Which instax film do I need?
Fujifilm makes three instax films in three different sizes, and a camera takes exactly one of them. Buying the wrong one is the most common mistake in this category, and it is not refundable once opened.
Find your camera's name. If it says mini, it takes instax mini film at about 85 cents a shot. If it says SQUARE, it takes instax SQUARE at about $1.15. If it says WIDE, it takes instax WIDE at about $1.10. The three are different physical sizes and no instax camera accepts more than one of them.
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The rule, in one line
The format is in the camera's name. instax mini 12, mini 13, mini 41, mini 99 and mini Evo all take instax mini. The SQUARE SQ40 takes instax SQUARE. The WIDE 400 takes instax WIDE. Fujifilm is unusually helpful here: there is no instax camera whose name does not tell you which film to buy.
What trips people up is everything around that. Film packs come in singles and twin packs, in rainbow and black-frame editions, and in monochrome — and all of those are variations on the same three sizes. A twin pack of instax mini and a single pack of instax mini contain the same film; only the count differs.
The camera-by-camera lookup
| Camera or printer | Film to buy | Print size | Cost per shot |
|---|---|---|---|
| instax mini 12 | instax mini | 2.4 x 1.8 in (62 x 46 mm) | about $0.85 |
| instax mini 13 | instax mini | 2.4 x 1.8 in (62 x 46 mm) | about $0.85 |
| instax mini 41 | instax mini | 2.4 x 1.8 in (62 x 46 mm) | about $0.85 |
| instax mini 99 | instax mini | 2.4 x 1.8 in (62 x 46 mm) | about $0.85 |
| instax mini Evo | instax mini | 2.4 x 1.8 in (62 x 46 mm) | about $0.85 |
| instax mini Link 3 (printer) | instax mini | 2.4 x 1.8 in (62 x 46 mm) | about $0.85 |
| instax SQUARE SQ40 | instax SQUARE | 2.4 x 2.4 in picture on 86 x 72 mm film | about $1.15 |
| instax WIDE 400 | instax WIDE | 3.9 x 2.4 in (99 x 62 mm) | about $1.10 |
| instax Link WIDE 2 (printer) | instax WIDE | 3.9 x 2.4 in (99 x 62 mm) | about $1.10 |
What each film costs, verified
| Format | Print size | Pack | Pack price | Cost per shot | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| instax mini | 2.4 x 1.8 in (62 x 46 mm) | 20 | $16.99 | $0.85 | Pro Photo Supply |
| instax WIDE | 3.9 x 2.4 in (99 x 62 mm) | 20 | $21.99 | $1.10 | Pro Photo Supply |
| instax SQUARE | 2.4 x 2.4 in (62 x 62 mm image on 86 x 72 mm film) | 20 | $22.99 | $1.15 | Pro Photo Supply |
Note the ordering, because it is counter-intuitive: instax WIDE is cheaper per shot than instax SQUARE, despite the print being substantially larger. If print size is what you want, WIDE is the better value of the two large formats. Full workings are on what instax film costs per shot.
What to check before you buy a pack
- The format word, not the camera number. "instax mini" on the box must match "mini" in the camera name. A pack labelled only "instax film" is not specific enough to trust.
- Exposure count. A single pack is 10 exposures; what is usually sold as a twin pack is 20. Our per-shot figures are based on 20-exposure pricing.
- The expiry date. It is printed on the box. Film is a dated chemical product, not paper.
- Whether you are buying a special edition. Rainbow, black-frame and contact-sheet editions cost more per shot for the same picture. Lovely, but it is a decoration premium.
- Monochrome is a different film, not a setting. If you want black and white on a simple instax, you buy black-and-white film; the camera has no mode for it.
One camera per film: the three picks above
1. Takes instax mini
Fujifilm instax mini 12
The most widely stocked film in the category, at about 85 cents a shot.
- Buy it for
- Owners of any camera with mini in the name, and anyone choosing a camera on film cost.
- Skip it if
- Anyone who wants a big print — the mini picture is 62 x 46 mm.
- instax mini film is 20 exposures for $16.99, which is about 85 cents a shot.
- It is the one instant film sold in supermarkets and pharmacies as well as camera shops.
- Also used by the mini 13, mini 41, mini 99, mini Evo and the instax mini Link printers.
Running cost: instax mini works out at $0.85 a shot. See every format’s cost.
How it scores8.5/10 overall
- Cost per shot9
- Availability10
- Print size5
Our editorial scoring, built from published specifications and reviews by outlets that test hardware — see how we pick. We have not handled these products, so these are not test results.
Engadget, which publishes hands-on reviews, calls it “a basic instant camera ideal for newbies that lets you get started shooting”.
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2. Takes instax SQUARE
Fujifilm instax SQUARE SQ40
The square frame, on 86 x 72 mm film with a 62 x 62 mm picture.
- Buy it for
- Owners of an SQ40 or any instax SQUARE camera or printer.
