TSA wait times

Chicago O'Hare International

MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026

Photo: Nils Huenerfuerst / Unsplash

Chicago O'Hare Airport (ORD) TSA Wait Times

Security at Chicago O'Hare (ORD) is busiest from 5 to 7 am and quietest after 8 pm on a typical Thursday, based on TSA checkpoint counts for the 8 weeks to Nov 7, 2026.

Typical Friday, 6–7 am · ORD time

BUSY

100% of ORD's busiest hour

MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026

ORD's security page

ORD security lines by hour

How busy ORD's checkpoints typically are in each hour, as a share of the airport's busiest hour (median of the 8 weeks to Nov 7, 2026). Busy is above 70%, Moderate 40–70%, Quiet below 40%. Hours are ORD local time.

ORD security by hour on Sundays

12a: 4% of peak, Quiet1a: 1% of peak, Quiet2a: 2% of peak, Quiet3a: 14% of peak, Quiet4a: 43% of peak, Moderate5a: 73% of peak, Busy6a: 74% of peak, Busy7a: 75% of peak, Busy8a: 70% of peak, Moderate9a: 74% of peak, Busy10a: 57% of peak, Moderate11a: 72% of peak, Busy12p: 86% of peak, Busy1p: 88% of peak, Busy2p: 84% of peak, Busy3p: 90% of peak, Busy4p: 88% of peak, Busy5p: 81% of peak, Busy6p: 73% of peak, Busy7p: 54% of peak, Moderate8p: 25% of peak, Quiet9p: 11% of peak, Quiet10p: 9% of peak, Quiet11p: 6% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
ORD · typical Sunday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am3284%Quiet
1–2 am971%Quiet
2–3 am1292%Quiet
3–4 am1,15814%Quiet
4–5 am3,47343%Moderate
5–6 am5,87873%Busy
6–7 am5,92774%Busy
7–8 am6,03675%Busy
8–9 am5,60970%Moderate
9–10 am5,90274%Busy
10–11 am4,57357%Moderate
11 am–noon5,74072%Busy
noon–1 pm6,91286%Busy
1–2 pm7,01188%Busy
2–3 pm6,71384%Busy
3–4 pm7,23290%Busy
4–5 pm7,04188%Busy
5–6 pm6,48181%Busy
6–7 pm5,80273%Busy
7–8 pm4,29954%Moderate
8–9 pm2,01825%Quiet
9–10 pm88511%Quiet
10–11 pm6879%Quiet
11 pm–midnight4576%Quiet

ORD security by hour on Mondays

12a: 4% of peak, Quiet1a: 1% of peak, Quiet2a: 2% of peak, Quiet3a: 17% of peak, Quiet4a: 50% of peak, Moderate5a: 87% of peak, Busy6a: 88% of peak, Busy7a: 82% of peak, Busy8a: 72% of peak, Busy9a: 86% of peak, Busy10a: 64% of peak, Moderate11a: 74% of peak, Busy12p: 79% of peak, Busy1p: 81% of peak, Busy2p: 84% of peak, Busy3p: 72% of peak, Busy4p: 69% of peak, Moderate5p: 65% of peak, Moderate6p: 51% of peak, Moderate7p: 39% of peak, Quiet8p: 19% of peak, Quiet9p: 10% of peak, Quiet10p: 7% of peak, Quiet11p: 6% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
ORD · typical Monday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am2934%Quiet
1–2 am851%Quiet
2–3 am1582%Quiet
3–4 am1,33317%Quiet
4–5 am4,01450%Moderate
5–6 am6,97087%Busy
6–7 am7,06788%Busy
7–8 am6,59082%Busy
8–9 am5,74372%Busy
9–10 am6,89186%Busy
10–11 am5,11064%Moderate
11 am–noon5,88274%Busy
noon–1 pm6,35879%Busy
1–2 pm6,49981%Busy
2–3 pm6,75284%Busy
3–4 pm5,79872%Busy
4–5 pm5,52769%Moderate
5–6 pm5,23365%Moderate
6–7 pm4,10151%Moderate
7–8 pm3,08439%Quiet
8–9 pm1,52519%Quiet
9–10 pm83410%Quiet
10–11 pm5627%Quiet
11 pm–midnight4786%Quiet

