TSA wait times

John F. Kennedy International

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

Photo: H. Kamran / Unsplash

New York JFK Airport (JFK) Security Wait Times

Security at New York JFK (JFK) is busiest from 2 to 7 pm and quietest after 10 pm on a typical Thursday, based on TSA checkpoint counts for the 8 weeks to Nov 7, 2026.

Typical Sunday, 5–6 pm · JFK time

BUSY

100% of JFK's busiest hour

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

JFK's official live wait times

JFK security lines by hour

How busy JFK'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 JFK local time.

JFK security by hour on Sundays

12a: 20% of peak, Quiet1a: 6% of peak, Quiet2a: 7% of peak, Quiet3a: 16% of peak, Quiet4a: 41% of peak, Moderate5a: 70% of peak, Moderate6a: 86% of peak, Busy7a: 77% of peak, Busy8a: 72% of peak, Busy9a: 65% of peak, Moderate10a: 59% of peak, Moderate11a: 54% of peak, Moderate12p: 62% of peak, Moderate1p: 70% of peak, Moderate2p: 93% of peak, Busy3p: 96% of peak, Busy4p: 97% of peak, Busy5p: 100% of peak, Busy6p: 91% of peak, Busy7p: 80% of peak, Busy8p: 56% of peak, Moderate9p: 39% of peak, Quiet10p: 36% of peak, Quiet11p: 31% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
JFK · typical Sunday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am1,24420%Quiet
1–2 am3646%Quiet
2–3 am4177%Quiet
3–4 am99416%Quiet
4–5 am2,57541%Moderate
5–6 am4,39570%Moderate
6–7 am5,41486%Busy
7–8 am4,82677%Busy
8–9 am4,55172%Busy
9–10 am4,09865%Moderate
10–11 am3,70859%Moderate
11 am–noon3,37054%Moderate
noon–1 pm3,86762%Moderate
1–2 pm4,41570%Moderate
2–3 pm5,83593%Busy
3–4 pm6,03696%Busy
4–5 pm6,09397%Busy
5–6 pm6,278100%Busy
6–7 pm5,71891%Busy
7–8 pm5,02480%Busy
8–9 pm3,52156%Moderate
9–10 pm2,47939%Quiet
10–11 pm2,28736%Quiet
11 pm–midnight1,96231%Quiet

JFK security by hour on Mondays

12a: 16% of peak, Quiet1a: 8% of peak, Quiet2a: 9% of peak, Quiet3a: 16% of peak, Quiet4a: 44% of peak, Moderate5a: 76% of peak, Busy6a: 87% of peak, Busy7a: 79% of peak, Busy8a: 66% of peak, Moderate9a: 61% of peak, Moderate10a: 62% of peak, Moderate11a: 52% of peak, Moderate12p: 63% of peak, Moderate1p: 74% of peak, Busy2p: 95% of peak, Busy3p: 91% of peak, Busy4p: 96% of peak, Busy5p: 91% of peak, Busy6p: 81% of peak, Busy7p: 72% of peak, Busy8p: 53% of peak, Moderate9p: 35% of peak, Quiet10p: 33% of peak, Quiet11p: 28% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
JFK · typical Monday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am1,01216%Quiet
1–2 am4778%Quiet
2–3 am5419%Quiet
3–4 am1,03116%Quiet
4–5 am2,79044%Moderate
5–6 am4,78276%Busy
6–7 am5,46787%Busy
7–8 am4,98279%Busy
8–9 am4,14866%Moderate
9–10 am3,82061%Moderate
10–11 am3,91762%Moderate
11 am–noon3,25752%Moderate
noon–1 pm3,94963%Moderate
1–2 pm4,65174%Busy
2–3 pm5,96195%Busy
3–4 pm5,69491%Busy
4–5 pm6,04796%Busy
5–6 pm5,70491%Busy
6–7 pm5,11781%Busy
7–8 pm4,49572%Busy
8–9 pm3,31153%Moderate
9–10 pm2,19635%Quiet
10–11 pm2,04633%Quiet
11 pm–midnight1,74828%Quiet

