Does Costco develop film?
Costco's cheap, decent film developing was a community favourite — and it ended in February 2021 when the photo departments closed. Here is the status of every big chain people still ask about, and where film actually gets developed now.
No — Costco no longer develops film. The chain closed its in-store photo centers in February 2021, ending the inexpensive develop-and-scan service that had made it a genuine favourite among film shooters. If you came here hoping to drop a roll at Costco, that option is gone, and it is worth knowing the status of the other big chains people still ask about before you drive anywhere.
Why film shooters miss Costco. For years Costco offered good-quality develop-and-scan at prices well below most labs, and — unlike the pharmacy counters — it was well regarded for the results. Its exit in 2021 removed the best cheap option in a lot of towns, which is a big part of why dedicated and mail-in labs matter more now.
Which big chains still develop film?
| Chain | Develops film? | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Costco | No | Photo centers closed February 2021; film processing ended then. |
| Sam's Club | No | In-store photo labs closed years ago (around 2013). |
| Target | No | Prints from digital only; does not develop film, and has cut back photo counters. |
| Rite Aid | Mostly no | Most locations do not develop film; where any photo service remains it is send-out. |
| Walgreens | Send-out only | Accepts film but ships it to a third-party lab — details. |
| CVS | Send-out only | No in-store equipment; ships film to a central lab — details. |
| Walmart | Send-out only | Third-party mail-away; negatives not returned — details. |
The pattern is clear: the warehouse and big-box chains have left film entirely, and the pharmacy chains only accept it as a send-out service — low-resolution scans, a multi-week wait, and usually no negatives back. None of them develop film on site.
So who actually develops film now?
Two kinds of place, both better than anything the chains offered:
- Dedicated film labs and camera stores with labs. They develop on site, return your negatives cut and sleeved, scan at real resolution, and can handle black-and-white, slide, 120 and more. Many offer same-day colour.
- Mail-in labs. If nothing good is local, a trusted mail-in lab develops your film by post and returns the negatives — the convenience of a send-out service without the drugstore downsides. Weigh it up in mail-in vs local developing.
Costco's cheap develop-and-scan is not coming back, but the labs that do this properly are still here. Use the film-developing directory or browse by state to find one near you — and whatever you choose, keep your negatives.
Common questions
- Does Costco still develop film?
- No. Costco discontinued film processing when it closed its in-store photo departments in February 2021. The warehouse chain no longer develops film, makes prints from film, or offers the inexpensive develop-and-scan service that film shooters valued for years. To develop film now you need a dedicated film lab, a camera store with a lab, or a mail-in lab.
- When did Costco stop developing film?
- Costco wound down and closed its photo centers in February 2021, ending in-store film developing along with its other photo-department services. It was a notable loss for film shooters because Costco had offered good-quality develop-and-scan at low prices, and its closure pushed many people toward dedicated labs and mail-in services.
- Does Sam's Club develop film?
- No. Sam's Club closed its in-store photo labs years ago — around 2013 — and does not develop film. Like the other warehouse and big-box chains, it has exited film processing entirely, so a real film lab or a mail-in lab is the route to take.
- Does Target develop film?
- No. Target does not process film. Its photo service handles prints and products made from digital files, not development of exposed film, and Target has also scaled back in-store photo and print counters over the years. For film developing you need a dedicated lab.
- Where can I get film developed now that Costco stopped?
- Dedicated film labs and camera stores with in-house labs are the best option — they develop on site, return your negatives and scan at higher resolution than any drugstore. If none is nearby, a trusted mail-in lab develops your film by post and returns the negatives. The pharmacy chains (Walgreens, CVS, Walmart) still accept film but only as a send-out service with low-resolution scans and, usually, no negatives returned.