Save Up to 50% on Broadway: TKTS Booth Guide for Tourists
It works best for flexible buyers willing to pick from whatever is on the board that day rather than a specific show or seat. Check the app before you leave your hotel, then head to Times Square for the widest selection or Lincoln Center for shorter lines, and keep two or three backup shows in mind.
TL;DR:
The best time to visit TKTS depends on your flexibility, with early morning arrivals offering the widest selection and late visits minimizing lines.
Both booths sell the same inventory but differ in experience: Times Square offers more options but longer lines, while Lincoln Center provides shorter waits and indoor comfort.
Discounts can reach up to 50%, but the final price includes an $8 per-ticket service charge, so compare total costs across sellers.
Arranging ahead using the TKTS app and setting alerts helps target preferred shows and reduces time spent queuing unnecessarily.
Buying tickets in advance from primary sellers is better if you seek specific seats, dates, or sold-out shows, as TKTS mostly offers flexible options.
Table of Contents
How TKTS inventory actually works
TKTS is operated by the Theatre Development Fund and sells discounted tickets that producers release for same-day performances, plus some next-day matinees. Because theaters decide what to release and when, the board changes constantly through the day. There’s no way to reserve a specific seat or guarantee a title will appear, which is the tradeoff for the discount.
What you see on the board (or in the TKTS Live app) is the full picture, not a teaser rate. Each listing shows:
The show title and performance time
The discount percentage being offered that day
The final, all-in price you’ll actually pay, including the per-ticket service charge
That last point matters. A lot of first-time visitors expect to see a discount price and then get surprised at the window. TKTS avoids that by posting the number you’ll actually pay, according to TDF’s own guidance.
Times Square vs. Lincoln Center: which booth fits your trip
Both booths sell the same inventory, but the experience at each is different enough to shape your plan. The Times Square booth, at the red glass steps on Broadway and 47th Street, is the flagship location with the deepest selection and, predictably, the biggest crowds. Hours vary by day: some days it opens at 3:00 PM, others as early as 11:00 AM, so it’s worth checking the live listing before you plan your afternoon.
Lincoln Center, at 61 West 62nd Street, is indoors, generally quieter, and often opens earlier in the day, though it’s closed Mondays and Sundays. It’s a good call when the weather turns or when you just don’t want to stand in a long outdoor line.
Times Square: bigger selection, longer lines, central location
Lincoln Center: shorter waits, indoor comfort, limited days open
Reported discounts at TKTS run up to about 50% off for same-day Broadway and Off-Broadway seats, though the actual percentage shifts title by title and day by day.
If you need a specific seat, a specific date, or you’re chasing a sold-out hit, buying in advance from a primary seller makes more sense than gambling on the day-of board; for general tactics on buying discounted attraction tickets, see how to buy discounted attraction tickets step by step. In that case, buying in advance from a primary seller makes more sense than gambling on the day-of board.
Best times to beat the line and still get a good seat
Timing at TKTS is a tradeoff between selection and wait time, and there’s no single correct answer. If you want the widest pick of what’s available, arriving before opening gives you first access to whatever the booth releases that morning. If you’re flexible about what you see, showing up later in the day often means a shorter line, since the early rush has thinned out by then.
Check the TKTS Live app before leaving your hotel so you’re not queuing for nothing.
Aim for weekday matinees or midweek afternoons, which tend to run calmer than weekends.
Treat holiday weekends and prime evening hours as the busiest windows and plan extra time accordingly.
Have two or three acceptable shows in mind so a sold-out listing doesn’t derail your trip.
Pro Tip: Open the app before you even get dressed. If nothing you want has appeared yet, grab coffee and check again in twenty minutes instead of standing in line.
Step-by-step: buying tickets at the TKTS booth
Walking up to the window prepared saves time for you and everyone behind you in line. Here’s the sequence that works:
Check TKTS Live for current inventory and pick a primary show plus two or three backups.
Choose your booth (Times Square or Lincoln Center) based on selection versus wait time.
Join the correct line. Both booths typically post what’s currently available near the entrance.
At the window, tell the seller your preferred show and ask about section and row before you commit.
Confirm the final, all-in price, which includes TDF’s per-ticket service charge of $8.
Pay and inspect your tickets before you walk away.
A few practical notes:
TKTS accepts major credit cards, cash, and TKTS eGift Cards, though a small number of Off-Broadway shows are cash-only.
There are no refunds or exchanges except in the case of a cancelled performance, so double-check dates and times before you pay.
Purchases are limited to six tickets per person; for larger groups, split the purchase among multiple buyers or consult a Patron Services Representative for assistance.
