Cheap photo booth hire: the complete guide (2026)
Looking for a cheap photo booth for your wedding, birthday or company party? You are right to: a photo booth is one of the entertainment options guests love most (92% of them use it during an evening), but that is no reason to pay through the nose for it. In this guide, we look at market prices in 2026, tips to bring the cost down, DIY alternatives (and why they fail), and the traps to avoid when you are looking for budget photo booth rental.
Contents
- How much does photo booth rental cost?
- Price levels in 2026
- Budget photo booth: what is really included?
- How to reduce the cost of your photo booth
- DIY photo booth: a false economy
- Budget photo booth: pitfalls to avoid
- Our pick of the best value for money
- How much does a photo booth cost by type of event?
- FAQ: your questions about photo booth prices
How much does photo booth rental cost?
This is THE question everyone asks. And the answer is: it depends. The price of a photo booth varies enormously depending on the provider, the package chosen and the options included.
In 2026, expect to pay on average:
- Between €99 and €200 for a self-service photo booth rental (you set up the booth yourself)
- Between €200 and €500 for a package with more photos and options
- Between €500 and €1,500 for a high-end service with an attendant, a custom backdrop, premium props and a photo booth on site all evening
The good news? It is entirely possible to hire a cheap photo booth without sacrificing quality. The key is knowing what is really included in the price.
Key takeaway: a €144 photo booth with printed photos included offers better value for money than a €500 photo booth with an attendant but only 30 prints. Always look at what is included, not just the price.
What makes the price vary
Several factors affect the cost of a rental:
- The number of printed photos: the more prints included, the higher the price. But it is also the most important factor for your guests’ experience.
- The rental period: some providers charge by the hour, others by the weekend or by the event. At Badabooth, the rental covers your whole event with no time limit.
- Delivery: collection on site, delivery by parcel or installation by a technician. The difference can range from €0 (collection) to over €100.
- Options: custom frames, online gallery, props, animated GIFs… Watch out for extra-cost options that inflate the bill.
- Whether or not there is an attendant: a self-service photo booth costs much less than a photo booth with an operator. And in practice, guests often prefer to help themselves.
Price levels in 2026
To help you see clearly, here is a photo booth price comparison of the main players on the French market.
Price comparison: photo booth rental
| Provider | Price from | Printed photos | Delivery | Distinctive feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Badabooth Smart | €144 | 50 photos included | Included anywhere in Belgium | Entry level with printing |
| Badabooth Happy | €275 | 150 photos included | Included anywhere in Belgium | Best value for money |
| Badabooth Smile | €399 | 400 photos included | Included anywhere in Belgium | Large events |
| Kruu | €99 | No printing | Delivery included | Digital photos only |
| Shootnbox | €149 | Depending on package | Delivery | Compact booth |
| Burddy | €177 | Depending on package | Delivery | Choice of booths |
| Selfizee | On quotation (~€500+) | Depending on service | With attendant | 750 booths, tailor-made services |
| VIP-Box | €299 | Depending on package | Variable | With attendant |
| Wizito | On quotation | Depending on service | Variable | High end |
The conclusion is clear: if you are looking for a cheap photo booth with printed photos, Badabooth is one of the most affordable solutions on the market, at €144 delivered anywhere in Belgium. Kruu starts lower (€99), but without any printing: your guests will only get digital photos, which completely changes the experience.
Badabooth prices in detail
Here are the details of our packages:
| Package | Price delivered in Belgium | Photos included | Capacity | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smart | €144 | 50 prints | Up to 30 people | Birthdays, small parties |
| Happy | €275 | 150 prints | Up to 100 people | Weddings, large parties |
| Smile | €399 | 400 prints | Up to 200 people | Large weddings, corporate events |
All packages include:
- The complete photo booth, made in France
- Unlimited animated GIFs
- A free custom photo frame
- Unlimited digital photos
- Retrieval by AirDrop
- Set-up in 5 minutes, no technician, no Wi-Fi
- Delivery anywhere in Belgium and the prepaid return parcel
The Happy and Smile packages add: fast printing (about 10 seconds) and extra formats (polaroid-style square and 2-photo strip on Happy, 3-photo strip on Smile).
