2x2 Passport Photo Size: 2 Inch by 2 Inch Photo Dimensions & Rules
2x2 photo size in short: 2 × 2 inches = 51 × 51 mm (5.1 × 5.1 cm). Digital: 600 × 600 px (minimum) up to 1200 × 1200 px, square JPEG. Head from chin to top of hair: 1 to 1⅜ inches (25–35 mm). To print, place six on a 4 × 6 inch sheet and print at actual size. How to print 2x2 photos ↓
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Make a 2×2 inch US passport photo →A US passport photo has to be exactly 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm). That single number causes more rejected applications than almost anything else, because most phone photos are rectangular and most people crop by eye. This guide walks through the official measurements, the rules that trip people up, and a simple way to produce a correct photo at home without uploading your face to a stranger's server.
Rules can change. Always check the current requirements on travel.state.gov before you apply.
The official measurements
- Print size: 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm), square.
- Head size: 1 to 1⅜ inches (25–35 mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, including hair.
- Digital size (online renewal and DS-160 visa): square, at least 600 × 600 pixels and at most 1200 × 1200 pixels, JPEG format.
- Age of photo: taken within the last six months, showing your current appearance.
Because the photo is printed at 2 inches, a 600 × 600 px image works out to 300 pixels per inch, which is exactly the resolution most photo labs print at. If you start with a larger image, the head-size rule is the one to watch: the head should fill roughly 50–69% of the frame height.
Background, expression and clothing
The background must be plain white or off-white, with no patterns, shadows or objects behind you. Stand about a metre (three feet) in front of a white wall and keep light falling evenly on both the wall and your face; a window in front of you works better than a ceiling light directly above, which creates shadows under the eyes.
Face the camera directly with a neutral expression or a natural smile, both eyes open, and mouth closed. Wear your normal everyday clothes. Uniforms, camouflage and clothing that looks like a uniform are not allowed. Hats and head coverings are only accepted for religious or medical reasons, with a signed statement, and they must not hide your face.
Glasses are no longer allowed
Since 2016, eyeglasses must be removed for US passport photos unless you have a medical statement from a doctor. This is one of the most common reasons photos are rejected, so take them off before the shot even if you wear them every day.
How to take the photo at home
- Use the rear camera if possible. Ask someone else to hold the phone at your eye level, about 1–1.5 metres away. Selfies distort the face because the lens is too close.
- Avoid zoom and portrait mode. Portrait mode blurs and alters the background edges, which can make the photo look edited.
- Leave space around your head. Take the photo with plenty of room above the head and below the shoulders so that you can crop to a square without cutting anything off.
- Do not use beauty filters. Any retouching that changes your appearance is grounds for rejection.
Cropping to exactly 2 × 2 inches
This is the step where a dedicated tool saves time. Open the Crop Desk US passport photo tool, choose your photo and drag the guide so your chin sits on the bottom line and the top of your hair on the top line. The tool locks the frame to a square and exports a 600 × 600 px JPEG for online use, or a print sheet you can take to a pharmacy or photo kiosk. Everything happens in your browser, so the photo never leaves your device.
How to print 2x2 photos
- Make a 4 × 6 inch sheet. A 4 × 6 print (the standard photo-lab size) fits six 2 × 2 photos. Download the print sheet from the 2x2 photo tool; each photo is already exactly 2 × 2 inches at 300 DPI.
- Order a normal 4 × 6 print at a pharmacy, photo kiosk or online lab. It usually costs far less than a passport-photo service because it is billed as an ordinary print.
- Turn off "fit", "fill" or auto-crop. The lab must print at 100% / actual size, otherwise the photos come out slightly smaller or cut off.
- Printing at home? Use glossy or matte photo paper, select "actual size" (not "fit to page") in the print dialog and the highest quality setting. Plain paper is not accepted.
- Check with a ruler – each photo should measure 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm) – then cut along the edges with scissors or a paper trimmer.
Quick checklist before you submit
- Exactly square, 2 × 2 inches when printed, or 600–1200 px for digital.
- Head height between 1 and 1⅜ inches.
- Plain white background, no shadows.
- No glasses, no filters, eyes open and looking at the camera.
- Photo taken within the last six months.
Want the full step-by-step for taking the picture? Read how to take a 2x2 passport photo at home. Need the same photo for a US visa? See our DS-160 visa photo guide, and for other countries the UK and Canada passport photo guide.
Ready? The tool runs entirely on your device.
Make a 2×2 inch US passport photo →2x2 photo size in cm, mm and pixels
| Unit | 2 × 2 inch photo |
|---|---|
| Inches | 2 × 2 in |
| Millimetres | 51 × 51 mm (50.8 mm exactly) |
| Centimetres | 5.1 × 5.1 cm |
| Pixels at 300 DPI | 600 × 600 px (minimum for US digital) |
| Head height | 1 to 1⅜ in (25–35 mm), chin to top of hair |
Make one with the free 2x2 passport photo maker, then print it with the 2x2 photo sheet (see how to print 2x2 photos). India uses a different size: 3.5 × 4.5 cm passport size photo.
Frequently asked questions
How do I print 2x2 photos?
Make a 4 × 6 inch sheet with several 2 × 2 inch copies on it, save it as JPG, and order a standard 4 × 6 print at a pharmacy or store photo counter (for example CVS, Walgreens or Walmart) or print it at home on glossy photo paper at 100% scale. Cut along the guides.
What size is a 2x2 photo in pixels?
At 300 DPI a 2 × 2 inch photo is 600 × 600 pixels. For an online passport renewal the State Department accepts digital photos from 600 × 600 up to 1200 × 1200 pixels.
How big should the head be in a 2x2 photo?
The head, from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, should be 1 to 1 3/8 inches (25–35 mm) tall.
How old can a US passport photo be?
It must have been taken in the last 6 months, against a plain white or off-white background.
What size is a US passport photo in pixels?
For digital submissions the photo must be square, between 600 × 600 and 1200 × 1200 pixels. A 600 × 600 px image printed at 300 DPI comes out at exactly 2 × 2 inches.
Can I wear glasses in a US passport photo?
No. Since 2016 glasses must be removed unless you include a signed medical statement.
Can I take my own passport photo with a phone?
Yes, as long as it meets the size, background, lighting and expression rules. Have someone else take it from about a metre away rather than taking a selfie.
Is my photo uploaded when I use the Crop Desk tool?
No. The cropping runs entirely in your browser and the photo stays on your device.
What is the 2x2 photo size in cm, mm and pixels?
A 2 by 2 photo is 2 × 2 inches, which is 5.08 × 5.08 cm (about 51 × 51 mm). At 300 DPI that is 600 × 600 pixels; US digital submissions accept square images from 600 × 600 up to 1200 × 1200 px.
How do I print 2x2 photos cheaply?
Put six 2 × 2 inch photos on a 4 × 6 inch sheet and order it as a normal 4 × 6 print at a pharmacy, kiosk or online lab, making sure it is printed at actual size with no auto-crop. Then cut the photos out.
Is a 2x2 photo the same as a passport size photo in India?
No. A 2x2 photo is 51 × 51 mm (square) and is used for US passports, US visas and OCI. The Indian passport size photo is 35 × 45 mm. Use the passport photo maker to pick the right preset.
How many 2x2 photos fit on a 4x6 print?
Two 2x2 photos fit on a 4 × 6 inch print, and up to 20 fit on an A4 sheet with cutting margins.
Next step: make a 2x2 passport photo online, then follow how to print 2x2 photos on 4×6 or A4.