The regular closing time for U.S. stock markets

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ — the two largest stock markets in the United States — both close at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on weekdays. This is the end of the regular trading day, when the closing bell rings and most trading stops.

The market opens at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time, so the regular trading day runs for six and a half hours. This schedule applies Monday through Friday, except on days when the markets are closed for federal holidays.

If you place an order to buy or sell a stock during regular hours, it will execute during this window. Orders placed after 4:00 p.m. will not go through until the next trading day opens.

Key Takeaways

  • The NYSE and NASDAQ close at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on weekdays, ending the regular trading day.
  • Regular trading hours run from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
  • The markets are closed on weekends and federal holidays, with no trading taking place.
  • Extended-hours trading exists before and after regular hours, but it is less liquid and carries higher risks than regular trading.
  • Stock prices you see quoted after 4:00 p.m. are usually the closing price from that day, not live prices.

What happens at the 4:00 p.m. closing bell

When the clock hits 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, the closing bell rings on the trading floor. This signals the end of the regular trading session. Any buy or sell orders that have not yet filled will remain open, but new orders placed after 4:00 p.m. cannot execute until the next day.

The closing price — the last price at which a stock traded during regular hours — becomes the official price for that day. This is the price you see listed in financial news, on brokerage websites, and in stock tickers. It is the price used to calculate gains or losses for the day.

After the closing bell, market data companies publish closing prices and trading volume for each stock. This information flows to news outlets, financial websites, and your brokerage account, usually within minutes.

Extended-hours trading before and after 4:00 p.m.

Some brokerages allow trading outside regular hours through extended-hours sessions. Pre-market trading typically runs from 4:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. After-hours trading typically runs from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, though the exact times vary by brokerage.

Extended-hours trading exists, but it works differently than regular trading. Fewer traders are active, so bid-ask spreads are wider — meaning you may pay more to buy or receive less when you sell. Price swings can be sharper because lower volume means smaller orders move prices more. Not all stocks can be traded during extended hours, and some brokerages charge extra fees or require a minimum account balance.

If you place an order during extended hours and it does not fill before the session ends, it will not automatically carry over to the next regular session. You will need to place a new order the next day.

Market closures on weekends and holidays

The stock market does not trade on Saturdays and Sundays. If you place an order on Friday after 4:00 p.m., it will not execute until Monday morning at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

The markets also close on federal holidays, including 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, no regular trading takes place. Some brokerages may offer limited extended-hours trading on certain holidays, but this varies.

You can check your brokerage's website or call their customer service line to confirm whether the market will be open on a specific date.

How closing time affects your trades

The time you place an order matters. If you submit a market order — an order to buy or sell at the current price — during regular hours, it will execute almost when ready at or near the current price. If you submit the same order after 4:00 p.m., it will wait until the next trading day to execute, and the price may be very different.

Limit orders — orders that only execute at a specific price or better — also behave differently depending on when you place them. A limit order placed during regular hours can fill at any point during the day. A limit order placed after hours will not execute until the next trading day, even if the stock hits your target price during extended-hours trading.

If you are watching a stock price drop and want to sell before it falls further, you need to act before 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. After the market closes, you cannot execute a regular market order until the next day opens.

Time zones and closing time

The 4:00 p.m. closing time is always Eastern Time, regardless of where you live. If you are on the West Coast, that is 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time. If you are in the Central Time Zone, it is 3:00 p.m. Central Time.

Your brokerage app or website will usually show times in your local time zone, so check the settings to confirm. Some brokerages display Eastern Time by default, while others convert to your location automatically.

Why the market closes at 4:00 p.m.

The NYSE has used a 4:00 p.m. closing time since 1985. Before that, the market closed at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The change was made to extend trading hours and give investors more time to trade during the day.

The 9:30 a.m. opening time has been in place since 1985 as well. These hours were chosen to overlap with major financial markets in Europe, which close in the early afternoon Eastern Time, and to give traders on the West Coast time to start their day.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time does the stock market close on Friday?

The stock market closes at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, the same as any other weekday. However, if Monday is a federal holiday, the market will be closed on Monday, so Friday's closing price will be the last official price until Tuesday.

Can I trade stocks after 4:00 p.m.?

Yes, through extended-hours trading if your brokerage offers it. After-hours sessions typically run until 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, but trading is less active, spreads are wider, and prices can be more volatile. Not all stocks trade during extended hours.

What happens to my order if I place it after the market closes?

A market order placed after 4:00 p.m. will not execute until the next trading day opens at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. A limit order will also wait until the next day, even if the stock reaches your target price during extended-hours trading.

Does the stock market close early on any days?

The day before Thanksgiving and the day after Thanksgiving (if observed), the market closes at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time instead of 4:00 p.m. On Christmas Eve, if it falls on a weekday, the market also closes at 1:00 p.m. Check your brokerage's holiday calendar to confirm.

Why can't I see live stock prices after 4:00 p.m.?

After 4:00 p.m., the prices you see are the closing prices from regular trading hours, not live prices. During extended-hours trading, prices do update, but they reflect the much lower volume of trades happening outside regular hours and may not be reliable for decision-making.