Does Amazon Print Photos In 2022? (Yes, Here’s How)
Amazon has become the go-to place for online shopping, offering incredible convenience and competitive prices. But did you know that buried within their massive range of products and services, Amazon also offers photo printing?
Through their Amazon Prints service, customers can easily upload their digital photos and have high-quality prints shipped to their door. Whether you’re looking to print individual photos or create custom photo gifts, Amazon Prints aims to make the process fast, affordable, and satisfaction guaranteed.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know about Amazon’s photo printing services in 2022.
Overview of Amazon Prints Photo Service
Launched in 2016, Amazon Prints allows customers to order physical photo prints directly through Amazon’s website and mobile app.
The service is designed to be simple and convenient:
- Upload your photos through the Amazon Photos app or website
- Select the prints you want, choose sizes and quantities
- Personalize with different finishes like glossy or matte
- Checkout securely and quickly
- Fast processing & free shipping means prints arrive quickly
Amazon Prints integrates seamlessly with Amazon Prime and your Amazon account. For Prime members, it’s an easy way to get prints from your free unlimited cloud photo storage.
But you don’t need a Prime membership to use Amazon Prints. Any Amazon customer can upload photos and order prints.
Who Can Use Amazon Prints?
Amazon Prints is available to all Amazon customers in the US, regardless of whether they have an Amazon Prime membership or not.
However, Prime members do get special discounts on their prints. We’ll go into more detail on the Prime benefits later.
To get started with Amazon Prints, you simply need an Amazon account. If you already shop on Amazon, you can use your existing login credentials.
If you don’t have an Amazon account yet, you can easily sign-up for free. Just provide some basic information like your name, email address, and password.
Once your account is created, you can start uploading photos and ordering prints!
How Does Ordering Photo Prints on Amazon Work?
Ordering physical photo prints through Amazon Prints is designed to be quick and convenient. Here is an overview of how to order prints:
1. Upload Photos
You can upload photos through either the Amazon Photos website, or from the Amazon Photos app for iOS and Android devices.
On the website, simply click the “Upload” button near the top right. On mobile, tap the upload icon in the app.
Both options allow you to select photos and videos from your device to upload. They will be stored in the cloud on Amazon Photos.
2. Select Prints
Once your photos are uploaded, you can select the ones you want to print. Tap or click the print icon on a photo to start your order.
You’ll then be able to choose print sizes, quantities, and crop photos if needed. Common print sizes include:
- 3.5 x 5 inches
- 4 x 6 inches
- 5 x 7 inches
- 8 x 10 inches
- 11 x 14 inches
Wallet sized 2 x 3 inch prints are also popular for contact sheets. Larger poster sizes are also available.
3. Personalize Prints
Amazon Prints allows you to add customization options to make your photos unique.
When selecting prints, you can choose from different paper finishes:
- Glossy – High shine adds vibrancy
- Matte – Subtle and smooth finish
- Pearl – Shimmery pearlescent finish
You can also edit the photos within Amazon Prints. Basic editing like cropping, filters, and red-eye removal can be done before ordering.
4. Review Cart & Checkout
When you finish selecting prints, you’ll go through checkout and can review your full order.
The cart will show each print with the size, quantity and paper finish selected. You can change quantities or remove prints at this stage if needed.
When you’re satisfied, complete your purchase! Payment can be made by credit/debit cards, Amazon gift cards or your Amazon Pay balance.
5. Processing & Shipping
Once your order is placed, Amazon gets to work processing your prints. This takes about 1 hour per order.
A status timer shows you the progress. Since printing starts immediately, orders cannot be cancelled or changed once placed.
After processing, your prints are shipped for free via USPS First Class Mail. Most orders arrive within 5 business days.
What Photo Sizes Can You Choose For Prints?
One of the nice things about Amazon Prints is the wide range of size options to suit different needs.
While sizes can be customized to exact dimensions if needed, here are some of the most popular standard print sizes:
- 3.5 x 5 inches – Small sized prints perfect for wallet photos
- 4 x 6 inches – Classic photo print size for frame or album
- 5 x 7 inches – Medium print great for family photos
- 8 x 10 inches – Standard large size print looks great framed
- 11 x 14 inches – Large statement size for art prints
You can also choose square prints like 5 x 5, 8 x 8, or 12 x 12 inches. Or go even bigger with poster sizes – 16 x 20, 20 x 30, 24 x 36 inches.
Having this range gives you flexibility whether you want tiny wallet prints, medium wall prints, or extra large poster-sized prints.
How Much Does Photo Printing Cost on Amazon Prints?
One of the major benefits of using Amazon Prints is the affordable pricing compared to other photo printing services.
Print pricing is based on the size – the larger the print, the higher the cost. Here is the breakdown of common print sizes:
- 4 x 6 inches – Starting at $0.09 per print
- 5 x 7 inches – Starting at $0.38 per print
- 8 x 10 inches – Starting at $0.79 per print
- 11 x 14 inches – Starting at $3.99 per print
These base prices are for glossy finish. Upgrading to matte or pearl finishes adds $0.15 per print. Adding expedited shipping also increases costs slightly.
But the convenience of quickly getting quality prints shipped to your door makes the prices worthwhile for most shoppers.
Does Amazon Offer Free Photo Prints?
At this time, Amazon Prints does not offer completely free photo prints without a paid order.
However, there are a few ways you can get free shipping on your prints:
- Get 5-7 business day shipping free on all orders
- Get free two-day shipping with a Prime membership
- Qualify for free shipping when you spend over $25 in one order
So while the prints themselves aren’t free, Amazon does offer plenty of free shipping options. Between the low print costs and free shipping, you can get prints made very affordably.
