TSA wait times

Portland International

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

Photo: Ty Feague / Unsplash

Portland Airport (PDX) TSA Wait Times

Security at Portland (PDX) is busiest from 5 to 7 am and quietest after 5 pm on a typical Sunday, based on TSA checkpoint counts for the 8 weeks to Nov 7, 2026.

Typical Friday, 6–7 am · PDX time

BUSY

100% of PDX's busiest hour

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

PDX's official live wait times

PDX security lines by hour

How busy PDX'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 PDX local time.

PDX security by hour on Sundays

12a: 0% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 2% of peak, Quiet3a: 18% of peak, Quiet4a: 49% of peak, Moderate5a: 83% of peak, Busy6a: 89% of peak, Busy7a: 48% of peak, Moderate8a: 56% of peak, Moderate9a: 89% of peak, Busy10a: 76% of peak, Busy11a: 58% of peak, Moderate12p: 61% of peak, Moderate1p: 74% of peak, Busy2p: 43% of peak, Moderate3p: 42% of peak, Moderate4p: 67% of peak, Moderate5p: 35% of peak, Quiet6p: 34% of peak, Quiet7p: 29% of peak, Quiet8p: 35% of peak, Quiet9p: 25% of peak, Quiet10p: 12% of peak, Quiet11p: 1% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
PDX · typical Sunday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am40%Quiet
1–2 am50%Quiet
2–3 am432%Quiet
3–4 am50318%Quiet
4–5 am1,32749%Moderate
5–6 am2,27583%Busy
6–7 am2,42189%Busy
7–8 am1,29848%Moderate
8–9 am1,53756%Moderate
9–10 am2,42689%Busy
10–11 am2,08376%Busy
11 am–noon1,57258%Moderate
noon–1 pm1,66761%Moderate
1–2 pm2,03274%Busy
2–3 pm1,18043%Moderate
3–4 pm1,13542%Moderate
4–5 pm1,82267%Moderate
5–6 pm95135%Quiet
6–7 pm93534%Quiet
7–8 pm79229%Quiet
8–9 pm94735%Quiet
9–10 pm68225%Quiet
10–11 pm32612%Quiet
11 pm–midnight401%Quiet

PDX security by hour on Mondays

12a: 0% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 1% of peak, Quiet3a: 21% of peak, Quiet4a: 59% of peak, Moderate5a: 93% of peak, Busy6a: 94% of peak, Busy7a: 53% of peak, Moderate8a: 59% of peak, Moderate9a: 92% of peak, Busy10a: 70% of peak, Moderate11a: 58% of peak, Moderate12p: 60% of peak, Moderate1p: 70% of peak, Moderate2p: 34% of peak, Quiet3p: 36% of peak, Quiet4p: 46% of peak, Moderate5p: 24% of peak, Quiet6p: 20% of peak, Quiet7p: 17% of peak, Quiet8p: 24% of peak, Quiet9p: 24% of peak, Quiet10p: 10% of peak, Quiet11p: 1% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
PDX · typical Monday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am80%Quiet
1–2 am40%Quiet
2–3 am271%Quiet
3–4 am56821%Quiet
4–5 am1,59859%Moderate
5–6 am2,55293%Busy
6–7 am2,56294%Busy
7–8 am1,43453%Moderate
8–9 am1,61359%Moderate
9–10 am2,51892%Busy
10–11 am1,91870%Moderate
11 am–noon1,59158%Moderate
noon–1 pm1,62960%Moderate
1–2 pm1,91870%Moderate
2–3 pm94234%Quiet
3–4 pm97336%Quiet
4–5 pm1,25346%Moderate
5–6 pm65824%Quiet
6–7 pm55420%Quiet
7–8 pm47217%Quiet
8–9 pm65724%Quiet
9–10 pm65724%Quiet
10–11 pm28110%Quiet
11 pm–midnight341%Quiet

PDX security by hour on Tuesdays

12a: 0% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 1% of peak, Quiet3a: 15% of peak, Quiet4a: 46% of peak, Moderate5a: 83% of peak, Busy6a: 83% of peak, Busy7a: 42% of peak, Moderate8a: 52% of peak, Moderate9a: 89% of peak, Busy10a: 59% of peak, Moderate11a: 49% of peak, Moderate12p: 54% of peak, Moderate1p: 53% of peak, Moderate2p: 25% of peak, Quiet3p: 25% of peak, Quiet4p: 33% of peak, Quiet5p: 15% of peak, Quiet6p: 14% of peak, Quiet7p: 12% of peak, Quiet8p: 19% of peak, Quiet9p: 18% of peak, Quiet10p: 8% of peak, Quiet11p: 1% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
PDX · typical Tuesday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am60%Quiet
1–2 am60%Quiet
2–3 am191%Quiet
3–4 am40115%Quiet
4–5 am1,25446%Moderate
5–6 am2,27683%Busy
6–7 am2,27783%Busy
7–8 am1,14342%Moderate
8–9 am1,41652%Moderate
9–10 am2,44489%Busy
10–11 am1,62259%Moderate
11 am–noon1,34449%Moderate
noon–1 pm1,46254%Moderate
1–2 pm1,44053%Moderate
2–3 pm68425%Quiet
3–4 pm68625%Quiet
4–5 pm88833%Quiet
5–6 pm41215%Quiet
6–7 pm38114%Quiet
7–8 pm34012%Quiet
8–9 pm52319%Quiet
9–10 pm48918%Quiet
10–11 pm2188%Quiet
11 pm–midnight241%Quiet

