When the Stock Market Is Open and When It Closes
The stock market is open Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time
The main U.S. stock exchanges — the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the NASDAQ — operate on the same schedule. If you want to buy or sell stocks during regular hours, you can do so any weekday except the days listed below. Outside these hours, you can place orders on some brokers' platforms, but those trades happen on the "after-hours market," where prices move differently and spreads are wider.
The market closes for 10 federal holidays each year. On these days, the exchanges do not open at all, and you cannot trade stocks through normal channels. Some brokers allow after-hours trading on the day before or after a holiday, but regular trading is not possible.
Key Takeaways
- Regular stock market hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
- The market closes completely on 10 federal holidays each year, including New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
- You can place orders outside regular hours on many brokers' platforms, but these trades execute on the after-hours market at different prices.
- The pre-market session runs from 4:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., and after-hours trading runs from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., though not all brokers offer both.
The 10 days the stock market closes each year
The NYSE and NASDAQ close on New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. If a holiday falls on a weekend, the market is closed on the nearest weekday instead.
On these days, you cannot place regular market orders. Some brokers allow you to place orders that will execute the next trading day, but the order does not go through until the market reopens. If you hold stocks that pay dividends on a market holiday, the dividend is usually paid on the next trading day instead.
Before and after regular trading hours
The pre-market session begins at 4:00 a.m. Eastern Time and runs until the regular market opens at 9:30 a.m. The after-hours session begins when the regular market closes at 4:00 p.m. and runs until 8:00 p.m. Not all brokers offer both sessions, and not all stocks can be traded in these windows.
Prices in pre-market and after-hours trading can move much more sharply than during regular hours because fewer traders are active. A stock might jump or drop several dollars on light volume, and the bid-ask spread — the difference between what buyers will pay and what sellers will accept — is often much wider. If you place an order during these times, it may not execute at the price you see on your screen.
Many brokers require a minimum account balance or a certain account type to trade outside regular hours. Check your broker's rules before you assume you can place an order at 6:00 a.m. or 6:00 p.m.
Why the market closes when it does
The 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. window was set decades ago and reflects the time it took to physically move stock certificates and settle trades by hand. Modern electronic systems could operate around the clock, but the exchanges keep the same hours to give all traders a level playing field during a defined window and to allow time for clearing and settlement overnight.
The market also closes on federal holidays to align with the banking system and government offices, which are also closed. This prevents confusion about when trades settle and when cash moves between accounts.
What happens if you try to trade when the market is closed
If you place a market order — an order to buy or sell immediately at the current price — when the market is closed, most brokers will reject it or hold it until the market reopens. Some brokers automatically convert a market order placed after hours into a limit order, which means it will only execute if the stock reaches a price you specify.
If you place a limit order after hours, it may sit in the system until the market opens the next day. If the stock never reaches your limit price, the order expires at the end of that day unless you set it to "good till cancelled," which keeps it active across multiple days.
How to know if the market is open right now
Your broker's website or app will show you whether the market is currently open. Most platforms display a banner or status indicator on the home page. You can also check the NYSE or NASDAQ websites directly, which list the current market status and upcoming closures.
If you are unsure whether a specific day is a trading day, search for "stock market holidays" plus the current year. The NYSE publishes its full holiday calendar on its website each January.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I trade stocks on weekends?
No. The stock market is closed on Saturdays and Sundays. You can place orders on your broker's platform, but they will not execute until the market reopens on Monday morning. Some brokers allow you to set up orders in advance that will go through automatically when the market opens.
What if I need to sell a stock urgently and the market is closed?
If the market is closed, you cannot sell during regular hours. You can try to sell during after-hours trading if your broker offers it, but the price may be much worse than it would be during regular hours, and your order might not execute at all. If the market is closed for a holiday, you must wait until the next trading day.
Do international stock markets have the same hours as the U.S. market?
No. The London Stock Exchange opens at 8:00 a.m. GMT, the Tokyo Stock Exchange opens at 9:00 a.m. JST, and other exchanges operate on their own schedules. If you own stocks in other countries, you trade them during their local market hours, not U.S. hours.
Can I place a trade on my phone after hours?
Most brokers allow you to place orders on their mobile apps at any time, but the order will not execute until the market is open unless your broker offers after-hours trading. Check your broker's app to see whether after-hours trading is available for your account type.