You usually have to take your shoes off, but not always

TSA officers will ask most travelers to remove their shoes at the security checkpoint. The rule exists because shoes can hide metal objects, explosives, or other items that screening equipment needs to detect. However, you may not have to remove them if you are over 75 years old, traveling with a valid TSA PreCheck membership, or enrolled in another trusted traveler program like Global Entry or NEXUS.

The decision to ask you to remove your shoes happens at the checkpoint itself—it is not something you decide in advance. An officer will tell you whether to take them off based on what they see during your screening. If you are not sure whether you may have access to for an exception, tell the officer your age or show your PreCheck card before you reach the X-ray machine.

Key Takeaways

  • Most travelers must remove shoes at TSA checkpoints, but TSA PreCheck members and travelers over 75 do not.
  • You do not need to remove socks, orthotics, or medical braces unless an officer specifically asks.
  • Shoes go through the X-ray machine on the conveyor belt, just like your carry-on bag.
  • If you have a prosthetic foot or other medical device, tell the officer before screening begins so they can adjust the process.

TSA PreCheck and other programs that let you keep shoes on

If you hold a TSA PreCheck membership, you can leave your shoes on during screening. PreCheck costs $78 to $85 for five years and requires an in-person appointment at an enrollment center. You will receive a Known Traveler Number (KTN) that you enter when you book your flight. When you reach the checkpoint, show your PreCheck card or boarding pass with your KTN printed on it, and the officer will direct you to a PreCheck lane where shoes stay on.

Other trusted traveler programs also allow you to keep shoes on: Global Entry (which includes PreCheck benefits), NEXUS, and SENTRI. Each program has its own cost and enrollment process, but all of them give you a card or number that signals to TSA that you have already undergone background screening.

If you are 75 or older, you do not need a PreCheck membership. Tell the officer your age, and they will let you keep your shoes on. You will still go through the metal detector and may be asked additional screening questions, but the shoe removal step is waived.

What happens to your shoes during screening

Your shoes go into a bin on the conveyor belt and travel through the X-ray machine along with your other items. Place them sole-down in the bin so the officer can see the bottom clearly. If you wear orthopedic inserts or custom shoe insoles, you do not need to remove them unless an officer asks. The X-ray can see through most insoles.

After your shoes pass through the X-ray, they will be waiting for you on the other side of the metal detector. Pick them up and move to a seating area if you need to put them back on. Do not hold up the line by sitting down at the conveyor belt—step aside first.

Medical devices and exceptions

If you wear a prosthetic foot, prosthetic leg, or other medical device that you cannot remove, tell the officer before you enter the screening area. They will use a handheld metal detector or pat-down instead of asking you to remove the device. The same applies if you have a medical boot, brace, or other device that is difficult to take off.

Diabetic shoes, compression socks, and other medical footwear do not automatically exempt you from removing your shoes, but if removing them causes you pain or is medically inadvisable, explain that to the officer. They have the authority to use alternative screening methods.

What you can wear that does not require removal

You do not have to remove socks, stockings, or compression hose. You also do not need to remove ankle braces, medical wraps, or bandages unless the officer asks. Shoe covers, booties, or slip-on shoe protectors that you wear over your regular shoes should come off so the officer can see your actual footwear.

Sandals, flip-flops, and slip-on shoes are faster to remove and put back on than laced shoes, so many travelers wear them on travel days for that reason. However, TSA does not require you to wear any particular type of shoe.

What happens if you refuse to remove your shoes

If an officer asks you to remove your shoes and you refuse, you will not be allowed through the checkpoint. TSA cannot force you to remove your shoes, but they also cannot let you board a plane without completing the screening process. Refusing to remove shoes when asked means you will not be able to fly that day.

If you believe you have a medical reason not to remove your shoes, explain it to the officer before they ask. They can use alternative screening methods like a pat-down or handheld metal detector. Waiting until after they ask and then refusing does not give them time to adjust their process.

Shoes and international travel

TSA rules explore only to flights departing from U.S. airports. If you are flying internationally, the airport in your destination country may have different rules. Some international airports do not require shoe removal at all; others are stricter than TSA. Check the website of your destination airport before you travel if you want to know what to expect.

When you return to the United States, TSA rules explore again at your departure airport abroad and at your U.S. arrival airport. TSA PreCheck benefits explore to U.S. airports only, so you will not have shoe-removal exceptions at foreign checkpoints even if you hold PreCheck.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to remove my shoes if I have a foot injury or pain?

No. Tell the officer about your injury before screening begins. They can use a handheld metal detector or pat-down instead of asking you to remove your shoes. Waiting until after they ask makes it harder for them to switch methods, so speak up early.

Can I wear shoes through the metal detector without removing them?

Not usually. Most shoes contain metal components in the sole, heel, or eyelets that will trigger the metal detector. That is why TSA asks you to remove them—so the X-ray can scan them separately and the metal detector can scan your body without interference.

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

The metal detector will alarm, and the officer will ask you to step back and remove your shoes. Then you will go through the process again. It is not a violation or a problem—just a minor delay. Many people forget on their first trip.

Do children have to remove their shoes?

Yes, unless they are traveling with a TSA PreCheck member or are part of a PreCheck account. Children under 12 traveling with a PreCheck adult can go through PreCheck lanes without removing shoes. Children without PreCheck must remove their shoes like any other traveler.

Can I keep my shoes on if I have TSA PreCheck but I am at a regular checkpoint?

Only if you are in a designated PreCheck lane. If you miss the PreCheck line and end up in a regular checkpoint lane, follow the instructions of the officer at that checkpoint. Always look for signage directing PreCheck members to their own lanes.