From the Arch Club Journal

What a roll of film costs in 2026

Film, developing and scans, added up. Plus the honest ways to spend less.

Written by Arch Club. Prices are typical US retail and lab prices published in summer 2026, per 36 exposure roll. They change often, so check before you buy. Sources are at the end.

The film

FilmPer roll
Kentmere Pan 400about $8.50
Kodak Tri-X 400about $9
Kodak Gold 200about $9 to $9.50
Ilford HP5 Plusabout $10 to $11.50
Kodak UltraMax 400about $10 to $11
Kodak Ektar 100about $16 to $16.50
Kodak Portra 400about $17 in a 5 pack
CineStill 800Tabout $18
Kodak Ektachrome E100about $24 to $25

Developing and scans

Most labs charge roughly $10 to $20 per roll to develop and scan colour negative film, more for high resolution scans, and a few dollars more for slide film. Mail-in labs add shipping. In New York, walk-in labs start around $10 to $11 to develop.

Per frame

RollFilm + labPer frame
Kodak Gold 200about $23about 65 cents
Kodak Portra 400about $35about $1
Ektachrome E100about $45about $1.25

Five ways to spend less

I
Shoot black and white and develop it yourself.Chemicals work out to a dollar or two per roll.
II
Buy in packs.Five and ten packs bring the price per roll down.
III
Use a half-frame camera.Twice the pictures from every roll.
IV
Save Portra for people.Practise on Gold or Kentmere.
V
Scan only what you need.Standard scans are plenty for sharing; pay for high resolution on the frames you'll print.
Every frame costs something. That is why every frame counts.
White marble stilettos with red marble straps on a black marble plinth
Shot on film at Arch Club

ARCH CLUB

A members' club for foot photography, shot only on film.

Every Arch Club photograph is made on a Canon EOS-1V, a Mamiya 7 or a Fuji GW690II, with real models in New York and never AI. Members receive new film photographs every month, and collectors can own the original negative, sealed in display resin with a print of their choice.

Membership$49.99/mo
Polaroid$111
4×6 print$200
Negatives$1,100 to $2,000
Cameras35mm, 6×7, 6×9
Become a MemberBecome a Model

Anyone can find a picture. Few will ever hold a photograph.

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Sources

Published by Arch Club, Brooklyn, New York.