2026 layover guide
San Francisco (SFO) connection time
At San Francisco International Airport, plan on at least 50 min for a domestic connection, 1 h 10 min if you change terminals, and 2 h 20 min if you're arriving from abroad. Here's why, step by step.
Verified Oct 17, 2026By Steven MoHow we check Report a correction
Comfortable: 1 h 30 min
By post-security walkways, inside security
Customs, bag recheck and security
Inside security, by post-security walkways
Quick answer
Plan on at least 50 min for a domestic connection at SFO, 1 h 10 min if you change terminals and 2 h 20 min after an international arrival. You stay inside security for domestic connections.
- Domestic, same terminal
- 50 min (comfortable: 1 h 30 min)
- Changing terminals
- 1 h 10 min by post-security walkways
- From abroad
- 2 h 20 min, including customs and bag recheck
- Hub airlines
- United Airlines and Alaska Airlines
How long a layover do I need?
- Get off the plane and walk to your next gate20 min
- Be at the gate before boarding closes15 min
- Buffer for a small delay15 min
Our estimate, rounded up, not the airline's official minimum connection time. If both flights are on one ticket, the airline will rebook you if a delay makes you miss the second one. How we calculate this
Recommended layovers at SFO
Our estimates for common connections, rounded up. Comfortable times leave room for a late arrival.
| Connection | MinimumRecommended minimum |
|---|---|
Domestic to domestic, same terminal Checked bags transfer automatically | 50 min Comfortable: 1 h 30 min |
Domestic to domestic, changing terminals By post-security walkways | 1 h 10 min Comfortable: 1 h 45 min |
International arrival, connecting domestically Customs, bag recheck and TSA | 2 h 20 min Comfortable: 3 h 15 min |
Same, with Global Entry and PreCheck Faster customs and security | 1 h 50 min Comfortable: 2 h 45 min |
Separate tickets with checked bags No protection if you miss it | 1 h 50 min Comfortable: 2 h 45 min |
Airlines' official minimum connection times can be shorter: if you booked both flights on one ticket, the airline has already checked that the connection is legal and will rebook you if a delay makes you miss it.
Getting around SFO
Terminals
Terminals 1, 2 and 3 and the International Terminal (A and G gates).
Changing terminals
Since 2024 all terminals are connected inside security in a ring. There's no direct link between International A and G gates: you walk through the domestic terminals, about 20–25 minutes.
Customs and international arrivals
Arriving from abroad, you clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), collect your checked bags, drop them at the recheck belt and go through TSA security again before your connection. International flights arrive at the International Terminal.
Tips for connecting at SFO
- •United is mainly in Terminal 3 and International G.
Plan your trip through SFO
The airport guide, and the bag rules for the airlines you're likely to connect on here.
SFO connection FAQ
Airlines set their own official minimums at SFO and only sell connections that meet them, so a one-ticket itinerary is always "legal". In practice we recommend at least 50 min for a domestic connection, 1 h 10 min when you change terminals and 2 h 20 min after an international arrival.
Other airports
Sources
Last verified Oct 17, 2026. Terminals and connection rules change, so check your airline's connection instructions before a tight layover.
- San Francisco International Airport official website
- One Mile at a Time: all SFO terminals connected airside
Read how we collect and check this data, or tell us if something's out of date.
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