TSA wait times

Los Angeles International

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

Photo: David Syphers / Unsplash

Los Angeles Airport (LAX) TSA Wait Times

Security at Los Angeles (LAX) is busiest from 7 to 11 am and quietest around 6–8 pm on a typical Sunday, based on TSA checkpoint counts for the 8 weeks to Nov 7, 2026.

Typical Sunday, 8–9 am · LAX time

BUSY

100% of LAX's busiest hour

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

LAX security lines by hour

How busy LAX'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 LAX local time.

LAX security by hour on Sundays

12a: 3% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 0% of peak, Quiet3a: 12% of peak, Quiet4a: 48% of peak, Moderate5a: 62% of peak, Moderate6a: 82% of peak, Busy7a: 89% of peak, Busy8a: 100% of peak, Busy9a: 95% of peak, Busy10a: 92% of peak, Busy11a: 83% of peak, Busy12p: 82% of peak, Busy1p: 75% of peak, Busy2p: 71% of peak, Busy3p: 71% of peak, Busy4p: 67% of peak, Moderate5p: 68% of peak, Moderate6p: 59% of peak, Moderate7p: 59% of peak, Moderate8p: 64% of peak, Moderate9p: 64% of peak, Moderate10p: 53% of peak, Moderate11p: 19% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
LAX · typical Sunday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am2463%Quiet
1–2 am50%Quiet
2–3 am180%Quiet
3–4 am86812%Quiet
4–5 am3,54848%Moderate
5–6 am4,59862%Moderate
6–7 am6,06182%Busy
7–8 am6,55189%Busy
8–9 am7,371100%Busy
9–10 am6,97795%Busy
10–11 am6,81192%Busy
11 am–noon6,13883%Busy
noon–1 pm6,02482%Busy
1–2 pm5,53475%Busy
2–3 pm5,26771%Busy
3–4 pm5,25771%Busy
4–5 pm4,90467%Moderate
5–6 pm4,99168%Moderate
6–7 pm4,32859%Moderate
7–8 pm4,32659%Moderate
8–9 pm4,74064%Moderate
9–10 pm4,75264%Moderate
10–11 pm3,93053%Moderate
11 pm–midnight1,40619%Quiet

LAX security by hour on Mondays

12a: 4% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 0% of peak, Quiet3a: 14% of peak, Quiet4a: 49% of peak, Moderate5a: 69% of peak, Moderate6a: 82% of peak, Busy7a: 88% of peak, Busy8a: 94% of peak, Busy9a: 92% of peak, Busy10a: 94% of peak, Busy11a: 91% of peak, Busy12p: 81% of peak, Busy1p: 66% of peak, Moderate2p: 62% of peak, Moderate3p: 58% of peak, Moderate4p: 47% of peak, Moderate5p: 50% of peak, Moderate6p: 49% of peak, Moderate7p: 49% of peak, Moderate8p: 58% of peak, Moderate9p: 55% of peak, Moderate10p: 43% of peak, Moderate11p: 11% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
LAX · typical Monday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am2734%Quiet
1–2 am70%Quiet
2–3 am300%Quiet
3–4 am1,06214%Quiet
4–5 am3,59449%Moderate
5–6 am5,07569%Moderate
6–7 am6,04782%Busy
7–8 am6,51788%Busy
8–9 am6,89394%Busy
9–10 am6,80992%Busy
10–11 am6,96494%Busy
11 am–noon6,73191%Busy
noon–1 pm5,99181%Busy
1–2 pm4,84066%Moderate
2–3 pm4,59762%Moderate
3–4 pm4,24758%Moderate
4–5 pm3,48747%Moderate
5–6 pm3,65050%Moderate
6–7 pm3,63649%Moderate
7–8 pm3,58949%Moderate
8–9 pm4,30258%Moderate
9–10 pm4,04255%Moderate
10–11 pm3,15343%Moderate
11 pm–midnight83811%Quiet

LAX security by hour on Tuesdays

12a: 2% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 0% of peak, Quiet3a: 8% of peak, Quiet4a: 36% of peak, Quiet5a: 55% of peak, Moderate6a: 73% of peak, Busy7a: 77% of peak, Busy8a: 82% of peak, Busy9a: 81% of peak, Busy10a: 80% of peak, Busy11a: 72% of peak, Busy12p: 66% of peak, Moderate1p: 55% of peak, Moderate2p: 51% of peak, Moderate3p: 44% of peak, Moderate4p: 36% of peak, Quiet5p: 36% of peak, Quiet6p: 36% of peak, Quiet7p: 43% of peak, Moderate8p: 53% of peak, Moderate9p: 54% of peak, Moderate10p: 40% of peak, Moderate11p: 12% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
LAX · typical Tuesday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am1112%Quiet
1–2 am30%Quiet
2–3 am150%Quiet
3–4 am6168%Quiet
4–5 am2,65136%Quiet
5–6 am4,04255%Moderate
6–7 am5,39373%Busy
7–8 am5,68877%Busy
8–9 am6,02782%Busy
9–10 am5,95781%Busy
10–11 am5,86580%Busy
11 am–noon5,33072%Busy
noon–1 pm4,89466%Moderate
1–2 pm4,05255%Moderate
2–3 pm3,77651%Moderate
3–4 pm3,25544%Moderate
4–5 pm2,65536%Quiet
5–6 pm2,63236%Quiet
6–7 pm2,68836%Quiet
7–8 pm3,15243%Moderate
8–9 pm3,88953%Moderate
9–10 pm3,96954%Moderate
10–11 pm2,96440%Moderate
11 pm–midnight85312%Quiet

