TSA wait times

Washington Dulles International

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

Photo: Lukas Souza / Unsplash

Dulles Airport (IAD) Security Wait Times

Security at Dulles (IAD) is busiest from 3 to 5 pm and quietest after 9 pm on a typical Friday, based on TSA checkpoint counts for the 8 weeks to Nov 7, 2026.

Typical Thursday, 4–5 pm · IAD time

BUSY

100% of IAD's busiest hour

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

IAD's security page

IAD security lines by hour

How busy IAD'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 IAD local time.

IAD security by hour on Sundays

12a: 10% of peak, Quiet1a: 6% of peak, Quiet2a: 2% of peak, Quiet3a: 7% of peak, Quiet4a: 24% of peak, Quiet5a: 31% of peak, Quiet6a: 49% of peak, Moderate7a: 65% of peak, Moderate8a: 27% of peak, Quiet9a: 26% of peak, Quiet10a: 49% of peak, Moderate11a: 53% of peak, Moderate12p: 37% of peak, Quiet1p: 38% of peak, Quiet2p: 64% of peak, Moderate3p: 81% of peak, Busy4p: 97% of peak, Busy5p: 40% of peak, Moderate6p: 28% of peak, Quiet7p: 32% of peak, Quiet8p: 36% of peak, Quiet9p: 21% of peak, Quiet10p: 2% of peak, Quiet11p: 0% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
IAD · typical Sunday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am38610%Quiet
1–2 am2256%Quiet
2–3 am802%Quiet
3–4 am2667%Quiet
4–5 am95424%Quiet
5–6 am1,26031%Quiet
6–7 am1,98549%Moderate
7–8 am2,62765%Moderate
8–9 am1,07027%Quiet
9–10 am1,04026%Quiet
10–11 am1,98149%Moderate
11 am–noon2,15253%Moderate
noon–1 pm1,47137%Quiet
1–2 pm1,52238%Quiet
2–3 pm2,58364%Moderate
3–4 pm3,27781%Busy
4–5 pm3,92497%Busy
5–6 pm1,61940%Moderate
6–7 pm1,10928%Quiet
7–8 pm1,29332%Quiet
8–9 pm1,44936%Quiet
9–10 pm86321%Quiet
10–11 pm912%Quiet
11 pm–midnight160%Quiet

IAD security by hour on Mondays

12a: 6% of peak, Quiet1a: 3% of peak, Quiet2a: 2% of peak, Quiet3a: 4% of peak, Quiet4a: 23% of peak, Quiet5a: 32% of peak, Quiet6a: 55% of peak, Moderate7a: 73% of peak, Busy8a: 24% of peak, Quiet9a: 22% of peak, Quiet10a: 45% of peak, Moderate11a: 55% of peak, Moderate12p: 33% of peak, Quiet1p: 28% of peak, Quiet2p: 50% of peak, Moderate3p: 87% of peak, Busy4p: 84% of peak, Busy5p: 41% of peak, Moderate6p: 25% of peak, Quiet7p: 27% of peak, Quiet8p: 30% of peak, Quiet9p: 14% of peak, Quiet10p: 3% of peak, Quiet11p: 3% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
IAD · typical Monday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am2296%Quiet
1–2 am1263%Quiet
2–3 am612%Quiet
3–4 am1814%Quiet
4–5 am94523%Quiet
5–6 am1,28432%Quiet
6–7 am2,22055%Moderate
7–8 am2,94473%Busy
8–9 am95424%Quiet
9–10 am87522%Quiet
10–11 am1,80345%Moderate
11 am–noon2,19655%Moderate
noon–1 pm1,32433%Quiet
1–2 pm1,13828%Quiet
2–3 pm2,03150%Moderate
3–4 pm3,50887%Busy
4–5 pm3,38384%Busy
5–6 pm1,66141%Moderate
6–7 pm98825%Quiet
7–8 pm1,09427%Quiet
8–9 pm1,19130%Quiet
9–10 pm56014%Quiet
10–11 pm1293%Quiet
11 pm–midnight1063%Quiet

