar apps offer expert review for a fee. If you would rather do it yourself for free, IDPhoto4You and PassportGrid can help you crop and print, and the free 2x2 photo tool above will turn your photo into a true 600 x 600 pixel JPG and a 4 x 6 inch print sheet in a few clicks.

Sources: US Department of State passport photo requirements at travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/photos.html, plus the App Store and Google Play listings for the apps named above.