Skydeck Chicago’s security and bag policy boils down to one rule that catches a surprising number of visitors off guard: no large bags or luggage of any kind through the checkpoint. The entrance on South Wacker Boulevard runs screening similar to an airport, and I would plan around that rule before you ever leave your hotel, not discover it standing in line with a suitcase you now have to figure out what to do with.
If you have not booked your ticket yet, comparing all six Willis Tower ticket options is worth doing first, since your entry rules stay the same no matter which one you pick.
Ready to see prices? Chicago CityPASS: Skydeck Plus 4 Top Attractions, from $144 See times What Exactly Is Not Allowed Through Skydeck Security?
Large bags, suitcases and any oversized luggage are turned away at the checkpoint, along with the usual list of prohibited items you would expect at any secured building, like weapons and certain tools. I would treat this the same way you would treat an airport TSA line: anything that would get flagged there is not getting through here either.
What Not to Bring to Skydeck Chicago Specifically?
Beyond the obvious prohibited items, I would leave rolling luggage, large backpacking packs and anything you would normally check at an airport back at your hotel, since there is no luggage storage at the entrance itself. A small daypack, purse or camera bag typically moves through without issue.
How Long Does Security Actually Take?
Screening typically runs 10 to 15 minutes, longer during a busy midday stretch when several groups arrive at once. I would build this directly into your schedule as its own block of time, separate from the visit itself, since it happens before your timed entry slot really starts counting.
Does the Wait Get Worse at Certain Times of Day?
Yes, noticeably. The checkpoint slows down the most between roughly 11 AM and 3 PM, when the general entry line, tour groups and your timed slot all tend to overlap. I cover exactly which windows run fastest and how the lines behave in a full guide to Skydeck’s wait times, worth reading if the security line specifically worries you.
Want a closer look? Chicago CityPASS: Skydeck Plus 4 Top Attractions, from $144 See timesWhat’s the Willis Tower Entrance Actually Like?
The Willis Tower entrance for Skydeck sits on South Wacker Boulevard between West Jackson Street and West Adams Street, in a separate lobby from the building’s general office entrances. I would double check you are heading to the right door before your visit, since Willis Tower is a working office building and more than one entrance exists along that block.
Is the Sears Tower Entrance Different From the Willis Tower Entrance?
No. Whether you still call it by the old Sears Tower name or the current Willis Tower one, you are looking at the exact same building and the exact same Skydeck entrance on South Wacker Boulevard. I clear up the full naming history, including why both names still circulate, in the story behind the Willis Tower and Sears Tower names, if that is part of what brought you here.
Ready to see prices? Willis Tower Skydeck and The Ledge Ticket, from $47.10 See timesShould You Arrive Early Specifically Because of Security?
I would always arrive at least 15 to 20 minutes before your timed slot, purely to absorb whatever the security line throws at you that day. Showing up right at your slot time with no buffer is the single most common reason I see people feel rushed once they finally reach the elevators.
Does Having the Fast Pass Change the Security Experience?
The Fast Pass add-on gives you express elevator access after screening, not a shortcut through security itself, so I would not expect it to meaningfully change how long the checkpoint takes. Where it helps is after you clear security, cutting the wait for the elevator and The Ledge rotation.
Want a closer look? Chicago CityPASS: Skydeck Plus 4 Top Attractions, from $144 See timesDoes This Affect How Long Your Whole Visit Takes?
Security time sits on top of the roughly 45-minute visit itself, so I would factor both into your total time estimate rather than just the time inside. I break down exactly how that stacks up in a full guide to how long a Skydeck visit takes, worth reading alongside this page.
Short on time? Small Group Tour with Skydeck and River Cruise, from $189 See timesDoes Where You Park Affect Your Security Wait?
Not directly, but arriving by car and circling for a parking spot can eat into the buffer you meant to leave before security, which defeats the point of arriving early in the first place. I cover the nearest garages and why I usually recommend the train instead in a guide to parking near Willis Tower.
Ready to see prices? Willis Tower Skydeck and The Ledge Ticket, from $47.10 See timesDoes the No-Bag Rule Apply to Everyone in Your Group?
