TSA wait times

George Bush Intercontinental

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

Photo: David Syphers / Unsplash

Houston Airport (IAH) Security Wait Times

Security at Houston (IAH) is busiest around 6 am and quietest after 8 pm on a typical Thursday, based on TSA checkpoint counts for the 8 weeks to Nov 7, 2026.

Typical Friday, 6–7 am · IAH time

BUSY

100% of IAH's busiest hour

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

IAH's official live wait times

IAH security lines by hour

How busy IAH'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 IAH local time.

IAH security by hour on Sundays

12a: 0% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 0% of peak, Quiet3a: 13% of peak, Quiet4a: 35% of peak, Quiet5a: 61% of peak, Moderate6a: 75% of peak, Busy7a: 62% of peak, Moderate8a: 78% of peak, Busy9a: 56% of peak, Moderate10a: 78% of peak, Busy11a: 71% of peak, Busy12p: 69% of peak, Moderate1p: 77% of peak, Busy2p: 69% of peak, Moderate3p: 79% of peak, Busy4p: 79% of peak, Busy5p: 80% of peak, Busy6p: 64% of peak, Moderate7p: 44% of peak, Moderate8p: 17% of peak, Quiet9p: 12% of peak, Quiet10p: 6% of peak, Quiet11p: 2% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
IAH · typical Sunday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am00%Quiet
1–2 am00%Quiet
2–3 am00%Quiet
3–4 am57913%Quiet
4–5 am1,62335%Quiet
5–6 am2,80061%Moderate
6–7 am3,48375%Busy
7–8 am2,88962%Moderate
8–9 am3,60278%Busy
9–10 am2,60356%Moderate
10–11 am3,61578%Busy
11 am–noon3,30271%Busy
noon–1 pm3,19769%Moderate
1–2 pm3,55677%Busy
2–3 pm3,16769%Moderate
3–4 pm3,65979%Busy
4–5 pm3,63379%Busy
5–6 pm3,68980%Busy
6–7 pm2,98164%Moderate
7–8 pm2,03344%Moderate
8–9 pm78817%Quiet
9–10 pm55312%Quiet
10–11 pm2556%Quiet
11 pm–midnight732%Quiet

IAH security by hour on Mondays

12a: 0% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 0% of peak, Quiet3a: 13% of peak, Quiet4a: 44% of peak, Moderate5a: 74% of peak, Busy6a: 95% of peak, Busy7a: 69% of peak, Moderate8a: 85% of peak, Busy9a: 66% of peak, Moderate10a: 83% of peak, Busy11a: 69% of peak, Moderate12p: 65% of peak, Moderate1p: 76% of peak, Busy2p: 64% of peak, Moderate3p: 68% of peak, Moderate4p: 66% of peak, Moderate5p: 63% of peak, Moderate6p: 61% of peak, Moderate7p: 36% of peak, Quiet8p: 14% of peak, Quiet9p: 11% of peak, Quiet10p: 5% of peak, Quiet11p: 2% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
IAH · typical Monday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am00%Quiet
1–2 am00%Quiet
2–3 am00%Quiet
3–4 am60813%Quiet
4–5 am2,05744%Moderate
5–6 am3,40774%Busy
6–7 am4,38395%Busy
7–8 am3,19469%Moderate
8–9 am3,91185%Busy
9–10 am3,03566%Moderate
10–11 am3,84883%Busy
11 am–noon3,20869%Moderate
noon–1 pm3,01365%Moderate
1–2 pm3,50076%Busy
2–3 pm2,97064%Moderate
3–4 pm3,16268%Moderate
4–5 pm3,04866%Moderate
5–6 pm2,91063%Moderate
6–7 pm2,80261%Moderate
7–8 pm1,67436%Quiet
8–9 pm64714%Quiet
9–10 pm49511%Quiet
10–11 pm2235%Quiet
11 pm–midnight832%Quiet

