TSA security lines · Salt Lake City

SLC TSA Wait Times

How long the security line at Salt Lake City International Airport is right now, how busy it gets today hour by hour, the best time to go and how early to arrive. Refreshed every 15 minutes.

Estimated TSA wait nowModerate
15–35 min
Standard lane · SLC ·
Typical for a Friday at this hour: 20–35 min
Quietest today
12 PM–2 PM
15–25 min
Busiest today
7 AM–9 AM
25–45 min
Arrive
2 h / 3 h
domestic / international

Modeled from FAA passenger volumes, TSA's daily screening numbers, time of day and current airport conditions; refreshed every 15 minutes, not a checkpoint sensor. How we estimate

Right now

How busy is SLC security right now?

Right now the standard security line at Salt Lake City International Airport is moderate: about 15–35 min (updated 3:47 PM MDT). In the next 12 hours it should peak around 4 PM (20–40 min) and be lightest around 12 AM (5–15 min).

  • Airport operationsNormal
  • DelaysNo FAA delay programs
  • Weather nowChance Light Rain, 60°F

Next 12 hours

010203040minNOW5PM7PM9PM11PM1AM
Show as table
HourEstimated waitLine
3 PM15–35 minModerate
4 PM20–40 minModerate
5 PM20–40 minModerate
6 PM20–35 minModerate
7 PM15–30 minModerate
8 PM10–25 minShort
9 PM10–25 minShort
10 PM10–20 minShort
11 PM10–20 minShort
12 AM5–15 minShort
1 AM5–15 minShort
2 AM5–15 minShort
Today

SLC TSA wait times today, hour by hour

Estimated standard-lane wait for each hour of a typical Monday at Salt Lake City, with the quietest and busiest windows marked. The SLC TSA lines usually build before the first departure bank and again in the late afternoon.

01020304050minQuietest 12 PM–2 PMBusiest 7 AM–9 AM4a7a10a1pNOW7p10p
Show as table
HourEstimated waitLine
4 AM10–20 minShort
5 AM10–25 minShort
6 AM15–30 minModerate
7 AM25–40 minLong
8 AM25–45 minLong
9 AM20–40 minModerate
10 AM15–30 minModerate
11 AM15–30 minModerate
12 PM15–25 minShort
1 PM15–25 minShort
2 PM15–30 minModerate
3 PM15–35 minModerate
4 PM20–40 minModerate
5 PM20–40 minModerate
6 PM20–35 minModerate
7 PM15–30 minModerate
8 PM10–25 minShort
9 PM10–25 minShort
10 PM10–20 minShort
11 PM10–20 minShort

TSA screened 2,781,103 travelers nationwide on October 22, 3% above a typical Thursday. National volume is one of the inputs to every estimate on this page.

Plan ahead

Best time to go through TSA at SLC

The quickest time to get through security at SLC on a typical Friday is 12 PM–2 PM (15–25 min). Lines are longest 7 AM–9 AM (25–45 min), when the first departure bank and business travelers hit the checkpoints. Across the week, Friday is usually the busiest day at SLC security and Saturday the quietest.

Holiday periods (Thanksgiving, Christmas–New Year, July 4th, Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends) push every hour higher; the estimate above already includes that when it applies.

Typical standard-lane wait (minutes) by day and time
Day5a7a9a11a1p3p5p7p9p
Mon183226202026272015
Tue172923181824251814
Wed172923181824251814
Thu173125191925261915
Fri · today193427212128292116
Sat162822181723241713
Sun193326212027282016

≤20 short21–30 moderate31+ long · each column covers two hours

Faster lanes

TSA PreCheck at SLC

TSA PreCheck lanes at Salt Lake City International Airport are usually much shorter than the standard line: TSA reports that the large majority of PreCheck travelers wait under 10 minutes, and you keep shoes, belts, light jackets and laptops in place. Lanes can open later and close earlier than the main checkpoint, so if you fly very early or late, plan for the standard wait above. Check the official SLC website for which checkpoints have PreCheck and CLEAR lanes.

CLEAR and Global Entry

CLEAR speeds up the ID check and walks you to the front of the screening line where it operates; you still go through screening. Global Entry includes PreCheck for eligible members and speeds up re-entry from international trips.

Is TSA PreCheck worth it?

Calculator

How early to get to SLC

Enter your flight time to see when to be at Salt Lake City and when to leave home, using today's estimated security wait for the hour you will be in line.

How early to arrive at SLC
TripArrive before departure
Domestic, carry-on only1 h 30 min – 2 h
Domestic, checked bag2 h
International3 h
Flying 7 AM–9 AMadd 15–30 min
Arrive at SLC by —Enter your flight time to calculate.

Uses today's estimated security wait at the hour you will be in line, the walk to your gate, bag-drop time and boarding (30 min domestic, 45 min international). Airlines still recommend 2 h / 3 h.

SLC TSA wait times: FAQ

How long is the TSA line at SLC right now?

The current estimate for the standard security lane at Salt Lake City International Airport is 15–35 min (updated 3:47 PM MDT). It refreshes every 15 minutes; follow airport signs and staff if the line in front of you looks different.

How busy is SLC airport today?

Today (Friday) SLC security is expected to be busiest 7 AM–9 AM (25–45 min) and quietest 12 PM–2 PM (15–25 min).

What time does TSA open at SLC?

Security checkpoints at Salt Lake City International Airport open before the first morning departures, which at most U.S. airports means around 4–5 AM (earlier at some large hubs). Hours differ by checkpoint and terminal, so for a very early flight confirm on the official SLC website.

Is TSA PreCheck open at SLC?

PreCheck lanes usually run during the main morning-to-evening operating hours but can open later and close earlier than standard lanes, and not every checkpoint has one. Outside those hours PreCheck travelers are screened in the standard lane, so plan for the standard wait.

How early should I get to SLC?

Airlines and TSA recommend 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international one. At the busiest hour today the SLC security line alone can reach 45 minutes; use the calculator on this page for your flight time.

Are these live SLC TSA wait times?

They are modeled estimates refreshed every 15 minutes, not a camera or sensor count at the checkpoint. They combine FAA passenger volume, TSA's daily national screening numbers, the hour, weekday, holiday periods and current FAA and weather conditions.