Stock Market Hours: When Can You Trade U.S. Stocks?
The NYSE and Nasdaq are open 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on weekdays, except market holidays. Pre-market and after-hours trading carry extra risks.
The U.S. stock market is open for regular trading from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), Monday through Friday, except on market holidays. The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq follow the same core hours. Some brokers also offer pre-market and after-hours trading, which comes with extra risks.
Regular trading hours
Session | Time (Eastern Time) |
|---|---|
Regular trading | 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. |
Early (pre-market) trading | Starts as early as 4:00 a.m. on some venues; varies by exchange and broker |
Late (after-hours) trading | 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. on some venues; varies by exchange and broker |
Eastern Time switches between EST and EDT for daylight saving time, so the hours above stay the same on the clock in New York but shift for investors in other time zones. For example, 9:30 a.m. ET is 9:30 p.m. in Jakarta while New York is on standard time (November to March), and 8:30 p.m. in Jakarta during daylight saving time.
2026 stock market holidays
The NYSE is closed on these days in 2026:
Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
New Year’s Day | Thursday, January 1 |
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day | Monday, January 19 |
Washington’s Birthday (Presidents Day) | Monday, February 16 |
Good Friday | Friday, April 3 |
Memorial Day | Monday, May 25 |
Juneteenth | Friday, June 19 |
Independence Day (observed) | Friday, July 3 |
Labor Day | Monday, September 7 |
Thanksgiving Day | Thursday, November 26 |
Christmas Day | Friday, December 25 |
Early closes in 2026: the market closes at 1:00 p.m. ET on Friday, November 27 (the day after Thanksgiving) and on Thursday, December 24 (Christmas Eve).
2027 stock market holidays
Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
New Year’s Day | Friday, January 1 |
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day | Monday, January 18 |
Washington’s Birthday (Presidents Day) | Monday, February 15 |
Good Friday | Friday, March 26 |
Memorial Day | Monday, May 31 |
Juneteenth (observed) | Friday, June 18 |
Independence Day (observed) | Monday, July 5 |
Labor Day | Monday, September 6 |
Thanksgiving Day | Thursday, November 25 |
Christmas Day (observed) | Friday, December 24 |
Early close in 2027: 1:00 p.m. ET on Friday, November 26 (the day after Thanksgiving).
Pre-market and after-hours trading
Trading outside 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET is called extended-hours trading. Not every stock trades in these sessions, and each broker decides which sessions it offers. Check with your broker before placing an order.
The SEC warns that extended-hours trading carries risks that are smaller or absent during the regular session:
- Lower liquidity: fewer buyers and sellers, so orders may be harder to fill.
- Bigger price swings: thinly traded stocks can move sharply.
- Wider spreads: a bigger gap between the bid and ask price means you may get a worse price.
- News risk: companies often report earnings after the close, which can cause large moves.
- Limit orders only: many brokers accept only limit orders, which may not fill if the price moves away.
- Professional competition: many participants are professional traders with more information.
Why the market is open at these times
The regular session opens and closes with auctions at 9:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. ET. The 4:00 p.m. closing price is the figure usually quoted as a stock’s price for the day, and funds calculate their net asset value once each business day. Many companies release earnings reports before the open or after the close, so investors can react when trading resumes.
Frequently asked questions
Is the stock market open on weekends?
No. U.S. stock exchanges are closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
What time does the stock market open?
Regular trading opens at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time.
What time does the stock market close?
Regular trading closes at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, or 1:00 p.m. on early-close days.
Can I trade stocks after hours?
Often yes, if your broker offers extended-hours trading, but prices can be more volatile and many brokers accept only limit orders.
New to the market? Read our guide on how to start investing in stocks, or learn what an ETF is and how ETF shares trade during these hours.
Is the stock market open on Good Friday?
No. The NYSE is closed on Good Friday, even though it is not a federal holiday.
Market hours and holidays come from the NYSE and can change. Always check the exchange calendar before trading.