Options trading starts at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time on weekdays when U.S. stock markets open

Standard options on stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) begin trading at 9:30 a.m. ET Monday through Friday. This matches the opening of the regular stock market session. Most options stop trading at 4:00 p.m. ET when the stock market closes, though some brokers and market makers continue trading options in after-hours sessions until 4:15 p.m. ET or later.

The exact closing time for options can vary slightly depending on your broker and the specific options contract. Some brokers allow trading until 4:15 p.m. ET, while others may extend to 5:00 p.m. ET or later. Check with your broker for their specific after-hours options trading window, as this affects when you can enter or exit positions near the end of the day.

Options on index products like the S&P 500 (SPY) or Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) follow the same 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET schedule as stock options. However, some index options have extended hours. The Cboe, which operates major options exchanges, publishes exact trading hours for each product on its website.

Key Takeaways

  • Standard options trading begins at 9:30 a.m. ET when U.S. stock markets open and runs through 4:00 p.m. ET on weekdays.
  • After-hours options trading may be available through your broker until 4:15 p.m. ET or later, depending on the broker and the underlying security.
  • Options do not trade on weekends or U.S. stock market holidays, even though some brokers offer extended-hours stock trading on those days.
  • Index options and options on ETFs follow the same opening time as stock options, though some index products have different closing times.
  • Your broker's platform determines what hours you can actually place trades, so confirm your specific trading window before relying on after-hours access.

Why options don't trade before 9:30 a.m. ET

Options markets are tied directly to the underlying stock or ETF. The stock market itself opens at 9:30 a.m. ET, so options cannot trade meaningfully before that time. An options contract's value depends on the price of the stock it represents, and that price is not established until the stock market opens.

Some brokers offer pre-market stock trading starting at 4:00 a.m. ET, but options are not available during this window. The options exchanges — primarily the Cboe, NASDAQ OMX, NYSE Arca, and EDGX — do not open their order books until 9:30 a.m. ET. This is a hard market rule, not a broker choice.

After-hours options trading and when it ends

After the stock market closes at 4:00 p.m. ET, some brokers allow options trading to continue in a limited after-hours session. This typically runs from 4:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. ET, though some brokers extend this to 5:00 p.m. ET or later. After-hours options trading is less liquid than regular hours trading, meaning fewer buyers and sellers are active, and bid-ask spreads (the difference between buy and sell prices) tend to be wider.

Not all brokers offer after-hours options trading, and not all options contracts are available during after-hours hours. Call your broker or check their trading platform to confirm whether after-hours options trading is available on your account and for the specific contracts you want to trade.

Options trading on weekends and holidays

Options do not trade on weekends. Even though some brokers allow stock trading on Saturday mornings for certain products, options markets are completely closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

Options also do not trade on U.S. stock market 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, the stock market is closed and the options exchanges do not open. Some brokers may show a shortened trading day on the day before or after a holiday, but options trading hours remain 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET on those partial days.

How to find exact trading hours for a specific options contract

The Cboe publishes a complete list of trading hours for every options product it lists. You can search by the underlying stock or ETF ticker symbol on the Cboe website to find the exact open and close times for that contract. Other exchanges (NASDAQ OMX, NYSE Arca, EDGX) publish their own schedules as well.

Your broker's trading platform will also display the trading hours for any options contract you search. Most platforms show "market hours" or "regular hours" next to the contract, and some allow you to toggle between regular and after-hours trading windows. If you are unsure whether a contract is available during after-hours, your broker's customer service team can confirm this in minutes.

What happens if you try to place an options trade outside market hours

If you attempt to place an options trade when the market is closed, your order will either be rejected when ready or placed as a pre-market order that will execute when the market opens the next trading day. The behavior depends on your broker's system. Some brokers reject after-hours options orders outright; others accept them and queue them for the next open.

If your order is queued for the next open, it will execute at the market price when trading begins at 9:30 a.m. ET, not at the price you saw when you placed the order. This can result in a significant difference between the price you expected and the price you actually receive, especially if news or market movement occurs overnight. For this reason, most experienced traders avoid placing options orders outside regular market hours unless they specifically intend to trade at the next open.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I trade options before 9:30 a.m. ET?

No. Options exchanges do not open until 9:30 a.m. ET, and options cannot trade before the stock market opens. Some brokers offer pre-market stock trading as early as 4:00 a.m. ET, but options are not available during this time.

Do options trade after 4:00 p.m. ET?

Some brokers allow after-hours options trading from 4:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. ET or later, but this is not available on all brokers or all contracts. Check your broker's platform or contact their customer service to confirm whether after-hours options trading is available on your account.

What time do options expire?

Options expire at 4:00 p.m. ET on their expiration date (usually a Friday). However, most brokers require you to close or roll expiring options before 3:00 p.m. ET to avoid automatic exercise or assignment. Check your broker's policy on expiration important date.

Can I trade options on a holiday?

No. Options do not trade on weekends or U.S. stock market holidays. The options exchanges are completely closed on these days, and no trading is possible regardless of your broker.

Why are options bid-ask spreads wider after 4:00 p.m. ET?

After-hours options trading has fewer active traders and market makers than regular hours. With less liquidity, the difference between the highest buy price and lowest sell price widens, making it more expensive to enter or exit a position. For this reason, most traders avoid after-hours options trading unless necessary.