Badabooth is a photo booth with printed photos included and delivery included, at one of the lowest prices on the market. Rated 4.7/5 on Google and 5/5 on Trustpilot, made in France.
Budget photo booth: what is really included?
When comparing photo booth prices, you need to look well beyond the headline figure. Is a €99 photo booth without printing really a better deal than a €144 photo booth delivered with 50 printed photos?
What to check before booking
Before making up your mind, ask yourself these questions:
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Are the photos printed? This is the most important point. A photo booth without printing is a bit like a restaurant without plates. Your guests want to leave with a physical keepsake in their hand. 92% of photo booth users name the printed photo as the most memorable part of the experience.
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How many photos are included? Some packages show a low price but only include 20 or 30 prints. For an event of 80 people, that is clearly not enough. Allow at least 1.5 to 2 photos per guest so that everyone leaves with their keepsake.
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Is delivery included? A €99 photo booth + €80 delivery = €179 in reality. Always look at the total price. At Badabooth, delivery is included in the displayed price, anywhere in Belgium.
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Is there digital access to the photos? An online sharing link is a real plus so that all guests can find their photos and GIFs after the event.
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Is the return included? Some providers charge extra for returning the equipment. At Badabooth, the prepaid return parcel is included in every package.
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Is customisation free? Many providers charge for customising the photo frame (an extra €10 to €50). At Badabooth, the custom frame is free and included in every package.
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Does the photo booth work without Wi-Fi? If your venue has no reliable Wi-Fi (which is common in châteaux, barns and country estates), a photo booth that depends on Wi-Fi is a risk. Badabooth works 100% on its own.
At Badabooth, everything is included in the displayed price, delivery and return included. No nasty surprises, no hidden fees.
How to reduce the cost of your photo booth
Want to hire a cheap photo booth? Here are our practical tips to bring the bill down.
1. Book early
This is the simplest and most effective advice. By booking your photo booth several weeks in advance, you have access to every date and avoid last-minute surcharges. For summer weddings (June to September), book at least 3 to 4 weeks ahead.
2. Choose the right package
There is no point taking the biggest package if your event has 30 people. The Badabooth Smart package at €144 with 50 prints is more than enough for a birthday or a small party. Match the number of photos to the real number of guests:
- Fewer than 30 guests: Smart package (50 photos) = €144
- 30 to 100 guests: Happy package (150 photos) = €275
- 100 to 200 guests: Smile package (400 photos) = €399
Intermediate capacities exist (for example Smart with 100 photos at €189 or Happy with 300 photos at €345): the builder calculates the exact price.
3. Compare prices with delivery included
In Belgium, delivery and return are included in the Badabooth price, whichever town you live in: no travel costs to add. The booth arrives 1 to 2 working days before your event, which gives you time to get familiar with it. Just remember to book at least 2 days before the date.
4. Avoid unnecessary options
Some providers offer “premium” packs with an attendant, green screen, large-format printing… It is nice, but is it necessary for your event? A self-service photo booth does the job perfectly well on its own, and it is what most guests prefer: taking photos of themselves freely, without someone watching them.
5. Make your own props
No need to buy a €50 props kit. Cardboard moustaches, signs with funny messages, hats and fancy-dress glasses: everything is easy to make or can be found for very little in party shops. Pinterest is full of free ideas for original photo booth props. And the Badabooth booth already offers animated emojis that follow faces, with nothing to buy.
6. Compare providers (honestly)
Take the time to compare at least 3 providers. But compare like with like: look at the total price (delivery included), the number of photos, customer reviews and what is really included. An honest comparison will save you from paying too much for an equivalent service, or worse, paying less for a disappointing one.
DIY photo booth: a false economy
Tempted to go even cheaper, some people turn to DIY solutions: an iPad on a tripod, a free app and a portable printer. On paper, it is appealing. In practice, it is often a nightmare on the day.
The iPad + photo app set-up
The concept: you mount an iPad on a tripod, download a photo booth app (Simple Booth, Booth.to, etc.), and let guests take their own photos.
Why it fails:
- Poor photo quality: an iPad’s front camera is nothing like a dedicated sensor. In low light (the norm at an evening event), photos are blurry, grainy and yellowish.