IAD security by hour on Tuesdays

12a: 9% of peak, Quiet1a: 4% of peak, Quiet2a: 2% of peak, Quiet3a: 5% of peak, Quiet4a: 16% of peak, Quiet5a: 20% of peak, Quiet6a: 41% of peak, Moderate7a: 47% of peak, Moderate8a: 21% of peak, Quiet9a: 24% of peak, Quiet10a: 44% of peak, Moderate11a: 41% of peak, Moderate12p: 27% of peak, Quiet1p: 24% of peak, Quiet2p: 53% of peak, Moderate3p: 75% of peak, Busy4p: 69% of peak, Moderate5p: 26% of peak, Quiet6p: 21% of peak, Quiet7p: 30% of peak, Quiet8p: 32% of peak, Quiet9p: 13% of peak, Quiet10p: 2% of peak, Quiet11p: 1% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
IAD · typical Tuesday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am3829%Quiet
1–2 am1514%Quiet
2–3 am772%Quiet
3–4 am1975%Quiet
4–5 am64816%Quiet
5–6 am79720%Quiet
6–7 am1,65041%Moderate
7–8 am1,90347%Moderate
8–9 am86021%Quiet
9–10 am95324%Quiet
10–11 am1,76644%Moderate
11 am–noon1,66341%Moderate
noon–1 pm1,08327%Quiet
1–2 pm97024%Quiet
2–3 pm2,13453%Moderate
3–4 pm3,01875%Busy
4–5 pm2,76069%Moderate
5–6 pm1,04326%Quiet
6–7 pm84221%Quiet
7–8 pm1,22430%Quiet
8–9 pm1,29532%Quiet
9–10 pm52913%Quiet
10–11 pm692%Quiet
11 pm–midnight391%Quiet

IAD security by hour on Wednesdays

12a: 6% of peak, Quiet1a: 4% of peak, Quiet2a: 3% of peak, Quiet3a: 5% of peak, Quiet4a: 22% of peak, Quiet5a: 24% of peak, Quiet6a: 47% of peak, Moderate7a: 56% of peak, Moderate8a: 25% of peak, Quiet9a: 23% of peak, Quiet10a: 44% of peak, Moderate11a: 49% of peak, Moderate12p: 29% of peak, Quiet1p: 31% of peak, Quiet2p: 56% of peak, Moderate3p: 82% of peak, Busy4p: 79% of peak, Busy5p: 29% of peak, Quiet6p: 25% of peak, Quiet7p: 39% of peak, Quiet8p: 34% of peak, Quiet9p: 17% of peak, Quiet10p: 4% of peak, Quiet11p: 2% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
IAD · typical Wednesday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am2486%Quiet
1–2 am1554%Quiet
2–3 am1033%Quiet
3–4 am1925%Quiet
4–5 am90522%Quiet
5–6 am98324%Quiet
6–7 am1,87947%Moderate
7–8 am2,23956%Moderate
8–9 am1,00825%Quiet
9–10 am91123%Quiet
10–11 am1,78944%Moderate
11 am–noon1,96249%Moderate
noon–1 pm1,16129%Quiet
1–2 pm1,24831%Quiet
2–3 pm2,25056%Moderate
3–4 pm3,30082%Busy
4–5 pm3,17579%Busy
5–6 pm1,16929%Quiet
6–7 pm98925%Quiet
7–8 pm1,57439%Quiet
8–9 pm1,38234%Quiet
9–10 pm66917%Quiet
10–11 pm1444%Quiet
11 pm–midnight1002%Quiet

