The stock market closes at 4 p.m. Eastern Time on regular trading days

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ — the two largest U.S. stock exchanges — both close at 4 p.m. ET every weekday when the market is open. This is the end of the regular trading session. If today is a weekday and the market is not closed for a holiday, that 4 p.m. ET close applies today.

After 4 p.m. ET, trading continues in what is called the after-hours session, which runs until 8 p.m. ET. Volume is much lower, spreads are wider, and prices can move sharply on thin trading. Most individual investors do not trade after hours unless they have a specific reason to do so.

The market opens at 9:30 a.m. ET each regular trading day. If you are in a different time zone, subtract or add hours accordingly: 9:30 a.m. ET is 8:30 a.m. Central, 7:30 a.m. Mountain, or 6:30 a.m. Pacific.

Key Takeaways

  • Regular trading closes at 4 p.m. Eastern Time on weekdays when the market is open.
  • After-hours trading runs from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET but involves fewer traders and wider price swings.
  • The market is closed on weekends and on specific federal holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Independence Day.
  • If you place an order after 4 p.m. ET on a regular trading day, it will not execute until the next regular session opens at 9:30 a.m. ET.

When the market is closed for holidays

The NYSE and NASDAQ close completely on certain days each year. These include New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. On these days, no regular or after-hours trading occurs.

The day after Thanksgiving is a half day — the market closes at 1 p.m. ET instead of 4 p.m. ET. Christmas Eve is also a half day when it falls on a weekday. On half days, after-hours trading does not occur.

You can find the full holiday calendar on the NYSE website. If you are unsure whether today is a holiday, checking that calendar is faster than guessing.

How to know if the market is open right now

If it is a weekday between 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET, the market is open for regular trading. If it is before 9:30 a.m. or after 4 p.m. ET on a weekday, regular trading is closed but after-hours trading may be happening (4 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET only).

If it is Saturday or Sunday, the market is closed. If it is a holiday listed above, the market is closed. If you are not sure whether today is a holiday, the quickest check is to look at the NYSE holiday calendar or call your brokerage — they can tell you in seconds whether the market is open.

What happens if you try to trade after 4 p.m.

If you place a stock order after 4 p.m. ET on a regular trading day, your broker will hold it and send it to the market when the next regular session opens at 9:30 a.m. ET the next day. The order will not execute at the price you see now — it will execute at whatever price the stock is trading at when your order reaches the market in the morning.

Some brokers allow you to place after-hours orders between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. ET, but these trade on a separate, much thinner market. Prices can be very different from the regular close, and your order may not fill at all. Most brokers charge no extra fee for after-hours trading, but the risk of a bad price is real.

Time zones and closing time

The stock market runs on Eastern Time. If you live elsewhere, you need to convert. The market closes at 4 p.m. ET, which is 3 p.m. Central Time, 2 p.m. Mountain Time, or 1 p.m. Pacific Time. It opens at 9:30 a.m. ET, which is 8:30 a.m. Central, 7:30 a.m. Mountain, or 6:30 a.m. Pacific.

During daylight saving time (mid-March to early November), these conversions stay the same. When the U.S. switches to standard time in November, the time difference does not change because both Eastern and your local time zone shift together.

Pre-market trading before 9:30 a.m.

Some brokers allow trading before 9:30 a.m. ET in what is called the pre-market session. This typically runs from 4 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. ET. Like after-hours trading, pre-market volume is low, spreads are wide, and prices can move sharply. Most individual investors do not trade in pre-market hours.

If your broker offers pre-market trading and you place an order during those hours, it will trade on the pre-market market, not the regular market. Prices may be very different from what you see during regular hours. Check your broker's rules before attempting to trade before 9:30 a.m.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the stock market close earlier on any day besides the day after Thanksgiving?

Yes. Christmas Eve closes at 1 p.m. ET if it falls on a weekday. No other regular trading days have an early close. Half days are rare and announced well in advance by the NYSE.

Can I place an order after the market closes and have it execute today?

No. Any order placed after 4 p.m. ET on a regular trading day will not execute until the next regular session opens at 9:30 a.m. ET. If you want to trade after 4 p.m., your broker must offer after-hours trading, and the order will trade on the after-hours market at whatever price is available then.

What time does the market close if I'm in London or another country?

The NYSE and NASDAQ close at 4 p.m. Eastern Time regardless of where you are. Convert that time to your local time zone. For example, 4 p.m. ET is 9 p.m. GMT in London. Your broker's website usually shows closing time in your local time if you set your location.

Is the market open on Presidents' Day or Martin Luther King Jr. Day?

No. Both are federal holidays when the NYSE and NASDAQ are completely closed. No regular or after-hours trading occurs on these days.