The stock market is open on most Fridays during regular hours, but it closes early on certain Fridays and does not open at all on some holiday Fridays
The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ operate Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on standard trading days. Friday is a regular trading day unless it falls on or immediately after a federal holiday that the market observes. On those specific Fridays, the market either closes entirely or closes at 1:00 p.m. instead of 4:00 p.m.
The market does not follow all federal holidays. It observes a fixed list: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. When any of these falls on a Friday, that Friday is closed. When a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the market typically closes on the preceding Friday or following Monday instead.
Key Takeaways
- Most Fridays the market opens at 9:30 a.m. and closes at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, the same as any other weekday.
- The day after Thanksgiving (the Friday after the fourth Thursday in November) closes at 1:00 p.m., not 4:00 p.m.
- When a market holiday falls on Friday, the entire market is closed that day with no trading at all.
- The NYSE and NASDAQ publish their holiday calendar each year, and you can check it before planning trades or monitoring positions.
Early closures on specific Fridays
The market closes at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the day after Thanksgiving and on the day before Christmas (if that day is a Friday). These are the only two regular Fridays when an early close happens. All other Fridays run the full 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. schedule.
An early close means trading stops at 1:00 p.m., but the market is still open and active during those morning hours. You can still place orders and execute trades; you simply have less time to do so. Volume is often lighter on these days because traders know the window is shorter.
Fridays when the market is completely closed
When a market holiday lands on Friday, the entire market shuts down. No trading occurs at any time. This happens when New Year's Day, Independence Day, Christmas Day, or another observed holiday falls on a Friday. It also happens when a holiday that falls on a weekend is observed on the nearest Friday — for example, if Christmas falls on a Saturday, the market closes on Friday, December 24.
The most common closed Fridays are New Year's Day (January 1), Independence Day (July 4), and Christmas Day (December 25) when they fall on a Friday. Good Friday (the Friday before Easter) is also a full market closure every year.
How to find the market's holiday schedule
The NYSE publishes its annual holiday calendar on its website under "Market Holidays." NASDAQ does the same. Both calendars are identical because they observe the same holidays. You can download or view the full year's schedule in advance, which shows every date the market will be closed or close early.
If you are unsure whether a specific Friday is a trading day, checking the official calendar takes 30 seconds and removes the guesswork. The calendar is updated each year in December for the following year.
What happens to your orders on closed Fridays
If you place an order on a Friday when the market is closed, the order does not execute that day. Most brokers will hold the order and attempt to fill it when the market reopens on Monday morning, unless you set an expiration date on the order. Some brokers let you cancel pending orders over the weekend; others do not allow changes until the market reopens.
If you place an order during an early-close Friday (like the day after Thanksgiving), the order will attempt to fill during the shortened trading window. If it does not fill by 1:00 p.m., what happens next depends on your broker's rules and the type of order you placed. Check your broker's policy before the early close if you plan to trade that day.
Futures and after-hours trading on Fridays
Stock futures trade on a different schedule than the regular stock market. Futures markets often open Sunday evening and close Friday afternoon, with a brief shutdown each night. Even on Fridays when the stock market is closed, some futures contracts may still trade. This is a different market with different rules, and most individual investors do not trade futures.
After-hours trading (trading that happens after 4:00 p.m. on regular Fridays) is available through some brokers, but volume is much lower and spreads are wider. On early-close Fridays, after-hours trading may not be available or may be extremely limited. On closed Fridays, no after-hours trading occurs.
Planning around Friday market closures
If you hold a position heading into a closed Friday, remember that the market will not open again until Monday. This means any news or events over the weekend could affect the price when trading resumes. Some traders close positions before a long weekend to avoid this risk; others hold and accept the gap risk.
If you are waiting to buy or sell on a specific Friday, check the holiday calendar first. A missed trade because you did not know the market was closed is an easy mistake to prevent. Bookmark the NYSE or NASDAQ holiday page, or set a reminder on your calendar for the early-close Fridays each year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the stock market open on Good Friday?
No. Good Friday, the Friday before Easter, is a market holiday every year. The market is completely closed with no trading. Easter dates change each year, so Good Friday falls on a different date annually, but it is always a closure.
Can I trade after hours on a Friday when the market closes early?
It depends on your broker. On the day after Thanksgiving and the day before Christmas, some brokers offer limited after-hours trading, but volume is very low. Check with your specific broker about their after-hours policy on early-close days.
What time does the market close on the Friday after Thanksgiving?
The market closes at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the day after Thanksgiving. This is the only regular Friday with an early close besides the day before Christmas (if that falls on a Friday).
If a holiday falls on a Saturday, is the market closed on Friday?
Usually yes. When a market holiday falls on Saturday or Sunday, the market observes it on the nearest weekday. Most often this means Friday is closed, but occasionally it means Monday is closed instead. Check the official holiday calendar to be sure.
Will my pending order execute if I place it on a closed Friday?
No. Orders placed on a day the market is closed do not execute that day. Your broker will typically hold the order and attempt to fill it when the market reopens on Monday, unless you set a specific expiration date or cancel it yourself.