IAD security by hour on Thursdays

12a: 9% of peak, Quiet1a: 4% of peak, Quiet2a: 2% of peak, Quiet3a: 6% of peak, Quiet4a: 27% of peak, Quiet5a: 34% of peak, Quiet6a: 54% of peak, Moderate7a: 75% of peak, Busy8a: 29% of peak, Quiet9a: 29% of peak, Quiet10a: 53% of peak, Moderate11a: 51% of peak, Moderate12p: 31% of peak, Quiet1p: 38% of peak, Quiet2p: 62% of peak, Moderate3p: 86% of peak, Busy4p: 100% of peak, Busy5p: 39% of peak, Quiet6p: 33% of peak, Quiet7p: 38% of peak, Quiet8p: 43% of peak, Moderate9p: 17% of peak, Quiet10p: 1% of peak, Quiet11p: 1% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
IAD · typical Thursday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am3639%Quiet
1–2 am1524%Quiet
2–3 am992%Quiet
3–4 am2536%Quiet
4–5 am1,07727%Quiet
5–6 am1,35734%Quiet
6–7 am2,18054%Moderate
7–8 am3,01375%Busy
8–9 am1,18529%Quiet
9–10 am1,18729%Quiet
10–11 am2,12353%Moderate
11 am–noon2,05951%Moderate
noon–1 pm1,25531%Quiet
1–2 pm1,51038%Quiet
2–3 pm2,47662%Moderate
3–4 pm3,47486%Busy
4–5 pm4,025100%Busy
5–6 pm1,58839%Quiet
6–7 pm1,31433%Quiet
7–8 pm1,54338%Quiet
8–9 pm1,71143%Moderate
9–10 pm69917%Quiet
10–11 pm481%Quiet
11 pm–midnight361%Quiet

IAD security by hour on Fridays

12a: 10% of peak, Quiet1a: 4% of peak, Quiet2a: 3% of peak, Quiet3a: 7% of peak, Quiet4a: 28% of peak, Quiet5a: 34% of peak, Quiet6a: 55% of peak, Moderate7a: 86% of peak, Busy8a: 25% of peak, Quiet9a: 26% of peak, Quiet10a: 49% of peak, Moderate11a: 62% of peak, Moderate12p: 34% of peak, Quiet1p: 37% of peak, Quiet2p: 65% of peak, Moderate3p: 88% of peak, Busy4p: 97% of peak, Busy5p: 38% of peak, Quiet6p: 28% of peak, Quiet7p: 31% of peak, Quiet8p: 42% of peak, Moderate9p: 23% of peak, Quiet10p: 6% of peak, Quiet11p: 1% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
IAD · typical Friday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am39510%Quiet
1–2 am1724%Quiet
2–3 am1143%Quiet
3–4 am2697%Quiet
4–5 am1,12428%Quiet
5–6 am1,37634%Quiet
6–7 am2,21955%Moderate
7–8 am3,47686%Busy
8–9 am99125%Quiet
9–10 am1,06126%Quiet
10–11 am1,95749%Moderate
11 am–noon2,49862%Moderate
noon–1 pm1,38534%Quiet
1–2 pm1,47937%Quiet
2–3 pm2,60265%Moderate
3–4 pm3,53388%Busy
4–5 pm3,89497%Busy
5–6 pm1,54338%Quiet
6–7 pm1,13928%Quiet
7–8 pm1,25831%Quiet
8–9 pm1,67942%Moderate
9–10 pm94323%Quiet
10–11 pm2326%Quiet
11 pm–midnight551%Quiet

IAD security by hour on Saturdays

12a: 9% of peak, Quiet1a: 5% of peak, Quiet2a: 3% of peak, Quiet3a: 7% of peak, Quiet4a: 21% of peak, Quiet5a: 27% of peak, Quiet6a: 53% of peak, Moderate7a: 66% of peak, Moderate8a: 29% of peak, Quiet9a: 28% of peak, Quiet10a: 44% of peak, Moderate11a: 44% of peak, Moderate12p: 26% of peak, Quiet1p: 24% of peak, Quiet2p: 53% of peak, Moderate3p: 74% of peak, Busy4p: 71% of peak, Busy5p: 31% of peak, Quiet6p: 23% of peak, Quiet7p: 30% of peak, Quiet8p: 29% of peak, Quiet9p: 17% of peak, Quiet10p: 4% of peak, Quiet11p: 1% of peak, Quiet12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p
IAD · typical Saturday · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
HourPeople screened% of peakLevel
midnight–1 am3499%Quiet
1–2 am1985%Quiet
2–3 am1033%Quiet
3–4 am2657%Quiet
4–5 am82821%Quiet
5–6 am1,09027%Quiet
6–7 am2,15353%Moderate
7–8 am2,66666%Moderate
8–9 am1,14829%Quiet
9–10 am1,11128%Quiet
10–11 am1,75844%Moderate
11 am–noon1,77044%Moderate
noon–1 pm1,03426%Quiet
1–2 pm96624%Quiet
2–3 pm2,12253%Moderate
3–4 pm2,99074%Busy
4–5 pm2,86671%Busy
5–6 pm1,23831%Quiet
6–7 pm92923%Quiet
7–8 pm1,20230%Quiet
8–9 pm1,16129%Quiet
9–10 pm68017%Quiet
10–11 pm1654%Quiet
11 pm–midnight501%Quiet

