Departing/arriving flyers need to clear security procedures at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport whether they are traveling domestically or internationally. The checkpoints for the same are located at Terminals A, B, C, D, and E. Here, the DFW Security wait times are up to 20 minutes. However, it can extend up to 1 hour during the peak hours of travel. On average though, the duration remains short. When flying to/from Texas, the authorities at DFW carry out general and some special checks. The varied durations associated with these determine when one should arrive at the airport. For certain checks, the functional hours are specified. For others, there are a few automated lanes to speed up these processes.
Average Security Wait Times at DFW Airport
The average security wait time at DFW/Dallas Fort Worth International Airport can range from 10 to 20 minutes. Note that this duration fluctuates on different days. For domestic flights though, it is shorter on these days than for international ones.
Dallas Fort Worth Airport Security Wait Times (General/Priority)
At Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, there are dedicated security screening lanes for general and priority passengers (CLEAR and TSA PreCheck members). One must know the terminal-specific timings for a stress-free process.
| Terminals | Gates | Functional Hours (General) | Timing (Priority) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terminal A | A12 | 04:30 A.M. to 08:00 P.M. | 04:30 A.M. to 08:00 P.M. |
| A21 | 04:00 A.M. to 11:30 P.M. | – | |
| A35 | 04:30 A.M. to 08:00 P.M | 04:30 A.M. to 08:00 P.M. | |
| Terminal B | B9 | 04:30 A.M. to 09:00 P.M. | 04:30 A.M. to 09:00 P.M. |
| B30 | 04:30 A.M. to 10:45 P.M. | 04:30 A.M. to 10:45 P.M. | |
| Terminal C | C10 | 04:30A.M. to 08:00 P.M. | 04:30 A.M. to 08:00 P.M. |
| C21 | 03:00 A.M. to 10:30 P.M. | 03:00 A.M. to 10:30 P.M. | |
| C30 | 03:30 A.M. to 08:00 P.M. | 03:30 A.M. to 08:00 P.M. | |
| Terminal D | D18 | 04:00 A.M. to 10:15 P.M. | 04:00 A.M. to 10:15 P.M. |
| D22 | 05:00 A.M. to 09:00 P.M. | – | |
| D30 | 03:30 A.M. to 11:00 P.M. | – | |
| Terminal E | E8 | 03:45 A.M. to 08:45 P.M. | 03:45 A.M. to 08:45 P.M. |
| E16 | 04:00 A.M. to 06:00 P.M. | – | |
| E18 | 03:45 A.M. to 11:30 P.M. | – | |
| E33 | 04:00 A.M. to 08:30 P.M. | 04:00 A.M. to 08:30 P.M. |
TSA Wait Times at DFW Airport
Dallas Airport has dedicated lanes for TSA checks. Through these, the security screening is faster and easier, even during peak travel hours.
| A.M. Times | Waiting Time |
|---|---|
| 12:00 A.M. to 01:00 A.M. | 6 minutes |
| 01:00 A.M. to 02:00 A.M. | 5 minutes |
| 02:00 A.M. to 03:00 A.M. | 2 minutes |
| 03:00 A.M. to 04:00 A.M. | 1 minute |
| 04:00 A.M. to 05:00 A.M. | 20 minutes |
| 05:00 A.M. to 06:00 A.M. | 24 minutes |
| 06:00 A.M. to 07:00 A.M. | 21 minutes |
| 07:00 A.M. to 08:00 A.M. | 14 minutes |
| 08:00 A.M. to 09:00 A.M. | 12 minutes |
| 09:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. | 11 minutes |
| 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. | 9 minutes |
| 11:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. | 11 minutes |
| P.M. Times | Wait Duration |
|---|---|
| 12:00 P.M. to 01:00 P.M. | 10 minutes |
| 01:00 P.M. to 02:00 P.M. | 22 minutes |
| 02:00 P.M. to 03:00 P.M. | 15 minutes |
| 03:00 P.M. to 04:00 P.M. | 9 minutes |
| 04:00 P.M. to 05:00 P.M. | 14 minutes |
| 05:00 P.M. to 06:00 P.M. | 13 minutes |
| 06:00 P.M. to 07:00 P.M. | 18 minutes |
| 07:00 P.M. to 08:00 P.M. | 1 minute |
| 08:00 P.M. to 09:00 P.M. | 14 minutes |
| 09:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. | 1 minute |
| 10:00 P.M. to 11:00 P.M. | 7 minutes |
| 11:00 P.M. to 12:00 A.M. | 1 minute |
DFW Airport CLEAR Security Wait Times
Security wait times at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport are hassle-free and quick for CLEAR members. It is advised to check the timings for each checkpoint beforehand to avoid unnecessary issues.
