U.S. Passport Cost Calculator

Wondering how much is a passport cost in 2026? The total depends on four things: your age (under 16 vs. 16+), the application type (book, card, or both, new vs. renewal), how fast you need it (routine, expedited, or urgent in-person), and the delivery method you choose. As an example, an adult new passport book filed by mail at routine speed runs $130 application + $35 execution = $165, while an adult expedited book with 1–2 day return delivery is closer to $260–$280.

This calculator adds up the State Department application fee, the $35 acceptance/execution fee (for first-time and minor applicants), the optional $60 expedite fee, and 1–2 day return shipping when selected. For example, a child passport book renewal does not exist (minors must apply in person), so a minor book + card with execution and expedite totals $100 + $15 + $35 + $60 = $210 before shipping. Adjust any input to match your situation — the headline numbers are defaults, not hard caps.

How it works: Pick age, application type, processing speed, and shipping. The script adds the State Department fee, execution fee (when required), expedite fee (when chosen), and return shipping to give a total cost.

How Much Does a U.S. Passport Cost in 2026?

Passport pricing has three layers: the State Department application fee, optional add-ons like execution and expedite, and your own costs for photos and mailing. Here is how each piece works and how to keep the total reasonable.

2026 published U.S. passport fees by document and age

Add-on services and typical costs

Adult vs. minor pricing

The biggest pricing split is age. Adults (16 and older) pay $130 for a book and get a 10-year validity, while minors under 16 pay $100 but receive only a 5-year passport — so cost per year is actually higher for kids. Minors must always apply in person with both parents present (or with consent documentation), which means the $35 execution fee always applies. A rule of thumb: a family of four with two adult renewals and two new minor books typically spends $130 + $130 + $135 + $135 = $530 in government fees alone.

Book, card, or both

The book is the universal travel document; the card is a cheaper $30 alternative that only works at land and sea borders with Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. If you order both at the same time, you pay only one $35 execution fee, saving $35 versus applying separately. A common guideline: get just the book unless you cross a land border frequently (commuters, cruise regulars). The card is wallet-sized and useful as a backup ID, but it cannot be used for any international flight.

Routine vs. expedited processing

Routine processing in 2026 runs 6–8 weeks; expedited by mail is 2–3 weeks for an extra $60. If you need it faster than that, you must book an in-person appointment at a regional passport agency and show proof of international travel within 14 days — that still costs the $60 expedite fee but skips the mail queue entirely. A useful rule: apply at least 3 months before any planned trip. If you are inside 6 weeks, pay the $60. Inside 2 weeks, go to an agency.

Renewal by mail vs. first-time

Adults who already have a passport book issued within the last 15 years (and were 16+ when issued, and it is undamaged) can renew by mail using Form DS-82 and skip the $35 execution fee — saving $35 versus a first-time DS-11 application. Renewal totals $130 by mail for a book, or $165 with $60 expedite added. First-time adults always pay execution because someone must witness the oath. Minors cannot renew by mail under any circumstance.

Shipping and mailing costs

Two shipping legs cost money: sending your application in, and receiving your finished passport back. Outbound, USPS Priority Mail Express with tracking runs $25–$40 — worth it given you are mailing your original birth certificate or old passport. Inbound, you can add $22.05 for 1–2 day priority return delivery; otherwise it ships standard. Total shipping adds $25–$62. Tip: applications submitted in person at a post office or library acceptance facility skip outbound shipping entirely.

Photos and hidden costs

You need one 2x2 inch color photo meeting strict specs (white background, neutral expression, no glasses since 2016). Drugstores and shipping stores charge $12–$17, while many libraries and AAA offices do it for $10–$15. If you have a smartphone and a white wall, you can take a compliant photo for free using the State Department’s photo tool — but rejected photos delay processing by 2–4 weeks, so the $15 spent at a pro shop is usually worth it. Budget another $0–$20 for certified copies if you need a replacement birth certificate.

Ways to save money

Three reliable savings: (1) renew by mail when eligible to skip the $35 execution fee; (2) order book + card together for one execution fee instead of two; (3) plan early so you never pay the $60 expedite. Skipping 1–2 day return shipping saves $22.05 with only a few extra mail days. Families: stagger renewals so you only pay one round of fees at a time, or apply all minors together at a single acceptance appointment to consolidate trips and parking costs.

How This Calculator Works: Methodology & Parameter Explanations

Core formula: total_government = application_fee + execution_fee + expedite_fee + return_shipping_fee; all_in = total_government + outbound_shipping + photo_cost. application_fee is $130 (adult book) or $100 (minor book) or $30/$15 (card) or combined for book+card. execution_fee = $35 unless adult renewal by mail. expedite_fee = $60 if expedited or urgent. return_shipping_fee = $22.05 if 1–2 day chosen, else $0.

Parameter explanations

Assumptions

All fees default to U.S. State Department published 2026 rates ($130 adult book, $100 minor book, $30/$15 card, $35 execution, $60 expedite, $22.05 1–2 day return). These are example defaults; users in other situations can adjust outbound shipping and photo cost.

Execution fee is automatically skipped for adult mail-in renewals (DS-82) and applied in all other cases.

Urgent agency appointments require proof of international travel within 14 days; the calculator models the same $60 expedite fee but does not include travel/parking to reach the regional agency.

Foreign-resident applicants pay the same State Department fees but may face different mailing costs; outbound and return shipping inputs let you override defaults.

The headline cost in the keyword (a single passport price) is just an example output — the calculator works for any combination of inputs and prints itemized fees.

Parameter meanings