Regular trading hours for U.S. stock markets
The major U.S. stock exchanges — the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the NASDAQ — close at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on regular trading days. Trading opens at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. These hours apply Monday through Friday, except on market holidays when the exchanges shut down entirely.
Before the official open, there is a pre-market session from 4:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time, and an after-hours session from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Volume and price movement are typically much lower during these windows, and not all stocks trade during extended hours.
If you are on the West Coast, subtract three hours from Eastern Time. So the market closes at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Central Time is two hours behind Eastern, so the close is 3:00 p.m. Central.
Key Takeaways
- U.S. stock markets close at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on regular trading days, Monday through Friday.
- The market is closed entirely on certain federal holidays, and trading does not happen at all on those days.
- Extended-hours trading (pre-market and after-hours) runs outside regular hours but with lower volume and wider spreads.
- You can check the NYSE or NASDAQ websites directly to confirm whether a specific date is a trading day.
When the stock market is closed for holidays
The NYSE and NASDAQ observe the following holidays each year and do not trade:
- New Year's Day (January 1)
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day (third Monday in January)
- Presidents' Day (third Monday in February)
- Good Friday (Friday before Easter Sunday)
- Memorial Day (last Monday in May)
- Juneteenth National Independence Day (June 19)
- Independence Day (July 4)
- Labor Day (first Monday in September)
- Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November)
- Christmas Day (December 25)
When a holiday falls on a weekend, the market is closed on the nearest weekday. For example, if Christmas falls on a Saturday, the market closes on Friday, December 24. The NYSE and NASDAQ publish their annual holiday calendar on their websites so you can plan ahead.
Early closures on the day before Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve
The stock market closes at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the day before Thanksgiving (the Wednesday before the fourth Thursday in November) and on Christmas Eve (December 24), rather than the usual 4:00 p.m. close. This applies only if those days fall on a weekday.
Extended-hours trading still runs after the early close, so some trading can continue until 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. However, volume is typically very light during these shortened days.
What happens if you place an order after the market closes
If you place a market order after 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on a regular trading day, it will not execute until the market opens the next trading day at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Your order sits in the queue overnight.
If you place a limit order (an order to buy or sell at a specific price) after hours, it may execute during the after-hours session if the price is met. However, after-hours trading has much lower volume, wider bid-ask spreads, and less price transparency than regular hours. Many brokers restrict which stocks you can trade after hours or charge higher commissions.
If the market is closed for a holiday, any order you place will wait until the market reopens the next trading day. There is no trading at all on market holidays, even during extended hours.
How to check if the market is open on a specific date
The NYSE publishes its annual holiday calendar at nyse.com under the Trading Information section. The NASDAQ publishes its calendar at nasdaq.com. Both calendars show which days the market is closed and which days have early closes.
You can also check your brokerage account or trading platform — most show a banner or notification on days when the market is closed or closing early. Financial news websites like MarketWatch, Yahoo Finance, and CNBC also display market status prominently.
Time zone conversions for market close
| Time Zone | Regular Close Time | Early Close Time |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Time (ET) | 4:00 p.m. | 1:00 p.m. |
| Central Time (CT) | 3:00 p.m. | 12:00 p.m. (noon) |
| Mountain Time (MT) | 2:00 p.m. | 11:00 a.m. |
| Pacific Time (PT) | 1:00 p.m. | 10:00 a.m. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I trade stocks after 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time?
Yes, but only during after-hours trading from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Not all stocks trade during these hours, and prices can move more sharply with lower volume. Your broker may restrict which stocks you can trade after hours or charge different fees.
What time does the market open?
The regular market opens at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Pre-market trading begins at 4:00 a.m. Eastern Time, but volume is much lower and spreads are wider than during regular hours.
Is the stock market open on weekends?
No. The NYSE and NASDAQ are closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Trading resumes Monday morning at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time, unless Monday is a market holiday.
What happens to my order if I place it on a market holiday?
Your order will not execute on a market holiday. It will remain pending and execute when the market reopens the next trading day, assuming the order is still valid and the conditions are met.
Does the market close early on any days other than the day before Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve?
No. The only early closes are at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the day before Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve (if those days fall on a weekday). All other trading days close at the regular 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.