Pre-Market and After-Hours Trading Hours
Updated October 26, 2026 · U.S. market now: Pre-market
U.S. stocks can trade outside the regular 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET session. Pre-market trading runs from 4:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. ET and after-hours trading runs from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.
Key takeaways
- Extended hours add 9½ hours of trading a day on top of the 6½-hour regular session.
- Your broker may offer a shorter window, often starting at 7:00 a.m. ET.
- Volume is thin, so spreads are wider and prices can jump on news like earnings.
- Use limit orders; most brokers don't accept market orders outside regular hours.
Extended-hours schedule
| Session | Eastern | Central | Pacific |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-market | 4:00 – 9:30 a.m. | 3:00 – 8:30 a.m. | 1:00 – 6:30 a.m. |
| Regular session | 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. | 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. |
| After-hours | 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. | 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. | 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. |
Why trade before the open or after the close?
Most companies report earnings either before 9:30 a.m. or after 4:00 p.m. ET, and major economic reports such as the monthly jobs report and CPI come out at 8:30 a.m. ET. Extended hours let investors react to that news immediately instead of waiting for the next regular session. They also help people in other time zones trade U.S. stocks at more convenient hours.
Risks of extended-hours trading
- Less liquidity. Far fewer buyers and sellers are active, so your order may fill only partly or not at all.
- Wider spreads. The gap between the bid and the ask is usually larger, which raises your cost to trade.
- Bigger price swings. A few trades can move a thinly traded stock sharply, especially right after earnings.
- Prices may not carry over. A stock that is up 5% in the pre-market can open lower once the full market weighs in at the opening auction.
- Competition from professionals. Institutional traders with better information and tools are a larger share of volume outside regular hours.
Order types and broker rules
Most brokers accept only limit orders in extended hours, and orders usually have to be marked for extended-hours trading. A regular day order placed after 4:00 p.m. waits for the next session. Stop orders generally do not trigger outside regular hours.
Extended hours on holidays and early-close days
When the market is closed for a holiday, there is no pre-market or after-hours session that day. On early-close days, the regular session ends at 1:00 p.m. ET and after-hours trading generally ends at 5:00 p.m. ET.
Frequently asked questions
What time does pre-market trading start?
Pre-market trading on the NYSE and Nasdaq starts at 4:00 a.m. ET. Many brokers only open their pre-market window at 7:00 a.m. or 8:00 a.m. ET, so check your broker's hours.
What time does after-hours trading end?
After-hours trading runs from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET.
Can anyone trade in the pre-market?
Most major U.S. brokers let retail investors trade in extended hours, usually after accepting an extended-hours risk disclosure. Typically only limit orders are accepted.
Do pre-market prices predict the open?
They are a signal, not a guarantee. Pre-market prices are set by a small number of trades, and the official opening price is set by the opening auction at 9:30 a.m. ET, which can differ significantly.
Is there extended-hours trading on holidays?
No. When the market is closed for a holiday there is no pre-market or after-hours session. On early-close days, after-hours trading usually ends at 5:00 p.m. ET.
What is overnight trading?
Some brokers offer overnight trading from 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. ET in selected stocks and ETFs, through alternative trading systems rather than the exchanges. Liquidity is even thinner than in regular extended hours.
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This page is for information only and is not investment advice.