- Stability: an iPad on a tripod is fragile. One guest bumps into it, a child pulls on it, and down it goes. We have seen iPads with a smashed screen within the first hour.
- Apps: free apps are limited (watermark, no printing, bugs). Paid apps cost €10 to €30 a month and remain limited in features.
- No printing: to print, you need to add a portable printer (€150 to €300 to rent) and manage the Bluetooth connection, which crashes regularly.
The Instax/Polaroid portable printer
The concept: you buy a pack of Instax or Polaroid film and a portable printer to print photos from a phone.
Why it fails:
- Cost per photo: Instax film costs €0.70 to €1 per photo. For 100 photos, that is €70 to €100 in consumables alone.
- Quality: Instax prints are tiny (credit card size) and the quality is average.
- Slowness: each print takes 15 to 30 seconds. At 100 photos, that is 25 to 50 minutes of printing alone. Your guests will not wait.
- Breakdowns: paper jams, flat batteries, lost Bluetooth connection… and you are the one who has to deal with it, on the day of your own event.
The honest comparison: DIY vs Badabooth
| Criterion | DIY (iPad + printer) | Badabooth Smart |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | €50 to €200 (excluding equipment you already own) | €144 (delivered) |
| Photo quality | Average to poor | Professional |
| Printed photos | Instax mini (if you manage the printer) | 50 real standard-size photos |
| Animated GIFs | No | Unlimited, included |
| Customisation | Manual and limited | Free custom frame |
| Set-up | 30 min to 1 hour (if all goes well) | 5 minutes |
| Reliability | Low (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, battery) | High (self-contained, no Wi-Fi) |
| Management on the day | You deal with the problems | 100% self-service |
| Stress | High | Zero |
DIY looks economical, but between the equipment, the consumables, the preparation time and the stress on the day, the value for money is rarely there. For €144, a Badabooth gives you peace of mind and a guaranteed professional result.
The real hidden cost of DIY: your time
On your wedding day or at your birthday, your time is precious. Every minute spent debugging a Bluetooth connection, recharging a printer battery or reframing an iPad that has moved is a minute you are not spending with your guests. With a professional photo booth like Badabooth, you plug in the booth, press a button, and forget about it for the rest of the evening.
Budget photo booth: pitfalls to avoid
Cheap photo booth hire does not necessarily mean a good deal. Here are the classic mistakes not to make.
The “all digital” trap
Some providers display very attractive photo booth prices, but dig a little deeper and you discover that no printing is included. Your guests take photos… that they will only ever see on a screen. The experience is not the same at all.
The magic of a photo booth is leaving with a real photo in your hand. It is that physical keepsake your guests will stick on their fridge or slip into their wallet. One more digital photo on an already full phone is not a keepsake: it is one file among thousands.
The hidden fees trap
Beware of “from” prices that shoot up once you add delivery, return, insurance, consumables, customisation… Always ask for a full quotation before booking.
A concrete example: a provider advertises “photo booth from €149”. You add delivery (€60), frame customisation (€25), damage insurance (€30) and the return (€40). Real total: €304. That is more than double the Badabooth Smart at €144 delivered, which includes 50 photos, customisation and the prepaid return (€173 with the optional damage insurance at €29).
At Badabooth, the price displayed is the final price: no extra charge for customisation, no return fees, no compulsory insurance on top.
The ageing equipment trap
A €50 photo booth does not exist (or if it does, be very wary). An abnormally low price can hide equipment in poor condition, mediocre print quality or non-existent customer service. Check the Google reviews and photos from previous customers before booking. A photo booth that prints blurry or yellowish photos is worse than no photo booth at all.
The availability trap
The cheapest photo booths are also the most in demand. If you wait until the last minute to book, you risk only finding much more expensive options. Plan ahead, especially for summer weddings (June to September) and end-of-year parties (December).
The full “DIY” trap
We covered this in detail above: building your own photo booth with an iPad and a portable printer is tempting on paper. In practice, it is often a nightmare on the day. For the price of a Badabooth rental (from €144), you get peace of mind and a guaranteed professional result.