ORD security by hour on Tuesdays

12a: 5% of peak, Quiet1a: 1% of peak, Quiet2a: 1% of peak, Quiet3a: 14% of peak, Quiet4a: 38% of peak, Quiet5a: 72% of peak, Busy6a: 67% of peak, Moderate7a: 65% of peak, Moderate8a: 62% of peak, Moderate9a: 67% of peak, Moderate10a: 52% of peak, Moderate11a: 58% of peak, Moderate12p: 74% of peak, Busy1p: 68% of peak, Moderate2p: 70% of peak, Moderate3p: 64% of peak, Moderate4p: 64% of peak, Moderate5p: 54% of peak, Moderate6p: 46% of peak, Moderate7p: 33% of peak, Quiet8p: 17% of peak, Quiet9p: 10% of peak, Quiet10p: 6% of peak, Quiet11p: 5% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
ORD · typical Tuesday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am3805%Quiet
1–2 am1071%Quiet
2–3 am1111%Quiet
3–4 am1,10714%Quiet
4–5 am3,02538%Quiet
5–6 am5,74472%Busy
6–7 am5,33367%Moderate
7–8 am5,17565%Moderate
8–9 am4,93162%Moderate
9–10 am5,33767%Moderate
10–11 am4,12552%Moderate
11 am–noon4,61358%Moderate
noon–1 pm5,92674%Busy
1–2 pm5,46568%Moderate
2–3 pm5,61070%Moderate
3–4 pm5,08864%Moderate
4–5 pm5,11164%Moderate
5–6 pm4,32654%Moderate
6–7 pm3,66846%Moderate
7–8 pm2,63533%Quiet
8–9 pm1,35217%Quiet
9–10 pm76710%Quiet
10–11 pm5056%Quiet
11 pm–midnight3925%Quiet

ORD security by hour on Wednesdays

12a: 4% of peak, Quiet1a: 1% of peak, Quiet2a: 2% of peak, Quiet3a: 14% of peak, Quiet4a: 41% of peak, Moderate5a: 71% of peak, Busy6a: 71% of peak, Busy7a: 71% of peak, Busy8a: 66% of peak, Moderate9a: 74% of peak, Busy10a: 58% of peak, Moderate11a: 63% of peak, Moderate12p: 73% of peak, Busy1p: 84% of peak, Busy2p: 78% of peak, Busy3p: 74% of peak, Busy4p: 76% of peak, Busy5p: 69% of peak, Moderate6p: 56% of peak, Moderate7p: 37% of peak, Quiet8p: 17% of peak, Quiet9p: 9% of peak, Quiet10p: 8% of peak, Quiet11p: 5% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
ORD · typical Wednesday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am2954%Quiet
1–2 am881%Quiet
2–3 am1422%Quiet
3–4 am1,15014%Quiet
4–5 am3,24541%Moderate
5–6 am5,68671%Busy
6–7 am5,64671%Busy
7–8 am5,68871%Busy
8–9 am5,24266%Moderate
9–10 am5,90474%Busy
10–11 am4,63858%Moderate
11 am–noon5,03463%Moderate
noon–1 pm5,84273%Busy
1–2 pm6,74784%Busy
2–3 pm6,27878%Busy
3–4 pm5,94874%Busy
4–5 pm6,06976%Busy
5–6 pm5,49169%Moderate
6–7 pm4,48256%Moderate
7–8 pm2,94437%Quiet
8–9 pm1,39017%Quiet
9–10 pm7609%Quiet
10–11 pm6288%Quiet
11 pm–midnight3895%Quiet

ORD security by hour on Thursdays

12a: 4% of peak, Quiet1a: 2% of peak, Quiet2a: 2% of peak, Quiet3a: 15% of peak, Quiet4a: 51% of peak, Moderate5a: 87% of peak, Busy6a: 92% of peak, Busy7a: 78% of peak, Busy8a: 72% of peak, Busy9a: 80% of peak, Busy10a: 64% of peak, Moderate11a: 72% of peak, Busy12p: 81% of peak, Busy1p: 84% of peak, Busy2p: 88% of peak, Busy3p: 87% of peak, Busy4p: 87% of peak, Busy5p: 76% of peak, Busy6p: 68% of peak, Moderate7p: 52% of peak, Moderate8p: 26% of peak, Quiet9p: 11% of peak, Quiet10p: 7% of peak, Quiet11p: 5% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
ORD · typical Thursday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am3114%Quiet
1–2 am1292%Quiet
2–3 am1412%Quiet
3–4 am1,21315%Quiet
4–5 am4,06651%Moderate
5–6 am6,95787%Busy
6–7 am7,37792%Busy
7–8 am6,24178%Busy
8–9 am5,76872%Busy
9–10 am6,43180%Busy
10–11 am5,08364%Moderate
11 am–noon5,73072%Busy
noon–1 pm6,47781%Busy
1–2 pm6,75684%Busy
2–3 pm7,05788%Busy
3–4 pm6,97687%Busy
4–5 pm6,94887%Busy
5–6 pm6,08076%Busy
6–7 pm5,40868%Moderate
7–8 pm4,16152%Moderate
8–9 pm2,09226%Quiet
9–10 pm87611%Quiet
10–11 pm5737%Quiet
11 pm–midnight4375%Quiet

