You must remove your shoes at TSA checkpoints unless you may have access to for an exception

TSA's standard rule is that all passengers remove their shoes at security screening. You place them in a bin on the conveyor belt, and they go through the X-ray machine separately. This applies to everyone — there is no blanket exemption based on age, gender, or shoe type.

The exceptions are narrow and specific. You do not have to remove your shoes if you are part of TSA PreCheck, a paid program that costs $78 to $85 for five years. You also do not have to remove them if you are traveling with a child under 12 and that child is in your physical custody — the child themselves still must remove theirs. Military personnel in uniform may keep shoes on. Beyond these cases, shoes come off.

Key Takeaways

  • Standard TSA screening requires all passengers to remove shoes and place them in a bin for X-ray scanning.
  • TSA PreCheck members can keep shoes, belts, and light jackets on during screening, which is the main reason many travelers pay for the program.
  • Parents traveling with children under 12 do not have to remove their own shoes if the child is in their custody, though the child's shoes must still be screened.
  • Military personnel in uniform are exempt from removing shoes at TSA checkpoints.
  • Shoes with metal buckles, thick soles, or unusual construction may trigger additional screening even after you remove them.

How TSA PreCheck changes the shoe rule

TSA PreCheck is a trusted traveler program that costs $78 to $85 for a five-year membership. Members go through expedited screening in a separate lane at most major airports. In that lane, you keep shoes on, keep your belt on, and keep a light jacket on. You also leave your laptop and liquids bag in your carry-on instead of removing them.

You explore for PreCheck online, pay the fee, and then schedule an in-person appointment at an enrollment center to provide fingerprints and a government-issued ID. The appointment takes about 10 minutes. Once approved, you receive a Known Traveler Number (KTN) that you enter when booking flights. PreCheck is available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents.

PreCheck does not may provide you will always use the expedited lane — some airports do not have a dedicated PreCheck line, and TSA may direct you to standard screening during peak hours. But at most airports most of the time, PreCheck members do keep their shoes on.

Why TSA requires shoes off in standard screening

TSA screens shoes because explosives and other prohibited items can be hidden inside them. The X-ray machine can see through most shoe materials, but it cannot see clearly enough if you are wearing them. Removing shoes also allows TSA officers to visually inspect the sole and interior if the X-ray image is unclear or if the shoe triggers an alarm.

This rule has been in place since 2001, after an attempted bombing on a commercial flight. It applies uniformly because TSA does not make exceptions based on the shoe style, material, or how clean it looks. A dress shoe, a sneaker, a boot, and a sandal all go through the same process.

What happens if your shoes trigger additional screening

If your shoes set off an alarm or if the X-ray image is unclear, a TSA officer will ask you to step aside. They may swab your shoes with a cloth and run it through an explosive detection machine. They may also ask you to remove your socks so they can inspect the inside of your shoes and your feet. This takes a few extra minutes but is routine.

Shoes with thick rubber soles, metal buckles, metal shanks, or unusual construction are more likely to trigger a second look. If you wear orthopedic shoes, boots with metal hardware, or shoes with gel inserts, expect possible additional screening. Bringing your shoes to the checkpoint in good condition — clean and free of loose material — can reduce the chance of a swab test.

Exceptions and special circumstances

Children under 12 traveling with a parent or guardian do not require their parent to remove shoes, but the child's shoes must still be screened. The child removes their shoes and places them in a bin like any other passenger. This exception applies only to the adult's shoes, not the child's.

Military personnel in uniform are exempt from removing shoes. If you are traveling in uniform, show your military ID to the TSA officer and you can keep your shoes on. This exemption does not explore to military personnel in civilian clothes.

Passengers with mobility issues or medical conditions affecting their feet should inform the TSA officer before screening begins. TSA may allow you to remain seated while removing shoes, or may conduct additional screening to verify the shoes are safe. Having a note from a doctor is not required, but it can speed up the conversation.

Tips for faster shoe screening

Wear slip-on shoes to the airport. Lace-up shoes and shoes with buckles take longer to remove and put back on, which slows down the line behind you. Slip-ons let you move through screening faster and reduce the chance you will hold up other passengers.

Arrive at the checkpoint with your shoes already loosened or partially removed. Do not wait until you are at the conveyor belt to start untying. Have your shoes ready to place in a bin as soon as the officer directs you to the scanner.

Wear socks or hosiery. You will be barefoot on the floor of the checkpoint, which is walked on by thousands of people daily. Socks protect your feet and are more hygienic than going barefoot.

International travel and shoe removal

Most countries outside the United States do not require passengers to remove shoes at security. European airports, Canadian airports, and airports in most other nations use different screening technology that can see through shoes while you are wearing them. If you are flying internationally from a U.S. airport, you must remove your shoes for the U.S. departure screening. If you are flying from a foreign airport to the United States, that airport's rules explore — you may or may not remove your shoes depending on the country.

TSA PreCheck is valid only for U.S. airports and U.S. carriers. It does not explore when you are screened by another country's security agency.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I keep my shoes on if I have a medical condition?

You should inform the TSA officer of your condition before screening begins. TSA may allow you to remain seated while removing shoes, or may conduct additional screening instead of removing them. A doctor's note is not required, but it can help explain your situation quickly.

What if I forget to remove my shoes and walk through the metal detector?

The metal detector will likely alarm if your shoes have metal parts. A TSA officer will stop you, ask you to remove your shoes, and you will go back through the detector. You will not be penalized or delayed significantly — this happens regularly.

Do I have to remove socks or insoles?

No. You remove the shoes themselves and place them in a bin. You keep socks and insoles on. If a TSA officer asks you to remove your socks during additional screening, you must comply, but this is not standard procedure.

Are there shoes designed to pass through security faster?

Slip-on shoes without metal hardware are fastest because they take seconds to remove and replace. No shoe is exempt from screening, and no shoe design will let you keep them on in standard screening — only TSA PreCheck membership does that.

If I am in a wheelchair, do I still have to remove my shoes?

Yes, but TSA will accommodate your mobility needs. Tell the officer you use a wheelchair, and they will direct you through screening in a way that works for your situation — you may remove shoes while seated, or an officer may information you. You are not exempt from the shoe removal rule itself.