The stock market closes on weekends and federal holidays, and also stops trading during certain hours each trading day

The U.S. stock market operates on a fixed schedule. The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ — the two largest stock exchanges in the United States — are open Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Outside those hours and on weekends, you cannot buy or sell stocks through regular trading.

The market also closes on federal holidays, even when they fall on a weekday. On some holidays, the market opens for a shortened session that ends at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time instead of the usual 4:00 p.m. You can still place orders when the market is closed — through your brokerage's after-hours trading or by setting up orders to execute when trading resumes — but those orders will not fill until the market reopens.

Key Takeaways

  • Regular stock market hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
  • The market is closed on weekends and all federal holidays, including New Year's Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
  • On some holidays the market opens for a half day, closing at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time instead of 4:00 p.m.
  • You can place orders when the market is closed, but they will not execute until the market reopens during regular hours.

Federal holidays when the stock market closes

The NYSE and NASDAQ observe the following federal holidays and close entirely:

  • New Year's Day (January 1)
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day (third Monday in January)
  • Presidents' Day (third Monday in February)
  • Good Friday (Friday before Easter Sunday)
  • Memorial Day (last Monday in May)
  • Juneteenth National Independence Day (June 19)
  • Independence Day (July 4)
  • Labor Day (first Monday in September)
  • Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November)
  • Christmas Day (December 25)

When a federal holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the market does not observe it on a different day. The market straightforward remains closed on the weekend as usual.

Half-day closings and early market closures

The day after Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve (if it falls on a weekday) are the only regular half-day trading sessions. On these days, the market opens at 9:30 a.m. but closes at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time. All orders must be placed and executed within those shortened hours.

Occasionally the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or the exchanges themselves may announce an unscheduled early closure due to a significant market event or technical issue. These are rare and announced in advance through the official NYSE and NASDAQ websites.

After-hours and pre-market trading windows

Even when the regular market is closed, some brokerages allow you to trade during extended hours. Pre-market trading typically runs from 4:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time, and after-hours trading runs from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Not all stocks trade during these windows, and prices can be more volatile with wider spreads between buy and sell prices.

Extended-hours trading is not available on weekends or federal holidays. Your brokerage determines whether you have access to pre-market and after-hours sessions — some charge fees, some require a minimum account balance, and some do not offer it at all. Check your brokerage's rules before placing an order outside regular hours.

How to check if the market is open today

The official NYSE website (nyse.com) and NASDAQ website (nasdaq.com) both publish their holiday calendars and current market status. You can also check your brokerage's website or app, which usually displays whether the market is open in real time and shows the current time until market close.

If you are unsure whether a specific day is a trading day, the exchange websites are the most reliable source. They update their calendars annually and note any unscheduled closures as soon as they are announced.

What happens to your orders when the market is closed

If you place a market order (an order to buy or sell at the current price) when the market is closed, it will not execute until the market reopens. The order sits in a queue and fills at the opening price or the first available price once trading resumes. This means the price you get may be different from what you saw when you placed the order.

Limit orders (orders to buy or sell only at a specific price or better) also wait until the market reopens. If the stock never reaches your limit price during the next trading session, your order may not fill at all. You can cancel any pending order before the market opens the next day if you change your mind.

International stock markets have different hours

If you trade stocks on exchanges outside the United States — such as the London Stock Exchange, Tokyo Stock Exchange, or Hong Kong Stock Exchange — those markets operate on their own schedules and time zones. A stock market in London may be open while the NYSE is closed, and vice versa. Your brokerage will show you the trading hours for any international exchange you want to trade on.

Some U.S. brokerages allow you to trade certain international stocks during their local market hours, though this is less common than trading U.S. stocks. Check whether your brokerage supports international trading and what hours are available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I trade stocks on Saturday or Sunday?

No. The NYSE and NASDAQ do not open on weekends. Some brokerages offer extended-hours trading on weekdays before 9:30 a.m. and after 4:00 p.m., but weekend trading is not available through any U.S. stock exchange.

What time does the stock market close on a half-day?

On half-day trading sessions (the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve), the market closes at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time instead of the regular 4:00 p.m. closing time.

If I place an order after hours, when will it execute?

Your order will execute during the next regular trading session (9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) if the conditions are met. Market orders fill at the opening price or the first available price. Limit orders fill only if the stock reaches your specified price.

Does the stock market close on Election Day?

No. Election Day is not a federal holiday, so the stock market remains open on the day of federal elections. The market only closes on the 10 federal holidays recognized by the NYSE and NASDAQ.

What if I need to sell stocks during a market closure?

You can place a sell order before the market closes, or you can place an order during extended hours (if your brokerage offers it) to sell when the market reopens. You cannot execute a sale during a complete market closure, but your order will be queued and fill as soon as trading resumes.