LAX security by hour on Wednesdays

12a: 2% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 0% of peak, Quiet3a: 10% of peak, Quiet4a: 38% of peak, Quiet5a: 58% of peak, Moderate6a: 74% of peak, Busy7a: 79% of peak, Busy8a: 83% of peak, Busy9a: 83% of peak, Busy10a: 81% of peak, Busy11a: 74% of peak, Busy12p: 67% of peak, Moderate1p: 60% of peak, Moderate2p: 59% of peak, Moderate3p: 47% of peak, Moderate4p: 42% of peak, Moderate5p: 42% of peak, Moderate6p: 42% of peak, Moderate7p: 48% of peak, Moderate8p: 54% of peak, Moderate9p: 63% of peak, Moderate10p: 48% of peak, Moderate11p: 13% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
LAX · typical Wednesday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am1442%Quiet
1–2 am70%Quiet
2–3 am100%Quiet
3–4 am76110%Quiet
4–5 am2,81938%Quiet
5–6 am4,27558%Moderate
6–7 am5,44574%Busy
7–8 am5,81979%Busy
8–9 am6,13183%Busy
9–10 am6,12083%Busy
10–11 am5,96681%Busy
11 am–noon5,46874%Busy
noon–1 pm4,94267%Moderate
1–2 pm4,38760%Moderate
2–3 pm4,31759%Moderate
3–4 pm3,45547%Moderate
4–5 pm3,08642%Moderate
5–6 pm3,10942%Moderate
6–7 pm3,10742%Moderate
7–8 pm3,51348%Moderate
8–9 pm3,99054%Moderate
9–10 pm4,64063%Moderate
10–11 pm3,57148%Moderate
11 pm–midnight96413%Quiet

LAX security by hour on Thursdays

12a: 2% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 0% of peak, Quiet3a: 14% of peak, Quiet4a: 48% of peak, Moderate5a: 68% of peak, Moderate6a: 86% of peak, Busy7a: 92% of peak, Busy8a: 92% of peak, Busy9a: 90% of peak, Busy10a: 92% of peak, Busy11a: 82% of peak, Busy12p: 76% of peak, Busy1p: 67% of peak, Moderate2p: 68% of peak, Moderate3p: 60% of peak, Moderate4p: 54% of peak, Moderate5p: 51% of peak, Moderate6p: 51% of peak, Moderate7p: 52% of peak, Moderate8p: 61% of peak, Moderate9p: 63% of peak, Moderate10p: 56% of peak, Moderate11p: 21% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
LAX · typical Thursday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am1232%Quiet
1–2 am30%Quiet
2–3 am230%Quiet
3–4 am1,00514%Quiet
4–5 am3,55948%Moderate
5–6 am5,01468%Moderate
6–7 am6,30686%Busy
7–8 am6,76692%Busy
8–9 am6,78892%Busy
9–10 am6,63390%Busy
10–11 am6,76692%Busy
11 am–noon6,08182%Busy
noon–1 pm5,62676%Busy
1–2 pm4,91267%Moderate
2–3 pm4,99368%Moderate
3–4 pm4,39460%Moderate
4–5 pm3,98854%Moderate
5–6 pm3,75751%Moderate
6–7 pm3,77551%Moderate
7–8 pm3,83652%Moderate
8–9 pm4,49061%Moderate
9–10 pm4,66063%Moderate
10–11 pm4,09956%Moderate
11 pm–midnight1,52421%Quiet

LAX security by hour on Fridays

12a: 4% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 0% of peak, Quiet3a: 14% of peak, Quiet4a: 51% of peak, Moderate5a: 70% of peak, Moderate6a: 86% of peak, Busy7a: 96% of peak, Busy8a: 97% of peak, Busy9a: 97% of peak, Busy10a: 94% of peak, Busy11a: 89% of peak, Busy12p: 70% of peak, Moderate1p: 67% of peak, Moderate2p: 63% of peak, Moderate3p: 53% of peak, Moderate4p: 49% of peak, Moderate5p: 52% of peak, Moderate6p: 49% of peak, Moderate7p: 53% of peak, Moderate8p: 58% of peak, Moderate9p: 63% of peak, Moderate10p: 54% of peak, Moderate11p: 17% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
LAX · typical Friday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am2584%Quiet
1–2 am90%Quiet
2–3 am330%Quiet
3–4 am1,02814%Quiet
4–5 am3,77351%Moderate
5–6 am5,13870%Moderate
6–7 am6,36386%Busy
7–8 am7,05196%Busy
8–9 am7,15797%Busy
9–10 am7,12997%Busy
10–11 am6,93994%Busy
11 am–noon6,53189%Busy
noon–1 pm5,16770%Moderate
1–2 pm4,95167%Moderate
2–3 pm4,63163%Moderate
3–4 pm3,94053%Moderate
4–5 pm3,62149%Moderate
5–6 pm3,84152%Moderate
6–7 pm3,60549%Moderate
7–8 pm3,88953%Moderate
8–9 pm4,26358%Moderate
9–10 pm4,63863%Moderate
10–11 pm3,95754%Moderate
11 pm–midnight1,23117%Quiet