Best and worst times to go through security at IAD

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.

IAD · MODELED FROM TSA THROUGHPUT · 8 WEEKS TO NOV 7, 2026
DaysBusiestQuietest
Monday to Thursday7–8 am (63%)3–5 pm (83%)8–10 am (25%)9–10 pm (15%)
Friday7–8 am (86%)3–5 pm (97%)8–10 am (25%)9–10 pm (23%)
Saturday7–8 am (66%)3–5 pm (74%)1–2 pm (24%)6–7 pm (23%)9–10 pm (17%)
Sunday7–8 am (65%)3–5 pm (97%)8–10 am (26%)9–10 pm (21%)

IAD security checkpoints and hours

TSA's counts list 4 checkpoints at IAD. 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.

IAD checkpoints · TSA counts Sep 13, 2026 to Nov 7, 2026 · facts checked Nov 2026
CheckpointWhereLanesHoursTypical busiest hourShare
East Security—CLEAR4 am to 9 pm4–5 pm38%
TSA PreCheck checkpointBetween East and WestPreCheckCLEARAfter-hours screening is here7–8 am34%
West Security—PreCheck4:45 am to 9 pm (PreCheck 6:30 to 8 am and 3:30 to 5 pm)7–8 am20%
FIS Checkpoint——Screening seen 1 pm to 10 pm3–4 pm8%

IAD 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

  • East SecurityCLEARBusyThursday, 4–5 pm
  • West SecurityPreCheckBusyThursday, 4–5 pm

Between East and West

  • TSA PreCheck checkpointPreCheckCLEARBusyThursday, 4–5 pm

How early should I get to IAD?

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

Flight
Options
For IAD, Friday 10:00 am, domestic, checked bagGet to IAD by 8:15 amLeave by 7:45 am · 105 min before departure
  • Domestic flight120 min
  • Security quiet at that hour-15 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.

IAD arrival times on a typical Friday

IAD · Friday · checked bag, no PreCheck · our rule of thumb
DepartureSecurity at that hourDomestic: arrive byInternational: arrive by
6 amQuiet4:15 am (105 min)3:15 am (165 min)
8 amModerate6:00 am (120 min)5:15 am (165 min)
10 amQuiet8:15 am (105 min)7:00 am (180 min)
noonModerate10:00 am (120 min)9:15 am (165 min)
3 pmQuiet1:15 pm (105 min)12:15 pm (165 min)
6 pmBusy3:40 pm (140 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.

TSA PreCheck and CLEAR at IAD

  • East Security: CLEAR. Source.
  • TSA PreCheck checkpoint (Between East and West): TSA PreCheck and CLEAR. Source.
  • West Security: TSA PreCheck. Source.

Lanes as listed on IAD'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.

IAD security FAQ

What is the busiest time for security at IAD?

On a typical Friday, IAD's checkpoints are busiest from 3 to 5 pm. The single busiest hour in the 8 weeks to Nov 7, 2026 was 4–5 pm on Thursdays, with a median of 4,025 people screened.

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

Tuesday is the quietest day overall. On Fridays, the quietest daytime window is 8–10 am, 9–10 pm.

How early should I get to IAD?

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 Friday with a checked bag, that means getting to IAD by 8:15 am.

How many security checkpoints does IAD have?

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

Sources for IAD

  • 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.flydulles.com/travel-information/security-information, 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 Washington Dulles International.

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