Walgreens Film Developing FAQ: Price, Hours, How Long It Takes, etc

Developing film may not be as common as it was a decade or two ago, but there’s still a market for it. If you’re a sucker for a film camera, Walgreens and Duane Reade offer an array of film developing services that’ll keep you snapping. Below, we’ll tell you what you need to know about printing images from film, negatives, and disposable cameras at Walgreens and Duane Reade.

Does Every Walgreens Store Develop Film?

According to two different customer service representatives we spoke to, all Walgreens stores with photo labs develop film, including Duane Reade locations with photo labs (which are owned by Walgreens). The only Walgreens stores that won’t develop film are specialty stores like stand-alone Walgreens pharmacies. Keep reading to learn more about types of film that you can develop at Walgreens.

What Film Developing Services Does Walgreens Offer?

All Walgreens and Duane Reade photo labs can develop 35mm film.

Select stores may also accept APS, 110 film, 127 film, negatives, and disposable cameras. Walgreens customer service representatives were unable to tell us why these services are only available at select stores. They were also unable to tell us how many stores offer these additional film developing services. Walgreens customer service recommends contacting your local store to see if these services are available.

No matter the type of film, all Walgreens stores use an outside vendor to fulfill the order. Walgreens has a variety of film developing services to choose from:

If You Have 35mm Film, You Can Choose From:

• A CD of digital images: $10.48
• 4×5 prints:
  • 12 exposures: $11.99
  • 24 exposures: $14.99 (includes a free CD of digital images)
  • 27 exposures: $15.86
  • 36 exposures: $17.99
  • 39 exposures: $18.82
• 8×10 prints: $3.55 each

If You Have Negatives, You Can Choose From:

• A CD of digital images: $5.99

Note that your original film will be disposed of by the outside vendor. Therefore, you will not receive your original negatives when you pick up your developed film. This is commonplace for retailers offering film developing services. If having a file of your photos is important to you, you can purchase a CD of your digital images.

In addition to Walgreens, Walmart and CVS are the only other major retailers that develop film. Read more about their services in our article, 35mm Film Developing: Places and Prices Listed (In-Store and Online).

How Long Does It Take to Develop Film at Walgreens?

Because Walgreens uses an outside vendor to develop film, the film developing process takes between three and five business days.

Photo labs are open during regular store hours. This includes even those Walgreens and Duane Reade stores that are open 24 hours a day. The customer service representative we spoke with assured us that film can be dropped off and picked up at the photo lab any time during regular business hours.

In Summary

Walgreens and Duane Reade offer film developing services for customers who use film and disposable cameras. You can develop both negatives and undeveloped film at Walgreens. Expect a turnaround time of between 3-5 business days for for Walgreens’ vendor to develop and send back your film order.

Want to take your pet to Walgreens? See this article first. Planning on going to Costco and would you consider taking your film there instead? See our article about if Costco develops film.