- Skip it if
- A budget buyer — SQUARE film is about 30 cents a shot more than mini.
- instax SQUARE film is 20 exposures for $22.99, which is about $1.15 a shot.
- The picture is 62 x 62 mm on a larger 86 x 72 mm sheet, so it has the classic square proportions.
- Stocked by camera shops reliably, by supermarkets rarely — worth ordering ahead for an event.
Running cost: instax SQUARE works out at $1.15 a shot. See every format’s cost.
How it scores7.4/10 overall
- Cost per shot6
- Availability7
- Print size7
Our editorial scoring, built from published specifications and reviews by outlets that test hardware — see how we pick. We have not handled these products, so these are not test results.
Engadget, which publishes hands-on reviews, calls it “looks great thanks to the leatherette details and retro design”.
#ad · we earn a commission at no extra cost to you
3. Takes instax WIDE
Fujifilm instax WIDE 400
The biggest instax print, and better value per square inch than SQUARE.
- Buy it for
- Owners of the WIDE 400 or an instax Link WIDE printer, and anyone photographing groups.
- Skip it if
- Pocket use. The camera is 616 g and takes four AA batteries.
- instax WIDE film is 20 exposures for $21.99, which is about $1.10 a shot.
- A 99 x 62 mm print — nearly twice the width of a mini, which is why it suits group photos.
- Cheaper per shot than instax SQUARE despite the larger print.
Running cost: instax WIDE works out at $1.10 a shot. See every format’s cost.
How it scores7.7/10 overall
- Cost per shot7
- Availability6
- Print size9
Our editorial scoring, built from published specifications and reviews by outlets that test hardware — see how we pick. We have not handled these products, so these are not test results.
Engadget, which publishes hands-on reviews, calls it “simple operation”.
#ad · we earn a commission at no extra cost to you
How much to buy
For a gift, two 20-exposure packs. That is forty photographs, which is enough for the first evening and the month after it, and it means the camera is usable the moment it is unwrapped. For an event, work from the guest count rather than a guess — our wedding film calculator page does the arithmetic, and how much film do I need covers the general case.
One thing worth knowing: multipacks are cheaper per shot, and they are the only honest way to bring the cost of this hobby down. The per-shot figures on this site use single 20-exposure pricing deliberately, because that is what most people actually pay.
Questions people ask
Which instax film do I need?
The one named in your camera. Any camera with mini in the name takes instax mini film; the SQUARE SQ40 takes instax SQUARE; the WIDE 400 takes instax WIDE. The three films are different physical sizes and are not interchangeable in any direction.
Which film does the instax mini 12 use?
instax mini film, which makes a 2.4 x 1.8 inch print with a 62 x 46 mm picture area. A 20-exposure pack is $16.99, so each shot costs about 85 cents. The same film fits the mini 13, mini 41, mini 99, mini Evo and the instax mini Link printers.
Is instax SQUARE film the same as instax WIDE?
No. instax SQUARE film is 86 x 72 mm with a 62 x 62 mm square picture; instax WIDE is a 99 x 62 mm print. They do not fit each other's cameras, and WIDE is actually the cheaper of the two per shot at about $1.10 against $1.15.
Can I use instax film in a Polaroid camera?
No. Polaroid cameras take Polaroid film only - i-Type, 600 or SX-70 for full-size models and Go film for the Polaroid Go. The two systems are physically and chemically incompatible in both directions.
Read these next
Instant film types explained
Every format on the market, including Polaroid's.
What instax film costs per shot
Where the 85-cent figure comes from.
Where to buy instant film
Which formats are on a supermarket shelf and which are not.
Can you use Polaroid film in an instax?
The compatibility question, answered in full.
Sources
- Fujifilm instax mini 12 specifications — Selfie mirror, flash range 0.3-2.2 m, exposure Lv 5.0-14.5, 2 x AA power
- Fujifilm instax SQUARE SQ40 specifications — Selfie mode 0.3-0.5 m, slow-synchro shutter from 1/2 sec, exposure Lv 5.0-15.5
- Fujifilm instax WIDE 400 specifications — Flash effective 0.9-3 m, exposure Lv 10.5-15, 4 x AA power
- Fujifilm instax mini Link 3 specifications — Bluetooth 5.1, 318 dpi, approx. 15 second print, approx. 100 prints per charge
- Pro Photo Supply — instax mini film, 20 exposures — $16.99 on 13 October 2026, the basis of the 85c-per-shot figure
- Fujifilm instax camera range (US) — Current-lineup check, 17 October 2026 — used to avoid recommending a discontinued model
- Fujifilm instax WIDE 400 user's guide (PDF) — Fujifilm's own film handling instructions: keep film cool, never leave it in a closed car, let film reach normal temperature before shooting, use before the expiration date, and use a loaded pack as soon as possible
Found something out of date or wrong? Tell us and we will correct it with a dated note. Our picks are re-checked quarterly — see our editorial policy.