By Wetin Time Options Dey Stop Trading?
Wetin time options dey stop trading? Most stop for 4:00 p.m. ET, but broad index options fit reach 4:15. Check the exact last print minute by minute.
Wetin time options dey stop trading? Most US listed options dey stop for 4:00 p.m. ET, na the same minute stock market close. Small list of broad based products still dey print for another quarter hour, reach 4:15 p.m. ET. The tape show the tail clearly: for 2026-07-01, the last SPY option print for the session get timestamp of 16:15 ET, 15 minutes after the shares stop.
Which time options dey stop trading every day?
Regular options session dey run from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, na the same period with stock market hours for ordinary shares. Listed option na standardized exchange traded contract, and every listed option dey belong to product class wey get its own posted trading hours. US markets dey use two closing times:
- Single stock options and most exchange traded fund options dey stop by 4:00 p.m. ET.
- Broad based index options and options on small group of broad based funds dey stop by 4:15 p.m. ET.
Those extra 15 minutes na when a chain fit still dey move after the shares behind am don quiet. Stock don finish by 4:00 p.m. Option still dey quote and print until 4:15 p.m. stop.
Wetin dey happen for the 15 minutes after stock market close?
The panel below take the 40 minutes around market close for the week of July 13, 2026, then e spread each name option volume across the clock, one minute at a time. Each series show that name share of its own volume for the window. This one put SPY and SPX for the same scale.
The exact SQL behind every number
SELECT
et_time,
round(100 * spy_contracts / sum(spy_contracts) OVER (), 2) AS spy_pct,
round(100 * spx_contracts / sum(spx_contracts) OVER (), 2) AS spx_pct
FROM
(
SELECT
concat(toString(intDiv(945 + grid.slot, 60)), ':',
leftPad(toString(modulo(945 + grid.slot, 60)), 2, '0')) AS et_time,
ifNull(tape.spy_contracts, 0) AS spy_contracts,
ifNull(tape.spx_contracts, 0) AS spx_contracts
FROM
(
SELECT arrayJoin(range(41)) AS slot
) AS grid
LEFT JOIN
(
WITH
extract(ticker, '^O:([A-Z]+)') AS root,
toTimeZone(sip_timestamp, 'America/New_York') AS et
SELECT
toHour(et) * 60 + toMinute(et) - 945 AS slot,
sumIf(size, root = 'SPY') AS spy_contracts,
sumIf(size, root IN ('SPX', 'SPXW')) AS spx_contracts
FROM global_markets.options_trades
WHERE (ticker LIKE 'O:SPY%' OR ticker LIKE 'O:SPX%')
AND root IN ('SPY', 'SPX', 'SPXW')
AND sip_timestamp >= '2026-07-13 19:45:00'
AND sip_timestamp < '2026-07-17 20:30:00'
AND (toHour(et) * 60 + toMinute(et)) BETWEEN 945 AND 985
GROUP BY slot
) AS tape ON tape.slot = grid.slot
)
ORDER BY et_timeVolume for both names collapse as the hour reach the top. But neither one go completely quiet. For 16:10 ET, ten minutes after shares stop trading, SPY still carry 2.07% of the contracts for that late window, while SPX carry 1.76%. Check the right side of the chart and the shape look like cliff followed by thin shelf: one heavy closing minute, then small trickle across the 15 minutes wey follow.
Wetin happen for that 15-minute tail every trading session?
One week fit be accident. The next panel check every session for the first half of July 2026 and record the last option print for the day under each name, measured in minutes after 4:00 p.m. ET.
