San Francisco International Airport (SFO) TSA Security Wait Times Information
SFO WAIT TIMES 9th LONGEST IN USA
Wondering how busy is SFO Airport at any given time? You’ve come to the right place! According to a recent USA Today Article, the average SFO security wait time is 16 minutes. The worst SFO airport wait times occur on Wednesday, 10-11am. The worst maximum TSA wait time is 28 minutes. Be sure to check with your airline for their own rules and recommendations for your specific flight time in SFO airport. More information about security checkpoints and airport delays at SFO can be found below.
Get CLEAR Expedited Security at SFO. Also use at OAK and SJC Airports. And at Oracle Park. And PayPal Park!
San Francisco Airport features CLEAR expedited security screening which, if you participate, can help to reduce the time you spend in SFO airport TSA lines. CLEAR lanes are located in Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Terminal 3, and the International Terminal. CLEAR lanes at Oracle Park are located at Willie Mays Plaza. At PayPal Park, at the Main Gate at Coleman and Earthquakes Way. See hours below for CLEAR enrollment locations and hours at SFO.
In partnership with iFly, CLEAR is offering a 2 month free promotion. **NEW** You can add up to 3 other family members to the 2 month trial (siblings, parents, aunts, uncles, etc)! Learn more about CLEAR Airport Security and how it works.
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San Francisco Airport (SFO) Terminals
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Helpful Tips & Resources
iFly.com can help you get to, through, and between airports around the world. Here are some things you may need to know that can help you on your journey specific to SFO:
- Once you get through security, pull up the interactive terminal map to navigate to your gate, and see all the restaurant and shopping options along the way.
- Remember that a great low-cost alternative to parking within the airport facility is to use on off-airport parking lot. They offer lower costs, a bit further away from the terminals. Reserve here.
- If you have some time before your flight's departure, be sure to grab a bite, peruse the shops, or jump on the free wifi and get caught up on those emails.
- Lose something while in the terminal area? Find the contact info you need for lost & found here.
- If your flight is arriving to the airport from another city and need a quick way to get to your destination, give a call to one of these taxi or limo service providers.
SFO FLIGHT DELAYS
Before you head to the airport, be sure to check SFO Arrival Delays, SFO Departure Delays, or use iFly's SFO Flight Tracker.
SFO Airport Security Checkpoints - Location and Hours
There are a total of 7 security checkpoints at SFO. CLEAR is now available in Terminal 1, 2, 3 and International checkpoints. Unlike some airports where you can go through any checkpoint and get to your gate, the SFO layout dictates that you need to use the checkpoint corresponding to your departure gate. There are some exceptions to this where passengers can connect to certain terminals without exiting and re-entering security, for example, you can clear security at Terminal 1, checkpoint C, gates 40-48 and walk to Terminal 2, checkpoint D, gates 50-59. The Terminals and departure gates are shown below.
SFO TSA Checkpoint A (International Terminal)
Gates: A1-A12
Type: All passengers and TSA Pre
Hours: Daily, 4:30 AM to 2:00 AM
CLEAR Hours: Daily, 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM
SFO TSA Checkpoint B (Terminal 1)
Gates: B6-B18
Type: All passengers and TSA Pre
Hours: Daily, 4:00 AM to 12:30 AM
CLEAR Hours: Daily, 4:00 AM to 10:00 PM
SFO TSA Checkpoint C (Terminal 1)
Gates: 40-48 and 50-59
Type: All passengers and TSA Pre
Hours: Daily, 4:00 AM to 10:00 AM
CLEAR Hours: Closed - use Terminal 2
SFO TSA Checkpoint D (Terminal 2)
Gates: 50-59 and 40-48
Type: All passengers and TSA Pre
Hours: Daily, 3:45 AM to 12:30 AM
CLEAR Hour Checkpoint D, D1-D18: Daily, 4:00 AM to 10:00 PM
SFO TSA Checkpoint F1 (Terminal 3)
Gates: 60-69 and G91-G102
Type: All passengers and TSA Pre
Hours: Daily, 3:30 AM to 12:00 AM
CLEAR Hours: Daily, 4:00 AM to 12:00 AM.
SFO TSA Checkpoint F3 (Terminal 3)
Gates: 72-75
Type: All passengers and TSA Pre
Hours: Daily, 5:00 AM to 5:00 PM
CLEAR Hours: Temp Closed - use Checkpoint F1
SFO TSA Checkpoint G (International Terminal)
Gates: G91-G102, and 60-90
Type: All passengers and TSA Pre
Hours: Daily, 4:30 AM to 1:00 AM
CLEAR Hours: Daily, 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM
CLEAR Lanes
SFO features CLEAR expedited security screening. CLEAR counters are located at Terminals 1, 2, 3 and the International Terminal. See above for CLEAR enrollment locations and hours.
TSA PreCheck at SFO
SFO TSA Pre Lanes can be found at all security checkpoints. As the TSA operates these special checkpoints, the hours may be different from the Terminal operating hours. See the TSA Pre schedule the specific hours for the date and time you are traveling.
SFO TSA wait times can be cut down considerably if you participate in the TSA Pre program. You can even sign up for TSA PreCheck before your next SFO flight - there’s an enrollment center in the San Francisco International Terminal (G side, pre-security, near the BART station). According to the TSA, the enrollment center is open from 7:30 AM - 11:30AM and 12:00PM-4:00PM M-F.
TSA PreCheck passengers can enjoy expedited screening at SFO, and in most cases you don’t have to remove your: shoes, laptops, liquids, belts and light jackets. For more information and to enroll/pre-enroll, visit the TSA website.
About SFO Security Wait Times
Security wait times at San Francisco SFO Airport are approximate and can vary based on several factors including severe weather, TSA staffing, airport construction, etc.
SFO TSA wait time forecasts are made leveraging flight volume data and TSA staffing models. Using advanced data science, wait times for San Francisco SFO Airport are projected, that barring extreme outliers, are within five minutes in accuracy, as validated by large US airlines. The TSA urges all travelers to arrive at the airport well in advance of scheduled flight departures and has provided security checkpoint wait time information as a guide to assist in travel planning. Please be sure to check with your airline for ticket counter wait times as well as possible changes to flight schedules, as these and other factors influence your decision regarding how early to arrive at SFO. Please be aware that each airline has a recommended arrival time and even stricter required arrival times.
All airlines require that you arrive at the check-in counter, the flight's departure gate and even onboard and in your assigned seat a prescribed amount of time before the flight's scheduled departure time. The amount of the advance arrival time required varies depending on the airline you are using. Most airlines' conditions of carriage state that with many of their tickets, failure to arrive at the check-in counter, the flight's departure gate and your assigned seat a prescribed amount of time before the flight's scheduled departure time may cause you to be denied boarding and cause you to forfeit any refund or other compensation due for the unused ticket even if you have advance seat assignments and advance boarding passes.
TSA Pre Check at SFO
AVAILABLE
International Terminal
Boarding Area A Checkpoint
OPEN
Boarding Area G Checkpoint
OPEN
Terminal 1
Boarding Area B Checkpoint
OPEN
Boarding Area C Checkpoint
OPEN
Terminal 2
Boarding Area D Checkpoint
OPEN
Terminal 3
Boarding Area F1 Checkpoint
OPEN
Boarding Area F3 Checkpoint
CLOSED