| Checkpoint at Terminal E | Timing |
|---|---|
| Checkpoint E16 | 04:00 A.M. to 03:00 P.M. |
| Checkpoint E18 | 04:00 A.M. to 07:30 P.M. |
| Checkpoint E8 | 04:00 A.M. to 07:00 P.M. |
Known Crew Members (KCM) Lines at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport
The Known Crewmember (KCM) program links different airline employee databases, making it easy for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents to verify a crew member’s identity and employment.
| Terminal | Location | Operating Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal A | Near Gate A12 | 04:30 am to 08:00 pm |
| Terminal B | Gate B30 | 04:30 am to 07:00 pm |
| Terminal C | Gate C17 | 04:00 am to 09:00 pm |
| Terminal D | Gate D22 | 05:00 am to 08:30 pm |
| Terminal E | Between Gate E16/17 | 04:00 am to 07:00 pm |
Automated Security Lanes at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
To expedite the security procedures, fliers can find Automated Security Lanes at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. They are available at checkpoints D18, E18, A21, D22, and D30. Via these lanes, usually, DFW Airport security wait times are reduced to a few minutes.
DFW Airport Customs Wait Times
A customs check is mandatory for all passengers while navigating through the DFW Airport. However, the duration may vary for US and non-US citizens.
| Timing | Average Custom Wait Time for U.S. Citizens | Average Customs Wait Time for non-U.S. Citizens |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 A.M. to 01:00 A.M. | 111 minutes | 103 minutes |
| 01:00 A.M. to 02:00 A.M. | 83 minutes | 83 minutes |
| 03:00 A.M. to 04:00 A.M. | 29 minutes | 27 minutes |
| 04:00 A.M. to 05:00 A.M. | 23 minutes | 24 minutes |
| 05:00 A.M. to 06:00 A.M. | 76 minutes | 73 minutes |
| 06:00 A.M. to 07:00 A.M. | 75 minutes | 73 minutes |
| 07:00 A.M. to 08:00 A.M. | 83 minutes | 91 minutes |
| 08:00 A.M. to 09:00 A.M. | 79 minutes | 93 minutes |
| 09:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. | 81 minutes | 108 minutes |
| 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. | 72 minutes | 94 minutes |
| 11:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. | 42 minutes | 56 minutes |
| 12:00 P.M. to 01:00 P.M. | 26 minutes | 22 minutes |
| 01:00 P.M. to 02:00 P.M. | 13 minutes | 13 minutes |
| 02:00 P.M. to 03:00 P.M. | 27 minutes | 28 minutes |
| 03:00 P.M. to 04:00 P.M. | 35 minutes | 50 minutes |
| 04:00 P.M. to 05:00 P.M. | 23 minutes | 23 minutes |
| 05:00 P.M. to 06:00 P.M. | 11 minutes | 11 minutes |
| 06:00 P.M. to 07:00 P.M. | 17 minutes | 20 minutes |
| 07:00 P.M. to 08:00 P.M. | 13 minutes | 16 minutes |
| 08:00 P.M. to 09:00 P.M. | 6 minutes | 4 minutes |
| 09:00 P.M. 10:00 P.M. | 20 minutes | 22 minutes |
| 11:00 P.M. to 12:00 A.M. | 29 minutes | 29 minutes |
Note: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) oversees the above-mentioned process/timing.
Contact Information for Dallas Airport Security Wait Times
While there is no direct contact number for DFW security wait times, the TSA does have a customer service line for general inquiries.
TSA Contact Number: (855) 787-2227
In general, the DFW wait time is less than 1 hour. But the length of the day and the number of passengers can influence this duration. At this airport in Texas, the exact duration for this depends on the type of screening. In accordance with it, one can arrive here.
Explore More:
How to Get through Airport Security Faster
What Airports Have TSA PreCheck in the United States
How does Airport Security, Clear, TSA, & Scanner Work
Frequently Asked Questions
10 to 20 minutes is the average wait time at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
Yes, at DFW Airport Terminal A to Terminal E, priority lanes/checkpoints are available.
The DFW Priority security checkpoint (Gate D18) opens at 04:00 A.M. on business days.
6 minutes is the minimum wait time for customs at Dallas Fort Worth Airport during the evening.
Generally, it takes a few minutes to get through domestic security procedures at this airport. For international ones, it may take up to an hour.
For domestic travelers, the wait time is only a few minutes after they arrive at Dallas Fort Worth Airport. International travelers may have to wait for 1 hour to complete all the checks.
Yes, the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport terminals have dedicated security screening lanes for the members of CLEAR and TSA PreCheck.
Opting for the membership of the CLEAR or TSA PreCheck program is the most legitimate way to expedite the security screening process at the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport.
Since the security gates are open 24/7, passengers traveling via Dallas-Fort Worth Airport can complete the necessary procedures at any time.
When such unfortunate events occur, travelers must inform the respective airline at DFW Airport. The airline will either arrange a seat on the next available flight or simply compensate for the same.