JFK security by hour on Tuesdays

12a: 14% of peak, Quiet1a: 5% of peak, Quiet2a: 6% of peak, Quiet3a: 15% of peak, Quiet4a: 38% of peak, Quiet5a: 61% of peak, Moderate6a: 75% of peak, Busy7a: 72% of peak, Busy8a: 58% of peak, Moderate9a: 57% of peak, Moderate10a: 58% of peak, Moderate11a: 47% of peak, Moderate12p: 59% of peak, Moderate1p: 66% of peak, Moderate2p: 88% of peak, Busy3p: 86% of peak, Busy4p: 84% of peak, Busy5p: 81% of peak, Busy6p: 73% of peak, Busy7p: 63% of peak, Moderate8p: 47% of peak, Moderate9p: 33% of peak, Quiet10p: 33% of peak, Quiet11p: 28% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
JFK · typical Tuesday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am86314%Quiet
1–2 am3045%Quiet
2–3 am3976%Quiet
3–4 am95815%Quiet
4–5 am2,39538%Quiet
5–6 am3,81161%Moderate
6–7 am4,72475%Busy
7–8 am4,50972%Busy
8–9 am3,66558%Moderate
9–10 am3,57357%Moderate
10–11 am3,61558%Moderate
11 am–noon2,97947%Moderate
noon–1 pm3,72259%Moderate
1–2 pm4,14866%Moderate
2–3 pm5,51788%Busy
3–4 pm5,42086%Busy
4–5 pm5,27584%Busy
5–6 pm5,05781%Busy
6–7 pm4,60873%Busy
7–8 pm3,93663%Moderate
8–9 pm2,92547%Moderate
9–10 pm2,09333%Quiet
10–11 pm2,08133%Quiet
11 pm–midnight1,77328%Quiet

JFK security by hour on Wednesdays

12a: 13% of peak, Quiet1a: 5% of peak, Quiet2a: 8% of peak, Quiet3a: 15% of peak, Quiet4a: 38% of peak, Quiet5a: 61% of peak, Moderate6a: 79% of peak, Busy7a: 68% of peak, Moderate8a: 57% of peak, Moderate9a: 58% of peak, Moderate10a: 59% of peak, Moderate11a: 49% of peak, Moderate12p: 60% of peak, Moderate1p: 69% of peak, Moderate2p: 90% of peak, Busy3p: 93% of peak, Busy4p: 91% of peak, Busy5p: 87% of peak, Busy6p: 81% of peak, Busy7p: 66% of peak, Moderate8p: 48% of peak, Moderate9p: 33% of peak, Quiet10p: 31% of peak, Quiet11p: 30% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
JFK · typical Wednesday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am81813%Quiet
1–2 am2875%Quiet
2–3 am4918%Quiet
3–4 am96015%Quiet
4–5 am2,39338%Quiet
5–6 am3,81661%Moderate
6–7 am4,99379%Busy
7–8 am4,29468%Moderate
8–9 am3,55757%Moderate
9–10 am3,66158%Moderate
10–11 am3,70259%Moderate
11 am–noon3,08949%Moderate
noon–1 pm3,79760%Moderate
1–2 pm4,34369%Moderate
2–3 pm5,67590%Busy
3–4 pm5,81793%Busy
4–5 pm5,69991%Busy
5–6 pm5,49187%Busy
6–7 pm5,05881%Busy
7–8 pm4,15766%Moderate
8–9 pm3,00048%Moderate
9–10 pm2,04933%Quiet
10–11 pm1,96331%Quiet
11 pm–midnight1,87630%Quiet

