Loading wait times for SFO...
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) Security Wait Times
San Francisco International Airport serves San Francisco. This page provides live TSA security checkpoint wait times for SFO, including both Standard and TSA PreCheck lanes, refreshed every 10 minutes — so you can see how long the security line is right now and plan exactly how early to arrive.
How early should you arrive at San Francisco International Airport?
A good rule of thumb at SFO is to arrive about 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international flight, adding 30–60 minutes during peak travel periods. TSA PreCheck members can usually arrive 90 minutes ahead for domestic departures. For an exact recommendation based on the current wait, use the “When should I leave?” calculator above.
TSA PreCheck at San Francisco International Airport
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) offers TSA PreCheck lanes, where members typically wait 60–80% less than in the standard line. A 5-year PreCheck membership costs about $85 (~$17/year) and usually pays for itself within a few trips for anyone flying through San Francisco regularly.
Frequently asked questions about SFO wait times
What is the best time to go through security at San Francisco International Airport?+
Based on historical patterns at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), early weekday mornings (5–7 AM) and mid-mornings on Tuesdays and Wednesdays usually have the shortest security lines. The busiest periods are Friday afternoons (4–7 PM) and Sunday evenings. The hourly and day-of-week charts on this page show the typical pattern.
How long are the TSA security lines at San Francisco International Airport right now?+
The current San Francisco International Airport (SFO) security wait times — for both Standard and TSA PreCheck lanes, at each open checkpoint — are shown live at the top of this page and refresh every 10 minutes.
Which terminal at San Francisco International Airport has the shortest security line?+
The checkpoint with the shortest current wait at San Francisco International Airport is shown in the live "Security Checkpoints" section at the top of this page. If your airline allows flexible check-in, choosing the fastest terminal can save significant time.
How accurate are the SFO wait times and how often do they update?+
Where an airport publishes a live feed, SFO wait times come directly from its checkpoint system and refresh every 10 minutes. Otherwise the page shows a historical estimate for the current day and hour. Times are estimates and can change quickly, so always allow extra buffer.