Wedding Photo Booth Cost Calculator
See what a photo booth will cost for your wedding in seconds. Compare types, add-ons, and hours, then find out what you could capture for free instead.
Your Photo Booth Details
Your Photo Booth Cost Estimate
Photo Booth
$890 - $1,210
- Only guests who walk to the booth corner
- Limited to your rental window (3h)
- Misses the ceremony, cocktail hour, candids
- Rental ends, gallery access may expire
Pix Wedding QR Album
Free to start
- Every guest's photos and videos, from the whole day
- Full resolution, no rental window
- One QR code, no app, no account needed
- Ceremony, cocktail hour, reception all captured
A photo booth covers one corner of your venue for 3 hours and costs roughly $890 to $1,210. A QR album captures every guest's shots and videos from the entire day for free.
Estimates are based on 2026 US market data. Hourly rates: selfie station ~$120/hr, open-air ~$200/hr, enclosed ~$250/hr, mirror ~$320/hr, glam/360 ~$450/hr. Actual quotes vary by region, vendor, and season. Always get 2-3 quotes before booking.
First dance
You guys!!
A photo booth for the corner. A QR album for the whole room.
A photo booth only captures the guests who walk to it, for a few hours. A QR album collects every guest's photos and videos from the entire day, full resolution, no rental window, no extra cost.
From Mom
Scan to join the album
No app, no account
UPLOADING
Saving your moment
ALBUM
Emma & Jack
647 photos · 95 guests
Sarah B.
How much does a wedding photo booth cost in 2026?
Most couples pay between $700 and $1,500 for a 3 to 4 hour photo booth rental that includes an attendant, custom print strips, and a digital gallery. Budget selfie stations start closer to $300 to $650 total, while premium glam or 360-degree booths can reach $1,100 to $2,300 for the same window.
The hourly rate is the biggest lever. Selfie stations run roughly $100 to $150 per hour, open-air booths $175 to $250, enclosed booths $200 to $300, mirror booths $275 to $375, and glam or 360 booths $400 to $500 or more. Add-ons like an attendant, custom backdrops, and branded print templates layer on top of that base.
- •Selfie station: $300 to $650 for a typical 3-hour rental.
- •Open-air booth: $600 to $950 for 3 hours.
- •Enclosed booth: $700 to $1,500 for 3 to 4 hours.
- •Mirror booth: $800 to $1,200 for 3 hours.
- •Glam or 360-degree booth: $1,100 to $2,300 for 3 to 4 hours.
- •Attendant: typically $100 to $200 flat, budgeted at $150 in the calculator.
- •Custom print strips: $100 to $200 flat, budgeted at $150 in the calculator.
Photo booth types compared: which is right for your wedding?
The booth type you choose changes both the look of your photos and the price by a factor of three or four. Selfie stations are compact, portable, and the most affordable, but they produce a more DIY feel. Open-air booths give you flexibility with group sizes and backdrops. Enclosed booths add privacy and a classic photo booth strip feel that guests love.
Mirror booths are increasingly popular at upscale receptions because they produce polished, full-length shots with animated GIFs. Glam or 360-degree booths create dramatic slow-motion video clips that guests share instantly on social media. If your budget is tight, an open-air booth delivers the best combination of quality and price.
- •Selfie station: best for intimate weddings or tight budgets, most portable.
- •Open-air: the most versatile, fits large groups, customizable backdrop.
- •Enclosed: nostalgic strip-photo feel, great for guests who want privacy.
- •Mirror booth: premium look, touch-screen interface, full-body animated GIFs.
- •Glam or 360: slow-motion video clips, highest wow factor, highest price.
What a photo booth misses, and how to fill the gap
A photo booth is fundamentally a corner activity. It captures only the guests who choose to walk over, pose, and wait their turn, typically 40 to 60 percent of the room at best. The ceremony, cocktail hour, candid moments at the tables, and the last-dance hug between your parents all happen outside the booth's frame and outside its rental window.