JFK security by hour on Thursdays

12a: 15% of peak, Quiet1a: 6% of peak, Quiet2a: 6% of peak, Quiet3a: 18% of peak, Quiet4a: 44% of peak, Moderate5a: 76% of peak, Busy6a: 94% of peak, Busy7a: 80% of peak, Busy8a: 69% of peak, Moderate9a: 64% of peak, Moderate10a: 62% of peak, Moderate11a: 56% of peak, Moderate12p: 68% of peak, Moderate1p: 76% of peak, Busy2p: 99% of peak, Busy3p: 94% of peak, Busy4p: 98% of peak, Busy5p: 100% of peak, Busy6p: 92% of peak, Busy7p: 83% of peak, Busy8p: 61% of peak, Moderate9p: 40% of peak, Moderate10p: 34% of peak, Quiet11p: 32% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
JFK · typical Thursday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am96115%Quiet
1–2 am3646%Quiet
2–3 am4026%Quiet
3–4 am1,12018%Quiet
4–5 am2,73744%Moderate
5–6 am4,80176%Busy
6–7 am5,92794%Busy
7–8 am5,05380%Busy
8–9 am4,36169%Moderate
9–10 am4,00764%Moderate
10–11 am3,89762%Moderate
11 am–noon3,49056%Moderate
noon–1 pm4,24168%Moderate
1–2 pm4,77776%Busy
2–3 pm6,23099%Busy
3–4 pm5,93194%Busy
4–5 pm6,13498%Busy
5–6 pm6,281100%Busy
6–7 pm5,77392%Busy
7–8 pm5,24383%Busy
8–9 pm3,84861%Moderate
9–10 pm2,49140%Moderate
10–11 pm2,14634%Quiet
11 pm–midnight1,98132%Quiet

JFK security by hour on Fridays

12a: 16% of peak, Quiet1a: 6% of peak, Quiet2a: 8% of peak, Quiet3a: 17% of peak, Quiet4a: 41% of peak, Moderate5a: 76% of peak, Busy6a: 96% of peak, Busy7a: 79% of peak, Busy8a: 67% of peak, Moderate9a: 62% of peak, Moderate10a: 65% of peak, Moderate11a: 52% of peak, Moderate12p: 70% of peak, Moderate1p: 73% of peak, Busy2p: 97% of peak, Busy3p: 92% of peak, Busy4p: 97% of peak, Busy5p: 96% of peak, Busy6p: 86% of peak, Busy7p: 77% of peak, Busy8p: 52% of peak, Moderate9p: 34% of peak, Quiet10p: 31% of peak, Quiet11p: 26% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
JFK · typical Friday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am1,01916%Quiet
1–2 am3516%Quiet
2–3 am5218%Quiet
3–4 am1,07717%Quiet
4–5 am2,55641%Moderate
5–6 am4,74776%Busy
6–7 am6,05396%Busy
7–8 am4,98979%Busy
8–9 am4,21567%Moderate
9–10 am3,88562%Moderate
10–11 am4,07165%Moderate
11 am–noon3,28852%Moderate
noon–1 pm4,37070%Moderate
1–2 pm4,56073%Busy
2–3 pm6,10697%Busy
3–4 pm5,76692%Busy
4–5 pm6,11897%Busy
5–6 pm6,06196%Busy
6–7 pm5,42086%Busy
7–8 pm4,82677%Busy
8–9 pm3,23852%Moderate
9–10 pm2,14734%Quiet
10–11 pm1,93631%Quiet
11 pm–midnight1,61526%Quiet