PDX security by hour on Wednesdays

12a: 0% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 1% of peak, Quiet3a: 17% of peak, Quiet4a: 47% of peak, Moderate5a: 91% of peak, Busy6a: 87% of peak, Busy7a: 45% of peak, Moderate8a: 54% of peak, Moderate9a: 93% of peak, Busy10a: 55% of peak, Moderate11a: 46% of peak, Moderate12p: 53% of peak, Moderate1p: 58% of peak, Moderate2p: 30% of peak, Quiet3p: 31% of peak, Quiet4p: 39% of peak, Quiet5p: 19% of peak, Quiet6p: 15% of peak, Quiet7p: 14% of peak, Quiet8p: 22% of peak, Quiet9p: 21% of peak, Quiet10p: 9% of peak, Quiet11p: 1% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
PDX · typical Wednesday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am30%Quiet
1–2 am40%Quiet
2–3 am291%Quiet
3–4 am46017%Quiet
4–5 am1,27547%Moderate
5–6 am2,47691%Busy
6–7 am2,38587%Busy
7–8 am1,21645%Moderate
8–9 am1,46354%Moderate
9–10 am2,54593%Busy
10–11 am1,51255%Moderate
11 am–noon1,26746%Moderate
noon–1 pm1,45453%Moderate
1–2 pm1,59158%Moderate
2–3 pm82630%Quiet
3–4 pm83531%Quiet
4–5 pm1,07339%Quiet
5–6 pm51419%Quiet
6–7 pm40915%Quiet
7–8 pm37814%Quiet
8–9 pm60722%Quiet
9–10 pm58321%Quiet
10–11 pm2569%Quiet
11 pm–midnight271%Quiet

PDX security by hour on Thursdays

12a: 0% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 1% of peak, Quiet3a: 24% of peak, Quiet4a: 59% of peak, Moderate5a: 91% of peak, Busy6a: 96% of peak, Busy7a: 49% of peak, Moderate8a: 57% of peak, Moderate9a: 96% of peak, Busy10a: 66% of peak, Moderate11a: 53% of peak, Moderate12p: 61% of peak, Moderate1p: 69% of peak, Moderate2p: 35% of peak, Quiet3p: 36% of peak, Quiet4p: 56% of peak, Moderate5p: 30% of peak, Quiet6p: 28% of peak, Quiet7p: 24% of peak, Quiet8p: 32% of peak, Quiet9p: 24% of peak, Quiet10p: 16% of peak, Quiet11p: 2% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
PDX · typical Thursday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am20%Quiet
1–2 am50%Quiet
2–3 am371%Quiet
3–4 am64724%Quiet
4–5 am1,60859%Moderate
5–6 am2,47591%Busy
6–7 am2,61796%Busy
7–8 am1,34649%Moderate
8–9 am1,56357%Moderate
9–10 am2,61096%Busy
10–11 am1,81066%Moderate
11 am–noon1,46153%Moderate
noon–1 pm1,67361%Moderate
1–2 pm1,87669%Moderate
2–3 pm94635%Quiet
3–4 pm98136%Quiet
4–5 pm1,53156%Moderate
5–6 pm82130%Quiet
6–7 pm75328%Quiet
7–8 pm66024%Quiet
8–9 pm86732%Quiet
9–10 pm66924%Quiet
10–11 pm42416%Quiet
11 pm–midnight432%Quiet

PDX security by hour on Fridays

12a: 0% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 1% of peak, Quiet3a: 21% of peak, Quiet4a: 57% of peak, Moderate5a: 87% of peak, Busy6a: 100% of peak, Busy7a: 53% of peak, Moderate8a: 60% of peak, Moderate9a: 97% of peak, Busy10a: 64% of peak, Moderate11a: 50% of peak, Moderate12p: 53% of peak, Moderate1p: 62% of peak, Moderate2p: 32% of peak, Quiet3p: 35% of peak, Quiet4p: 46% of peak, Moderate5p: 28% of peak, Quiet6p: 23% of peak, Quiet7p: 19% of peak, Quiet8p: 23% of peak, Quiet9p: 23% of peak, Quiet10p: 10% of peak, Quiet11p: 1% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
PDX · typical Friday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am60%Quiet
1–2 am60%Quiet
2–3 am381%Quiet
3–4 am56721%Quiet
4–5 am1,55657%Moderate
5–6 am2,36487%Busy
6–7 am2,731100%Busy
7–8 am1,44653%Moderate
8–9 am1,64160%Moderate
9–10 am2,64997%Busy
10–11 am1,75064%Moderate
11 am–noon1,36250%Moderate
noon–1 pm1,44153%Moderate
1–2 pm1,68662%Moderate
2–3 pm87432%Quiet
3–4 pm95935%Quiet
4–5 pm1,24646%Moderate
5–6 pm76028%Quiet
6–7 pm61723%Quiet
7–8 pm50619%Quiet
8–9 pm62023%Quiet
9–10 pm63323%Quiet
10–11 pm28310%Quiet
11 pm–midnight261%Quiet