That coverage gap is why most couples now pair a photo booth with a QR photo album. Guests scan a single code on arrival and upload photos and videos from anywhere in the venue, all day long, in full resolution and with no app required. The booth gets you the posed, fun prints. The QR album gets you everything else.
Wedding photo booth cost by type: full breakdown
Every booth type serves a different vibe. Use this table to compare price ranges, what is typically included, and what sets each one apart before you get your first quote.
| Booth Type | Typical 3-Hr Cost | Approx Hourly Rate | Usually Includes | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selfie Station | $300 - $650 | ~$120/hr | Props, digital gallery | Intimate or budget weddings |
| Open-Air Booth | $600 - $950 | ~$200/hr | Backdrop, props, digital gallery | Large groups, outdoor receptions |
| Enclosed Booth | $700 - $1,500 | ~$250/hr | Strips, attendant, digital gallery | Classic nostalgic feel |
| Mirror Booth | $800 - $1,200 | ~$320/hr | Animated GIFs, touch screen, prints | Upscale ballroom receptions |
| Glam or 360 Booth | $1,100 - $2,300 | ~$450/hr | Slow-mo video, platform, attendant | High-impact social-media moment |
Prices reflect 2026 US market rates. Regional variation is significant: major metros like New York and Los Angeles typically run 20 to 40 percent higher than national midpoints. Always collect at least two to three quotes.
Common photo booth add-ons and what they cost
The base rental covers the booth and the operator's time to set up and break down. Almost everything else is an add-on, and they add up faster than most couples expect. Here is what vendors typically charge for the most requested extras.
Booth Attendant
$100 - $200Manages the queue, fixes tech issues, prompts guests, and keeps props organised. Almost always worth it for receptions of 80 or more.
Custom Backdrop
$75 - $300Flower walls, sequin panels, and branded backdrops are the most requested. Included in some packages, add-on in others.
Branded Print Template
$50 - $150Your names, wedding date, and a custom border on every strip. Most vendors include one design; extra revisions cost more.
Props Package
$25 - $100Hats, glasses, signs, and frame props. Budget vendors include basic props; premium packages offer custom or themed sets.
Digital Gallery
Often includedA link where guests download their own photos and videos. Confirm how long the link stays active, some vendors expire it in 30 days.
Guest Book Service
$75 - $200A physical album where the attendant prints a strip and guests sign beside it. A favourite keepsake for the couple.
Idle Hour Fee
$50 - $150/hrIf you want the booth set up at 4 pm but not open until 7 pm, vendors charge for the idle time. Ask upfront.
Travel Fee
$0 - $200+Most vendors cover a radius of 25 to 50 miles. Beyond that, expect a mileage or flat travel charge added to the quote.
How to get the best photo booth quote
Photo booth pricing varies wildly between vendors for identical setups. These steps help you compare quotes fairly and avoid surprises on the invoice.
- 1
Get at least three quotes
The same 3-hour open-air rental can range from $500 to $1,100 in the same city. The only way to know if you are being overcharged is to compare.
- 2
Ask for an all-in price
Request a quote that includes setup, breakdown, attendant, props, prints, and digital gallery in one number, not a base rate with add-ons listed separately.
- 3
Clarify the active rental window
A 3-hour rental means 3 hours of booth-open time. If the ceremony runs long, does that eat into your rental? Get it in writing.
- 4
Check digital gallery expiry
Some vendors expire the download link in 30 days. Ask for a permanent or at least 12-month link before signing.
- 5
Ask about idle hour fees
If there is a gap between when they set up and when you want the booth open, confirm whether idle hours are charged separately.
- 6
Book off-peak or off-season
Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons are 15 to 25 percent cheaper than Saturday night. Winter months (November to February, excluding December) also tend to be lower.
- 7
Bundle with your venue or photographer
Some venues have preferred vendor relationships, and some photographers offer booth packages. Bundling occasionally unlocks a 10 to 15 percent discount.
