The stock market opens and closes on a fixed schedule, and you can check whether it is trading right now by looking at the time and day of the week
The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ — the two largest U.S. stock markets — are open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. They are closed on weekends and on specific federal holidays. If it is a weekday between those hours, the market is open. If it is outside those hours or a weekend, it is closed.
The market also closes early — at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time — on the day after Thanksgiving and on Christmas Eve (if Christmas Eve falls on a weekday). On the actual federal holidays listed below, the market does not open at all.
You do not need to call anyone or visit a website to know whether the market is open right now. Check the time and the day of the week against the schedule below.
Key Takeaways
- The stock market is open Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, and closed all day on weekends.
- The market closes on ten federal holidays each year: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
- On the day after Thanksgiving and on Christmas Eve (when it falls on a weekday), the market opens but closes at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time instead of 4:00 p.m.
- If you are outside the Eastern Time zone, convert the market hours to your local time to know when trading begins and ends.
The full list of market closures for the current year
The NYSE and NASDAQ close completely on these dates. If you live outside the Eastern Time zone, remember that 9:30 a.m. Eastern is 8:30 a.m. Central, 7:30 a.m. Mountain, and 6:30 a.m. Pacific.
| Holiday | Typical Date |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | January 1 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Third Monday in January |
| Presidents' Day | Third Monday in February |
| Good Friday | Varies (spring) |
| Memorial Day | Last Monday in May |
| Juneteenth | June 19 |
| Independence Day | July 4 |
| Labor Day | First Monday in September |
| Thanksgiving | Fourth Thursday in November |
| Christmas | December 25 |
When a federal holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the market observes the closure on the nearest weekday. For example, if Independence Day falls on a Saturday, the market closes on Friday instead.
Early closures: the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve
Two days each year have shortened trading hours instead of a full closure. On the day after Thanksgiving (the Friday after the fourth Thursday in November) and on Christmas Eve (December 24, if it falls on a weekday), the market opens at 9:30 a.m. Eastern but closes at 1:00 p.m. Eastern instead of the usual 4:00 p.m.
This matters if you plan to place a trade on those afternoons. Orders placed after 1:00 p.m. Eastern on those days will not execute until the market reopens the next trading day.
What to do if you are unsure about a specific date
The NYSE and NASDAQ both publish their holiday calendars on their official websites. You can search for "NYSE holiday calendar" or "NASDAQ holiday calendar" and find the exact dates for the current and upcoming years. The calendars are updated annually and are the authoritative source if you need to confirm whether a particular day is a trading day.
Your brokerage account may also display the market status in real time. Most brokers show whether the market is "open," "closed," or "pre-market" directly on their trading platform or mobile app, so you can check there as well.
Pre-market and after-hours trading
The regular market hours listed above apply to the main stock exchanges. However, some brokers allow trading before 9:30 a.m. (pre-market) and after 4:00 p.m. (after-hours). These sessions operate on different schedules and with lower volume and wider price spreads than regular hours.
Pre-market trading typically runs from 4:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Eastern, and after-hours trading typically runs from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern. Not all brokers offer both, and not all stocks can be traded during these times. If you are considering a trade outside regular market hours, check with your broker first to confirm what is available to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the stock market open on Presidents' Day?
No. The stock market is closed on Presidents' Day, which falls on the third Monday in February each year. The NYSE and NASDAQ do not trade on any federal holiday.
Can I trade stocks on Saturday or Sunday?
No. The NYSE and NASDAQ are closed on weekends. Some brokers offer after-hours trading on Friday evenings, but regular weekend trading is not available. You can place orders over the weekend, but they will not execute until the market reopens on Monday morning.
What time does the market close on Christmas Eve?
The market closes at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Christmas Eve (December 24), provided it falls on a weekday. If Christmas Eve falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the market is closed that entire day and does not have an early close.
Does the stock market ever open on a holiday?
No. On the ten federal holidays when the market is closed, it does not open at any time. The only exceptions are the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, which have shortened hours (closing at 1:00 p.m.) rather than a full closure.
What happens if I place a trade after the market closes?
Your order will be held and will execute when the market reopens at 9:30 a.m. Eastern the next trading day, unless you specify otherwise. Some brokers allow you to cancel or modify the order before market open. Check your broker's rules for after-hours order handling.