TSA wait times

San Francisco International

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

Photo: Yosuke Ota / Unsplash

San Francisco Airport (SFO) Security Wait Times

Security at San Francisco (SFO) is busiest from 9 am to 1 pm and quietest around 4–5 pm on a typical Thursday, based on TSA checkpoint counts for the 8 weeks to Nov 7, 2026.

Typical Thursday, 10–11 am · SFO time

BUSY

100% of SFO's busiest hour

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

SFO's official live wait times

SFO security lines by hour

How busy SFO'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 SFO local time.

SFO security by hour on Sundays

12a: 1% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 0% of peak, Quiet3a: 11% of peak, Quiet4a: 30% of peak, Quiet5a: 47% of peak, Moderate6a: 65% of peak, Moderate7a: 87% of peak, Busy8a: 76% of peak, Busy9a: 95% of peak, Busy10a: 92% of peak, Busy11a: 88% of peak, Busy12p: 91% of peak, Busy1p: 71% of peak, Busy2p: 73% of peak, Busy3p: 74% of peak, Busy4p: 54% of peak, Moderate5p: 63% of peak, Moderate6p: 47% of peak, Moderate7p: 50% of peak, Moderate8p: 63% of peak, Moderate9p: 65% of peak, Moderate10p: 51% of peak, Moderate11p: 11% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
SFO · typical Sunday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am851%Quiet
1–2 am240%Quiet
2–3 am00%Quiet
3–4 am64811%Quiet
4–5 am1,76030%Quiet
5–6 am2,77447%Moderate
6–7 am3,82765%Moderate
7–8 am5,13987%Busy
8–9 am4,49276%Busy
9–10 am5,60795%Busy
10–11 am5,43992%Busy
11 am–noon5,19788%Busy
noon–1 pm5,40791%Busy
1–2 pm4,21971%Busy
2–3 pm4,32373%Busy
3–4 pm4,35174%Busy
4–5 pm3,19054%Moderate
5–6 pm3,74263%Moderate
6–7 pm2,79347%Moderate
7–8 pm2,96050%Moderate
8–9 pm3,71163%Moderate
9–10 pm3,85465%Moderate
10–11 pm3,03951%Moderate
11 pm–midnight67211%Quiet

SFO security by hour on Mondays

12a: 2% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 0% of peak, Quiet3a: 11% of peak, Quiet4a: 36% of peak, Quiet5a: 55% of peak, Moderate6a: 70% of peak, Moderate7a: 85% of peak, Busy8a: 71% of peak, Busy9a: 93% of peak, Busy10a: 98% of peak, Busy11a: 87% of peak, Busy12p: 89% of peak, Busy1p: 67% of peak, Moderate2p: 66% of peak, Moderate3p: 61% of peak, Moderate4p: 46% of peak, Moderate5p: 47% of peak, Moderate6p: 32% of peak, Quiet7p: 35% of peak, Quiet8p: 44% of peak, Moderate9p: 53% of peak, Moderate10p: 40% of peak, Moderate11p: 12% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
SFO · typical Monday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am1212%Quiet
1–2 am80%Quiet
2–3 am00%Quiet
3–4 am63211%Quiet
4–5 am2,12536%Quiet
5–6 am3,26155%Moderate
6–7 am4,15570%Moderate
7–8 am5,02685%Busy
8–9 am4,17271%Busy
9–10 am5,50093%Busy
10–11 am5,79098%Busy
11 am–noon5,12287%Busy
noon–1 pm5,24589%Busy
1–2 pm3,97767%Moderate
2–3 pm3,93166%Moderate
3–4 pm3,61361%Moderate
4–5 pm2,74246%Moderate
5–6 pm2,77047%Moderate
6–7 pm1,87532%Quiet
7–8 pm2,05535%Quiet
8–9 pm2,61544%Moderate
9–10 pm3,15653%Moderate
10–11 pm2,35740%Moderate
11 pm–midnight72012%Quiet

