When the Stock Market Closes Today and Why It Matters
The stock market closes at 4 p.m. Eastern time on regular trading days
U.S. stock exchanges — the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq — close at 4 p.m. Eastern every weekday when the market is open. That time does not change for daylight saving time; it stays 4 p.m. Eastern year-round. If you are in a different time zone, subtract or add hours accordingly: 3 p.m. Central, 2 p.m. Mountain, 1 p.m. Pacific.
The market is closed entirely on weekends and on specific holidays set by the exchange. On those days, no stocks trade at all through the regular market. Some brokers offer after-hours or pre-market trading, but those are separate from the main market close and carry different risks.
Key Takeaways
- Regular market hours end at 4 p.m. Eastern, and no trades execute on the main exchange after that time.
- The market is closed every Saturday and Sunday, and on 11 federal holidays each year including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
- After-hours trading exists from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern, but spreads are wider, volume is lower, and prices can move sharply on thin trading.
- If you place an order after 4 p.m., it will not execute until the next trading day unless you specifically request after-hours trading.
When the market is closed on holidays
The New York Stock Exchange closes on 11 holidays each year. These are: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. On these days, the market does not open at all.
The market also closes early — at 1 p.m. Eastern — on the day after Thanksgiving and on Christmas Eve, if Christmas Eve falls on a weekday. These early closes are announced in advance by the exchange, and your broker should flag them in your account or calendar.
What happens if you try to trade after 4 p.m.
If you place a regular market order after 4 p.m. Eastern, your broker will hold it and send it to the exchange when the market opens the next trading day. You will not know the exact price you get until that happens. This is called a market order, and it executes at whatever price the stock is trading at when your order reaches the exchange.
If you want to trade after 4 p.m., you can request after-hours trading through most brokers. After-hours trading runs from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern. The catch: far fewer buyers and sellers are active, so the spread between the bid and ask price is much wider. A stock might jump or drop sharply on a single trade because volume is thin. Many brokers also charge higher commissions for after-hours trades or restrict which stocks you can trade.
Pre-market trading before the 9:30 a.m. open
The regular market opens at 9:30 a.m. Eastern, but some brokers let you trade starting at 4 a.m. or 7 a.m. Eastern. This is called pre-market trading. The same risks apply: low volume, wide spreads, and sharp price swings on small trades. Many brokers restrict pre-market trading to certain account types or charge extra.
Pre-market trading is useful if you want to react to news that broke overnight or before the regular open. But if you are not watching the market closely, a pre-market order can execute at a price very different from what you expected.
How to learn about the market is closed today
Your broker's website or app will show you whether the market is open or closed. Most brokers display a banner or notification on the home page on days the market is closed. The New York Stock Exchange publishes its holiday calendar on its website at nyse.com, and you can also check Nasdaq.com for the Nasdaq calendar.
If you are unsure whether a specific day is a trading day, search "[date] stock market closed" or check your broker's calendar feature. Most brokers let you set up alerts for market closures or early closes.
Why the market closes at 4 p.m. and not another time
The 4 p.m. close is a convention set by the exchanges decades ago. It marks the end of the official trading day and the time when the closing bell rings. The opening bell rings at 9:30 a.m., so the regular market is open for 6.5 hours each day.
After-hours trading and pre-market trading exist because traders and investors want to react to news outside regular hours. But the official close at 4 p.m. is when the vast majority of trading volume happens and when most investors buy and sell. If you are new to investing, trading during regular hours is simpler and safer than trying to navigate after-hours markets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sell my stocks after 4 p.m.?
You can place an order after 4 p.m., but it will not execute until the next trading day unless your broker offers after-hours trading. If you request after-hours trading, your order may execute between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern, but at a price that may be very different from the 4 p.m. close.
What time does the market open?
The stock market opens at 9:30 a.m. Eastern on trading days. Some brokers let you place orders as early as 4 a.m. or 7 a.m. through pre-market trading, but the official open is 9:30 a.m.
Is the market closed on Veterans Day?
No. Veterans Day (November 11) is a federal holiday, but the stock market remains open. The market closes on 11 specific holidays set by the New York Stock Exchange, and Veterans Day is not one of them.
What if I forget to sell before 4 p.m.?
Your shares will still be yours. You can sell them the next trading day during regular hours. If you need to sell urgently after 4 p.m., you can request after-hours trading through your broker, but expect a wider spread and possible price swings.