Regular Trading Hours for U.S. Stock Markets

The main U.S. stock markets — the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the NASDAQ — open at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time and close at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. These are the official hours when most stocks trade and when the bulk of volume happens. If you place an order during these hours, it executes during the regular session.

The markets are closed on weekends and on federal holidays, even if it is a Monday or Friday. When a holiday falls on a weekday, the market does not open that 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.

Key Takeaways

  • Regular trading runs from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
  • Pre-market trading begins as early as 4:00 a.m. Eastern Time, and after-hours trading runs until 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, but with much lower volume and wider price swings.
  • Orders placed outside regular hours may not execute until the next regular session opens, or may execute at a different price than you expected.
  • The market closes early at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the day after Thanksgiving and on Christmas Eve.
  • International stock markets operate on their own schedules and do not align with U.S. hours.

Pre-Market Trading Before 9:30 a.m.

Trading can begin before the official 9:30 a.m. open. Pre-market trading typically starts at 4:00 a.m. Eastern Time and runs until 9:30 a.m. Not all brokers offer pre-market access, and not all stocks trade during this window. Volume is much lower than during regular hours, which means prices can swing more sharply on smaller trades.

If you place an order during pre-market hours, it may not fill until regular trading begins, or it may fill at a price very different from what you saw on your screen. Many traders avoid pre-market orders because the risk of a large price gap is higher. Check with your broker to see whether pre-market trading is available on your account and which stocks support it.

After-Hours Trading After 4:00 p.m.

After-hours trading runs from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Like pre-market trading, after-hours sessions have lower volume and wider spreads — the gap between the bid price (what buyers offer) and the ask price (what sellers want). A stock might trade at one price during regular hours and a noticeably different price after hours, even if no major news broke.

Not all brokers offer after-hours access, and not all stocks trade during these hours. If you place an order after 4:00 p.m., your broker may hold it until the next regular session opens, or may route it to an after-hours trading venue where execution is not may provide. Always check your broker's rules before placing an order outside regular hours.

Market Closures and Early Closes

The stock market does not open on the following federal holidays: 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. If any of these falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the market is closed on the nearest weekday instead.

The market also closes early at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on two days: the day after Thanksgiving (the Friday after the fourth Thursday in November) and Christmas Eve (December 24), if either falls on a weekday. On these early-close days, regular trading still begins at 9:30 a.m., but the session ends at 1:00 p.m. instead of 4:00 p.m. After-hours trading does not occur on early-close days.

How Time Zones Affect Your Trading Window

Stock market hours are always stated in Eastern Time, regardless of where you live. If you are in the Central Time zone, subtract one hour. If you are in the Mountain zone, subtract two hours. If you are in the Pacific zone, subtract three hours. So if you are on the West Coast, the market opens at 6:30 a.m. Pacific Time and closes at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time.

Daylight Saving Time affects these times. When the U.S. switches to Daylight Saving Time in March, the market still opens at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. When the U.S. switches back to Standard Time in November, the market opens at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. Your local time will shift by one hour on those dates, so mark your calendar if you trade at the open or close.

International Stock Markets Run on Different Schedules

If you trade stocks on exchanges outside the United States, those markets open and close at different times. The London Stock Exchange opens at 8:00 a.m. GMT and closes at 4:30 p.m. GMT. The Tokyo Stock Exchange opens at 9:00 a.m. JST and closes at 3:00 p.m. JST. The Frankfurt Stock Exchange opens at 8:00 a.m. CET and closes at 10:00 p.m. CET. These times do not overlap with U.S. hours, so you cannot trade U.S. stocks on a foreign exchange during U.S. market hours.

Some brokers offer access to international markets through American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) or through direct access to foreign exchanges, but this requires a separate account or special permissions. Check your broker's offerings if you want to trade outside U.S. market hours.

What Happens to Your Orders Outside Regular Hours

If you place a market order (an order to buy or sell at the current price) outside regular trading hours, your broker will usually hold it and submit it when the market opens at 9:30 a.m. the next trading day. The price you receive may be very different from the price you saw when you placed the order, because the stock price can move overnight or during pre-market trading.

If you place a limit order (an order to buy at a specific price or below, or sell at a specific price or above) outside regular hours, it may sit in a queue until regular hours begin, or it may be routed to an after-hours trading venue. If it does not fill during after-hours trading, it will carry over to the next regular session. Always read your broker's order handling policy before placing a trade outside 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I trade stocks before 9:30 a.m.?

Yes, if your broker offers pre-market trading. Pre-market sessions typically run from 4:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time, but volume is low and prices can move sharply. Not all stocks trade during pre-market hours. Check your broker's website to see whether pre-market access is available on your account.

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 still opens at 9:30 a.m., so you have a shortened four-and-a-half-hour session. After-hours trading does not occur on this day.

If I place an order at 5:00 p.m., when will it execute?

It depends on your broker and the type of order. A market order will usually be held and submitted at 9:30 a.m. the next trading day. A limit order may be routed to after-hours trading venues, or held until regular hours. Contact your broker to understand their specific order handling rules for times outside 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Does the stock market open on New Year's Day?

No. The stock market is closed on New Year's Day and on all other federal holidays. If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the market is closed on the nearest weekday instead. Check your broker's holiday calendar to see the full list of closures for the year.

What is the difference between regular hours and after-hours trading?

Regular hours (9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) have high volume and tight spreads, so orders usually execute quickly at predictable prices. After-hours trading (4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time) has low volume and wide spreads, so prices can swing sharply and orders may not fill. Most individual traders avoid after-hours trading because of these risks.