SFO security by hour on Tuesdays

12a: 2% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 0% of peak, Quiet3a: 7% of peak, Quiet4a: 25% of peak, Quiet5a: 41% of peak, Moderate6a: 63% of peak, Moderate7a: 78% of peak, Busy8a: 56% of peak, Moderate9a: 78% of peak, Busy10a: 79% of peak, Busy11a: 84% of peak, Busy12p: 75% of peak, Busy1p: 49% of peak, Moderate2p: 55% of peak, Moderate3p: 51% of peak, Moderate4p: 36% of peak, Quiet5p: 39% of peak, Quiet6p: 27% of peak, Quiet7p: 28% of peak, Quiet8p: 41% of peak, Moderate9p: 47% of peak, Moderate10p: 39% of peak, Quiet11p: 9% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
SFO · typical Tuesday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am1242%Quiet
1–2 am70%Quiet
2–3 am00%Quiet
3–4 am3957%Quiet
4–5 am1,48725%Quiet
5–6 am2,45041%Moderate
6–7 am3,75063%Moderate
7–8 am4,58678%Busy
8–9 am3,29556%Moderate
9–10 am4,59378%Busy
10–11 am4,67079%Busy
11 am–noon4,96484%Busy
noon–1 pm4,40875%Busy
1–2 pm2,90149%Moderate
2–3 pm3,25755%Moderate
3–4 pm3,02151%Moderate
4–5 pm2,12236%Quiet
5–6 pm2,33339%Quiet
6–7 pm1,60427%Quiet
7–8 pm1,66228%Quiet
8–9 pm2,42941%Moderate
9–10 pm2,78847%Moderate
10–11 pm2,31739%Quiet
11 pm–midnight5519%Quiet

SFO security by hour on Wednesdays

12a: 2% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 0% of peak, Quiet3a: 9% of peak, Quiet4a: 29% of peak, Quiet5a: 46% of peak, Moderate6a: 65% of peak, Moderate7a: 80% of peak, Busy8a: 64% of peak, Moderate9a: 81% of peak, Busy10a: 86% of peak, Busy11a: 86% of peak, Busy12p: 77% of peak, Busy1p: 58% of peak, Moderate2p: 63% of peak, Moderate3p: 59% of peak, Moderate4p: 45% of peak, Moderate5p: 50% of peak, Moderate6p: 33% of peak, Quiet7p: 38% of peak, Quiet8p: 55% of peak, Moderate9p: 61% of peak, Moderate10p: 49% of peak, Moderate11p: 12% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
SFO · typical Wednesday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am1242%Quiet
1–2 am150%Quiet
2–3 am00%Quiet
3–4 am5199%Quiet
4–5 am1,69529%Quiet
5–6 am2,71446%Moderate
6–7 am3,81965%Moderate
7–8 am4,75780%Busy
8–9 am3,78464%Moderate
9–10 am4,82081%Busy
10–11 am5,06786%Busy
11 am–noon5,07886%Busy
noon–1 pm4,56777%Busy
1–2 pm3,44158%Moderate
2–3 pm3,73563%Moderate
3–4 pm3,51959%Moderate
4–5 pm2,65145%Moderate
5–6 pm2,94550%Moderate
6–7 pm1,95233%Quiet
7–8 pm2,23038%Quiet
8–9 pm3,24355%Moderate
9–10 pm3,62761%Moderate
10–11 pm2,90749%Moderate
11 pm–midnight71612%Quiet

SFO security by hour on Thursdays

12a: 2% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 0% of peak, Quiet3a: 13% of peak, Quiet4a: 40% of peak, Moderate5a: 58% of peak, Moderate6a: 75% of peak, Busy7a: 84% of peak, Busy8a: 73% of peak, Busy9a: 88% of peak, Busy10a: 100% of peak, Busy11a: 100% of peak, Busy12p: 87% of peak, Busy1p: 75% of peak, Busy2p: 78% of peak, Busy3p: 77% of peak, Busy4p: 56% of peak, Moderate5p: 67% of peak, Moderate6p: 56% of peak, Moderate7p: 60% of peak, Moderate8p: 67% of peak, Moderate9p: 71% of peak, Busy10p: 57% of peak, Moderate11p: 16% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
SFO · typical Thursday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am1292%Quiet
1–2 am80%Quiet
2–3 am00%Quiet
3–4 am75813%Quiet
4–5 am2,35940%Moderate
5–6 am3,44558%Moderate
6–7 am4,43875%Busy
7–8 am4,99684%Busy
8–9 am4,31673%Busy
9–10 am5,21088%Busy
10–11 am5,914100%Busy
11 am–noon5,916100%Busy
noon–1 pm5,15887%Busy
1–2 pm4,45475%Busy
2–3 pm4,61378%Busy
3–4 pm4,57077%Busy
4–5 pm3,31056%Moderate
5–6 pm3,94067%Moderate
6–7 pm3,31156%Moderate
7–8 pm3,52860%Moderate
8–9 pm3,98667%Moderate
9–10 pm4,19271%Busy
10–11 pm3,35957%Moderate
11 pm–midnight96316%Quiet

