TSA PreCheck at SFO
Live PreCheck and standard waits at San Francisco International Airport, plus what 14 days of readings say PreCheck actually saves.
Standard lane vs PreCheck at SFO, day by day
Average wait in each lane, every day for the last 14 days. The gap between the two bars is what PreCheck saved that day.
Widest gap 9/15: standard 10.6 vs PreCheck 1.1 min · narrowest 9/16: 1.5 vs 1 min · 14-day averages 2.9 vs 1.1 min
Right now at SFO: standard vs PreCheck
Which checkpoints have PreCheck at SFO, and are they open right now?
Is TSA PreCheck worth it at SFO?
Not on wait time alone, right now. Over the last 14 days, PreCheck averaged 1.1 min at San Francisco International Airport against 2.9 min in the standard lane: the lanes ran about the same. The other PreCheck perks (shoes and light jackets on, laptops and liquids stay packed) still apply.
PreCheck costs $78 for five years. Based on 3,650 paired readings of both lanes; we measure, we don't sell it.
How early should I get to SFO with TSA PreCheck?
PreCheck averaged 1.1 min here over the last 14 days (standard 2.9 min). Enter your flight and we'll time your departure with live traffic and today's waits.
FAQ: TSA PreCheck at SFO
Is TSA PreCheck worth it at SFO?
Not on wait time alone right now. Over the last 14 days PreCheck averaged 1.1 minutes at San Francisco International Airport against 2.9 minutes in the standard lane, about the same as the standard lane. PreCheck costs $78 for five years.
How much faster is TSA PreCheck at SFO?
Measured over the last 14 days and 3,650 paired readings, PreCheck at SFO averaged 1.1 minutes and the standard lane 2.9 minutes: about the same as the standard lane. Live numbers for both lanes are at the top of this page.
How early should I get to SFO if I have TSA PreCheck?
Plan on the standard advice, 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 before an international one, and treat the PreCheck saving as a cushion rather than a reason to cut it close: PreCheck lanes close earlier at some checkpoints and the saving varies by hour. Use the calculator on this page for a departure time based on live traffic and today's waits at SFO.
Is TSA PreCheck open at SFO right now?
The checkpoint list on this page shows every SFO checkpoint the airport reports with a PreCheck lane and whether it is open right now, from the airport's live feed. PreCheck lanes often close in the early morning and late evening even when the standard lane is open.
Which checkpoints at SFO have TSA PreCheck?
See "Which checkpoints have PreCheck at SFO" above. It lists each checkpoint with a PreCheck lane and its current status, refreshed every few minutes from San Francisco International Airport's feed.