TSA wait times

Phoenix Sky Harbor International

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

Photo: Grimur Grimsson / Unsplash

Phoenix Airport (PHX) Security Wait Times

Security at Phoenix (PHX) is busiest from 6 to 8 am and quietest after 6 pm on a typical Sunday, based on TSA checkpoint counts for the 8 weeks to Nov 7, 2026.

Typical Sunday, 7–8 am · PHX time

BUSY

100% of PHX's busiest hour

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

PHX's security page

PHX security lines by hour

How busy PHX'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 PHX local time.

PHX security by hour on Sundays

12a: 0% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 1% of peak, Quiet3a: 20% of peak, Quiet4a: 45% of peak, Moderate5a: 64% of peak, Moderate6a: 85% of peak, Busy7a: 100% of peak, Busy8a: 76% of peak, Busy9a: 64% of peak, Moderate10a: 69% of peak, Moderate11a: 73% of peak, Busy12p: 66% of peak, Moderate1p: 69% of peak, Moderate2p: 73% of peak, Busy3p: 56% of peak, Moderate4p: 47% of peak, Moderate5p: 42% of peak, Moderate6p: 35% of peak, Quiet7p: 31% of peak, Quiet8p: 26% of peak, Quiet9p: 26% of peak, Quiet10p: 14% of peak, Quiet11p: 5% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
PHX · typical Sunday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am280%Quiet
1–2 am200%Quiet
2–3 am791%Quiet
3–4 am1,18620%Quiet
4–5 am2,65245%Moderate
5–6 am3,76964%Moderate
6–7 am5,00985%Busy
7–8 am5,898100%Busy
8–9 am4,47176%Busy
9–10 am3,76064%Moderate
10–11 am4,04269%Moderate
11 am–noon4,27973%Busy
noon–1 pm3,90466%Moderate
1–2 pm4,07369%Moderate
2–3 pm4,32873%Busy
3–4 pm3,28856%Moderate
4–5 pm2,76147%Moderate
5–6 pm2,48542%Moderate
6–7 pm2,05835%Quiet
7–8 pm1,83031%Quiet
8–9 pm1,51326%Quiet
9–10 pm1,52326%Quiet
10–11 pm81214%Quiet
11 pm–midnight2845%Quiet

PHX security by hour on Mondays

12a: 1% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 2% of peak, Quiet3a: 24% of peak, Quiet4a: 52% of peak, Moderate5a: 69% of peak, Moderate6a: 98% of peak, Busy7a: 93% of peak, Busy8a: 74% of peak, Busy9a: 70% of peak, Moderate10a: 62% of peak, Moderate11a: 65% of peak, Moderate12p: 60% of peak, Moderate1p: 57% of peak, Moderate2p: 61% of peak, Moderate3p: 42% of peak, Moderate4p: 39% of peak, Quiet5p: 34% of peak, Quiet6p: 25% of peak, Quiet7p: 17% of peak, Quiet8p: 14% of peak, Quiet9p: 12% of peak, Quiet10p: 9% of peak, Quiet11p: 3% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
PHX · typical Monday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am301%Quiet
1–2 am240%Quiet
2–3 am962%Quiet
3–4 am1,38824%Quiet
4–5 am3,06252%Moderate
5–6 am4,07669%Moderate
6–7 am5,77898%Busy
7–8 am5,47993%Busy
8–9 am4,39074%Busy
9–10 am4,10370%Moderate
10–11 am3,65962%Moderate
11 am–noon3,84665%Moderate
noon–1 pm3,55660%Moderate
1–2 pm3,35757%Moderate
2–3 pm3,62161%Moderate
3–4 pm2,48342%Moderate
4–5 pm2,29839%Quiet
5–6 pm1,98334%Quiet
6–7 pm1,45825%Quiet
7–8 pm1,01317%Quiet
8–9 pm81514%Quiet
9–10 pm73712%Quiet
10–11 pm5129%Quiet
11 pm–midnight1803%Quiet

PHX security by hour on Tuesdays

12a: 1% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 1% of peak, Quiet3a: 13% of peak, Quiet4a: 39% of peak, Quiet5a: 57% of peak, Moderate6a: 69% of peak, Moderate7a: 80% of peak, Busy8a: 64% of peak, Moderate9a: 61% of peak, Moderate10a: 57% of peak, Moderate11a: 55% of peak, Moderate12p: 52% of peak, Moderate1p: 45% of peak, Moderate2p: 45% of peak, Moderate3p: 39% of peak, Quiet4p: 31% of peak, Quiet5p: 26% of peak, Quiet6p: 16% of peak, Quiet7p: 13% of peak, Quiet8p: 13% of peak, Quiet9p: 15% of peak, Quiet10p: 10% of peak, Quiet11p: 4% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
PHX · typical Tuesday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am361%Quiet
1–2 am210%Quiet
2–3 am651%Quiet
3–4 am78213%Quiet
4–5 am2,30939%Quiet
5–6 am3,34657%Moderate
6–7 am4,08169%Moderate
7–8 am4,72180%Busy
8–9 am3,78764%Moderate
9–10 am3,59261%Moderate
10–11 am3,33357%Moderate
11 am–noon3,22055%Moderate
noon–1 pm3,09652%Moderate
1–2 pm2,65245%Moderate
2–3 pm2,68145%Moderate
3–4 pm2,32939%Quiet
4–5 pm1,83631%Quiet
5–6 pm1,52026%Quiet
6–7 pm95316%Quiet
7–8 pm73813%Quiet
8–9 pm77213%Quiet
9–10 pm90415%Quiet
10–11 pm59310%Quiet
11 pm–midnight2144%Quiet

