When the U.S. Stock Market Is Open and Closed
Regular trading hours and holiday closures
The U.S. stock market runs on a set schedule. The main exchanges — the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the NASDAQ — are open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. They are closed on weekends and on specific holidays each year.
The market closes entirely on New Year's Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. It also closes on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day. On some holidays like the day after Thanksgiving, the market opens but closes early at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
If you want to know whether the market is open today, the fastest way is to check the NYSE or NASDAQ websites directly, or to look at your brokerage account — most brokers display the market status on their homepage. You can also search "stock market hours today" to see current status.
Key Takeaways
- Regular trading hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
- The market closes on ten federal holidays per year, including Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Independence Day.
- On the day after Thanksgiving and a few other days, the market opens but closes at 1:00 p.m. instead of 4:00 p.m.
- Your brokerage account or the NYSE website will show you the current market status without you having to remember the schedule.
Trading before and after regular hours
Even when the main market is closed, some trading happens in what brokers call pre-market and after-hours sessions. Pre-market trading typically runs from 4:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. After-hours trading runs from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Not all stocks trade during these times, and not all brokers let individual investors trade then. The prices can swing more sharply because fewer people are trading, and the bid-ask spread — the gap between what buyers will pay and what sellers want — is often wider. If you trade during these hours, you may get a worse price than you would during regular hours.
Most individual investors stick to regular market hours because liquidity is higher and prices are more stable. If you are new to investing, trading outside regular hours is usually not necessary.
What happens on market holidays
On days when the market is closed, you cannot buy or sell stocks through the normal exchanges. If you place an order to buy or sell, it will sit in your brokerage account and execute when the market opens again — usually the next trading day.
News and events still happen on market holidays. Stock prices do not change because the market is closed, but they will reflect any overnight news when trading resumes. If major news breaks over a weekend or holiday, the opening price on the next trading day may be very different from the closing price before the break.
Some brokers let you place orders while the market is closed, but those orders do not execute until the market reopens. This is different from after-hours trading, where some trades actually happen at that moment.
The full list of market holidays
The NYSE and NASDAQ close on the same days each year. Here are the holidays when both exchanges are fully closed:
- New Year's Day (January 1)
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day (third Monday in January)
- Presidents' Day (third Monday in February)
- Memorial Day (last Monday in May)
- Juneteenth (June 19)
- Independence Day (July 4)
- Labor Day (first Monday in September)
- Thanksgiving (fourth Thursday in November)
- Day after Thanksgiving (fourth Friday in November) — market closes at 1:00 p.m.
- Christmas (December 25)
When a holiday falls on a weekend, the market is closed on the nearest weekday instead. For example, if Christmas falls on a Saturday, the market closes on Friday. If it falls on a Sunday, the market closes on Monday.
Early closures and shortened trading days
Beyond the day after Thanksgiving, the market also closes early on a few other days. The day before Independence Day closes at 1:00 p.m. if that day is a weekday. The day before Christmas closes at 1:00 p.m. if that day is a weekday.
These early closures are built into the market calendar and happen every year on the same schedule. Your broker will show you the market status, so you do not need to memorize which days are shortened. If you are planning to trade on a day near a holiday, it is worth checking your broker's calendar to confirm the hours.
How to check market status from your broker
Most brokers display the market status prominently on their homepage or in your account dashboard. You will see whether the market is open, closed, or in pre-market or after-hours trading. Some brokers also show a countdown to the next market open.
If you use a broker's mobile app, the status is usually visible as soon as you open it. You can also call your broker's customer service line — they will tell you the current market status and hours for that day.
The NYSE and NASDAQ websites also publish their holiday calendars and current status. You can bookmark these pages if you trade regularly and want to check the official source.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I trade stocks on weekends?
No. The main stock exchanges are closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Some brokers offer after-hours trading on Friday evening, but regular weekend trading is not available. If you place an order on a weekend, it will execute when the market opens on Monday morning.
What time does the stock market open and close?
The market opens at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time and closes at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. Pre-market trading starts at 4:00 a.m., and after-hours trading runs until 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Do I have to trade during regular market hours?
Most individual investors trade during regular hours because prices are more stable and you can trade any stock. Pre-market and after-hours trading are available through some brokers, but prices can move more sharply and fewer stocks are available. If you are starting out, regular hours are the best option.
What happens if I place an order when the market is closed?
Your order will wait in your brokerage account and execute when the market opens again, usually the next trading day. The price you get may be different from what you see when you place the order, because prices change overnight based on news and events.
Is the market open on Veterans Day?
Yes. Veterans Day (November 11) is a federal holiday, but the stock market remains open. The market only closes on the ten holidays listed in the market calendar. If you are unsure whether a specific holiday means the market is closed, check your broker's calendar or the NYSE website.