TSA wait times

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County

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

Photo: Preston A Larimer / Unsplash

Detroit Airport (DTW) Security Wait Times

Security at Detroit (DTW) is busiest from 5 to 8 am and quietest after 8 pm on a typical Sunday, based on TSA checkpoint counts for the 8 weeks to Nov 7, 2026.

Typical Friday, 7–8 am · DTW time

BUSY

100% of DTW's busiest hour

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

DTW's security page

DTW security lines by hour

How busy DTW'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 DTW local time.

DTW security by hour on Sundays

12a: 0% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 1% of peak, Quiet3a: 12% of peak, Quiet4a: 38% of peak, Quiet5a: 79% of peak, Busy6a: 84% of peak, Busy7a: 88% of peak, Busy8a: 69% of peak, Moderate9a: 49% of peak, Moderate10a: 56% of peak, Moderate11a: 69% of peak, Moderate12p: 66% of peak, Moderate1p: 76% of peak, Busy2p: 81% of peak, Busy3p: 78% of peak, Busy4p: 62% of peak, Moderate5p: 61% of peak, Moderate6p: 66% of peak, Moderate7p: 55% of peak, Moderate8p: 27% of peak, Quiet9p: 8% of peak, Quiet10p: 1% of peak, Quiet11p: 0% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
DTW · typical Sunday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am110%Quiet
1–2 am140%Quiet
2–3 am281%Quiet
3–4 am44212%Quiet
4–5 am1,34638%Quiet
5–6 am2,80879%Busy
6–7 am3,00884%Busy
7–8 am3,11888%Busy
8–9 am2,45669%Moderate
9–10 am1,74749%Moderate
10–11 am2,00656%Moderate
11 am–noon2,44869%Moderate
noon–1 pm2,35866%Moderate
1–2 pm2,69576%Busy
2–3 pm2,88681%Busy
3–4 pm2,79378%Busy
4–5 pm2,20062%Moderate
5–6 pm2,15961%Moderate
6–7 pm2,36866%Moderate
7–8 pm1,96855%Moderate
8–9 pm95127%Quiet
9–10 pm2808%Quiet
10–11 pm501%Quiet
11 pm–midnight160%Quiet

DTW security by hour on Mondays

12a: 0% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 1% of peak, Quiet3a: 13% of peak, Quiet4a: 47% of peak, Moderate5a: 75% of peak, Busy6a: 89% of peak, Busy7a: 96% of peak, Busy8a: 80% of peak, Busy9a: 53% of peak, Moderate10a: 59% of peak, Moderate11a: 74% of peak, Busy12p: 61% of peak, Moderate1p: 65% of peak, Moderate2p: 69% of peak, Moderate3p: 65% of peak, Moderate4p: 51% of peak, Moderate5p: 52% of peak, Moderate6p: 51% of peak, Moderate7p: 36% of peak, Quiet8p: 17% of peak, Quiet9p: 6% of peak, Quiet10p: 1% of peak, Quiet11p: 1% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
DTW · typical Monday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am140%Quiet
1–2 am160%Quiet
2–3 am261%Quiet
3–4 am44913%Quiet
4–5 am1,68647%Moderate
5–6 am2,68575%Busy
6–7 am3,17989%Busy
7–8 am3,43296%Busy
8–9 am2,84780%Busy
9–10 am1,89953%Moderate
10–11 am2,08759%Moderate
11 am–noon2,62574%Busy
noon–1 pm2,16461%Moderate
1–2 pm2,32665%Moderate
2–3 pm2,47269%Moderate
3–4 pm2,31265%Moderate
4–5 pm1,81851%Moderate
5–6 pm1,85052%Moderate
6–7 pm1,82151%Moderate
7–8 pm1,29536%Quiet
8–9 pm59417%Quiet
9–10 pm2026%Quiet
10–11 pm441%Quiet
11 pm–midnight201%Quiet

DTW security by hour on Tuesdays

12a: 0% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 1% of peak, Quiet3a: 10% of peak, Quiet4a: 34% of peak, Quiet5a: 59% of peak, Moderate6a: 70% of peak, Moderate7a: 80% of peak, Busy8a: 59% of peak, Moderate9a: 50% of peak, Moderate10a: 52% of peak, Moderate11a: 58% of peak, Moderate12p: 50% of peak, Moderate1p: 60% of peak, Moderate2p: 59% of peak, Moderate3p: 48% of peak, Moderate4p: 42% of peak, Moderate5p: 39% of peak, Quiet6p: 39% of peak, Quiet7p: 25% of peak, Quiet8p: 11% of peak, Quiet9p: 4% of peak, Quiet10p: 1% of peak, Quiet11p: 1% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
DTW · typical Tuesday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am170%Quiet
1–2 am150%Quiet
2–3 am231%Quiet
3–4 am34110%Quiet
4–5 am1,20534%Quiet
5–6 am2,10159%Moderate
6–7 am2,48270%Moderate
7–8 am2,86580%Busy
8–9 am2,09259%Moderate
9–10 am1,77850%Moderate
10–11 am1,86552%Moderate
11 am–noon2,07258%Moderate
noon–1 pm1,77050%Moderate
1–2 pm2,13060%Moderate
2–3 pm2,09559%Moderate
3–4 pm1,69248%Moderate
4–5 pm1,48642%Moderate
5–6 pm1,39139%Quiet
6–7 pm1,37139%Quiet
7–8 pm88025%Quiet
8–9 pm40011%Quiet
9–10 pm1354%Quiet
10–11 pm451%Quiet
11 pm–midnight191%Quiet