SFO security by hour on Fridays

12a: 3% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 0% of peak, Quiet3a: 14% of peak, Quiet4a: 41% of peak, Moderate5a: 69% of peak, Moderate6a: 77% of peak, Busy7a: 91% of peak, Busy8a: 87% of peak, Busy9a: 97% of peak, Busy10a: 95% of peak, Busy11a: 94% of peak, Busy12p: 91% of peak, Busy1p: 69% of peak, Moderate2p: 73% of peak, Busy3p: 73% of peak, Busy4p: 55% of peak, Moderate5p: 60% of peak, Moderate6p: 46% of peak, Moderate7p: 49% of peak, Moderate8p: 62% of peak, Moderate9p: 65% of peak, Moderate10p: 48% of peak, Moderate11p: 16% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
SFO · typical Friday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am1793%Quiet
1–2 am250%Quiet
2–3 am00%Quiet
3–4 am82314%Quiet
4–5 am2,44841%Moderate
5–6 am4,07869%Moderate
6–7 am4,57577%Busy
7–8 am5,41291%Busy
8–9 am5,17187%Busy
9–10 am5,72297%Busy
10–11 am5,64395%Busy
11 am–noon5,55194%Busy
noon–1 pm5,40591%Busy
1–2 pm4,05469%Moderate
2–3 pm4,30073%Busy
3–4 pm4,29173%Busy
4–5 pm3,24155%Moderate
5–6 pm3,52960%Moderate
6–7 pm2,72846%Moderate
7–8 pm2,89049%Moderate
8–9 pm3,69762%Moderate
9–10 pm3,84765%Moderate
10–11 pm2,82848%Moderate
11 pm–midnight92216%Quiet

SFO security by hour on Saturdays

12a: 2% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 0% of peak, Quiet3a: 10% of peak, Quiet4a: 31% of peak, Quiet5a: 48% of peak, Moderate6a: 65% of peak, Moderate7a: 89% of peak, Busy8a: 72% of peak, Busy9a: 89% of peak, Busy10a: 86% of peak, Busy11a: 79% of peak, Busy12p: 75% of peak, Busy1p: 53% of peak, Moderate2p: 53% of peak, Moderate3p: 49% of peak, Moderate4p: 33% of peak, Quiet5p: 37% of peak, Quiet6p: 29% of peak, Quiet7p: 31% of peak, Quiet8p: 45% of peak, Moderate9p: 51% of peak, Moderate10p: 38% of peak, Quiet11p: 13% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
SFO · typical Saturday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am1122%Quiet
1–2 am90%Quiet
2–3 am00%Quiet
3–4 am58410%Quiet
4–5 am1,85031%Quiet
5–6 am2,86248%Moderate
6–7 am3,86465%Moderate
7–8 am5,26789%Busy
8–9 am4,28572%Busy
9–10 am5,28889%Busy
10–11 am5,05986%Busy
11 am–noon4,66779%Busy
noon–1 pm4,41975%Busy
1–2 pm3,11253%Moderate
2–3 pm3,14853%Moderate
3–4 pm2,88649%Moderate
4–5 pm1,96633%Quiet
5–6 pm2,17637%Quiet
6–7 pm1,70529%Quiet
7–8 pm1,83931%Quiet
8–9 pm2,66245%Moderate
9–10 pm3,01351%Moderate
10–11 pm2,22638%Quiet
11 pm–midnight75613%Quiet

Best and worst times to go through security at SFO

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.