IAH security by hour on Tuesdays

12a: 0% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 0% of peak, Quiet3a: 9% of peak, Quiet4a: 29% of peak, Quiet5a: 57% of peak, Moderate6a: 73% of peak, Busy7a: 57% of peak, Moderate8a: 69% of peak, Moderate9a: 48% of peak, Moderate10a: 70% of peak, Moderate11a: 59% of peak, Moderate12p: 48% of peak, Moderate1p: 61% of peak, Moderate2p: 57% of peak, Moderate3p: 59% of peak, Moderate4p: 53% of peak, Moderate5p: 52% of peak, Moderate6p: 42% of peak, Moderate7p: 27% of peak, Quiet8p: 11% of peak, Quiet9p: 7% of peak, Quiet10p: 4% of peak, Quiet11p: 1% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
IAH · typical Tuesday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am00%Quiet
1–2 am00%Quiet
2–3 am00%Quiet
3–4 am4059%Quiet
4–5 am1,36329%Quiet
5–6 am2,64057%Moderate
6–7 am3,37973%Busy
7–8 am2,64457%Moderate
8–9 am3,18069%Moderate
9–10 am2,21148%Moderate
10–11 am3,22170%Moderate
11 am–noon2,72159%Moderate
noon–1 pm2,20848%Moderate
1–2 pm2,80761%Moderate
2–3 pm2,61657%Moderate
3–4 pm2,70959%Moderate
4–5 pm2,45953%Moderate
5–6 pm2,41852%Moderate
6–7 pm1,95742%Moderate
7–8 pm1,26827%Quiet
8–9 pm52911%Quiet
9–10 pm3427%Quiet
10–11 pm1784%Quiet
11 pm–midnight441%Quiet

IAH security by hour on Wednesdays

12a: 0% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 0% of peak, Quiet3a: 11% of peak, Quiet4a: 30% of peak, Quiet5a: 61% of peak, Moderate6a: 85% of peak, Busy7a: 59% of peak, Moderate8a: 75% of peak, Busy9a: 58% of peak, Moderate10a: 75% of peak, Busy11a: 64% of peak, Moderate12p: 57% of peak, Moderate1p: 68% of peak, Moderate2p: 63% of peak, Moderate3p: 71% of peak, Busy4p: 65% of peak, Moderate5p: 60% of peak, Moderate6p: 51% of peak, Moderate7p: 28% of peak, Quiet8p: 13% of peak, Quiet9p: 8% of peak, Quiet10p: 4% of peak, Quiet11p: 2% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
IAH · typical Wednesday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am00%Quiet
1–2 am00%Quiet
2–3 am00%Quiet
3–4 am48611%Quiet
4–5 am1,38530%Quiet
5–6 am2,82761%Moderate
6–7 am3,92385%Busy
7–8 am2,71359%Moderate
8–9 am3,47075%Busy
9–10 am2,68158%Moderate
10–11 am3,44775%Busy
11 am–noon2,97964%Moderate
noon–1 pm2,63857%Moderate
1–2 pm3,15468%Moderate
2–3 pm2,89363%Moderate
3–4 pm3,26571%Busy
4–5 pm2,98265%Moderate
5–6 pm2,76660%Moderate
6–7 pm2,36251%Moderate
7–8 pm1,28828%Quiet
8–9 pm61813%Quiet
9–10 pm3838%Quiet
10–11 pm1834%Quiet
11 pm–midnight722%Quiet