Photo booth at a wedding: pros and cons
Pros
- Built-in entertainment: keeps guests busy during cocktail hour or slow moments between toasts.
- Instant keepsake: guests leave with a physical print, a tangible memory from the night.
- Social shareable: digital GIFs and slow-mo clips get shared widely, giving the couple organic reach.
- No tech barrier: even older guests with no smartphone can participate and take home a print.
Cons
- Coverage is limited to one corner: guests who never walk to the booth are not captured at all.
- Rental window is short: 3 to 4 hours misses the ceremony, cocktail hour, and late-night moments.
- Significant cost: $700 to $1,500 is a real budget line for a single activity that runs a few hours.
- Queue frustration: popular booths build long lines at peak moments, and some guests skip it entirely.
Photo booth vs QR photo album: which covers your wedding better?
| Feature | Photo Booth | Pix Wedding QR Album |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $300 to $2,300+ | Free to start |
| Coverage area | One corner of the venue | Everywhere guests go |
| Coverage window | 3 to 4 hour rental | The whole day, no rental window |
| Who participates | Guests who walk to the booth | Every guest with a phone |
| Video | GIFs or slow-mo only | Full video clips from every phone |
| Resolution | High for posed shots | Full native phone resolution |
| Physical prints | Yes, usually included | Not included |
| App required | No | No, just scan a QR code |
The practical read: a photo booth is a great activity and produces prints guests keep. A QR album is how you actually collect the candid moments from the whole day. Most couples who want both use the booth for the fun and the QR album for the coverage.
What couples say about photo booth decisions
"We went with an open-air booth at $750 for 3 hours and it was the hit of the reception. Every table stopped by at some point."
Lauren C."Wish someone had told us about the digital gallery expiry. Ours expired in 30 days and we almost lost all the photos."
Marcus T."The QR album alongside the booth was the best decision we made. The booth got us the posed fun shots, the QR album got us everything else."
Priya S."Mirror booth was $1,100 and worth every dollar. The animated GIFs were shared by half the guests the same night."
Daniel W.Keep planning
Wedding Photo Booth Cost FAQ
Everything you need to know about our free tools and how they help your wedding day.
Most couples pay $700 to $1,500 for a 3 to 4 hour photo booth rental that includes an attendant, custom prints, and a digital gallery. Budget selfie stations start at $300 to $650, while premium glam or 360-degree booths can reach $1,100 to $2,300. The calculator above gives you a personalised estimate based on your booth type and hours.
Selfie stations are the most affordable, typically running $300 to $650 for a 3-hour rental. They are compact, portable, and produce solid digital photos, but the output tends to feel less polished than an open-air or enclosed booth setup.
Three to four hours is the most common rental window. Most couples open the booth during cocktail hour and run it through the first half of the reception. Four hours covers more of the evening and tends to reduce queue frustration at peak moments after dinner.
Not always. Some packages include an attendant as standard; others list it as an add-on for $100 to $200. Always confirm whether an attendant is included before comparing quotes, because a staffed booth is a meaningfully different experience from an unstaffed one.
A QR photo album is the most popular free alternative. Guests scan a single code and upload photos and videos from their phones, with no app and no account required. You collect every guest's shots in full resolution from the entire day, not just the few hours and the booth corner. Pix Wedding is free to start.
Most photo booths produce GIFs or, for 360-degree and glam booths, short slow-motion video clips. They do not capture the long candid video moments that guests with smartphones record throughout the day. A QR photo album collects those full video clips alongside still photos.
For peak season Saturdays (May through October), book 6 to 12 months in advance. Popular vendors in major cities fill their calendar a full year out. Off-peak weekdays and Sundays have more availability, and some vendors offer last-minute discounts to fill gaps.
Yes. Vendors will sometimes reduce the rate for off-peak dates, shorter rentals, or by bundling with other services. Asking for an all-in quote that includes all add-ons before you begin negotiating makes it easier to compare and identify where there is room to move.
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