TSA wait times

Newark Liberty International

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

Photo: Felicia Buitenwerf / Unsplash

Newark Airport (EWR) Security Wait Times

Security at Newark (EWR) is busiest from 5 to 9 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 · EWR time

BUSY

100% of EWR's busiest hour

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

EWR's official live wait times

EWR security lines by hour

How busy EWR'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 EWR local time.

EWR security by hour on Sundays

12a: 1% of peak, Quiet1a: 1% of peak, Quiet2a: 1% of peak, Quiet3a: 12% of peak, Quiet4a: 51% of peak, Moderate5a: 79% of peak, Busy6a: 87% of peak, Busy7a: 82% of peak, Busy8a: 79% of peak, Busy9a: 68% of peak, Moderate10a: 68% of peak, Moderate11a: 67% of peak, Moderate12p: 65% of peak, Moderate1p: 76% of peak, Busy2p: 90% of peak, Busy3p: 97% of peak, Busy4p: 85% of peak, Busy5p: 88% of peak, Busy6p: 77% of peak, Busy7p: 57% of peak, Moderate8p: 34% of peak, Quiet9p: 21% of peak, Quiet10p: 14% of peak, Quiet11p: 5% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
EWR · typical Sunday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am491%Quiet
1–2 am341%Quiet
2–3 am641%Quiet
3–4 am64012%Quiet
4–5 am2,74351%Moderate
5–6 am4,26479%Busy
6–7 am4,67987%Busy
7–8 am4,41482%Busy
8–9 am4,26179%Busy
9–10 am3,65168%Moderate
10–11 am3,65368%Moderate
11 am–noon3,59367%Moderate
noon–1 pm3,46965%Moderate
1–2 pm4,09276%Busy
2–3 pm4,83490%Busy
3–4 pm5,20097%Busy
4–5 pm4,59385%Busy
5–6 pm4,71588%Busy
6–7 pm4,11277%Busy
7–8 pm3,07957%Moderate
8–9 pm1,84234%Quiet
9–10 pm1,10621%Quiet
10–11 pm77414%Quiet
11 pm–midnight2715%Quiet

EWR security by hour on Mondays

12a: 1% of peak, Quiet1a: 1% of peak, Quiet2a: 1% of peak, Quiet3a: 13% of peak, Quiet4a: 52% of peak, Moderate5a: 89% of peak, Busy6a: 94% of peak, Busy7a: 90% of peak, Busy8a: 84% of peak, Busy9a: 75% of peak, Busy10a: 65% of peak, Moderate11a: 69% of peak, Moderate12p: 66% of peak, Moderate1p: 76% of peak, Busy2p: 83% of peak, Busy3p: 89% of peak, Busy4p: 85% of peak, Busy5p: 73% of peak, Busy6p: 63% of peak, Moderate7p: 44% of peak, Moderate8p: 27% of peak, Quiet9p: 18% of peak, Quiet10p: 13% of peak, Quiet11p: 7% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
EWR · typical Monday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am591%Quiet
1–2 am391%Quiet
2–3 am601%Quiet
3–4 am70513%Quiet
4–5 am2,79252%Moderate
5–6 am4,79989%Busy
6–7 am5,03294%Busy
7–8 am4,84590%Busy
8–9 am4,51384%Busy
9–10 am4,03375%Busy
10–11 am3,47565%Moderate
11 am–noon3,68769%Moderate
noon–1 pm3,52166%Moderate
1–2 pm4,09576%Busy
2–3 pm4,47083%Busy
3–4 pm4,80089%Busy
4–5 pm4,55785%Busy
5–6 pm3,91073%Busy
6–7 pm3,36363%Moderate
7–8 pm2,36844%Moderate
8–9 pm1,47427%Quiet
9–10 pm95318%Quiet
10–11 pm68313%Quiet
11 pm–midnight3557%Quiet

EWR security by hour on Tuesdays

12a: 1% of peak, Quiet1a: 1% of peak, Quiet2a: 1% of peak, Quiet3a: 12% of peak, Quiet4a: 39% of peak, Quiet5a: 74% of peak, Busy6a: 82% of peak, Busy7a: 76% of peak, Busy8a: 71% of peak, Busy9a: 61% of peak, Moderate10a: 59% of peak, Moderate11a: 63% of peak, Moderate12p: 57% of peak, Moderate1p: 67% of peak, Moderate2p: 73% of peak, Busy3p: 81% of peak, Busy4p: 75% of peak, Busy5p: 67% of peak, Moderate6p: 50% of peak, Moderate7p: 41% of peak, Moderate8p: 25% of peak, Quiet9p: 16% of peak, Quiet10p: 14% of peak, Quiet11p: 5% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
EWR · typical Tuesday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am531%Quiet
1–2 am411%Quiet
2–3 am471%Quiet
3–4 am62012%Quiet
4–5 am2,11139%Quiet
5–6 am3,97974%Busy
6–7 am4,39882%Busy
7–8 am4,07976%Busy
8–9 am3,79371%Busy
9–10 am3,28961%Moderate
10–11 am3,15159%Moderate
11 am–noon3,38963%Moderate
noon–1 pm3,03857%Moderate
1–2 pm3,59067%Moderate
2–3 pm3,92473%Busy
3–4 pm4,33581%Busy
4–5 pm4,01175%Busy
5–6 pm3,58967%Moderate
6–7 pm2,66950%Moderate
7–8 pm2,19341%Moderate
8–9 pm1,33925%Quiet
9–10 pm84116%Quiet
10–11 pm75114%Quiet
11 pm–midnight2665%Quiet