IAH security by hour on Thursdays

12a: 0% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 0% of peak, Quiet3a: 13% of peak, Quiet4a: 45% of peak, Moderate5a: 77% of peak, Busy6a: 93% of peak, Busy7a: 69% of peak, Moderate8a: 87% of peak, Busy9a: 61% of peak, Moderate10a: 77% of peak, Busy11a: 68% of peak, Moderate12p: 68% of peak, Moderate1p: 81% of peak, Busy2p: 73% of peak, Busy3p: 89% of peak, Busy4p: 75% of peak, Busy5p: 80% of peak, Busy6p: 65% of peak, Moderate7p: 40% of peak, Moderate8p: 18% of peak, Quiet9p: 10% of peak, Quiet10p: 5% of peak, Quiet11p: 1% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
IAH · typical Thursday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am00%Quiet
1–2 am00%Quiet
2–3 am00%Quiet
3–4 am61913%Quiet
4–5 am2,07145%Moderate
5–6 am3,54477%Busy
6–7 am4,28593%Busy
7–8 am3,20669%Moderate
8–9 am4,02587%Busy
9–10 am2,80061%Moderate
10–11 am3,57877%Busy
11 am–noon3,15668%Moderate
noon–1 pm3,13168%Moderate
1–2 pm3,74881%Busy
2–3 pm3,38373%Busy
3–4 pm4,09589%Busy
4–5 pm3,48375%Busy
5–6 pm3,72180%Busy
6–7 pm3,00165%Moderate
7–8 pm1,86140%Moderate
8–9 pm82018%Quiet
9–10 pm47110%Quiet
10–11 pm2355%Quiet
11 pm–midnight481%Quiet

IAH security by hour on Fridays

12a: 0% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 0% of peak, Quiet3a: 14% of peak, Quiet4a: 49% of peak, Moderate5a: 75% of peak, Busy6a: 100% of peak, Busy7a: 75% of peak, Busy8a: 86% of peak, Busy9a: 67% of peak, Moderate10a: 77% of peak, Busy11a: 70% of peak, Moderate12p: 63% of peak, Moderate1p: 81% of peak, Busy2p: 69% of peak, Moderate3p: 76% of peak, Busy4p: 65% of peak, Moderate5p: 72% of peak, Busy6p: 59% of peak, Moderate7p: 38% of peak, Quiet8p: 16% of peak, Quiet9p: 11% of peak, Quiet10p: 5% of peak, Quiet11p: 2% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
IAH · typical Friday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am00%Quiet
1–2 am00%Quiet
2–3 am00%Quiet
3–4 am64014%Quiet
4–5 am2,27049%Moderate
5–6 am3,47375%Busy
6–7 am4,623100%Busy
7–8 am3,45175%Busy
8–9 am3,98686%Busy
9–10 am3,08667%Moderate
10–11 am3,54977%Busy
11 am–noon3,23370%Moderate
noon–1 pm2,93263%Moderate
1–2 pm3,73181%Busy
2–3 pm3,17569%Moderate
3–4 pm3,53376%Busy
4–5 pm3,00665%Moderate
5–6 pm3,31772%Busy
6–7 pm2,72159%Moderate
7–8 pm1,77538%Quiet
8–9 pm73816%Quiet
9–10 pm49311%Quiet
10–11 pm2245%Quiet
11 pm–midnight712%Quiet

IAH security by hour on Saturdays

12a: 0% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 0% of peak, Quiet3a: 10% of peak, Quiet4a: 34% of peak, Quiet5a: 58% of peak, Moderate6a: 76% of peak, Busy7a: 60% of peak, Moderate8a: 71% of peak, Busy9a: 56% of peak, Moderate10a: 67% of peak, Moderate11a: 60% of peak, Moderate12p: 54% of peak, Moderate1p: 51% of peak, Moderate2p: 49% of peak, Moderate3p: 50% of peak, Moderate4p: 49% of peak, Moderate5p: 44% of peak, Moderate6p: 41% of peak, Moderate7p: 23% of peak, Quiet8p: 13% of peak, Quiet9p: 7% of peak, Quiet10p: 5% of peak, Quiet11p: 1% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
IAH · typical Saturday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am00%Quiet
1–2 am00%Quiet
2–3 am00%Quiet
3–4 am47910%Quiet
4–5 am1,57634%Quiet
5–6 am2,68558%Moderate
6–7 am3,52476%Busy
7–8 am2,75760%Moderate
8–9 am3,28771%Busy
9–10 am2,59156%Moderate
10–11 am3,08967%Moderate
11 am–noon2,79160%Moderate
noon–1 pm2,50054%Moderate
1–2 pm2,37751%Moderate
2–3 pm2,27949%Moderate
3–4 pm2,29950%Moderate
4–5 pm2,28349%Moderate
5–6 pm2,02944%Moderate
6–7 pm1,91241%Moderate
7–8 pm1,07823%Quiet
8–9 pm61313%Quiet
9–10 pm3207%Quiet
10–11 pm2225%Quiet
11 pm–midnight621%Quiet

Best and worst times to go through security at IAH

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.