JFK security by hour on Saturdays

12a: 13% of peak, Quiet1a: 5% of peak, Quiet2a: 7% of peak, Quiet3a: 16% of peak, Quiet4a: 42% of peak, Moderate5a: 70% of peak, Moderate6a: 83% of peak, Busy7a: 73% of peak, Busy8a: 63% of peak, Moderate9a: 56% of peak, Moderate10a: 56% of peak, Moderate11a: 52% of peak, Moderate12p: 54% of peak, Moderate1p: 63% of peak, Moderate2p: 81% of peak, Busy3p: 84% of peak, Busy4p: 82% of peak, Busy5p: 81% of peak, Busy6p: 70% of peak, Moderate7p: 67% of peak, Moderate8p: 51% of peak, Moderate9p: 38% of peak, Quiet10p: 35% of peak, Quiet11p: 32% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
JFK · typical Saturday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am81613%Quiet
1–2 am2905%Quiet
2–3 am4337%Quiet
3–4 am1,02516%Quiet
4–5 am2,64942%Moderate
5–6 am4,41170%Moderate
6–7 am5,22683%Busy
7–8 am4,59873%Busy
8–9 am3,98063%Moderate
9–10 am3,51956%Moderate
10–11 am3,49556%Moderate
11 am–noon3,24652%Moderate
noon–1 pm3,38554%Moderate
1–2 pm3,96763%Moderate
2–3 pm5,10681%Busy
3–4 pm5,26184%Busy
4–5 pm5,14882%Busy
5–6 pm5,10681%Busy
6–7 pm4,42670%Moderate
7–8 pm4,22567%Moderate
8–9 pm3,20651%Moderate
9–10 pm2,35738%Quiet
10–11 pm2,18335%Quiet
11 pm–midnight2,01532%Quiet

Best and worst times to go through security at JFK

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.

JFK · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
DaysBusiestQuietest
Monday to Thursday2–5 pm (93%)11 am–noon (51%)9–11 pm (33%)
Friday6–7 am (96%)2–3 pm (97%)4–5 pm (97%)11 am–noon (52%)9–11 pm (31%)
Saturday6–7 am (83%)3–5 pm (84%)8–11 pm (35%)
Sunday3–6 pm (100%)11 am–noon (54%)9–11 pm (36%)

JFK security checkpoints and hours

TSA's counts list 7 checkpoints at JFK. "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.

JFK checkpoints · TSA counts Sep 13, 2026 to Nov 7, 2026 · facts checked Nov 2026
CheckpointWhereScreening seenTypical busiest hourShare
Terminal 4 Main—Around the clock6–7 am38%
Terminal 8Terminal 8Around the clock5–6 pm22%
Terminal 5Terminal 51 am to midnight8–9 am20%
Terminal 1Terminal 1Around the clock3–4 pm12%
Terminal 7Terminal 7Around the clock11 am–noon3%
Terminal 4 FIS CP—5 am to 8 pm2–3 pm3%
Terminal 4 Delta 1—4 am to 11 pm5–6 pm1%

JFK 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 8

  • Terminal 8Lanes not listedBusySunday, 5–6 pm

Terminal 5

  • Terminal 5Lanes not listedModerateSunday, 5–6 pm

Terminal 1

  • Terminal 1Lanes not listedBusySunday, 5–6 pm

Terminal 7

  • Terminal 7Lanes not listedBusySunday, 5–6 pm

How early should I get to JFK?

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

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

JFK arrival times on a typical Thursday

JFK · 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)6:40 am (200 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 pmBusy6:40 pm (140 min)5:40 pm (200 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.

JFK terminals

JFK Terminal 4 security

T4 Reserve offers free security time slots, bookable 7 days ahead; follow the RESERVE signs and show your QR code. Source.

JFK Terminal 7 security

Streamlined check-in and priority TSA access for families. Source.

JFK security FAQ

What is the busiest time for security at JFK?

On a typical Thursday, JFK's checkpoints are busiest from 2 to 7 pm. The single busiest hour in the 8 weeks to Nov 7, 2026 was 5–6 pm on Sundays, with a median of 6,281 people screened.

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

Tuesday is the quietest day overall. On Thursdays, the quietest daytime window is 11 am–noon, 9–11 pm.

How early should I get to JFK?

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 JFK by 8:00 am.

How many security checkpoints does JFK have?

TSA's checkpoint counts list 7 screening checkpoints at JFK in the 8 weeks to Nov 7, 2026. The busiest, Terminal 4 Main, screens about 38% of JFK's passengers.

Sources for JFK

  • 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.jfkairport.com/explore-jfk/terminals, 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 John F. Kennedy International.

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