The New York Stock Market opens at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time and closes at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on regular trading days
The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ — the two largest stock markets in the United States — follow the same schedule. Both are closed on weekends and on specific federal holidays. If today is a weekday and not a holiday, the market is open during those hours. The fastest way to confirm is to check the NYSE or NASDAQ website directly, or to call your brokerage firm.
Market hours do not change for daylight saving time. When the U.S. switches to or from daylight saving, the market's opening and closing times stay at 9:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time — which means the market opens one hour earlier or later in your local time if you live outside the Eastern Time Zone.
Key Takeaways
- The NYSE and NASDAQ open at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time and close at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on regular trading days.
- The market is closed on all U.S. federal holidays, including New Year's Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
- The market is also closed on the day after Thanksgiving and on Christmas Eve if Christmas falls on a weekday.
- You can check whether the market is open today by visiting the NYSE website, the NASDAQ website, or calling your brokerage.
Federal Holidays When the Market Is Closed
The NYSE and NASDAQ close on 10 federal holidays each year. These are fixed dates or dates that move based on the calendar:
| Holiday | When It Occurs |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | January 1 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Third Monday in January |
| Presidents' Day | Third Monday in February |
| Good Friday | Friday before Easter Sunday (varies yearly) |
| Memorial Day | Last Monday in May |
| Juneteenth | June 19 |
| Independence Day | July 4 |
| Labor Day | First Monday in September |
| Thanksgiving Day | Fourth Thursday in November |
| Christmas | December 25 |
The market also closes on the day after Thanksgiving (the Friday after the fourth Thursday in November) and on Christmas Eve if Christmas falls on a weekday. When a federal holiday falls on a weekend, the market does not observe an extra closure — it simply remains closed on the weekend as usual.
Early Closures and Half-Day Trading
On three days each year, the NYSE and NASDAQ close at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time instead of 4:00 p.m. These are the day after Thanksgiving (if it is a trading day), Christmas Eve (if it is a weekday), and the day before Independence Day (if it is a weekday and Independence Day falls on a Friday or Monday).
Early closures are announced in advance by the exchanges. If you plan to trade on these days, check the NYSE or NASDAQ website or your brokerage to confirm the closing time. Many brokerages also send alerts to their customers about early closures.
How to Check Market Status Right Now
The most direct way to confirm whether the market is open today is to visit the official websites. The NYSE publishes its holiday calendar at nyse.com, and NASDAQ publishes its at nasdaq.com. Both sites display the current market status and list all upcoming closures and early closures for the year.
If you have a brokerage account, you can also log in and check the market status there. Most brokerages display whether the market is open or closed on their homepage or trading platform. You can also call your brokerage's customer service line — they can tell you immediately whether the market is open and whether you can place trades.
If you do not have a brokerage account, you can call the NYSE directly at 212-656-3000 or visit their website. NASDAQ's main line is 212-401-8700. Both exchanges have recorded messages that state whether the market is open.
What Happens If You Try to Trade When the Market Is Closed
If you attempt to place a trade when the market is closed, your order will not execute immediately. Instead, it will be held as a pre-market order (if placed before 9:30 a.m.) or an after-hours order (if placed after 4:00 p.m.). These orders may execute when the market reopens, but at a different price than you expected.
Some brokerages allow pre-market and after-hours trading, but not all do. If your brokerage does offer these services, the prices are often less stable and the volume of trades is lower, which means you may not get the price you want. Check with your brokerage to see whether you can trade outside regular market hours and what fees or restrictions apply.
International Stock Markets and Extended Hours
If you are interested in stocks listed on other exchanges — such as the London Stock Exchange or Tokyo Stock Exchange — those markets operate on different schedules in their own time zones. Some U.S. brokerages offer access to international markets, but you will need to check your brokerage's hours for each exchange.
Within the United States, some brokerages also offer extended-hours trading, which allows you to trade before 9:30 a.m. or after 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. These sessions have lower volume and wider price spreads, and not all stocks are available. If you use extended-hours trading, confirm with your brokerage what hours are available and which stocks you can trade.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the stock market open on weekends?
No. The NYSE and NASDAQ are closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Some brokerages offer limited trading on weekends through alternative systems, but the main U.S. stock exchanges do not operate on weekends.
What time does the market close on early-closure days?
On early-closure days, both the NYSE and NASDAQ close at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time instead of 4:00 p.m. This happens three times per year: the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve (if it falls on a weekday), and the day before Independence Day (if it falls on a Friday or Monday).
Can I trade before 9:30 a.m. or after 4:00 p.m.?
Some brokerages offer pre-market trading (before 9:30 a.m.) and after-hours trading (after 4:00 p.m.), but not all stocks are available and prices are often less stable. Check with your brokerage to see whether extended-hours trading is available and what restrictions apply.
What happens if a federal holiday falls on a weekend?
If a federal holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the market remains closed on the weekend as usual. The market does not observe an extra closure on the nearest weekday — it reopens on the next regular trading day.
How do I know if there is an early closure coming up?
The NYSE and NASDAQ publish their full holiday and early-closure calendars on their websites at the start of each year. You can also check your brokerage's website or call their customer service line to confirm early closures before you plan to trade.