The stock market opens and closes on a fixed schedule, and it is closed on weekends and federal holidays

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ — the two largest U.S. stock markets — operate Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. They are closed on Saturdays and Sundays. On federal holidays, both markets close for the full day. The market also closes early — at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time — on the day after Thanksgiving and on Christmas Eve, if either falls on a weekday.

If today is a weekday and not a federal holiday, the market is open. If you are unsure whether today is a holiday closure, you can check the NYSE or NASDAQ websites directly, or call your brokerage firm. Most brokerages also send email alerts when the market will close early or remain closed.

Key Takeaways

  • The NYSE and NASDAQ are open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
  • Both markets close on all federal holidays, including New Year's Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
  • The market closes early at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the day after Thanksgiving and on Christmas Eve if those days fall on a weekday.
  • You can verify the market schedule on the NYSE.com or NASDAQ.com websites, or contact your brokerage to confirm whether trading is available today.

Federal holidays when the stock market closes

The stock market closes on ten federal holidays each year. These are: New Year's Day (January 1), Martin Luther King Jr. Day (third Monday in January), Presidents' Day (third Monday in February), Good Friday (the Friday before Easter), 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), and Christmas Day (December 25).

When a federal holiday falls on a Saturday, the market is closed on Friday instead. When a holiday falls on a Sunday, the market is closed on Monday instead. This shift ensures the market observes each holiday even when it would otherwise fall outside trading days.

Early closures and half-days

The market closes at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on two days each year: the day after Thanksgiving (the Friday after the fourth Thursday in November) and Christmas Eve (December 24), but only if Christmas Eve falls on a weekday. On these half-days, trading still occurs in the morning, but the market shuts down earlier than usual.

Early closures can affect trading volume and price movement, because fewer hours mean fewer opportunities to buy or sell. If you plan to trade on a half-day, check your brokerage's hours to confirm they remain open until 1:00 p.m., since some brokerages close earlier than the official market close.

How to verify the market is open before you trade

The fastest way to check is to visit NYSE.com or NASDAQ.com and look for their market calendar or holiday schedule. Both sites list every closure and early close for the current year. You can also check your brokerage's website or app — most display a banner or notification if the market is closed or closing early that day.

If you are unsure, call your brokerage's customer service line. They can tell you immediately whether the market is open and whether you can place trades. Many brokerages also offer after-hours trading, which allows you to trade outside the standard 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. window, though with lower volume and wider price spreads.

What happens if you try to trade when the market is closed

If you place a trade order when the market is closed, your brokerage will hold the order until the market reopens. Most brokerages treat it as a market order (an order to buy or sell at the next available price) or a limit order (an order to buy or sell only at a price you specify), depending on how you placed it. The order will execute when the market opens the next trading day, not at the price you may have seen the night before.

Some brokerages offer after-hours trading, which lets you trade between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, and pre-market trading, which runs from 4:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. These sessions have much lower trading volume, so prices can move more sharply and it may be harder to buy or sell at the price you want. Check your brokerage to see whether you have access to these sessions and what fees or restrictions apply.

International stock markets operate on different schedules

If you trade stocks on exchanges outside the United States — such as the London Stock Exchange, Tokyo Stock Exchange, or Hong Kong Stock Exchange — those markets operate on their own schedules and close on their own holidays. The London Stock Exchange, for example, is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. GMT, and closes on UK bank holidays. The Tokyo Stock Exchange is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Japan Standard Time, and closes on Japanese national holidays.

If you hold international stocks or trade on foreign exchanges, check the specific exchange's website for its holiday calendar and trading hours. Time zone differences also matter — when it is 9:30 a.m. in New York, it is already evening in Tokyo, so you cannot trade on the Tokyo exchange during U.S. market hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the stock market open on Presidents' Day?

No. Presidents' Day (the third Monday in February) is a federal holiday, and the NYSE and NASDAQ are closed. You cannot place trades or have orders execute on this day.

Can I trade after 4:00 p.m. when the market closes?

Some brokerages offer after-hours trading from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, but not all. Check your brokerage's website or call them to see whether you have access. After-hours trading has lower volume and wider price spreads, so orders may not execute at the price you expect.

What time does the market close on the day after Thanksgiving?

The market closes at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the day after Thanksgiving (the Friday after the fourth Thursday in November). Regular trading hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., so you have a shorter window to trade that day.

If Christmas falls on a Sunday, is the market closed on Monday?

Yes. When a federal holiday falls on a Sunday, the market observes the holiday on the following Monday instead. So if Christmas is on a Sunday, the market is closed on Monday, December 26.

Do I need to check the market calendar every day before I trade?

You do not need to check every day, but it is a good habit on days near holidays or if you are unsure. Most brokerages send alerts when the market will close early or remain closed, so you can rely on those notifications if you have them turned on.