You can usually join the Ticketmaster queue about 15–30 minutes before tickets go on sale , and it does not give you a guaranteed “better” spot to join super early.

Quick Scoop: How early can you join?

  • For most Ticketmaster “Smart Queue” or high‑demand sales, the waiting room opens around 15–30 minutes before the on‑sale time.
  • Official Ticketmaster help pages recommend joining the waiting room about 15 minutes before tickets go on sale.
  • Once the sale starts, everyone in the waiting room is given a place in line , and spots are usually randomized among people who were there before the sale time , not strictly first‑come.

So: joining hours early doesn’t help; being there 15–30 minutes before is exactly what Ticketmaster itself suggests.

How the queue actually works

  • The “queue” is a virtual line Ticketmaster uses to handle high demand and block bots.
  • You:
    1. Open the event page or follow your presale/Verified Fan link.
    2. Join the waiting room (opens shortly before the sale).
    3. When the sale time hits, the system assigns you a place in line and then moves you into the purchase page when it’s your turn.
  • When it’s your turn, your spot is held for a short window (often around 10 minutes to choose and pay for tickets).

Does joining earlier help you?

From what Ticketmaster and fan forums say:

  • Being there before on‑sale is essential : if you join after the sale starts, you’re simply added behind everyone already in the line.
  • Among people who are in the waiting room before the sale time, places in the queue are typically randomized , not strictly ordered by who arrived at 15 vs 25 minutes before.
  • That’s why forum posts often say things like “It doesn’t matter when you join the waiting room, just make sure it’s before the start of the ticket sale; then it’s just a random process.”

So the smart move is: be on time, not ridiculously early.

Practical tips to maximize your chances

  • Join 15–30 minutes early
    • Aim to be in the waiting room by that window Ticketmaster mentions, so you’re included when they randomize spots as the sale opens.
  • Stay on the page (don’t refresh)
    • Ticketmaster says your spot auto‑refreshes; manually refreshing, closing, or leaving the page can lose your place.
  • Have your account and payment ready
    • Log in beforehand and update your payment method so you don’t waste any of the 10‑minute purchase window.
  • Don’t trust “secret hacks”
    • You’ll see YouTube / social media claims about “always getting #1 in the queue,” but official info makes clear the system is designed to control traffic and detect bots , not to reward tricks.

Example scenario

  • Tickets go on sale at 10:00 a.m.
  • The waiting room opens at 9:30–9:45 a.m. (this is common for Verified Fan and other big presales).
  • You should:
    • Be logged in and on the event page by around 9:30–9:45 a.m.
    • Join the waiting room and then do nothing but wait.
    • At 10:00 a.m., the system randomizes the order for everyone already in the waiting room and assigns queue positions.

SEO bits (for your post)

  • Focus keyword: “how early can i join the queue on Ticketmaster”
  • Meta‑style summary:

For Ticketmaster’s Smart Queue, you usually only need to join 15–30 minutes before tickets go on sale. Joining much earlier won’t boost your place; just be in the waiting room before on‑sale time.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.