EWR security by hour on Wednesdays

12a: 1% of peak, Quiet1a: 1% of peak, Quiet2a: 1% of peak, Quiet3a: 11% of peak, Quiet4a: 46% of peak, Moderate5a: 77% of peak, Busy6a: 85% of peak, Busy7a: 76% of peak, Busy8a: 68% of peak, Moderate9a: 70% of peak, Moderate10a: 57% of peak, Moderate11a: 65% of peak, Moderate12p: 52% of peak, Moderate1p: 70% of peak, Moderate2p: 81% of peak, Busy3p: 89% of peak, Busy4p: 80% of peak, Busy5p: 78% of peak, Busy6p: 62% of peak, Moderate7p: 43% of peak, Moderate8p: 27% of peak, Quiet9p: 18% of peak, Quiet10p: 10% of peak, Quiet11p: 6% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
EWR · typical Wednesday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am631%Quiet
1–2 am311%Quiet
2–3 am461%Quiet
3–4 am57711%Quiet
4–5 am2,48546%Moderate
5–6 am4,12277%Busy
6–7 am4,54685%Busy
7–8 am4,06276%Busy
8–9 am3,67268%Moderate
9–10 am3,74170%Moderate
10–11 am3,08657%Moderate
11 am–noon3,50465%Moderate
noon–1 pm2,81452%Moderate
1–2 pm3,75570%Moderate
2–3 pm4,35381%Busy
3–4 pm4,78289%Busy
4–5 pm4,31880%Busy
5–6 pm4,17778%Busy
6–7 pm3,33762%Moderate
7–8 pm2,31043%Moderate
8–9 pm1,45327%Quiet
9–10 pm98618%Quiet
10–11 pm55810%Quiet
11 pm–midnight3136%Quiet

EWR security by hour on Thursdays

12a: 1% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 1% of peak, Quiet3a: 12% of peak, Quiet4a: 54% of peak, Moderate5a: 88% of peak, Busy6a: 96% of peak, Busy7a: 87% of peak, Busy8a: 82% of peak, Busy9a: 73% of peak, Busy10a: 65% of peak, Moderate11a: 63% of peak, Moderate12p: 60% of peak, Moderate1p: 75% of peak, Busy2p: 91% of peak, Busy3p: 96% of peak, Busy4p: 84% of peak, Busy5p: 91% of peak, Busy6p: 70% of peak, Moderate7p: 57% of peak, Moderate8p: 34% of peak, Quiet9p: 22% of peak, Quiet10p: 13% of peak, Quiet11p: 5% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
EWR · typical Thursday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am431%Quiet
1–2 am260%Quiet
2–3 am481%Quiet
3–4 am65212%Quiet
4–5 am2,90654%Moderate
5–6 am4,70888%Busy
6–7 am5,16096%Busy
7–8 am4,69887%Busy
8–9 am4,41682%Busy
9–10 am3,92273%Busy
10–11 am3,49665%Moderate
11 am–noon3,39463%Moderate
noon–1 pm3,20460%Moderate
1–2 pm4,01075%Busy
2–3 pm4,87691%Busy
3–4 pm5,15196%Busy
4–5 pm4,53284%Busy
5–6 pm4,88191%Busy
6–7 pm3,74070%Moderate
7–8 pm3,05957%Moderate
8–9 pm1,83334%Quiet
9–10 pm1,20022%Quiet
10–11 pm67213%Quiet
11 pm–midnight2865%Quiet

EWR security by hour on Fridays

12a: 1% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 1% of peak, Quiet3a: 14% of peak, Quiet4a: 58% of peak, Moderate5a: 92% of peak, Busy6a: 100% of peak, Busy7a: 90% of peak, Busy8a: 82% of peak, Busy9a: 68% of peak, Moderate10a: 59% of peak, Moderate11a: 65% of peak, Moderate12p: 61% of peak, Moderate1p: 75% of peak, Busy2p: 80% of peak, Busy3p: 92% of peak, Busy4p: 88% of peak, Busy5p: 82% of peak, Busy6p: 60% of peak, Moderate7p: 46% of peak, Moderate8p: 31% of peak, Quiet9p: 22% of peak, Quiet10p: 14% of peak, Quiet11p: 6% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
EWR · typical Friday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am481%Quiet
1–2 am250%Quiet
2–3 am511%Quiet
3–4 am73014%Quiet
4–5 am3,12258%Moderate
5–6 am4,93792%Busy
6–7 am5,375100%Busy
7–8 am4,82190%Busy
8–9 am4,38782%Busy
9–10 am3,65068%Moderate
10–11 am3,16659%Moderate
11 am–noon3,48365%Moderate
noon–1 pm3,30461%Moderate
1–2 pm4,02575%Busy
2–3 pm4,27780%Busy
3–4 pm4,92392%Busy
4–5 pm4,70588%Busy
5–6 pm4,41682%Busy
6–7 pm3,23160%Moderate
7–8 pm2,48046%Moderate
8–9 pm1,65131%Quiet
9–10 pm1,17122%Quiet
10–11 pm73314%Quiet
11 pm–midnight3326%Quiet