ORD security by hour on Fridays

12a: 4% of peak, Quiet1a: 1% of peak, Quiet2a: 2% of peak, Quiet3a: 16% of peak, Quiet4a: 58% of peak, Moderate5a: 90% of peak, Busy6a: 100% of peak, Busy7a: 90% of peak, Busy8a: 81% of peak, Busy9a: 84% of peak, Busy10a: 63% of peak, Moderate11a: 69% of peak, Moderate12p: 83% of peak, Busy1p: 86% of peak, Busy2p: 86% of peak, Busy3p: 76% of peak, Busy4p: 75% of peak, Busy5p: 68% of peak, Moderate6p: 57% of peak, Moderate7p: 45% of peak, Moderate8p: 19% of peak, Quiet9p: 11% of peak, Quiet10p: 6% of peak, Quiet11p: 6% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
ORD · typical Friday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am2954%Quiet
1–2 am1161%Quiet
2–3 am1342%Quiet
3–4 am1,29616%Quiet
4–5 am4,67658%Moderate
5–6 am7,21390%Busy
6–7 am8,002100%Busy
7–8 am7,21190%Busy
8–9 am6,52081%Busy
9–10 am6,69984%Busy
10–11 am5,05963%Moderate
11 am–noon5,55369%Moderate
noon–1 pm6,60483%Busy
1–2 pm6,88586%Busy
2–3 pm6,86086%Busy
3–4 pm6,07876%Busy
4–5 pm6,03075%Busy
5–6 pm5,41968%Moderate
6–7 pm4,55357%Moderate
7–8 pm3,56545%Moderate
8–9 pm1,56019%Quiet
9–10 pm85611%Quiet
10–11 pm5096%Quiet
11 pm–midnight4546%Quiet

ORD security by hour on Saturdays

12a: 4% of peak, Quiet1a: 2% of peak, Quiet2a: 2% of peak, Quiet3a: 17% of peak, Quiet4a: 43% of peak, Moderate5a: 72% of peak, Busy6a: 73% of peak, Busy7a: 76% of peak, Busy8a: 62% of peak, Moderate9a: 65% of peak, Moderate10a: 47% of peak, Moderate11a: 54% of peak, Moderate12p: 60% of peak, Moderate1p: 61% of peak, Moderate2p: 62% of peak, Moderate3p: 53% of peak, Moderate4p: 50% of peak, Moderate5p: 50% of peak, Moderate6p: 39% of peak, Quiet7p: 32% of peak, Quiet8p: 19% of peak, Quiet9p: 10% of peak, Quiet10p: 6% of peak, Quiet11p: 5% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
ORD · typical Saturday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am3374%Quiet
1–2 am1332%Quiet
2–3 am1272%Quiet
3–4 am1,39117%Quiet
4–5 am3,44243%Moderate
5–6 am5,76372%Busy
6–7 am5,85073%Busy
7–8 am6,04276%Busy
8–9 am4,97462%Moderate
9–10 am5,23265%Moderate
10–11 am3,73547%Moderate
11 am–noon4,34854%Moderate
noon–1 pm4,76860%Moderate
1–2 pm4,86961%Moderate
2–3 pm4,94862%Moderate
3–4 pm4,24053%Moderate
4–5 pm4,01050%Moderate
5–6 pm4,03750%Moderate
6–7 pm3,11739%Quiet
7–8 pm2,57432%Quiet
8–9 pm1,50219%Quiet
9–10 pm80710%Quiet
10–11 pm4986%Quiet
11 pm–midnight4255%Quiet

Best and worst times to go through security at ORD

The three busiest and three quietest hours for each part of the week. Quiet hours count only daytime hours (5 am to 11 pm) when screening is running.

