What time does the US stock market open in each time zone?
The New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ begin trading at 9:30 a.m. ET and close at 4:00 p.m. ET. That rhythm sets the pace for banks, law firms, and government contractors from Boston to Washington D.C. The core window is 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. local.
Washington D.C. government offices run 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. local. Do not expect a call back after 5:00 p.m. from most agency staff. Pre-market trading starts at 4:00 a.m. ET. After-hours runs until 8:00 p.m. ET. Bond markets open at 8:00 a.m. ET.
Why does the Central time zone start work at 8:00 a.m.?
The common business day in the Central zone runs 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. local. The Chicago Mercantile Exchange operates on this schedule. A 9:00 a.m. ET meeting is an 8:00 a.m. CT start, fine for most offices in the zone. A 5:00 p.m. ET call is 4:00 p.m. CT. Still inside the window.
What are typical business hours in the Mountain time zone?
Denver and Salt Lake City run on an 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. pattern. The zone is sparsely populated compared to Eastern or Central, but the hours are consistent. Expect offices to open at 8:00 a.m. MT and close at 5:00 p.m. MT.
What time do West Coast tech companies actually start work?
Standard business hours in the Pacific zone are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. local. But tech and startup culture in Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles often shifts to 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. PT, or offers flexible hours. A 9:00 a.m. PT meeting is common. A 9:00 a.m. ET meeting is 6:00 a.m. PT. That is a hard sell.
If you are on the East Coast, the safe calling window into the West Coast is 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET. That covers 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. PT.
Why do Alaska and Hawaii business hours start so early?
Alaska business hours often run 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local. Hawaii follows a similar 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. pattern. Tourism and hospitality businesses in Hawaii start earlier. 7:00 a.m. is not unusual for a hotel front desk or a tour operator.
Both zones sit far behind the mainland. On 15 January 2026, Honolulu is 5 hours behind Washington D.C. On 15 July 2026, it is 6 hours behind. A 12:00 p.m. ET call is 7:00 a.m. in Hawaii during standard time. Do not assume the offset is fixed. Check the current difference before scheduling.
When do US government offices open across time zones?
Government offices in every zone follow the same schedule: 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. local. This applies to Social Security offices, passport agencies, and federal courthouses. The schedule does not flex for tech culture or regional habits. If you are dealing with a government agency, aim for 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. local.
They close on federal holidays. When a holiday falls on Saturday, offices close the preceding Friday. When Sunday, they close the following Monday.
How business hours shift with DST
Daylight saving time does not change the clock times of business hours. 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. stays 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. But it shifts the relationship between zones. The relative offsets between the four mainland zones do not change. They are always 1 hour apart.
The offset to Alaska and Hawaii does change. On 15 January 2026, Honolulu is 5 hours behind Washington D.C. On 15 July 2026, it is 6 hours behind.
Quick Reference Table
| Zone | Typical Business Hours | Alternative / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern | 9:00 a.m., 5:00 p.m. | Financial markets 9:30 a.m., 4:00 p.m. ET |
| Central | 8:00 a.m., 5:00 p.m. | CME follows Central |
| Mountain | 8:00 a.m., 5:00 p.m. | Standard throughout the Rockies |
| Pacific | 9:00 a.m., 5:00 p.m. | Tech often 10:00 a.m., 6:00 p.m. or flexible |
| Alaska | 8:00 a.m., 4:30 p.m. | Common across state |
| Hawaii | 8:00 a.m., 4:30 p.m. | Tourism starts earlier |
What to Do Next
If you are scheduling a meeting across zones, state the time in the recipient's zone, not your own. If you are calling a client in a zone you do not work in, use the table above to find the overlap. For the exact current time in each zone, see the live clocks on Eastern Time Now and Pacific Time Now. For the best windows to call across zones, see Calling Across US Time Zones.