IAH · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
DaysBusiestQuietest
Monday to Thursday6–7 am (87%)8–9 am (79%)10–11 am (76%)6–9 pm (14%)
Friday6–7 am (100%)8–9 am (86%)1–2 pm (81%)7–10 pm (11%)
Saturday6–7 am (76%)8–9 am (71%)10–11 am (67%)6–9 pm (13%)
Sunday3–6 pm (80%)7–10 pm (12%)

IAH security checkpoints and hours

TSA's counts list 6 checkpoints at IAH. Posted hours come from the airport and carry the date we checked them. "Screening seen" is the span of hours in which TSA counted at least a few passengers on a typical day, not posted opening hours.

IAH checkpoints · TSA counts Sep 13, 2026 to Nov 7, 2026 · facts checked Nov 2026
CheckpointWhereLanesHoursTypical busiest hourShare
Terminal ETerminal EPreCheck4 am to 12 am (PreCheck 4 am to 8 pm)6–7 am39%
Terminal C NorthTerminal CPreCheck4 am to 10 pm (PreCheck 4 am to 10 pm)8–9 am20%
Terminal A NorthTerminal APreCheck3:30 am to 7:30 pm (PreCheck 4 am to 6 pm)5–6 am15%
Terminal C SouthTerminal C—4 am to 7:30 pm8–9 am13%
Terminal A SouthTerminal A—3:30 am to 12 am5–6 am10%
Terminal DTerminal DPreCheck4 am to 12:30 am (PreCheck 5 am to 7 pm)10–11 am2%

IAH 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.

Terminal E

  • Terminal EPreCheckBusyFriday, 6–7 am

Terminal C

  • Terminal C NorthPreCheckBusyFriday, 6–7 am
  • Terminal C SouthLanes not listedBusyFriday, 6–7 am

Terminal A

  • Terminal A NorthPreCheckBusyFriday, 6–7 am
  • Terminal A SouthLanes not listedBusyFriday, 6–7 am

Terminal D

  • Terminal DPreCheckQuietFriday, 6–7 am

How early should I get to IAH?

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

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

IAH arrival times on a typical Thursday

IAH · 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 amBusy5:40 am (140 min)5:00 am (180 min)
10 amModerate8:00 am (120 min)7:00 am (180 min)
noonModerate10:00 am (120 min)9:00 am (180 min)
3 pmModerate1:00 pm (120 min)12:00 pm (180 min)
6 pmBusy3:40 pm (140 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 IAH

  • Terminal E (Terminal E): TSA PreCheck. Source.
  • Terminal C North (Terminal C): TSA PreCheck. Source.
  • Terminal A North (Terminal A): TSA PreCheck. Source.
  • Terminal D (Terminal D): TSA PreCheck. Source.

Lanes as listed on IAH'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.

IAH security FAQ

What is the busiest time for security at IAH?

On a typical Thursday, IAH's checkpoints are busiest around 6 am. The single busiest hour in the 8 weeks to Nov 7, 2026 was 6–7 am on Fridays, with a median of 4,623 people screened.

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

Saturday is the quietest day overall. On Thursdays, the quietest daytime window is 6–9 pm.

How early should I get to IAH?

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 IAH by 8:00 am.

How many security checkpoints does IAH have?

TSA's checkpoint counts list 6 screening checkpoints at IAH in the 8 weeks to Nov 7, 2026. The busiest, Terminal E, screens about 39% of IAH's passengers.

Sources for IAH

  • 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.fly2houston.com/iah/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 George Bush Intercontinental.

TSA wait times at other airports

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