The stock market closes on weekends and federal holidays, and opens at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time on regular business days.

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the NASDAQ — the two largest U.S. stock markets — follow the same schedule. They are closed Saturday and Sunday every week. They are also closed on 10 federal holidays each year, though the exact list varies slightly. On days when the market is open, trading runs from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

The fastest way to check whether today is a market day is to look at your brokerage app or website. Most brokers display the market status on their homepage or in a banner at the top. You can also visit the NYSE or NASDAQ websites directly — both show whether the market is open right now and list the full holiday calendar for the year.

Key Takeaways

  • The stock market is closed every Saturday and Sunday, and on 10 federal holidays each year.
  • When the market is open, trading hours run from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, regardless of what time zone you are in.
  • Your brokerage app or website will show the market status when ready — this is the easiest way to check.
  • The NYSE and NASDAQ websites both publish their holiday calendar at the start of each year so you can plan ahead.

The 10 federal holidays when markets close

The stock market closes on 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. If 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.

The market also closes early — at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time — on the day after Thanksgiving and on Christmas Eve, but only if that day falls on a weekday. These early closures are not full closures, so trading still happens in the morning.

What happens if you try to trade when the market is closed

If you place an order through your brokerage when the market is closed, the order will not execute when ready. Instead, most brokers hold the order and execute it when the market opens the next trading day — usually at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. This is called a market order placed during after-hours time.

Some brokers offer after-hours trading, which allows you to buy and sell stocks before the market opens (starting at 4:00 a.m. Eastern) or after it closes (until 8:00 p.m. Eastern). After-hours trading is riskier because fewer traders are active, prices can move more sharply, and you may not be able to sell at the price you want. Check your brokerage to see whether after-hours trading is available on your account.

How to find the market holiday calendar

The NYSE publishes its holiday calendar on its website under "Market Information" or "Trading Calendar." The NASDAQ does the same. Both calendars are updated at the start of each year and show every day the market will be closed. You can read these calendars or set phone reminders for holidays if your broker offers that feature.

If you trade regularly, it is worth bookmarking the holiday calendar or saving it to your phone. This prevents the frustration of placing an order you think will execute at market open, only to realize the market is closed that day.

Time zones and market hours

The stock market operates on Eastern Time, even if you live in a different time zone. If you are on the West Coast, the market opens at 6:30 a.m. Pacific Time and closes at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time. If you are in the Central Time Zone, the market opens at 8:30 a.m. and closes at 3:00 p.m. Central Time.

Your brokerage app should display market hours in your local time zone automatically. If it does not, you can do the math by subtracting the hours: Pacific is 3 hours behind Eastern, Mountain is 2 hours behind, and Central is 1 hour behind.

What to do if you need to trade on a holiday

If you need to buy or sell stock on a day the market is closed, you have two options. First, you can place a limit order to execute when the market reopens — this order will sit until the next trading day and execute only if the stock reaches your specified price. Second, if your broker offers after-hours trading, you can trade during those extended hours, though with the risks mentioned above.

Neither option guarantees your order will execute at the price you want. If you are trying to respond to urgent news, remember that the news will still be there when the market opens the next day, and so will most other traders. Rushing into after-hours trading often costs more than waiting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the stock market ever open on a weekend?

No. The NYSE and NASDAQ are closed every Saturday and Sunday without exception. If you need to trade on a weekend, some brokers offer after-hours trading, but this is not the same as the regular market and carries higher risk.

What time does the market close on early-close days?

The market closes at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the day after Thanksgiving and on Christmas Eve (if those days fall on a weekday). Regular trading hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., so you have a shorter window to place orders on early-close days.

Can I see stock prices when the market is closed?

Yes. Your brokerage will show you the last price from when the market closed, and you can see after-hours prices if your broker offers that data. However, after-hours prices may be very different from the price when the market opens the next day.

What if a holiday falls on a weekend?

If a federal holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the stock market is closed on the nearest weekday instead. For example, if Independence Day falls on a Saturday, the market closes on Friday. Your broker's holiday calendar will show the observed date.

Does the bond market have the same hours as the stock market?

The bond market has different hours than the stock market. Treasury bonds trade from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on weekdays, and corporate bonds trade on similar but slightly different schedules. Check your broker's calendar if you trade bonds.