DTW security by hour on Wednesdays

12a: 1% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 1% of peak, Quiet3a: 10% of peak, Quiet4a: 34% of peak, Quiet5a: 63% of peak, Moderate6a: 70% of peak, Moderate7a: 85% of peak, Busy8a: 60% of peak, Moderate9a: 48% of peak, Moderate10a: 52% of peak, Moderate11a: 61% of peak, Moderate12p: 53% of peak, Moderate1p: 60% of peak, Moderate2p: 64% of peak, Moderate3p: 54% of peak, Moderate4p: 49% of peak, Moderate5p: 50% of peak, Moderate6p: 52% of peak, Moderate7p: 30% of peak, Quiet8p: 13% of peak, Quiet9p: 4% of peak, Quiet10p: 1% of peak, Quiet11p: 0% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
DTW · typical Wednesday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am181%Quiet
1–2 am140%Quiet
2–3 am221%Quiet
3–4 am34910%Quiet
4–5 am1,21334%Quiet
5–6 am2,25663%Moderate
6–7 am2,49070%Moderate
7–8 am3,03185%Busy
8–9 am2,13660%Moderate
9–10 am1,69948%Moderate
10–11 am1,83452%Moderate
11 am–noon2,16261%Moderate
noon–1 pm1,90353%Moderate
1–2 pm2,13160%Moderate
2–3 pm2,27964%Moderate
3–4 pm1,90654%Moderate
4–5 pm1,75249%Moderate
5–6 pm1,78750%Moderate
6–7 pm1,85652%Moderate
7–8 pm1,05630%Quiet
8–9 pm44713%Quiet
9–10 pm1274%Quiet
10–11 pm501%Quiet
11 pm–midnight160%Quiet

DTW security by hour on Thursdays

12a: 0% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 0% of peak, Quiet3a: 11% of peak, Quiet4a: 42% of peak, Moderate5a: 80% of peak, Busy6a: 85% of peak, Busy7a: 96% of peak, Busy8a: 74% of peak, Busy9a: 55% of peak, Moderate10a: 53% of peak, Moderate11a: 68% of peak, Moderate12p: 58% of peak, Moderate1p: 73% of peak, Busy2p: 79% of peak, Busy3p: 74% of peak, Busy4p: 60% of peak, Moderate5p: 61% of peak, Moderate6p: 66% of peak, Moderate7p: 50% of peak, Moderate8p: 21% of peak, Quiet9p: 6% of peak, Quiet10p: 1% of peak, Quiet11p: 0% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
DTW · typical Thursday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am160%Quiet
1–2 am160%Quiet
2–3 am170%Quiet
3–4 am40611%Quiet
4–5 am1,51042%Moderate
5–6 am2,83980%Busy
6–7 am3,01485%Busy
7–8 am3,41596%Busy
8–9 am2,65174%Busy
9–10 am1,97255%Moderate
10–11 am1,88853%Moderate
11 am–noon2,40768%Moderate
noon–1 pm2,06858%Moderate
1–2 pm2,58573%Busy
2–3 pm2,80579%Busy
3–4 pm2,63474%Busy
4–5 pm2,15260%Moderate
5–6 pm2,15561%Moderate
6–7 pm2,34366%Moderate
7–8 pm1,77050%Moderate
8–9 pm76221%Quiet
9–10 pm2106%Quiet
10–11 pm501%Quiet
11 pm–midnight140%Quiet

DTW security by hour on Fridays

12a: 0% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 1% of peak, Quiet3a: 12% of peak, Quiet4a: 44% of peak, Moderate5a: 80% of peak, Busy6a: 89% of peak, Busy7a: 100% of peak, Busy8a: 83% of peak, Busy9a: 58% of peak, Moderate10a: 62% of peak, Moderate11a: 73% of peak, Busy12p: 60% of peak, Moderate1p: 72% of peak, Busy2p: 71% of peak, Busy3p: 67% of peak, Moderate4p: 54% of peak, Moderate5p: 54% of peak, Moderate6p: 55% of peak, Moderate7p: 40% of peak, Moderate8p: 17% of peak, Quiet9p: 5% of peak, Quiet10p: 1% of peak, Quiet11p: 0% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
DTW · typical Friday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am120%Quiet
1–2 am150%Quiet
2–3 am251%Quiet
3–4 am43712%Quiet
4–5 am1,56744%Moderate
5–6 am2,84280%Busy
6–7 am3,17489%Busy
7–8 am3,561100%Busy
8–9 am2,95583%Busy
9–10 am2,05958%Moderate
10–11 am2,20362%Moderate
11 am–noon2,61273%Busy
noon–1 pm2,12360%Moderate
1–2 pm2,54872%Busy
2–3 pm2,51271%Busy
3–4 pm2,38267%Moderate
4–5 pm1,91954%Moderate
5–6 pm1,93954%Moderate
6–7 pm1,96155%Moderate
7–8 pm1,43640%Moderate
8–9 pm59617%Quiet
9–10 pm1845%Quiet
10–11 pm511%Quiet
11 pm–midnight140%Quiet