LAX security by hour on Saturdays

12a: 2% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 0% of peak, Quiet3a: 10% of peak, Quiet4a: 41% of peak, Moderate5a: 57% of peak, Moderate6a: 77% of peak, Busy7a: 87% of peak, Busy8a: 92% of peak, Busy9a: 92% of peak, Busy10a: 83% of peak, Busy11a: 74% of peak, Busy12p: 63% of peak, Moderate1p: 56% of peak, Moderate2p: 54% of peak, Moderate3p: 46% of peak, Moderate4p: 40% of peak, Moderate5p: 40% of peak, Moderate6p: 39% of peak, Quiet7p: 43% of peak, Moderate8p: 46% of peak, Moderate9p: 52% of peak, Moderate10p: 41% of peak, Moderate11p: 14% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
LAX · typical Saturday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am1632%Quiet
1–2 am20%Quiet
2–3 am180%Quiet
3–4 am70610%Quiet
4–5 am3,05341%Moderate
5–6 am4,20857%Moderate
6–7 am5,64077%Busy
7–8 am6,44987%Busy
8–9 am6,76192%Busy
9–10 am6,75792%Busy
10–11 am6,09883%Busy
11 am–noon5,45574%Busy
noon–1 pm4,63163%Moderate
1–2 pm4,14556%Moderate
2–3 pm3,99654%Moderate
3–4 pm3,42046%Moderate
4–5 pm2,96640%Moderate
5–6 pm2,93340%Moderate
6–7 pm2,84239%Quiet
7–8 pm3,18043%Moderate
8–9 pm3,41746%Moderate
9–10 pm3,86652%Moderate
10–11 pm3,02241%Moderate
11 pm–midnight1,03714%Quiet

Best and worst times to go through security at LAX

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.

LAX · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
DaysBusiestQuietest
Monday to Thursday8–11 am (88%)4–7 pm (45%)
Friday7–10 am (97%)4–7 pm (49%)
Saturday7–10 am (92%)4–7 pm (39%)
Sunday8–11 am (100%)6–8 pm (59%)10–11 pm (53%)

LAX security checkpoints and hours

TSA's counts list 11 checkpoints at LAX. "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.

LAX checkpoints · TSA counts Sep 13, 2026 to Nov 7, 2026
CheckpointScreening seenTypical busiest hourShare
Terminal 3 - Passenger3 am to midnight8–9 am20%
TBIT Main CheckpointAround the clock9–10 pm20%
Terminal 7 - PassengerAround the clock7–8 am15%
Terminal 4 - PassengerAround the clock8–9 am13%
Terminal 6 - Passenger4 am to 11 pm5–6 am9%
Terminal 1.5 – PassengerAround the clock8–9 pm9%
Terminal 1 - Passenger2 am to 8 pm10–11 am8%
Terminal 4 - FIS5 am to 11 pm3–4 pm3%
Terminal 4A - Passenger4 am to 8 pm7–8 am2%
Terminal 3 - Delta One4 am to 11 pm6–7 am1%
TBIT MSC - Passenger11 am to 11 pm11 am–noon0%

How early should I get to LAX?

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

Flight
Options
For LAX, Sunday 10:00 am, domestic, checked bagGet to LAX 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.

LAX arrival times on a typical Sunday

LAX · Sunday · 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 amModerate6:00 am (120 min)5:00 am (180 min)
10 amBusy7:40 am (140 min)6:40 am (200 min)
noonBusy9:40 am (140 min)8:40 am (200 min)
3 pmBusy12:40 pm (140 min)11:40 am (200 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.

LAX security FAQ

What is the busiest time for security at LAX?

On a typical Sunday, LAX's checkpoints are busiest from 7 to 11 am. The single busiest hour in the 8 weeks to Nov 7, 2026 was 8–9 am on Sundays, with a median of 7,371 people screened.

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

Tuesday is the quietest day overall. On Sundays, the quietest daytime window is 6–8 pm, 10–11 pm.

How early should I get to LAX?

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 LAX by 7:40 am.

How many security checkpoints does LAX have?

TSA's checkpoint counts list 11 screening checkpoints at LAX in the 8 weeks to Nov 7, 2026. The busiest, Terminal 3 - Passenger, screens about 20% of LAX's passengers.

Sources for LAX

  • 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.
  • How the levels are built: methodology. TSA Wait Checker is not affiliated with TSA or Los Angeles International.

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