The stock market follows a fixed schedule, and tomorrow's status depends on the day of the week and whether a federal holiday falls on it.

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ, where most U.S. stocks trade, are open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. If tomorrow is a Saturday or Sunday, both exchanges are closed. If tomorrow is a weekday but a federal holiday, the exchanges are also closed — even though banks and most businesses may be open.

The fastest way to check is to visit the NYSE or NASDAQ websites directly. Both publish their holiday calendar at the start of each year, and you can see at a glance whether tomorrow is a trading day. If you hold stocks through a brokerage like Fidelity, Charles Schwab, or Vanguard, you can also check their websites or call their customer service line — they will tell you whether you can place trades tomorrow.

Key Takeaways

  • The stock market is open Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, except on federal holidays.
  • The NYSE and NASDAQ observe the same holidays each year, which are published on their websites before the year begins.
  • If tomorrow is a Saturday, Sunday, or federal holiday, you cannot place stock trades on the main exchanges.
  • Your brokerage website or customer service line can confirm whether the market is open and whether you can trade tomorrow.

The federal holidays when the stock market closes

The NYSE and NASDAQ close 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. The exact dates shift each year because some holidays fall on different days of the week.

If a holiday falls on a Saturday, the exchanges close on Friday instead. If a holiday falls on a Sunday, they close on Monday. This means you should check the actual calendar rather than relying on the holiday name alone. For example, if Christmas falls on a Saturday, the market closes on Friday, December 24th.

Early closures on the day before Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve

On the day before Thanksgiving and on Christmas Eve, the stock market closes at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time instead of the usual 4:00 p.m. This is a partial closure, not a full closure — you can still trade, but only during the shortened morning window.

If tomorrow is the day before Thanksgiving or Christmas Eve and it falls on a weekday, you have until 1:00 p.m. to place trades. After that, the market closes for the day. Your brokerage will remind you of these early closures, but it is worth checking their website or calendar if you plan to trade on these days.

How to check the market calendar yourself

Visit the NYSE website and look for "Market Holidays" or "Trading Calendar" in the footer or help section. NASDAQ has the same information under "Market Information." Both sites list every day the market will be closed for the entire year, so you can bookmark the page and refer to it whenever you need to know.

If you use a brokerage app or website, the trading screen often shows a small indicator or message if the market is closed. Some apps will not let you place orders at all when the market is closed, while others will accept your order to be placed when the market opens the next trading day.

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

If you place a stock order when the market is closed, your brokerage will hold it and execute it when the market opens the next trading day — usually at the opening price or close to it. This is called a "market order," and it means you do not control the exact price you pay or receive.

Some brokerages allow you to place "limit orders" when the market is closed, which means you set a price you are willing to pay or accept. The order will only execute if the stock hits that price when the market opens. If it does not, your order stays open until you cancel it or it expires.

Time zones and after-hours trading

The stock market's official hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. If you live in a different time zone, convert to Eastern Time to know when the market opens and closes. For example, if you are on Pacific Time, the market opens at 6:30 a.m. your time and closes at 1:00 p.m.

Some brokerages offer after-hours trading, which lets you buy and sell stocks before 9:30 a.m. or after 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. After-hours trading is riskier because fewer traders are active, prices can swing more, and you may not be able to sell your shares at the price you want. After-hours trading is not available on days when the market is fully closed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the stock market open on Presidents' Day?

No, the stock market is closed on Presidents' Day, which falls on the third Monday in February. You cannot place trades on this day. If you have a pending order, it will execute when the market opens the next trading day.

Can I trade stocks on Thanksgiving?

The market is closed all day on Thanksgiving. However, it is open on the day before Thanksgiving, but only until 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time. If you want to trade before the holiday, you must do so before that early closing time.

What if tomorrow is a holiday but my bank is open?

Banks and the stock market operate on different schedules. A bank can be open while the stock market is closed. If tomorrow is a federal holiday, the stock market will be closed even if your bank is open. You can deposit money or handle banking tasks, but you cannot trade stocks.

Does the stock market close early on any other days?

Yes, the market closes at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the day before Thanksgiving and on Christmas Eve (if Christmas Eve is a weekday). These are the only two days each year when the market has an early closure. All other trading days run the full 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. schedule.

Can I place a trade after 4:00 p.m. if the market is still open?

No, the market closes at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on all regular trading days. After that time, you can only place orders through after-hours trading if your brokerage offers it. After-hours orders execute at different prices and carry more risk than regular market hours.