PHX security by hour on Wednesdays

12a: 0% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 1% of peak, Quiet3a: 13% of peak, Quiet4a: 43% of peak, Moderate5a: 62% of peak, Moderate6a: 72% of peak, Busy7a: 87% of peak, Busy8a: 71% of peak, Busy9a: 68% of peak, Moderate10a: 58% of peak, Moderate11a: 64% of peak, Moderate12p: 60% of peak, Moderate1p: 54% of peak, Moderate2p: 53% of peak, Moderate3p: 44% of peak, Moderate4p: 36% of peak, Quiet5p: 32% of peak, Quiet6p: 21% of peak, Quiet7p: 14% of peak, Quiet8p: 15% of peak, Quiet9p: 19% of peak, Quiet10p: 14% of peak, Quiet11p: 4% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
PHX · typical Wednesday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am260%Quiet
1–2 am200%Quiet
2–3 am711%Quiet
3–4 am76913%Quiet
4–5 am2,54243%Moderate
5–6 am3,65762%Moderate
6–7 am4,22972%Busy
7–8 am5,14687%Busy
8–9 am4,15971%Busy
9–10 am4,01968%Moderate
10–11 am3,39558%Moderate
11 am–noon3,74664%Moderate
noon–1 pm3,51360%Moderate
1–2 pm3,17554%Moderate
2–3 pm3,12353%Moderate
3–4 pm2,60244%Moderate
4–5 pm2,09536%Quiet
5–6 pm1,86932%Quiet
6–7 pm1,26021%Quiet
7–8 pm82114%Quiet
8–9 pm89915%Quiet
9–10 pm1,09819%Quiet
10–11 pm84114%Quiet
11 pm–midnight2164%Quiet

PHX security by hour on Thursdays

12a: 1% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 1% of peak, Quiet3a: 23% of peak, Quiet4a: 52% of peak, Moderate5a: 67% of peak, Moderate6a: 92% of peak, Busy7a: 93% of peak, Busy8a: 74% of peak, Busy9a: 70% of peak, Moderate10a: 67% of peak, Moderate11a: 68% of peak, Moderate12p: 68% of peak, Moderate1p: 63% of peak, Moderate2p: 69% of peak, Moderate3p: 52% of peak, Moderate4p: 43% of peak, Moderate5p: 41% of peak, Moderate6p: 35% of peak, Quiet7p: 27% of peak, Quiet8p: 24% of peak, Quiet9p: 24% of peak, Quiet10p: 17% of peak, Quiet11p: 5% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
PHX · typical Thursday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am421%Quiet
1–2 am210%Quiet
2–3 am841%Quiet
3–4 am1,33723%Quiet
4–5 am3,04852%Moderate
5–6 am3,93667%Moderate
6–7 am5,42792%Busy
7–8 am5,49593%Busy
8–9 am4,35974%Busy
9–10 am4,11670%Moderate
10–11 am3,94367%Moderate
11 am–noon3,99268%Moderate
noon–1 pm4,00368%Moderate
1–2 pm3,74263%Moderate
2–3 pm4,09069%Moderate
3–4 pm3,07652%Moderate
4–5 pm2,53943%Moderate
5–6 pm2,40641%Moderate
6–7 pm2,09235%Quiet
7–8 pm1,61127%Quiet
8–9 pm1,42824%Quiet
9–10 pm1,42224%Quiet
10–11 pm1,00717%Quiet
11 pm–midnight2845%Quiet

PHX security by hour on Fridays

12a: 1% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 2% of peak, Quiet3a: 24% of peak, Quiet4a: 52% of peak, Moderate5a: 72% of peak, Busy6a: 93% of peak, Busy7a: 95% of peak, Busy8a: 80% of peak, Busy9a: 67% of peak, Moderate10a: 60% of peak, Moderate11a: 63% of peak, Moderate12p: 62% of peak, Moderate1p: 61% of peak, Moderate2p: 61% of peak, Moderate3p: 48% of peak, Moderate4p: 40% of peak, Moderate5p: 37% of peak, Quiet6p: 27% of peak, Quiet7p: 20% of peak, Quiet8p: 20% of peak, Quiet9p: 18% of peak, Quiet10p: 12% of peak, Quiet11p: 4% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
PHX · typical Friday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am451%Quiet
1–2 am270%Quiet
2–3 am982%Quiet
3–4 am1,38824%Quiet
4–5 am3,09552%Moderate
5–6 am4,23372%Busy
6–7 am5,45893%Busy
7–8 am5,58595%Busy
8–9 am4,71580%Busy
9–10 am3,92767%Moderate
10–11 am3,56860%Moderate
11 am–noon3,72963%Moderate
noon–1 pm3,66862%Moderate
1–2 pm3,59161%Moderate
2–3 pm3,61761%Moderate
3–4 pm2,80848%Moderate
4–5 pm2,35340%Moderate
5–6 pm2,18537%Quiet
6–7 pm1,61327%Quiet
7–8 pm1,18420%Quiet
8–9 pm1,16920%Quiet
9–10 pm1,08518%Quiet
10–11 pm72412%Quiet
11 pm–midnight2114%Quiet

