2 × 2 inch photo
600 × 600 pixels at 300 dpi — exactly 2 inches square when printed.
"2×2" is the American passport size, and it is used far beyond passports: USCIS forms, US visas printed for paper applications, and the ID photos of several countries that adopted the same standard. The tool opens with the 2×2 preset — head at 30 mm, white background — and gives you a 600 × 600 pixel file that prints at exactly 2 inches at 300 dpi, plus a 4×6 sheet with six copies.
| Photo size | 51 × 51 mm (2 × 2 in) |
|---|---|
| Head height (chin to crown) | 25–35 mm |
| Background | white |
| Digital upload | 600–1200 × 600–1200 px, square · JPEG · ≤ 240 KB |
| Glasses | Not allowed |
| Taken within | The last 6 months |
| Official source | U.S. Department of State — Passport Photos (the 2×2 standard) ↗Checked against the official page on 2026-09-20 |
- 100% freeNo account, no paid download, no watermark.
- Nothing is uploadedYour photo is processed on your device and never reaches a server.
- Official rules, citedEvery size and head-height figure links to the government page it comes from.
- Cheap to printDownload a 4×6 sheet and print it at any photo kiosk instead of paying counter prices for two prints.
What 2×2 means in practice
Two inches is 50.8 mm, which the US rules round to 51 mm. At the 300 dots per inch that photo printers use, a 2-inch square is 600 × 600 pixels — the tool outputs exactly that, with the resolution written into the file so the print software sizes it correctly without you setting anything. Three 2-inch photos fit across a 6-inch print and two down a 4-inch print, which is why a 4×6 sheet carries six of them with no wasted paper.
The head-height rule that travels with the 2×2 size is 1 to 1⅜ inches (25–35 mm) from chin to crown; the tool sets it to 30 mm. If the document you need has a different head rule, drag the photo or use the zoom slider; the crown line and chin band on the frame show where the head has to sit.
Who uses 2×2
The US passport and passport card, all USCIS forms, US visa applications made on paper at some consulates, and — because the US standard is widely copied — a number of other countries' passports and identity documents. If your document's official page says 2 × 2 inches or 51 × 51 mm, this is the preset; if it says 35 × 45 mm, use the 35×45 mm preset instead, because the two are not interchangeable.
Printing at home versus at a counter
A home inkjet on photo paper works if the printer is set to 300 dpi and "actual size" — never "fit to page", which rescales the photo. A photo counter is more reliable: order the 4×6 sheet as a standard 4×6 print and it comes back at exactly the right size. The printing guide walks through it.
Frequently asked questions
Is 2×2 the same as 51×51 mm?
For every practical purpose, yes. 2 inches is 50.8 mm; the rules round to 51. The file is exactly 2.00 inches so that it tiles onto a 4×6 print.
Can I make a 2×2 photo from a 35×45 one?
Not by resizing — the proportions differ. Start from the original picture and choose the 2×2 preset; the tool re-crops it.
What resolution should a 2×2 photo be?
600 × 600 pixels at 300 dpi for printing. For US digital uploads the rule is 600–1200 pixels square; the US visa preset produces 1200.