The U.S. stock market follows a fixed schedule, not a daily announcement
The U.S. stock market is open Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, except on federal holidays and the day after Thanksgiving. You do not need to check each day — the schedule is the same every week unless a holiday falls on a trading day.
The two largest exchanges are the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the NASDAQ. Both follow the same hours and close on the same days. If you are checking whether you can trade right now, the answer depends on what time it is and what day of the week it is.
Before you trade, you should know that markets also close early — at 1:00 p.m. Eastern — on the day after Thanksgiving and on Christmas Eve (if Christmas falls on a weekday). These shortened days happen once or twice a year.
Key Takeaways
- Regular trading hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
- The market closes on eleven federal holidays each year, including New Year's Day, Independence Day, and Thanksgiving.
- You can place orders outside regular hours through after-hours trading, but prices are less stable and spreads are wider.
- The day after Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve (when Christmas is a weekday) close at 1:00 p.m. instead of 4:00 p.m.
The complete list of market closures for 2024 and 2025
The market closes on these federal holidays:
| Holiday | 2024 Date | 2025 Date |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Monday, January 1 | Wednesday, January 1 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Monday, January 15 | Monday, January 20 |
| Presidents' Day | Monday, February 19 | Monday, February 17 |
| Good Friday | Friday, March 29 | Friday, April 18 |
| Memorial Day | Monday, May 27 | Monday, May 26 |
| Juneteenth | Wednesday, June 19 | Thursday, June 19 |
| Independence Day | Thursday, July 4 | Friday, July 4 |
| Labor Day | Monday, September 2 | Monday, September 1 |
| Thanksgiving | Thursday, November 28 | Thursday, November 27 |
| Day After Thanksgiving (early close) | Friday, November 29 (1:00 p.m.) | Friday, November 28 (1:00 p.m.) |
| Christmas | Wednesday, December 25 | Thursday, December 25 |
When a holiday falls on a weekend, the market does not observe it on the following Monday. For example, if Independence Day falls on a Saturday, the market opens normally on Monday.
What happens during pre-market and after-hours trading
You can trade stocks before 9:30 a.m. and after 4:00 p.m. through pre-market and after-hours trading. These sessions exist, but they work differently from regular trading. Fewer traders participate, so prices move more sharply on smaller trades, and the gap between the bid price (what buyers offer) and the ask price (what sellers want) is wider.
Pre-market trading runs from 4:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Eastern. After-hours trading runs from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern. Not all brokers offer both, and not all stocks trade in both sessions. You should check with your brokerage to see which extended hours they support.
Orders placed during extended hours do not execute until the regular session opens unless another trader in that session is willing to match your price. This means a limit order you place at 6:00 p.m. might not fill until 9:30 a.m. the next morning, or it might not fill at all if the price never reaches your limit.
Why the market closes on certain days
The NYSE and NASDAQ close on federal holidays to give traders and market staff time off, and because government offices are closed, which affects settlement and regulatory operations. The market also closes on Good Friday, which is not a federal holiday but is observed by the financial industry.
The early close on the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve is a longstanding tradition in the financial industry. These days historically see very light trading volume, and the exchanges close early to let staff leave before the holiday.
How to learn about the market is open right now
The simplest way is to check the time and day. If it is a weekday between 9:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, and today is not one of the eleven holidays listed above, the market is open.
If you are unsure whether today is a market holiday, you can check the NYSE website directly — they publish the annual holiday calendar. You can also check your brokerage's website or app; most show a banner or notification when the market is closed.
If you are in a different time zone, remember to convert to Eastern Time. For example, 9:30 a.m. Eastern is 8:30 a.m. Central, 7:30 a.m. Mountain, and 6:30 a.m. Pacific.
What to do if you want to trade on a day the market is closed
You cannot trade on the regular exchanges when they are closed. Your only option is after-hours trading on the day before the closure, or pre-market trading on the day after the closure, if your brokerage offers it and the stock you want to trade is available in that session.
Keep in mind that prices in extended hours can be very different from the closing price the day before. A stock might close at $50 on Friday, but open at $52 on Monday if news breaks over the weekend. If you place an order during the weekend closure, you cannot execute it until Monday morning, and the price may have moved significantly.
Some traders place orders to execute automatically when the market opens on the next trading day. This is called a market-on-open order. Check your brokerage to see if they offer this feature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the market open on weekends?
No. The stock market is closed on Saturdays and Sundays. You can place orders through your brokerage during the weekend, but they will not execute until the market opens on Monday morning at 9:30 a.m. Eastern.
Can I trade on Christmas Eve if it falls on a weekday?
Yes, but only until 1:00 p.m. Eastern. The market closes early on Christmas Eve every year it falls on a weekday (Monday through Friday). Regular trading hours do not explore that day.
What if a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday?
The market does not observe holidays that fall on weekends. If Independence Day is on a Saturday, the market opens normally on Monday. The holiday is not moved to Friday or Monday for trading purposes.
Do international stock markets follow the same schedule?
No. Stock exchanges in other countries have their own schedules and holidays. The London Stock Exchange, Tokyo Stock Exchange, and others close on different days and at different times. If you trade international stocks, check the exchange's calendar for that country.
What happens to my order if I place it after the market closes?
If you place a regular order after 4:00 p.m. Eastern on a trading day, it will wait until the market opens the next trading day and execute at that time (or not at all, depending on the price). If you place it on a day the market is closed, it will wait until the market opens on the next trading day.