SFO · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
DaysBusiestQuietest
Monday to Thursday9 am–noon (91%)4–5 pm (46%)6–8 pm (37%)
Friday9 am–noon (97%)6–8 pm (46%)10–11 pm (48%)
Saturday7–8 am (89%)9–11 am (89%)4–5 pm (33%)6–8 pm (29%)
Sunday9–11 am (95%)noon–1 pm (91%)5–6 am (47%)6–8 pm (47%)

SFO security checkpoints and hours

TSA's counts list 6 checkpoints at SFO. "Screening seen" is the span of hours in which TSA counted at least a few passengers on a typical day, not posted opening hours.

SFO checkpoints · TSA counts Sep 13, 2026 to Nov 7, 2026 · facts checked Nov 2026
CheckpointLanesScreening seenTypical busiest hourShare
Checkpoint DPreCheckCLEARAround the clock9–10 am21%
Checkpoint FPreCheckCLEARAround the clock7–8 am19%
Checkpoint B, Departure LevelCLEARAround the clock10–11 am19%
Checkpoint APreCheckCLEARAround the clock9–10 pm15%
Checkpoint B, Mezzanine LevelPreCheck4 am to 11 pm10–11 am13%
Checkpoint GPreCheckCLEARAround the clocknoon–1 pm13%

The airport says all gates are accessible from any checkpoint. Source.

SFO checkpoint layout

Checkpoints grouped by terminal, as the airport lists them. Each box shows how busy that checkpoint typically is at the hour, against its own busiest hour (median of the 8 weeks to Nov 7, 2026). It is a list, not a map: the airport does not publish checkpoint coordinates.

Checkpoints

  • Checkpoint DPreCheckCLEARBusyThursday, 10–11 am
  • Checkpoint FPreCheckCLEARModerateThursday, 10–11 am
  • Checkpoint B, Departure LevelCLEARBusyThursday, 10–11 am
  • Checkpoint APreCheckCLEARBusyThursday, 10–11 am
  • Checkpoint B, Mezzanine LevelPreCheckBusyThursday, 10–11 am
  • Checkpoint GPreCheckCLEARBusyThursday, 10–11 am

How early should I get to SFO?

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

Flight
Options
For SFO, Thursday 10:00 am, domestic, checked bagGet to SFO 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.

SFO arrival times on a typical Thursday

SFO · 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 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.

TSA PreCheck and CLEAR at SFO

  • Checkpoint D: TSA PreCheck and CLEAR. Source.
  • Checkpoint F: TSA PreCheck and CLEAR. Source.
  • Checkpoint B, Departure Level: CLEAR. Source.
  • Checkpoint A: TSA PreCheck and CLEAR. Source.
  • Checkpoint B, Mezzanine Level: TSA PreCheck. Source.
  • Checkpoint G: TSA PreCheck and CLEAR. Source.

Lanes as listed on SFO's own website, checked Nov 2026; checkpoints not listed here have no lane information yet. TSA's counts do not split PreCheck from standard lanes. See PreCheck wait times and CLEAR vs PreCheck.

SFO security FAQ

What is the busiest time for security at SFO?

On a typical Thursday, SFO's checkpoints are busiest from 9 am to 1 pm. The single busiest hour in the 8 weeks to Nov 7, 2026 was 10–11 am on Thursdays, with a median of 5,916 people screened.

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

Tuesday is the quietest day overall. On Thursdays, the quietest daytime window is 4–5 pm, 6–8 pm.

How early should I get to SFO?

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 SFO by 7:40 am.

How many security checkpoints does SFO have?

TSA's checkpoint counts list 6 screening checkpoints at SFO in the 8 weeks to Nov 7, 2026. The busiest, Checkpoint D, screens about 21% of SFO's passengers.

Sources for SFO

  • 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.flysfo.com/passengers/flight-info/check-in-security, checked Nov 2026.
  • Checkpoint facts: airport website, checked Nov 2026. Each checkpoint name links to its source.
  • How the levels are built: methodology. TSA Wait Checker is not affiliated with TSA or San Francisco International.

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