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The same square dimensions can appear in different document instructions. Select US passport only when that is the application you are preparing.
US passport photo makerPHOTO SIZE GUIDE & CALCULATORA 2 × 2 photo.
A 2 × 2 photo.
Every dimension explained.
A 2 × 2 inch photo measures 50.8 × 50.8 mm, or 5.08 × 5.08 cm. At a print resolution of 300 pixels per inch, that is 600 × 600 pixels. The square size is only one part of preparing a document photo.
For another document, check its requirements first.
50.8 mm · 5.08 cm · 2 inches
Measurements refer to each side of the printed photo.
How many pixels is a 2 × 2 photo?
There is no single pixel size without a resolution. Multiply the printed size in inches by the number of pixels per inch, or PPI. The calculator shows that conversion without uploading a photo.
| Resolution | Image dimensions |
|---|---|
| 150 PPI | 300 × 300 pixels |
| 300 PPI | 600 × 600 pixels |
| 600 PPI | 1200 × 1200 pixels |
These are dimensional conversions, not three interchangeable application requirements. Follow the resolution and file limits for your specific submission.
2 × 2 photo size calculator
Choose a print resolution to see the pixel dimensions for a two-inch square.
2 inches × 300 pixels per inch = 600 pixels on each side.
This converts dimensions only. It does not check a photo or determine the resolution required by your application.
2 × 2 inches is not 2 × 2 centimeters.
A two-centimeter square is much smaller. A 35 × 45 mm photo is also a different shape and size. Resizing either to fill a two-inch square can stretch the face or cut away part of the head.
First crop to the right proportions with enough room around the person. Then resize without stretching. If the original lacks the required headroom or shoulder area, take another photo rather than inventing the missing area.
The State Department describes its US passport print size as 2 × 2 inches, or 51 × 51 mm. That metric figure is rounded; the exact inch conversion is 50.8 mm.
Source checked October 8, 2026. US passport photo dimensions.
Pixels, file size and print size do different jobs.
Pixels describe the image grid. Kilobytes and megabytes describe the file’s storage size. Inches describe the physical print. A 600 × 600 pixel JPEG does not have one fixed file size, because compression and image detail change it.
Changing a file’s DPI label alone does not add detail. A low-resolution image enlarged to 1200 × 1200 pixels can still look blurry. Likewise, a sharp square photo can be printed at the wrong size if the printer scales it.
Making a 2 × 2 passport photo.
Check the person in the frame
A square crop does not check head size, expression, lighting or whether the face is obscured. Review the full requirements before you submit.
Read passport requirementsMeasure the finished print
Use the sheet’s intended paper size and avoid automatic scaling. Measure a finished photo with a ruler before cutting and submitting it.
Using a 4 × 6 print sheetCommon 2 × 2 photo questions.
Is a 2 × 2 photo always 600 × 600 pixels?
No. It is 600 × 600 pixels when printed at 300 PPI, and 1200 × 1200 at 600 PPI. A digital application can specify its own pixel dimensions independently of a print size.
Can I turn a rectangular photo into a square?
Yes, if a square crop leaves enough room for the required head position and surrounding area. Crop the rectangle; do not squeeze it into a square. A tightly cropped original may need a retake.
Can I print six 2 × 2 photos on a 4 × 6 sheet?
Geometrically, yes. Six two-inch squares fill the sheet completely, leaving no spare edge margin. Lab cropping or borderless enlargement can cut into the photos, so check the settings and measure the result.