PHX security by hour on Saturdays

12a: 1% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 2% of peak, Quiet3a: 15% of peak, Quiet4a: 39% of peak, Quiet5a: 59% of peak, Moderate6a: 75% of peak, Busy7a: 94% of peak, Busy8a: 70% of peak, Moderate9a: 59% of peak, Moderate10a: 55% of peak, Moderate11a: 53% of peak, Moderate12p: 47% of peak, Moderate1p: 48% of peak, Moderate2p: 49% of peak, Moderate3p: 37% of peak, Quiet4p: 24% of peak, Quiet5p: 18% of peak, Quiet6p: 13% of peak, Quiet7p: 10% of peak, Quiet8p: 15% of peak, Quiet9p: 17% of peak, Quiet10p: 12% of peak, Quiet11p: 3% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
PHX · typical Saturday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am581%Quiet
1–2 am190%Quiet
2–3 am952%Quiet
3–4 am88215%Quiet
4–5 am2,29939%Quiet
5–6 am3,47359%Moderate
6–7 am4,42975%Busy
7–8 am5,55594%Busy
8–9 am4,12670%Moderate
9–10 am3,48259%Moderate
10–11 am3,24255%Moderate
11 am–noon3,14953%Moderate
noon–1 pm2,77047%Moderate
1–2 pm2,85448%Moderate
2–3 pm2,87049%Moderate
3–4 pm2,15537%Quiet
4–5 pm1,41824%Quiet
5–6 pm1,05218%Quiet
6–7 pm77413%Quiet
7–8 pm61510%Quiet
8–9 pm86415%Quiet
9–10 pm1,01317%Quiet
10–11 pm69212%Quiet
11 pm–midnight1673%Quiet

Best and worst times to go through security at PHX

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.

PHX · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
DaysBusiestQuietest
Monday to Thursday6–9 am (88%)8–11 pm (13%)
Friday6–9 am (95%)7–8 pm (20%)9–11 pm (12%)
Saturday6–9 am (94%)6–8 pm (10%)10–11 pm (12%)
Sunday6–9 am (100%)8–11 pm (14%)

PHX security checkpoints and hours

TSA's counts list 5 checkpoints at PHX. 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. Checkpoint names in plain type are TSA's own labels.

PHX checkpoints · TSA counts Sep 13, 2026 to Nov 7, 2026 · facts checked Nov 2026
CheckpointWhereHoursTypical busiest hourShare
T-3 North—Screening seen around the clock5–6 am30%
Terminal 4 Checkpoint ATerminal 4Open 24 hours7–8 am23%
Terminal 4 Checkpoint CTerminal 43:15 am to 12:30 am6–7 am17%
Terminal 4 Checkpoint DTerminal 43:15 am to 7:30 pm6–7 am15%
Terminal 4 Checkpoint BTerminal 44:15 am to 8:30 pm7–8 am14%

The airport says you can use any security checkpoint in Terminal 4 to reach your gate. Source.

PHX 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 4

  • Terminal 4 Checkpoint ALanes not listedBusySunday, 7–8 am
  • Terminal 4 Checkpoint CLanes not listedModerateSunday, 7–8 am
  • Terminal 4 Checkpoint DLanes not listedBusySunday, 7–8 am
  • Terminal 4 Checkpoint BLanes not listedBusySunday, 7–8 am

How early should I get to PHX?

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

Flight
Options
For PHX, Sunday 10:00 am, domestic, checked bagGet to PHX 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.

PHX arrival times on a typical Sunday

PHX · Sunday · 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 amModerate6:00 am (120 min)5:00 am (180 min)
10 amBusy7:40 am (140 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 pmModerate4:00 pm (120 min)3:00 pm (180 min)
9 pmQuiet7:15 pm (105 min)6:15 pm (165 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.

PHX security FAQ

What is the busiest time for security at PHX?

On a typical Sunday, PHX's checkpoints are busiest from 6 to 8 am. The single busiest hour in the 8 weeks to Nov 7, 2026 was 7–8 am on Sundays, with a median of 5,898 people screened.

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

Tuesday is the quietest day overall. On Sundays, the quietest daytime window is 8–11 pm.

How early should I get to PHX?

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 Sunday with a checked bag, that means getting to PHX by 7:40 am.

How many security checkpoints does PHX have?

TSA's checkpoint counts list 5 screening checkpoints at PHX in the 8 weeks to Nov 7, 2026. The busiest, T-3 North, screens about 30% of PHX's passengers.

Sources for PHX

  • 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.skyharbor.com/flying-from-phx/security-screening/, 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 Phoenix Sky Harbor International.

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