Regular Trading Hours for U.S. Stock Markets
The U.S. stock market opens at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time and closes at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. This applies to the major exchanges: the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the NASDAQ. These hours are the same year-round, though the actual clock time shifts when daylight saving time begins and ends.
The market does not open on weekends or federal holidays. When a holiday falls on a weekday, the market is closed that day. If a holiday falls on a Saturday, the market is closed on Friday; if it falls on a Sunday, the market is closed on Monday.
Before the official 9:30 a.m. open, there is a pre-market trading session that runs from 4:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. After the 4:00 p.m. close, there is an after-hours trading session that runs from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. These extended hours exist, but they have lower trading volume and wider bid-ask spreads, meaning prices can move more sharply on fewer trades.
Key Takeaways
- Regular trading hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
- Pre-market trading begins at 4:00 a.m. and after-hours trading ends at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, but both have thinner trading and larger price swings.
- The market is closed on weekends and federal holidays, and the holiday schedule shifts one day when a holiday falls on a weekend.
- Time zone conversion matters: 9:30 a.m. Eastern is 8:30 a.m. Central, 7:30 a.m. Mountain, and 6:30 a.m. Pacific.
Federal Holidays When the Market Closes
The NYSE and NASDAQ close 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. The market also closes on the day after Thanksgiving.
When a holiday falls on a Saturday, the market closes on the preceding Friday. When a holiday falls on a Sunday, the market closes on the following Monday. This rule applies to all holidays except Christmas and New Year's Day, which have their own specific observance rules set by the exchanges.
What Happens During Pre-Market and After-Hours Trading
Pre-market trading runs from 4:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. During this window, investors can trade stocks, but the number of buyers and sellers is much smaller than during regular hours. This means prices can move sharply on small trades, and you may not be able to buy or sell at the price you see on your screen.
After-hours trading runs from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The same conditions apply: lower volume, wider spreads, and more volatile price movement. Many brokers restrict after-hours trading or charge higher fees for it. News released after the market closes — such as earnings reports or major company announcements — often drives significant price moves in after-hours trading, but you may not be able to act on that news immediately.
Time Zone Conversion
The market opens and closes based on Eastern Time. If you are in a different time zone, you need to convert:
| Time Zone | Market Open | Market Close |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern | 9:30 a.m. | 4:00 p.m. |
| Central | 8:30 a.m. | 3:00 p.m. |
| Mountain | 7:30 a.m. | 2:00 p.m. |
| Pacific | 6:30 a.m. | 1:00 p.m. |
Daylight saving time affects these times. When daylight saving time begins in March, clocks spring forward one hour. When it ends in November, clocks fall back one hour. The market's Eastern Time hours do not change, but your local time does.
International Stock Markets and Their Hours
If you trade stocks on exchanges outside the United States, those markets have their own opening and closing 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 Hong Kong Stock Exchange opens at 9:30 a.m. HKT and closes at 4:00 p.m. HKT.
These times do not align with U.S. market hours, which means there is no single global trading window. If you hold stocks in multiple countries, you will need to track each market's schedule separately. Some U.S. brokers allow you to trade certain international stocks during U.S. market hours through American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), which are U.S.-listed shares that represent foreign company stock.
What Happens at Market Open and Close
The opening bell at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time signals the start of regular trading. In the first few minutes, trading volume is typically high as investors place orders that accumulated overnight or during pre-market hours. Prices can be volatile during this period.
The closing bell at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time marks the end of regular trading. In the final hour, volume often increases as traders close positions before the market shuts down. After 4:00 p.m., any trades occur in the after-hours session, which has much lower volume and different rules at some brokers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I trade stocks before 9:30 a.m.?
Yes, through pre-market trading from 4:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. However, not all brokers offer this, and prices can move sharply because there are fewer buyers and sellers. Check with your broker to see if pre-market trading is available on your account.
What if I place an order after 4:00 p.m.?
If you place an order after 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, it will either be held for the next trading day or routed to after-hours trading, depending on your broker's settings. After-hours trades happen at different prices than regular-hours trades, and you may not get the price you expected.
Does the market ever open early or close late?
No. The regular market hours are always 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The only exception is when the market closes early due to a technical issue or emergency, which is rare. The exchanges announce any schedule changes well in advance.
What time does the market open on the day after Thanksgiving?
The market is closed on the day after Thanksgiving (the Friday after the fourth Thursday in November). It reopens at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time on the following Monday.
If I live outside the U.S., can I trade during U.S. market hours?
Yes. You can trade U.S. stocks during regular market hours (9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) from anywhere in the world, as long as your broker allows it and you have an account with them. You will need to convert the time to your local time zone.