The compulsory attendant trap
Some providers (Selfizee, VIP-Box) require an attendant on site, which pushes the price up to €500, €800 or even over €1,000. An attendant is pleasant, but is it really necessary? Guests in 2026 are perfectly at ease with self-service booths. They do not need anyone to explain how to take a photo of themselves. The self-service model divides the price by 3 to 5 without sacrificing the experience.
Our pick of the best value for money
After analysing the market, here is our ranking of the best cheap photo booths in 2026.
1. Badabooth: the best value for money
- Price: from €144, delivery and return included anywhere in Belgium
- Printed photos: yes, included in every package (from 50 to 800 depending on the booth)
- Customisation: free custom photo frame
- Digital gallery: unlimited digital photos + unlimited animated GIFs
- Retrieval: AirDrop + sharing link
- Customer reviews: 4.7/5 on Google, 5/5 on Trustpilot
- Set-up: 5 minutes, no tools, no Wi-Fi
- Made in France
Badabooth is one of the cheapest photo booths on the market with printed photos included, delivery included. The booth is made in France, customer service is responsive (not a chatbot, real people), and the 4.7/5 reviews on Google and 5/5 on Trustpilot speak for themselves. It is our number 1 choice for a successful event without breaking the bank.
Discover the Badabooth packages
2. Shootnbox: a decent alternative
- Price: from €149
- Printed photos: yes, depending on the package
- Concept: compact booth, national network
Shootnbox offers a compact photo booth at a reasonable price. Its network is based in France: check availability and delivery costs for an event in Belgium.
3. Burddy: the mid-range option
- Price: from €177
- Printed photos: yes, depending on the package
- Concept: choice between several booth models
Burddy offers a choice of booths with different options. The starting price is fair but rises quickly with options. Compare it carefully with Badabooth’s all-inclusive packages.
4. Kruu: the 100% digital choice
- Price: from €99
- Printed photos: no, digital only (physical booth, but no paper printing)
- Concept: photos shared by QR code
Kruu has a lower entry price than Badabooth, but without any paper printing. The booth is physical, but the photos are only available digitally. If a printed photo is not important to you, it is an option. But for most events, your guests will appreciate leaving with a physical keepsake.
5. Selfizee: the network with an attendant
- Price: on quotation, generally €500 and up
- Concept: 750 booths in France, service with an attendant
Selfizee has the largest network of booths in France. The problem: the attendant is often compulsory, which pushes the price well above self-service solutions. On a limited budget, it is not the best choice.
6. VIP-Box: the premium option
- Price: from €299
- Concept: high-end service with an attendant
VIP-Box positions itself in the premium segment with a starting price of €299. It is a good service, but the budget is twice that of the Badabooth Smart package for a comparable result on the fundamentals (printed photos + digital keepsakes).
How much does a photo booth cost by type of event?
The budget to plan for also depends on the nature of your event. Here are our practical recommendations.
Cheap photo booth for a wedding
For a wedding, expect to pay between €144 and €519 delivered depending on the number of guests. The Badabooth Happy package at €275 delivered with 150 photos is the most popular choice for weddings. It easily covers a wedding of 80 to 100 guests.
For large weddings of 150+ guests, the Smile package at €399 delivered with 400 photos is ideal. On average, 400 photos are taken over the evening, which means every guest leaves with at least 2 photos.
Wedding tip: if your wedding has fewer than 30 guests (an intimate wedding), the Smart package at €144 may well be enough. And if you also have a photographer, have a look at our guide photo booth vs photographer.
The photo booth is also perfect for creating a photo guest book for your wedding: each guest sticks in their photo and adds a short message. An unforgettable keepsake.
Cheap photo booth for a birthday
For a birthday (18th, 30th, 40th, 50th…), the Smart package at €144 is generally perfect. With 50 printed photos, you easily cover an event of 20 to 30 people. Each guest leaves with 1 or 2 keepsake photos.
For big birthday parties with more than 50 guests, move up to the Happy package at €275. Also discover our photo booth entertainment ideas for birthdays.