Do Prime Members Get Any Discounts on Prints?
Amazon Prime members do get special perks when using Amazon Prints in the form of discounts.
The Prime shipping benefits also make the process faster and more convenient. Here are the key membership bonuses:
- 20% off – Prime members get a 20% discount on all their Amazon Prints orders
- Free Two-Day Shipping – Prints qualify for Prime’s free expedited shipping
- Unlimited Photos – Store unlimited photos with your Prime membership
The 20% discount applies automatically in checkout for Prime members. Expedited free 2-day shipping also happens at checkout.
Having unlimited free cloud photo storage through Prime lets you access all your pictures easily. You can print photos years later with no additional storage fees.
What Payment Methods Are Accepted?
Placing an order with Amazon Prints is quick since it integrates with your regular Amazon payment options.
You can pay using:
- Credit or debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover)
- Amazon Pay balance
- Gift cards or gift certificate balance
- Amazon Store card
Third-party payment services like PayPal are not directly integrated. However, you can still use PayPal to load funds into your Amazon Pay balance and complete transactions that way.
When checking out, you’ll sign-in using your Amazon credentials. Select a saved payment method or enter a new one. The payment process is smooth and secure.
What is the Return Policy and Guarantee?
Amazon Prints orders are eligible for free returns and come with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
If you are unsatisfied with the print quality or if the order was inaccurate, you can contact Amazon’s customer service for a full refund.
To request a return and refund:
Contact Amazon Prints customer service within 90 days of order delivery.
Explain the reason you’re dissatisfied with the order.
You‘ll be issued a free return shipping label to send the prints back.
Once received at the warehouse, Amazon will process a full refund to your original payment method.
Amazon’s Happiness Guarantee ensures you’ll get a hassle-free experience with your prints. If quality or accuracy issues occur, you’ll get a refund quickly and easily.
What Photo Finishes Are Available?
Amazon Prints offers several different paper finishes that give your photos a unique look and feel.
When selecting prints, you can choose a finish for each individual photo. Here are the most popular options:
Glossy
Glossy finish has a smooth, shiny surface that makes colors pop. Photos printed with a glossy finish have vivid hues and deep blacks for high visual impact.
The sheen of glossy prints also makes them easy to wipe clean. This is ideal for photos that will be handled frequently like family portraits.
Glossy is great for framing photos or displaying on shelves. The shine adds depth for an almost 3D effect on the image. It’s the most versatile finish option.
Matte
Matte finish has a flat, non-reflective surface that minimizes glare. Matte prints have a more subdued look than glossy.
The matte surface absorbs light slightly for improved color accuracy. Photos printed in matte have a soft, paper-like texture.
Matte is popular for printing photos that will go in albums or get handled a lot. The flat finish also makes matte ideal for black and white photography.
Pearl
Pearl finish has a luminous, shimmery surface that adds elegance. The pearlescent sheen gives photos a metallic, lustrous look.
Pearl prints take on an iridescent quality where colors appear to shift in the light. This unique finish is perfect for highlighting skin tones.
The radiant pearl shine makes photos stand out in frames or displayed on their own. Pearl is ideal for upscale prints of portraits or art photography.
Does Amazon Offer Custom Photo Gifts?
In addition to standard prints, Amazon Prints lets you create customized photo gifts by adding your pictures to everyday items.
Some popular personalized photo gift ideas include:
- Photo books – Custom hardcover or softcover albums
- Calendars – 12-month calendars with your photos
- Cards – Unique folded cards for any occasion
- Coffee mugs – Dishwasher safe mugs with full photo wraps
- Wall art – Canvas, acrylic, or metal prints
- Puzzles – Sturdy puzzles made from your photos
To start creating, select “Photo Gifts” from the top menu on Amazon Prints. You can then browse gift templates and select the images you want to use.
These meaningful keepsakes make wonderful personalized gifts for birthdays, holidays, weddings, and more special events.
Pros of Using Amazon Prints
There are many good reasons to use Amazon Prints for turning your digital photos into physical prints:
Convenience – Easy uploading and ordering integrated with your Amazon account
Affordability – Prints start at just 9 centseach
Prime Discounts – Members get 20% off print orders
Speed – Orders processed in 1 hour and shipped for free
Quality – Professional high resolution photo development
Selection – Wide range of print sizes plus novelty gift options
Satisfaction Guarantee – Returns accepted if you’re unsatisfied
For most shoppers, the convenience, price, quality and reliability make Amazon Prints a great choice for bringing photos to life off-screen.
Cons to Consider
The biggest drawbacks of Amazon Prints are:
No free prints – You must pay for each print, albeit at a low cost
Less customization – Editing and retouching tools are basic compared to specialty photo sites
Third party printing – Amazon partners with labs like Printique to fulfill orders
Can’t sell prints – You can’t make prints to sell; just for personal use
Unless you need pro-level editing options or plan to sell prints, the limitations are minor. Amazon Prints offers a cost-effective, user-friendly service for most everyday photo printing needs.
Conclusion
Amazon Prints provides an easy, affordable way to turn your digital photos into physical prints that you can hold and display.
With inexpensive print pricing starting at 9 cents, free shipping, and quick order processing, it’s no wonder millions of customers use Amazon for their photo printing needs.
Uploading pictures is a breeze whether you use the Amazon Photos app or website. And Prime members enjoy nice perks like discounts and expedited shipping.
While professional photographers and graphic designers may desire more robust editing and print quality from specialty labs, Amazon Prints hits the sweet spot for casual photo printing.
The convenience of tapping into the giant Amazon ecosystem makes this an unbeatable service for converting your memories into prints you can cherish for years to come.