EWR security by hour on Saturdays

12a: 2% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 1% of peak, Quiet3a: 12% of peak, Quiet4a: 46% of peak, Moderate5a: 76% of peak, Busy6a: 89% of peak, Busy7a: 84% of peak, Busy8a: 73% of peak, Busy9a: 60% of peak, Moderate10a: 54% of peak, Moderate11a: 53% of peak, Moderate12p: 48% of peak, Moderate1p: 51% of peak, Moderate2p: 69% of peak, Moderate3p: 77% of peak, Busy4p: 70% of peak, Moderate5p: 63% of peak, Moderate6p: 41% of peak, Moderate7p: 28% of peak, Quiet8p: 28% of peak, Quiet9p: 17% of peak, Quiet10p: 12% of peak, Quiet11p: 6% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
EWR · typical Saturday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am912%Quiet
1–2 am250%Quiet
2–3 am501%Quiet
3–4 am66312%Quiet
4–5 am2,46446%Moderate
5–6 am4,09476%Busy
6–7 am4,80989%Busy
7–8 am4,50984%Busy
8–9 am3,93373%Busy
9–10 am3,23860%Moderate
10–11 am2,92354%Moderate
11 am–noon2,86853%Moderate
noon–1 pm2,59348%Moderate
1–2 pm2,75051%Moderate
2–3 pm3,71769%Moderate
3–4 pm4,12277%Busy
4–5 pm3,74570%Moderate
5–6 pm3,37263%Moderate
6–7 pm2,18441%Moderate
7–8 pm1,50528%Quiet
8–9 pm1,50728%Quiet
9–10 pm91617%Quiet
10–11 pm65512%Quiet
11 pm–midnight3086%Quiet

Best and worst times to go through security at EWR

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.

EWR · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
DaysBusiestQuietest
Monday to Thursday6–8 am (89%)3–4 pm (89%)8–11 pm (13%)
Friday5–7 am (100%)3–4 pm (92%)8–11 pm (14%)
Saturday6–8 am (89%)3–4 pm (77%)7–8 pm (28%)9–11 pm (12%)
Sunday2–4 pm (97%)5–6 pm (88%)8–11 pm (14%)

EWR security checkpoints and hours

TSA's counts list 5 checkpoints at EWR. "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.

EWR checkpoints · TSA counts Sep 13, 2026 to Nov 7, 2026
CheckpointScreening seenTypical busiest hourShare
CKPT-C1Around the clock6–7 am47%
CKPT-A1Around the clock6–7 am37%
CKPT-B3Around the clock3–4 pm8%
CKPT-B13 am to 10 pm5–6 am4%
CKPT-B25 am to 11 pm8–9 pm4%

How early should I get to EWR?

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

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

EWR arrival times on a typical Thursday

EWR · 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 amBusy7:40 am (140 min)6:40 am (200 min)
noonModerate10:00 am (120 min)8:40 am (200 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.

EWR terminals

EWR Terminal B security

CLEAR is available for Gates B40-B49: Sunday to Friday 4:30 am to 7:30 pm, Saturday 4:30 am to 6 pm. Source.

EWR Terminal A security

Walk time from security to gates is 2 to 10 minutes. United also operates from Terminal C, with a post-security shuttle near Gate 28. Source.

EWR security FAQ

What is the busiest time for security at EWR?

On a typical Thursday, EWR's checkpoints are busiest from 5 to 9 am. The single busiest hour in the 8 weeks to Nov 7, 2026 was 6–7 am on Fridays, with a median of 5,375 people screened.

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

Saturday is the quietest day overall. On Thursdays, the quietest daytime window is 8–11 pm.

How early should I get to EWR?

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 EWR by 7:40 am.

How many security checkpoints does EWR have?

TSA's checkpoint counts list 5 screening checkpoints at EWR in the 8 weeks to Nov 7, 2026. The busiest, CKPT-C1, screens about 47% of EWR's passengers.

Sources for EWR

  • 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.newarkairport.com/explore-ewr/terminals, checked Nov 2026.
  • How the levels are built: methodology. TSA Wait Checker is not affiliated with TSA or Newark Liberty International.

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