Yes, it applies to every ticket holder individually, so a family or group cannot split luggage between a few “approved” bags and expect the rest to slide through. I would have everyone in your party check their own bag against the policy separately before you leave the hotel, since one oversized item can slow down the whole group at the checkpoint rather than just the person carrying it.
Want a closer look? Chicago CityPASS: Skydeck Plus 4 Top Attractions, from $144 See timesIs Dealing With Security Worth It for the Rest of the Visit?
If the checkpoint sounds like a hassle, I would weigh it against everything on the other side of it, since 10 to 15 minutes of screening is a small price for the view and exhibits waiting at the top. I give an honest take on whether the whole visit earns its spot on your itinerary, worth reading if security logistics are part of a bigger hesitation.
Short on time? Small Group Tour with Skydeck and River Cruise, from $189 See timesWhat Do Visitors Say About the Security Experience?
Review patterns around the checkpoint tend to be neutral to mildly positive, with most complaints tied to midday crowding rather than the screening process itself being unreasonable. I round up the broader themes in a look at Skydeck Chicago reviews, useful context alongside this page.
Ready to see prices? Willis Tower Skydeck and The Ledge Ticket, from $47.10 See timesCan You Bring a Camera, Tripod or Stroller Through Security?
A regular camera or phone passes through without any issue, and I would never leave good camera gear behind just because of the bag rules. Tripods are a different story, since a full-size tripod reads a lot like the kind of oversized item security tends to flag, so I would bring a small tabletop or flexible one instead if photos are the whole point of your trip. Strollers generally move through fine, though I would expect the exhibit path and elevator bank to feel tighter than a stroller-friendly museum, so a compact umbrella stroller works better than a full-size one.
What Happens If You Show Up With a Bag You Did Not Realize Was Too Big?
This is the scenario I would most want to avoid, and it happens more than you would think to visitors who did not read the policy ahead of time. Staff will not let an oversized bag through, and there is no storage counter at the entrance to check it, so your only real options are leaving it with whoever you are traveling with, heading back to your hotel first, or in some cases asking a nearby business to hold it briefly. I would treat packing light as the actual solution here, not something to figure out in the moment.
Want a closer look? Chicago CityPASS: Skydeck Plus 4 Top Attractions, from $144 See timesDoes the Policy Differ for the Guided or Digital Tour?
No. The same no-luggage rule applies no matter which Skydeck ticket you booked, since it is a building security policy rather than something tied to a specific product. I would pack the same way for the guided tour or the digital tour as I would for the standard ticket, since the checkpoint itself does not change based on what you booked.
Short on time? Small Group Tour with Skydeck and River Cruise, from $189 See timesMy Honest Recommendation Before You Go
If I were packing for this visit, I would leave anything resembling checked luggage at the hotel and bring only a small bag or none at all. I would also build a real buffer into my schedule rather than cutting it close, since a 10 to 15 minute estimate can stretch further on a busy day and there is no way to speed up screening once you are in line. The official Skydeck visitor information page lists the full current security guidelines, which I would check once more the week of your trip in case anything has changed since this was written.
Once you know what to pack, grab your willis tower tickets and head over with a bag light enough to clear the checkpoint fast.
Ready to see prices? Willis Tower Skydeck and The Ledge Ticket, from $47.10 See timesFrequently Asked Questions
Can I bring a suitcase to Skydeck Chicago? No. Large bags and luggage are not allowed through security, and there is no luggage storage at the entrance.
How long does Skydeck Chicago security screening take? Typically 10 to 15 minutes, longer during busy midday periods when several groups arrive at once.
Is the Willis Tower entrance the same as the Sears Tower entrance? Yes. Both names refer to the same building and the same Skydeck entrance on South Wacker Boulevard.
Can I bring a small backpack or purse through security? Yes. Small bags like a daypack, purse or camera bag typically move through screening without issue.
Does the Fast Pass skip the security line? No. Fast Pass speeds up the elevator and Ledge access after screening, not the security checkpoint itself.
Want a closer look? Chicago CityPASS: Skydeck Plus 4 Top Attractions, from $144 See times