Passengers traveling via ORD or Chicago O’Hare International Airport Terminals 1, 2, 3, and 5 are required to clear general security. For these, Chicago O’Hare security wait times can undergo fluctuations. This is dependent on the travel season, the security checkpoint/terminal, and the time of the day. Depending on the type of passenger as well, whether a US or non-US citizen, the timing can differ. To keep the wait times minimal, special programs are available. Alongside these, other measures can be applied for use when the duration is high. Considering all of this, the wait times can range from 20 minutes to 1 or a few hours.
Current Average Security Wait Times at ORD Airport
At ORD Airport, the average security wait time can range from 20 minutes to 30 minutes. This duration is relatively short for US citizens registered in specific programs to speed up the screening process.
Chicago O’Hare Airport Security Wait Times
The opening hours of security checks are different for different terminals and checkpoints. Fliers are suggested to check the same in advance to avoid last-minute hassles.
| Terminals | Security Checkpoints | Opening Hours | Closing Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terminal 1 | Checkpoint 1 | 04:00 A.M. | 08:30 P.M. |
| Terminal 1 | Checkpoint 2 | 04:15 A.M. | 08:30 A.M. |
| Terminal 1 | Checkpoint 3 | 04:00 A.M. | 06:00 P.M. |
| Terminal 2 | Checkpoint 5 | 04:00 A.M. | 08:30 P.M. |
| Terminal 3 | Checkpoint 6 | 03:45 A.M. | 08:00 P.M. |
| Terminal 3 | Checkpoint 7 | 03:30 A.M. | 09:00 P.M. |
| Terminal 3 | Checkpoint 7A | 03:15 A.M. | 10:00 P.M. |
| Terminal 3 | Checkpoint 8 | 05:00 A.M. | 07:00 P.M. |
| Terminal 3 | Checkpoint 9 | 05:00 A.M. | 08:00 P.M. |
| Terminal 5 | Checkpoint 10 | 24 hours | – |
| Terminal 5 | Checkpoint 11 | 12:30 A.M. | 08:30 P.M. |
ORD/Chicago O’Hare TSA Wait Times
The wait times at ORD Airport for TSA checks are different during the daytime and nighttime. One must know the same to plan things well.
| A.M. Times | Waiting Time (Minutes) |
|---|---|
| 03:00 A.M. to 04:00 A.M. | 1 Minute |
| 04:00 A.M. to 05:00 A.M. | 28 Minutes |
| 05:00 A.M. to 06:00 A.M. | 22 Minutes |
| 06:00 A.M. to 07:00 A.M. | 19 Minutes |
| 07:00 A.M. to 08:00 A.M. | 15 Minutes |
| 08:00 A.M. to 09:00 A.M. | 8 Minutes |
| 09:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. | 8 Minutes |
| 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. | 2 Minutes |
| 11:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. | 24 Minutes |
| P.M. Times | Wait Duration |
|---|---|
| 12:00 P.M. to 01:00 P.M. | 21 minutes |
| 01:00 P.M. to 02:00 P.M. | 20 minutes |
| 02:00 P.M. to 03:00 P.M. | 15 minutes |
| 03:00 P.M. to 04:00 P.M. | 20 minutes |
| 04:00 P.M. to 05:00 P.M. | 19 minutes |
| 05:00 P.M. to 06:00 P.M. | 10 minutes |
| 06:00 P.M. to 07:00 P.M. | 11 minutes |
| 07:00 P.M. to 08:00 P.M. | 6 minutes |
| 08:00 P.M. to 09:00 P.M. | 17 minutes |
| 09:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. | 1 minute |
| 10:00 P.M. to 11:00 P.M. | 11 minutes |
| 11:00 P.M. to 12:00 A.M. | 6 minutes |
Chicago O’Hare International Airport/ORD CLEAR Wait Times
Some passengers opt for CLEAR to accelerate the security checks at Chicago O’Hare Airport. It is advised to check the terminals and specific timings for the same.
| Terminals | Timing |
|---|---|
| Terminal 1 | 04:30 A.M. to 08:00 P.M. |
| Terminal 2 | 04:30 A.M. to 08:00 P.M. |
| Terminal 5 | 04:30 A.M. to 08:00 P.M. |
Chicago O’Hare Customs Wait Times
Clearing customs is necessary for every flyer traveling via the ORD Airport. Nonetheless, the wait times for US and non-US citizens is slightly different.
| Timing | Average Wait Time for U.S. Citizens (In Minutes) | Average Wait Time for non-U.S. Citizens (In Minutes) |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 A.M. to 01:00 A.M. | 18 Minutes | 20 Minutes |
| 01:00 A.M. to 02:00 A.M. | 32 Minutes | 34 Minutes |
| 03:00 A.M. to 04:00 A.M. | 21 Minutes | 22 Minutes |
| 05:00 A.M. to 06:00 A.M. | 24 Minutes | 25 Minutes |
| 06:00 A.M. to 07:00 A.M. | 59 Minutes | 62 Minutes |
| 08:00 A.M. to 09:00 A.M. | 32 Minutes | 33 Minutes |
| 09:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. | 35 Minutes | 40 Minutes |
| 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. | 10 Minutes | 14 Minutes |
| 11:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. | 8 Minutes | 10 Minutes |
| 12:00 P.M. to 01:00 P.M. | 22 Minutes | 33 Minutes |
| 01:00 P.M. to 02:00 P.M. | 16 Minutes | 23 Minutes |
| 02:00 P.M. to 03:00 P.M. | 36 Minutes | 41 Minutes |
| 03:00 P.M. to 04:00 P.M. | 55 Minutes | 99 Minutes |
| 04:00 P.M. to 05:00 P.M. | 70 Minutes | 128 Minutes |
| 05:00 P.M. to 06:00 P.M. | 66 Minutes | 110 Minutes |
| 06:00 P.M. to 07:00 P.M. | 54 Minutes | 102 Minutes |
| 07:00 P.M. to 08:00 P.M. | 46 Minutes | 40 Minutes |
| 08:00 P.M. to 09:00 P.M. | 30 Minutes | 38 Minutes |
| 09:00 P.M. 10:00 P.M. | 10 Minutes | 16 Minutes |
| 11:00 P.M. to 12:00 A.M. | 8 Minutes | 7 Minutes |
Note: The timing above is monitored by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
The length of the day, the procedures pertaining to arrivals/departures, and the number of fliers determine the security wait times at ORD. It is further monitored by important bodies like CBP. In sync with these, the timing differs but does not extend beyond a few hours.
Frequently Asked Question
At ORD Airport, the security checkpoint 3 is open from 04:00 A.M. to 06:00 P.M.
Registering for TSA PreCheck or CLEAR programs can help fliers lessen the security wait times at ORD Airport.
11 minutes is the average TSA security wait time at Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
The average wait time for general security at ORD Airport is up to a few hours on certain days.
At Chicago O’Hare International Airport Terminal 1, the CLEAR security checkpoint is open from 04:30 A.M. to 08:00 P.M.
Even though the average wait time at Chicago O’Hare Airport is 20-30 minutes, the wait times may vary depending on the number of travelers, traveling hours, etc.
Both of these programs provide priority lane access at the Chicago Airport for quick security screenings. Thus, one can decide based on the availability and other aspects.
Arriving 2 hours before the domestic flight’s departure and 3 hours before the scheduled departure time of an international flight is advised for stress-free screening at ORD Airport.
One can know the TSA wait times by browsing through the official website of ORD Airport or the CBP Airport.