PDX security by hour on Saturdays

12a: 0% of peak, Quiet1a: 0% of peak, Quiet2a: 1% of peak, Quiet3a: 17% of peak, Quiet4a: 46% of peak, Moderate5a: 79% of peak, Busy6a: 83% of peak, Busy7a: 42% of peak, Moderate8a: 53% of peak, Moderate9a: 90% of peak, Busy10a: 49% of peak, Moderate11a: 45% of peak, Moderate12p: 50% of peak, Moderate1p: 51% of peak, Moderate2p: 19% of peak, Quiet3p: 21% of peak, Quiet4p: 24% of peak, Quiet5p: 14% of peak, Quiet6p: 12% of peak, Quiet7p: 12% of peak, Quiet8p: 20% of peak, Quiet9p: 19% of peak, Quiet10p: 10% of peak, Quiet11p: 1% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
PDX · typical Saturday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am20%Quiet
1–2 am70%Quiet
2–3 am291%Quiet
3–4 am47217%Quiet
4–5 am1,26046%Moderate
5–6 am2,15079%Busy
6–7 am2,26883%Busy
7–8 am1,15242%Moderate
8–9 am1,45153%Moderate
9–10 am2,46290%Busy
10–11 am1,34449%Moderate
11 am–noon1,22045%Moderate
noon–1 pm1,37550%Moderate
1–2 pm1,40451%Moderate
2–3 pm51919%Quiet
3–4 pm56821%Quiet
4–5 pm66224%Quiet
5–6 pm37714%Quiet
6–7 pm32212%Quiet
7–8 pm32112%Quiet
8–9 pm53720%Quiet
9–10 pm51219%Quiet
10–11 pm27110%Quiet
11 pm–midnight241%Quiet

Best and worst times to go through security at PDX

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.

PDX · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
DaysBusiestQuietest
Monday to Thursday5–7 am (90%)9–10 am (93%)6–8 pm (17%)10–11 pm (11%)
Friday5–7 am (100%)9–10 am (97%)6–8 pm (19%)10–11 pm (10%)
Saturday5–7 am (83%)9–10 am (90%)6–8 pm (12%)10–11 pm (10%)
Sunday5–7 am (89%)9–10 am (89%)7–8 pm (29%)9–11 pm (12%)

PDX security checkpoints and hours

TSA's counts list 3 checkpoints at PDX. "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.

PDX checkpoints · TSA counts Sep 13, 2026 to Nov 7, 2026 · facts checked Nov 2026
CheckpointScreening seenTypical busiest hourShare
Checkpoint for D and E gates1 am to midnight9–10 am52%
Checkpoint for B and C gates3 am to 9 pm9–10 am48%
PDXFIS6 pm to 9 pm6–7 pm0%

The airport says you can reach all gates from either checkpoint. Source.

PDX 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.

Checkpoints

  • Checkpoint for D and E gatesLanes not listedBusyFriday, 6–7 am
  • Checkpoint for B and C gatesLanes not listedBusyFriday, 6–7 am

How early should I get to PDX?

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

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

PDX arrival times on a typical Sunday

PDX · 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 amBusy5:40 am (140 min)5:00 am (180 min)
10 amModerate8:00 am (120 min)7:00 am (180 min)
noonBusy9:40 am (140 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.

PDX security FAQ

What is the busiest time for security at PDX?

On a typical Sunday, PDX's checkpoints are busiest from 5 to 7 am. The single busiest hour in the 8 weeks to Nov 7, 2026 was 6–7 am on Fridays, with a median of 2,731 people screened.

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

Saturday is the quietest day overall. On Sundays, the quietest daytime window is 7–8 pm, 9–11 pm.

How early should I get to PDX?

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 PDX by 8:00 am.

How many security checkpoints does PDX have?

TSA's checkpoint counts list 3 screening checkpoints at PDX in the 8 weeks to Nov 7, 2026. The busiest, Checkpoint for D and E gates, screens about 52% of PDX's passengers.

Sources for PDX

  • 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.flypdx.com/, 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 Portland International.

TSA wait times at other airports

Nearest to PDX

All 30 airports