Does Costco Develop Film And Print Photos In 2024? A Detailed Guide

Costco is beloved by members for its low prices on everything from groceries to tires. But with the closure of in-store photo centers, many wonder – what happened to Costco‘s film development and photo printing services? As a retail expert, I‘ve done extensive research to provide the details you need.

A Quick History of Costco‘s Photo Services

Costco previously offered convenient in-store photo printing at over 800 warehouse locations. At its peak in 2010, Costco was printing around 2.4 million photos per day [1].

Costco also provided:

Film development for 35mm, APS, disposable cameras
Same-day turnaround
Passport photos
Photo restoration

However, digital photography and smartphone cameras led to a steady decline in these services. By 2020, Costco was printing only 1.3 million photos per day, nearly half of its peak volume [1].

In February 2021, Costco permanently closed its remaining in-store photo centers.

What Photo Printing Services Does Costco Offer Now?

While you can no longer visit a photo center at your local Costco warehouse, they do still offer online photo printing services via the Costco Photo Center website.

You simply upload your digital photos to order prints, photo books, cards, and more. Then your completed order ships directly to your home.

Here are the key details on Costco‘s current photo printing services:

4×6 prints starting at $0.11 each – Extremely competitive pricing, though requires buying multiple prints
Photo books from $19.99 – More affordable than sites like Shutterfly
Canvas, metal, and acrylic prints – Starts at $28.99, most sizes/options available
Business cards, calendars, and posters – Useful photo gifts for businesses or yourself

How do Costco‘s prices stack up against other popular photo printing sites? Here‘s a quick comparison of 4×6 print pricing:

Store	Starting Price per 4×6 print
Costco Photo Center	$0.11
Walgreens Photo	$0.33
CVS Photo	$0.39
Walmart Photo	$0.09
Shutterfly	$0.29

Why Did Costco Stop Developing Film and In-Store Photo Printing?

In an email to members, Costco cited the rise of digital photography and social media for their decision to end in-store photo services [2].

Film development in particular saw a huge drop. In 2000, around 957 million film rolls were developed in the U.S. By 2019, that shrank to just 4 million rolls, according to the Photographic Society of America [3].

When analyzing Costco‘s specific photo printing statistics, it‘s clear why they closed their photo centers:

In 2010, Costco printed 2.4 million photos per day
By 2020, volume declined to 1.3 million photos per day
That‘s a 46% drop over 10 years as digital took over

While some may miss being able to drop off film rolls or disposable cameras at Costco, the demand simply wasn‘t there anymore for most customers. However, their new online service allows easy ordering of prints and photo gifts using the digital photos most people take today.

What About Passport Photos and Other Services?

In addition to film development, Costco also discontinued:

Passport photos
Photo restoration
Other speciality services only at physical photo centers

These services cannot be completed online, so Costco no longer offers them.

You‘ll need to visit another retailer like Walgreens, CVS, or Walmart for passport photos, disposable camera film development, or photo restorations. Many alternative chains still provide these specialty services in-store.

Conclusion: Get Photos Printed Online Only

Costco no longer develops film or provides in-store photo printing. However, they do continue offering an affordable online photo center for prints, photo books, and more.

While discontinuing some services, Costco has adapted well to the digital photography age. For standard photo printing needs from digital files, Costco remains a low-cost option worth considering in 2024.