Prices, fees, and comparing TKTS to other sellers
The headline discount at TKTS isn’t the whole story. Here’s a simple way to think about it: a $150 ticket at 50% off becomes $75, plus the $8 per-ticket service charge, for a final total of $83. That’s still a strong deal, but it’s the $83 you should compare against other sellers, not the $75.
Discounts generally range up to 50% but vary by show, day, and demand.
Not every popular title shows up on the board, especially long-running hits.
Other ticket sellers often add their own booking or delivery fees, so comparing final totals matters more than comparing advertised discounts.
The service charge is fixed at $8 per ticket regardless of the show’s price, which means it has a bigger relative impact on cheaper tickets than on premium ones.
Accessibility help, the Fast Pass, and ticket limits
TKTS staffs its booths with Patron Services Representatives, easy to spot in red shirts, who can help with mobility, vision, or hearing accommodations and answer general questions without you having to leave the line. If you’ve already bought at Times Square once in the past week, you can skip part of the wait on a return visit.
Patron Services Representatives (red shirts) assist with accessibility needs and general questions at both booths.
The TKTS 7-Day Fast Pass lets returning Times Square customers use a dedicated lane within seven days of a prior purchase by showing their stub.
Purchases are capped at six tickets per person; larger groups should split across buyers or check with Patron Services.
Using the TKTS app before you ever get in line
The TKTS app is where most of your planning should happen before you set foot near a booth. TKTS Live shows real-time inventory across both locations, and My List lets you save specific shows so you get an alert if they appear on the board.
Use TKTS Live to compare what’s available at Times Square versus Lincoln Center right now.
Save your top picks in My List so you’re notified the moment one shows up.
Confirm the day’s hours and whether your target show requires cash before you leave.
Pack light but smart: a payment card or cash, your phone with the app open, a small umbrella or layer for weather, and enough patience to stand in a line that moves but doesn’t sprint.
Pro Tip: Set a My List alert the night before and check it again right when you wake up. Shows sometimes post early, and the earliest alert often means the best seats left in that release.
Insider tips for getting the most out of TKTS
A few tactics separate a smooth TKTS trip from a frustrating one, and most of them come down to combining the app with smart timing.
Check the app from your hotel before committing to a line. Walking up blind wastes time if nothing you want is available.
Set alerts in My List so a desired title catches your attention the moment it posts.
Use the Fast Pass intentionally if you expect to buy again within seven days. It’s one of the few parts of the TKTS system built for repeat visits.
If you’re coordinating a group or need accessibility accommodations, go straight to a Patron Services Representative rather than guessing at the window.
For readers who want to dig deeper into other same-day options, our guide to Broadway rush tickets covers a different mechanism worth comparing against TKTS.
When TKTS is the smart move, and when it isn’t
TKTS rewards flexibility. If you’re happy to see whatever’s good that night and want a real discount on a real seat, it’s hard to beat. It’s a weaker fit when you need a specific seat, a specific date, or a title that’s currently sold out across the city, since those shows rarely appear on the board at all. In that case, booking ahead through a primary seller is the more reliable path, and our piece on why Broadway tickets cost what they do explains why those shows hold their price.
— The Ticket Blog
Where to find more curated deals and guides
We provide practical strategy paired with insider tips to help make a day-of ticket run actually pay off. Beyond TKTS, we track promo codes, seating advice, and pricing trends across Broadway, concerts, and sports.
Curated, regularly updated deal roundups across major events and venues
Step-by-step buying guides for rush tickets, standing room, and other bargain routes
Promo code roundups to stack savings on top of whatever discount you find
If you’re planning a trip around live entertainment, visit our savings landing page for the latest curated deals before you lock in your tickets.
FAQ
Which TKTS booth is best?
The Times Square booth has the widest selection since it’s the flagship location, while the Lincoln Center booth offers shorter lines and indoor comfort. Choose Times Square for more options and Lincoln Center when you want a faster, calmer transaction.
What time should you get to the TKTS booth?
Arriving before opening gives you first pick of the day’s releases, while arriving later often means a shorter line if you’re flexible about the show. Check TKTS Live from your hotel first so you’re not waiting in line unnecessarily.
How much cheaper is the TKTS booth?
Discounts at TKTS run up to about 50% off same-day Broadway and Off-Broadway tickets, though the exact percentage depends on the show and day. The displayed price always includes the $8 per-ticket service charge, so it reflects what you’ll actually pay.
What shows are usually on TKTS?
Inventory changes daily based on what producers release, so there’s no fixed list, and long-running hits don’t always appear. Checking the TKTS app or My List is the most reliable way to see what’s currently on the board.
Can I buy more than six TKTS tickets at once?
TKTS limits purchases to six tickets per person, so larger groups typically need multiple buyers. A Patron Services Representative at the booth can advise on how to handle bigger group purchases.
Sources
Official TKTS and TDF resources
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