U.S. Stock Market Hours: Exact Opening, Closing, and Extended Sessions (NYSE and Nasdaq)
This guide consolidates the precise opening and closing times of the U.S. stock market, including regular hours, pre‑market, and after‑hours sessions for the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq. It also covers converting U.S. market hours to your local time, holiday closures and early closes, and practical considerations for extended‑hours trading—helping you plan liquidity‑ and volatility‑aware trading.
Regular market hours for NYSE and Nasdaq
The core trading day for the two primary U.S. exchanges runs from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), Monday through Friday. Eastern Time (ET) is the baseline used here; it shifts with daylight saving time (UTC-5 in standard time, UTC-4 during daylight saving). International readers should convert ET to their local clock accordingly.
Both exchanges share this regular session, and you should expect the majority of standard liquidity and price formation to occur during these hours.
Extended hours: pre‑market and after‑hours trading
Beyond regular hours, Schwab and major brokers provide extended trading windows. These periods can present opportunities to react to overnight news, but they come with higher risk due to thinner liquidity and wider spreads. Be aware that broker availability and exact windows vary.
NYSE extended hours
The NYSE provides multiple extended timeframes, with early‑morning action starting in the pre‑opening session and continuing through the early trading and late trading sessions. Specifically:
- Pre‑opening session: 6:30 a.m. ET
- Early trading session: 7:00 a.m. ET to 9:30 a.m. ET for Tapes B & C
- Late trading session: 4:00 p.m. ET to 8:00 p.m. ET
Note that these windows may differ by tape and security, and broker availability can vary. Auctions and program trading rules apply during these times.
Nasdaq extended hours
Nasdaq offers a separate extended hours schedule, with:
- Pre‑market trading: 4:00 a.m. ET to 9:30 a.m. ET
- After‑hours trading: 4:00 p.m. ET to 8:00 p.m. ET
Brokers may place limitations on which securities trade in extended hours, and liquidity tends to be lower than during regular hours.
Extended hours and overnight sessions on Thinkorswim
Some platforms offer extended hours that extend into overnight periods. For example, thinkorswim can enable 13‑ or 24‑hour continuous execution in extended hours, including overnight windows. Orders for continuous execution during extended hours (including overnight) can be placed at any time on that platform.
Brokers vary in their coverage, and extended hours trading may not be suitable for all investors due to the associated risks.
Converting U.S. market hours to your local time
U.S. market hours are listed in U.S. Eastern Time (ET). To convert to your local time, use ET as the baseline and adjust for daylight saving time where applicable. The following reference points show how the opening and closing times translate to several major time zones during the regular session:
| Location | Market opening | Market closing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York (ET) | 9:30 a.m. | 4:00 p.m. | Regular session in ET |
| London (GMT) | 2:30 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | Regular session translated to GMT; ET to GMT varies with DST |
| Tokyo (JST) | 11:30 p.m. | 6:00 a.m. (next day) | Next calendar day reflects the time difference |
| Sydney (AEDT) | 1:30 a.m. (next day) | 8:00 a.m. (next day) | Next calendar day reflected in local time |
To support international readers, consider adding more rows for common zones such as Central European Time (CET) and India Standard Time (IST). Clear inline labeling helps readers avoid confusion caused by asterisk footnotes or ambiguous phrasing.
Stock market holidays and early closes
Stock markets are closed on major U.S. holidays. In addition, the NYSE and Nasdaq may provide early closes on certain days around holidays. Early closings are typically at 1:00 p.m. ET, with some exceptions noted by exchanges.
| Holiday | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Closed | Closed | —* |
| Martin Luther King, Jr. Day | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Washington’s Birthday (Presidents’ Day) | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Good Friday | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Memorial Day | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Juneteenth | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Independence Day (Observed) | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Labor Day | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Thanksgiving Day | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Early Close (day after Thanksgiving) | Early close 1:00 p.m. ET | Early close 1:00 p.m. ET | Early close 1:00 p.m. ET |
| Early Close (Christmas Eve, if weekday) | Early close 1:00 p.m. ET | Early close 1:00 p.m. ET | Early close 1:00 p.m. ET |
| Christmas Day | Closed | Closed | Closed |
Notes: Some entries reflect observations when holidays fall on weekends and specific early‑close rules apply. For absolute dates, check the NYSE or Nasdaq calendars each year.
Practical considerations for extended trading
Extended hours trading carries notable risks. Liquidity is typically thinner outside regular hours, volatility can be higher, and price moves may not reflect the same factors as during the regular session. Many brokers require limit orders during extended hours to protect against sudden price swings. In particular, limit orders help guard against unfavorable pricing when liquidity is scarce.
Orders eligible for pre‑market execution are generally placed in the window preceding the regular session, and orders for after‑hours execution are placed in the window after the close. For Schwab, examples include pre‑market from 7:00 a.m. to 9:25 a.m. ET with connected pre‑market order windows (e.g., 8:05 p.m. prior day to 9:25 a.m. ET), and after‑hours from 4:05 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET with corresponding order windows. Extended hours can also include overnight or continuous trading on specific platforms.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cutoff time for regular stock trading? The regular trading session closes at 4:00 p.m. ET. Orders entered after that time are not routed to the market until the next trading day unless placed in extended hours trading sessions.
Can I trade before and after regular stock market hours? Yes. You can typically trade before or after the regular stock market hours through extended hours sessions (pre‑market and after‑hours). Some securities may not trade in extended hours due to limited liquidity.
How do U.S. market hours translate to my local time zone? U.S. market hours are listed in Eastern Time (ET). To convert to your local time, use ET as the baseline and account for daylight saving time, which can shift how ET aligns with your clock.
Additional clarity for international readers
To improve accessibility, ET is defined where it first appears: Eastern Time (ET, UTC-5 standard time; UTC-4 during daylight saving). This helps international readers align the U.S. trading day with their local schedules.
Bottom line
Understanding stock market hours—regular, pre‑market, and after‑hours—helps you time orders and manage risk. By distinguishing between NYSE and Nasdaq extended sessions, translating times to your local zone, checking holiday calendars for the current year, and recognizing the higher risks of extended trading, you can plan more effective execution strategies and avoid surprises.