TSA PreCheck & CLEAR locations at DFW International Airport

(Last Updated: May 2023) Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport is massive: the airport itself has a larger landmass than the entire island of Manhattan. Passengers departing out of DFW have a grand total of 15 TSA security checkpoints spread across 5 different terminals to choose from (and not all of them have TSA PreCheck lines). With so many options at the airport, which checkpoint should you use during your next trip from DFW?

DFW TSA Security Checkpoint Locations

Of the 15 TSA security checkpoints at TSA, a handful of them feature a dedicated TSA PreCheck lane but only Terminal E has CLEAR kiosks. If you enter the terminal from a security checkpoint without a dedicated TSA PreCheck lane, you can still show your boarding pass to the TSA officer and receive a laminated card for expedited screening.

Here is a comprehensive list of every DFW security checkpoint location & hours of operation: 

Terminal	Checkpoint Location	PreCheck?	CLEAR?	KCM?	Automated Screening?	Hours
A	A12			Y		04:30-21:00
A	A21	Y			Y	04:00-22:30*
B	A35					04:30-14:30
B	B9					04:30-21:00
B	B30			Y		04:30-22:45
C	C10					04:30-21:00
C	C20	Y				03:00-22:30*
C	C30					04:30-14:30
D	D18				Y	04:00-22:15
D	D22			Y	Y	05:00-21:00
D	D30	Y			Y	03:30-23:00*
E	E8	Y				03:45-20:45*
E	E16			Y		04:00-15:00
E	E18	Y	Y		Y	03:45-23:30*
E	E33					04:00-20:30

What is TSA PreCheck?

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) provides expedited screening service for travelers who sign up for PreCheck. This is generally accomplished with a dedicated screening line that promises less people & a quicker screening by reducing the amount of items that need to be scanned.

In the case of DFW International Airport, there isn’t a dedicated TSA PreCheck lane at every security checkpoint. Passengers with TSA PreCheck can still go through a non-PreCheck security & receive an expedited screening process (by keeping your shoes & and avoiding the body scanner), but it won’t be as fast as a dedicated lane.

TSA PreCheck can be purchased for $85 on its own or as a bundle with Global Entry for $100. Many of the travel credit cards that we recommend will actually pay for your PreCheck/Global Entry application fee as a statement credit.

What is CLEAR?

CLEAR uses dedicated security lanes & biometric kiosks to expedite the passenger screening process at airports & large events. 

By signing up for CLEAR, travelers can skip the general & TSA PreCheck lines at the airport. Once you have completed a quick biometric screening to confirm you personal details, a CLEAR representative will escort you directly to the front of the TSA line. 

CLEAR is a separate entity from TSA: enrolling in CLEAR will not grant the privileges of TSA PreCheck (and vice-versa). 

Which TSA checkpoint at DFW is the quickest?

The DFW International Airport website has a great tool that shows travelers real-time wait data for every single TSA security checkpoint. You can access this tool here: https://www.dfwairport.com/security/. 

If you have TSA PreCheck, you should naturally gravitate towards the nearest PreCheck checkpoint closest to your departure gate (or the airport lounge that you want to visit) is the quickest way to get into the airport.

CLEAR members who are departing from anywhere other than Terminal E may want to think twice about going out of their way to use the expedited screening service. Passengers can move freely between all five terminals at DFW once they are past security, but the time it takes to move between terminals may exceed the time you save with expedited screening.