Cheap photo booth for a company
For a corporate event (team building, annual party, seminar, product launch), the package depends on the number of participants:
- Small group (20-30 people): Smart at €144
- Medium event (50-100 people): Happy at €275
- Large event (100-200 people): Smile at €399
The free custom frame is a real asset for companies: add your logo, the name of the event, your tagline. Every photo becomes a communication tool that employees take home. To find out more, read our guide photo booths and corporate team building.
Cheap photo booth for a christening or communion
For a christening or communion, the Smart package at €144 is ideal. These family events generally bring together 20 to 40 people, and the photo booth adds a festive touch that children and adults alike love.
FAQ: your questions about photo booth prices
How much does a photo booth cost for an evening?
The price of a photo booth ranges from €144 to over €1,000 depending on the provider and the package. At Badabooth, rental starts at €144 with 50 printed photos included, delivery included anywhere in Belgium. Expect €144 for the Smart package, €275 for the Happy and €399 for the Smile.
Is a cheap photo booth poor quality?
Not necessarily. The price depends mainly on the provider’s business model. Badabooth offers low prices thanks to a self-service rental model (no attendant on site) and optimised logistics. The quality of the photos and the booth remains professional, as shown by reviews of 4.7/5 on Google and 5/5 on Trustpilot. The booth is made in France with quality components.
Renting or buying: which is cheaper?
For occasional use, renting is always cheaper. A professional photo booth costs between €2,000 and €8,000 to buy, not counting consumables (photo paper, ink) and maintenance. Renting at €144 is therefore far more cost-effective if you only organise one or two events a year. Even at 10 events a year, renting often remains more advantageous once maintenance and consumable costs are factored in.
Can you rent a photo booth without printing?
Yes, some providers such as Kruu offer 100% digital packages from €99. Badabooth also offers a 100% Digital booth at €119 delivered in Belgium. But the experience is fundamentally different: no physical photo to take home that same evening. For most events, we recommend a package with printing. That is what makes a photo booth magical and what your guests expect.
How is the Badabooth booth delivered?
The booth is delivered by UPS 1 to 2 working days before your event, directly to your home or to your venue. It arrives in a ready-to-use parcel. Set-up takes 5 minutes: you take the booth out, plug it in, and it is ready. After the event, you put the booth back in its parcel and drop the parcel off at a UPS access point with the prepaid return label included. No return fees.
Does the photo booth work in a venue without Wi-Fi?
Yes, and that is a major advantage of Badabooth. The booth works 100% on its own, with no internet connection. Photos are printed locally and GIFs are stored on the booth. This is particularly important if your event takes place in a château, a barn, a country estate or any venue where the Wi-Fi is unreliable. Many competing providers depend on Wi-Fi, which is a frequent cause of breakdowns on the day.
What is the difference between the Smart, Happy and Smile packages?
All three packages include the same core features (photo booth, unlimited animated GIFs, free custom frame, unlimited digital photos, AirDrop retrieval). The difference lies in the number of printed photos and the capacity:
- Smart (€144): 50 photos, up to 30 people
- Happy (€275): 150 photos, up to 100 people, fast printing, classic, polaroid and 2-photo strip formats
- Smile (€399): 400 photos, up to 200 people, fast printing, classic and 3-photo strip formats
Choose according to the number of guests. If in doubt, take the higher package: better to have too many photos than not enough. See all our packages in detail.
Can you customise the photo booth photos?
Yes, and it is free at Badabooth. Each photo is printed with a custom frame that you design yourself: the couple’s names, the date of the event, a company logo, a personal message, colours matching your theme… It is included in every package at no extra cost. An online editor lets you create your frame in a few minutes before the event.
Conclusion: cheap photo booths do exist (and it is Badabooth)
If you are looking for cheap photo booth hire without compromising on quality, Badabooth is the answer. With packages from €144, printed photos included, unlimited animated GIFs, free customisation and 100% self-contained operation, it is the best value for money for an event in Belgium.
And it is not just us saying so: it is our customers who have given us a rating of 4.7/5 on Google and 5/5 on Trustpilot.
Forget risky DIY solutions, providers with hidden fees and booths without printing. For the price of a dinner at a restaurant, give your guests memorable entertainment with physical keepsakes they will treasure.
Ready to book? Order your Badabooth now and give your guests unforgettable entertainment without breaking the bank.
