The stock market closes at 4 p.m. Eastern Time on regular trading days, but it may be closed entirely today depending on the day of the week and whether a federal holiday falls today.

If today is Monday through Friday and not a federal holiday, the market closes at 4 p.m. ET. If today is Saturday or Sunday, the market is closed all day. If today is a federal holiday that the market observes — such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Independence Day — the market is closed all day, even if that holiday falls on a weekday.

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the NASDAQ follow the same schedule. Both stop accepting trades at 4 p.m. ET, and any order placed after that time enters the queue for the next trading day. This applies to stocks, most exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and many other securities traded on these exchanges.

Key Takeaways

  • Regular market hours end at 4 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, except on federal holidays the market observes.
  • The market is closed all day Saturday and Sunday, and on specific holidays including Thanksgiving, Christmas, Independence Day, and New Year's Day.
  • Orders placed after 4 p.m. ET are held until the market opens the next trading day at 9:30 a.m. ET.
  • Some brokers offer after-hours trading from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET, but volume is lower and prices can move more sharply than during regular hours.

Federal holidays when the market is closed

The NYSE and NASDAQ close on 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. The market also closes early — at 1 p.m. ET instead of 4 p.m. — on the day after Thanksgiving and on Christmas Eve (when Christmas Eve falls on a weekday).

If a holiday falls on a weekend, the market does not observe an extra closure on the nearest weekday. For example, if Independence Day falls on a Saturday, the market operates normally on Friday and reopens normally on Monday.

What happens to orders placed after the market closes

Any order you place after 4 p.m. ET sits in your broker's system until the market opens the next trading day at 9:30 a.m. ET. Your broker will not execute it during after-hours trading unless you specifically request after-hours trading when you place the order.

This matters because the price you see when you place an order after hours may not be the price you get when the market opens. If major news breaks overnight or in early morning, the opening price can be significantly different from the previous day's close. Your order will execute at whatever price the market reaches, not at the price you saw when you submitted it.

After-hours trading and early morning trading

Some brokers allow you to trade during after-hours sessions, which typically run from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET. Pre-market trading usually runs from 4 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. ET. These sessions have much lower trading volume than regular hours, which means prices can swing more sharply on smaller trades, and you may not be able to buy or sell as many shares as you want at the price you see.

Not all stocks trade during after-hours and pre-market sessions. Smaller or less-traded stocks may have no activity at all during these times. Check with your broker about which securities are available for extended-hours trading and what restrictions apply to your account.

Time zones and market hours

The stock market operates on Eastern Time, regardless of where you live. If you are in the Pacific Time zone, the market closes at 1 p.m. your time. If you are in the Central Time zone, it closes at 3 p.m. your time. If you are in the Mountain Time zone, it closes at 2 p.m. your time.

During daylight saving time, these offsets stay the same. When the U.S. switches to or from daylight saving time, the market's closing time in your local time zone shifts by one hour. Most brokers display market hours in your local time zone in their apps and websites, but it is worth double-checking if you trade across time zones or travel frequently.

Why the market closes at 4 p.m. Eastern Time

The NYSE has closed at 4 p.m. ET since 1985. Before that, it closed at 3 p.m. ET. The shift to 4 p.m. was made to extend trading hours and align better with European markets, which close in the late afternoon European time.

The 9:30 a.m. ET opening time has been in place since 1985 as well. The market opens after the opening bell, which is a ceremonial event held at the NYSE building in lower Manhattan. The opening bell signals the start of regular trading, and the closing bell at 4 p.m. signals the end.

Checking if the market is open today

The fastest way to check is to look at your broker's website or app — most display a banner or message stating whether the market is open or closed. You can also check the NYSE or NASDAQ websites directly, which publish their annual holiday calendar.

If you are unsure whether a specific day is a market holiday, search for "NYSE holiday calendar" or "NASDAQ holiday calendar" and look at the current year's schedule. These calendars are published well in advance and do not change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I trade stocks after 4 p.m. ET?

Some brokers offer after-hours trading from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET, but not all stocks trade during these hours, and prices can move more sharply than during regular trading. Check your broker's rules and which securities are available for after-hours trading on your account.

What time does the market open?

The stock market opens at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, except on federal holidays. Pre-market trading may begin as early as 4 a.m. ET on some brokers, but regular trading does not start until 9:30 a.m.

Does the market close early on any days?

Yes. The market closes at 1 p.m. ET on the day after Thanksgiving and on Christmas Eve (when Christmas Eve falls on a weekday). All other trading days close at 4 p.m. ET.

If a holiday falls on a weekend, is the market closed on Friday or Monday?

No. If a federal holiday falls on a weekend, the market operates on its normal schedule on the nearest weekday. The market does not observe an extra closure day.

What happens to my order if I place it after the market closes?

Your order waits in your broker's system until the market opens the next trading day at 9:30 a.m. ET, unless you specifically request after-hours trading when you place the order. The price you see when you submit the order may not be the price you get when it executes.