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Film developing in Chicago, IL

6 film labs, 2 camera stores and 1 community darkroom that develop film in Chicago. Scanners documented locally: Epson flatbed. Ranked by local reputation — rating weighted by how many people left one.

9Develop film
1Confirmed in-house
1Same-day
$8.49Cheapest listed price

Labs and shops in Chicago that develop film

Filter by process, scanner and turnaround, then sort by rating, review count or what's open right now.

Showing 9 of 9

Central Camera Company

Camera store & film lab 4.3 ★★★★☆ 716

230 S Wabash Ave · Chicago, IL

Storied family-owned camera shop selling equipment, film & hard-to-find items since 1899.

Dodd Camera

Camera store & film lab 4.6 ★★★★★ 435

2844 W Armitage Ave · Chicago, IL

Black & whiteFilm scanning

Store carrying brand-name cameras & lenses, plus a large selection of gear for photography.

Bellows Film Lab Chicago

Film lab 4.3 ★★★★☆ 305

1359 N Milwaukee Ave · Chicago, IL

Film scanning

Friendly, warm, helpful staff at this store specializing in developing, scanning and printing photos from film cameras.

LATITUDE Chicago

Film lab 4.7 ★★★★★ 89

2003 W Fulton St #211 · Chicago, IL

Develops in-houseBlack & whiteSlide / E-6

Community digital lab with scanning and printing services, plus an artist in residence program and classes.

CSW Film Systems

Film lab 4.8 ★★★★★ 86

215 N Desplaines St · Chicago, IL

Same-dayBlack & whiteSlide / E-6

Fast and affordable film developer offering same-day processing for C41 negatives.

Gamma Imaging

Film lab 3.9 ★★★★☆ 7

222 N Desplaines St · Chicago, IL

Slide / E-6Film scanning

A badge only appears where the data proves it. No “in-house” badge doesn't mean a lab ships your film out — it means we couldn't confirm either way, so ask at the counter.

What a roll typically costs

$5–12Develop only · 35mm
$15–24Develop + scan · 35mm
$16–26120 / medium format
$12–20E-6 slide

Typical 2025–26 US ranges from published lab price lists — not a quote from any Chicago business. Black & white adds a few dollars, and same-day or large scans cost extra. The lowest per-roll develop price we've read off a Chicago lab's own site is $8.49. Full price breakdown →

What these Chicago labs handle

Counts come from each lab's own website and from what customers describe in reviews. Not every lab runs every process — call ahead for E-6, ECN-2 and large format.

Developing film in Chicago: common questions

Where can I get film developed in Chicago?
9 Chicago businesses develop film: Central Camera Company, Dodd Camera, Bellows Film Lab Chicago, LATITUDE Chicago and others. They are ranked below by local reputation — rating weighted by how many people reviewed them.
Which Chicago lab should I use?
Ask three things before you hand over a roll: do you develop on site, which scanner do you run, and do I get my negatives back. 1 of the 9 here is confirmed to develop in-house. A blank on a card means the lab hasn't published it, not that the answer is no.
How much does developing cost in Chicago?
Independent pricing is national in shape: about $5–12 to develop a roll of 35mm, $15–24 develop-and-scan, $16–26 for 120, and $12–20 for E-6 slide, with black & white a few dollars more. The cheapest per-roll develop price we've read off a Chicago lab's own site is $8.49. Drugstore counters charge more and mail your film away.

All film listings in Chicago → All of Illinois Film developing guide