ORD · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
DaysBusiestQuietest
Monday to Thursday5–7 am (80%)2–3 pm (80%)7–10 pm (10%)
Friday5–8 am (100%)7–10 pm (11%)
Saturday5–8 am (76%)7–10 pm (10%)
Sunday1–2 pm (88%)3–5 pm (90%)7–10 pm (11%)

ORD security checkpoints and hours

TSA's counts list 12 checkpoints at ORD. "Screening seen" is the span of hours in which TSA counted at least a few passengers on a typical day, not posted opening hours. Checkpoint names in plain type are TSA's own labels.

ORD checkpoints · TSA counts Sep 13, 2026 to Nov 7, 2026
CheckpointScreening seenTypical busiest hourShare
10Around the clock4–5 pm17%
24 am to 9 pm9–10 am14%
7A3 am to 9 pm6–7 am14%
13 am to 11 pm7–8 am12%
73 am to 11 pm6–7 am12%
53 am to 11 pm1–2 pm12%
3A4 am to 8 pm7–8 am6%
63 am to 8 pm1–2 pm4%
84 am to 8 pm7–8 am4%
114 am to 9 pmnoon–1 pm2%
6AAround the clock1–2 pm2%
4BAround the clocknoon–1 pm2%

How early should I get to ORD?

Our rule of thumb starts from 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international one, then adjusts for how busy ORD's checkpoints typically are at the hour you will reach them. Set your flight below.

Flight
Options
For ORD, Thursday 10:00 am, domestic, checked bagGet to ORD by 7:40 amLeave by 7:10 am · 140 min before departure
  • Domestic flight120 min
  • Security busy at that hour+20 min

Our own rule of thumb, not a TSA rule: 2 hours for domestic and 3 for international, -15 min with no checked bag, -15 with PreCheck, +20 if you are parking, then -15 / +0 / +20 min when security is typically quiet, moderate or busy at the hour you reach it. Always check your airline's bag-drop and boarding cut-offs.

ORD arrival times on a typical Thursday

ORD · Thursday · checked bag, no PreCheck · our rule of thumb
DepartureSecurity at that hourDomestic: arrive byInternational: arrive by
6 amModerate4:00 am (120 min)3:15 am (165 min)
8 amBusy5:40 am (140 min)5:00 am (180 min)
10 amBusy7:40 am (140 min)6:40 am (200 min)
noonModerate10:00 am (120 min)8:40 am (200 min)
3 pmBusy12:40 pm (140 min)11:40 am (200 min)
6 pmBusy3:40 pm (140 min)2:40 pm (200 min)
9 pmModerate7:00 pm (120 min)6:00 pm (180 min)

The level is read at the hour you would reach security, so a flight's own departure hour can differ. More on the rules and every airport: how early to arrive at the airport.

ORD security FAQ

What is the busiest time for security at ORD?

On a typical Thursday, ORD's checkpoints are busiest from 5 to 7 am. The single busiest hour in the 8 weeks to Nov 7, 2026 was 6–7 am on Fridays, with a median of 8,002 people screened.

What is the best time to go through security at ORD?

Saturday is the quietest day overall. On Thursdays, the quietest daytime window is 7–10 pm.

How early should I get to ORD?

Our rule of thumb starts at 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international one, then adds 20 minutes when security is typically busy at the hour you arrive and takes off 15 when it is quiet. For a 10 am domestic flight on a Thursday with a checked bag, that means getting to ORD by 7:40 am.

How many security checkpoints does ORD have?

TSA's checkpoint counts list 12 screening checkpoints at ORD in the 8 weeks to Nov 7, 2026. The busiest, 10, screens about 17% of ORD's passengers.

Sources for ORD

  • Hourly passengers: TSA throughput counts (FOIA reading room), weeks of Sep 13, 2026, Sep 20, 2026, Sep 27, 2026, Oct 4, 2026, Oct 11, 2026, Oct 18, 2026, Oct 25, 2026, Nov 1, 2026. Median of 8 weeks, holiday weeks left out.
  • Official wait page: www.flychicago.com/ohare/myflight/security/pages/default.aspx, checked Nov 2026.
  • How the levels are built: methodology. TSA Wait Checker is not affiliated with TSA or Chicago O'Hare International.

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