DTW security by hour on Saturdays

12a: 0% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 1% of peak, Quiet3a: 10% of peak, Quiet4a: 41% of peak, Moderate5a: 66% of peak, Moderate6a: 71% of peak, Busy7a: 80% of peak, Busy8a: 58% of peak, Moderate9a: 46% of peak, Moderate10a: 50% of peak, Moderate11a: 53% of peak, Moderate12p: 47% of peak, Moderate1p: 51% of peak, Moderate2p: 55% of peak, Moderate3p: 41% of peak, Moderate4p: 32% of peak, Quiet5p: 31% of peak, Quiet6p: 33% of peak, Quiet7p: 23% of peak, Quiet8p: 11% of peak, Quiet9p: 3% of peak, Quiet10p: 1% of peak, Quiet11p: 0% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
DTW · typical Saturday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am150%Quiet
1–2 am130%Quiet
2–3 am221%Quiet
3–4 am37010%Quiet
4–5 am1,47641%Moderate
5–6 am2,34366%Moderate
6–7 am2,53471%Busy
7–8 am2,85080%Busy
8–9 am2,06258%Moderate
9–10 am1,63546%Moderate
10–11 am1,78650%Moderate
11 am–noon1,87153%Moderate
noon–1 pm1,68247%Moderate
1–2 pm1,83051%Moderate
2–3 pm1,96255%Moderate
3–4 pm1,45841%Moderate
4–5 pm1,14932%Quiet
5–6 pm1,11331%Quiet
6–7 pm1,19233%Quiet
7–8 pm83123%Quiet
8–9 pm37911%Quiet
9–10 pm983%Quiet
10–11 pm261%Quiet
11 pm–midnight140%Quiet

Best and worst times to go through security at DTW

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.

DTW · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
DaysBusiestQuietest
Monday to Thursday5–8 am (89%)4–5 pm (51%)7–9 pm (16%)
Friday6–9 am (100%)4–5 pm (54%)7–9 pm (17%)
Saturday5–8 am (80%)5–6 pm (31%)7–9 pm (11%)
Sunday6–8 am (88%)2–3 pm (81%)9–10 am (49%)7–9 pm (27%)

DTW security checkpoints and hours

TSA's counts list 7 checkpoints at DTW. "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.

DTW checkpoints · TSA counts Sep 13, 2026 to Nov 7, 2026
CheckpointScreening seenTypical busiest hourShare
Red 24 am to 10 pm7–8 am21%
Red 14 am to 10 pm7–8 am21%
Blue-23 am to 8 pm5–6 am17%
Blue-13 am to 11 pm5–6 am16%
Red 3Around the clock7–8 am16%
Red 56 am to 8 pm7–8 am5%
Red 65 am to 8 pm7–8 am3%

How early should I get to DTW?

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

Flight
Options
For DTW, Sunday 10:00 am, domestic, checked bagGet to DTW by 8:00 amLeave by 7:30 am · 120 min before departure
  • Domestic flight120 min
  • Security moderate at that hour0 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.

DTW arrival times on a typical Sunday

DTW · Sunday · checked bag, no PreCheck · our rule of thumb
DepartureSecurity at that hourDomestic: arrive byInternational: arrive by
6 amQuiet4:15 am (105 min)3:15 am (165 min)
8 amBusy5:40 am (140 min)5:15 am (165 min)
10 amModerate8:00 am (120 min)6:40 am (200 min)
noonModerate10:00 am (120 min)9:00 am (180 min)
3 pmModerate1:00 pm (120 min)12:00 pm (180 min)
6 pmModerate4:00 pm (120 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.

DTW security FAQ

What is the busiest time for security at DTW?

On a typical Sunday, DTW's checkpoints are busiest from 5 to 8 am. The single busiest hour in the 8 weeks to Nov 7, 2026 was 7–8 am on Fridays, with a median of 3,561 people screened.

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

Saturday is the quietest day overall. On Sundays, the quietest daytime window is 9–10 am, 7–9 pm.

How early should I get to DTW?

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 Sunday with a checked bag, that means getting to DTW by 8:00 am.

How many security checkpoints does DTW have?

TSA's checkpoint counts list 7 screening checkpoints at DTW in the 8 weeks to Nov 7, 2026. The busiest, Red 2, screens about 21% of DTW's passengers.

Sources for DTW

  • 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.metroairport.com/at-dtw/safety-security, checked Nov 2026.
  • How the levels are built: methodology. TSA Wait Checker is not affiliated with TSA or Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County.

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