The exact SQL behind every number
SELECT
session_date,
spy_last_minute - 960 AS spy_minutes_after_4pm,
spx_last_minute - 960 AS spx_minutes_after_4pm,
concat(toString(intDiv(spy_last_minute, 60)), ':',
leftPad(toString(modulo(spy_last_minute, 60)), 2, '0')) AS spy_last_print_et
FROM
(
WITH
extract(ticker, '^O:([A-Z]+)') AS root,
toTimeZone(sip_timestamp, 'America/New_York') AS et
SELECT
toString(toDate(et)) AS session_date,
maxIf(toHour(et) * 60 + toMinute(et), root = 'SPY') AS spy_last_minute,
maxIf(toHour(et) * 60 + toMinute(et), root IN ('SPX', 'SPXW')) AS spx_last_minute
FROM global_markets.options_trades
WHERE (ticker LIKE 'O:SPY%' OR ticker LIKE 'O:SPX%')
AND root IN ('SPY', 'SPX', 'SPXW')
AND sip_timestamp >= '2026-07-01 20:00:00'
AND sip_timestamp < '2026-07-17 21:00:00'
AND (toHour(et) * 60 + toMinute(et)) BETWEEN 960 AND 1020
GROUP BY session_date
HAVING countIf(root = 'SPY') > 0
AND countIf(root IN ('SPX', 'SPXW')) > 0
)
ORDER BY session_dateFor the 12 sessions wey chart show, the two ends of the panel dey behave differently. 2026-07-01 na the normal case: the final SPY print that day carry timestamp 15 minutes after four o'clock, inside the posted quarter hour. The final session no be so. For 2026-07-17, wey be monthly expiration Friday, the last SPY timestamp na 56 minutes after four, while the last SPX timestamp na 59 minutes after four. Both timestamps dey far outside the window wey either class still fit trade. Timestamp no mean trading hour: trade fit reach the tape long after both sides agree am, and the last timestamp for the day go capture that. The quarter-hour tail na posted feature of the product class. The timestamps wey extend beyond am na feature of the tape.
Which options dey continue trading after 4:00 p.m. ET?
No be every ticker get extra trading time, and size no be the thing wey decide am. The panel checks seven names for one normal session, Wednesday July 15, 2026. For each one, e measures the share of contract volume for the last 45 minutes wey get timestamp from the 4:00 p.m. minute onward.
The exact SQL behind every number
SELECT
underlying,
round(100 * late_contracts / window_contracts, 2) AS pct_after_4pm,
concat(toString(intDiv(last_minute, 60)), ':',
leftPad(toString(modulo(last_minute, 60)), 2, '0')) AS last_print_et
FROM
(
WITH
extract(ticker, '^O:([A-Z]+)') AS root,
toTimeZone(sip_timestamp, 'America/New_York') AS et
SELECT
if(root = 'SPXW', 'SPX', root) AS underlying,
sum(size) AS window_contracts,
sumIf(size, (toHour(et) * 60 + toMinute(et)) >= 960) AS late_contracts,
max(toHour(et) * 60 + toMinute(et)) AS last_minute
FROM global_markets.options_trades
WHERE (ticker LIKE 'O:AAPL%' OR ticker LIKE 'O:MSFT%' OR ticker LIKE 'O:NVDA%'
OR ticker LIKE 'O:SPY%' OR ticker LIKE 'O:QQQ%' OR ticker LIKE 'O:IWM%'
OR ticker LIKE 'O:SPX%')
AND root IN ('AAPL', 'MSFT', 'NVDA', 'SPY', 'QQQ', 'IWM', 'SPX', 'SPXW')
AND sip_timestamp >= '2026-07-15 19:45:00'
AND sip_timestamp < '2026-07-15 20:30:00'
AND (toHour(et) * 60 + toMinute(et)) BETWEEN 945 AND 990
GROUP BY underlying
)
ORDER BY pct_after_4pm DESCIWM lead the list with 61.62%, covering most of the full 15:45 to 16:30 window, with the final print for the day at 16:14 ET. This measure start from the 4:00 p.m. minute itself, wey include the closing print, and continue through every print stamped after that. For the bottom of the list, NVDA show 0%, and the last print happen at 16:00 ET. The single-stock names for the panel get some of the deepest option volume for the market, and none of dem continue past the equity close.
The difference follow product class. Option on one company stop when that company shares stop. Option wey get broad index as underlying, or fund wey dey track one, get the extra quarter hour.
Which time options dey stop trading for half day?
Some sessions for year dey end by 1:00 p.m. ET instead of 4:00 p.m. These ones na scheduled early closes, and option tail dey follow them. The panel below show the last SPY option print for each of the last 6 early closes, going back to July 2024.
The exact SQL behind every number
SELECT
concat(formatDateTime(session_day, '%b'), ' ', toString(toDayOfMonth(session_day)),
', ', toString(toYear(session_day))) AS session_label,
last_minute - 780 AS minutes_after_1pm_close,
concat(toString(intDiv(last_minute, 60)), ':',
leftPad(toString(modulo(last_minute, 60)), 2, '0')) AS last_option_print_et
FROM
(
WITH
extract(ticker, '^O:([A-Z]+)') AS root,
toTimeZone(sip_timestamp, 'America/New_York') AS et
SELECT
toDate(et) AS session_day,
max(toHour(et) * 60 + toMinute(et)) AS last_minute
FROM global_markets.options_trades
WHERE ticker LIKE 'O:SPY%'
AND root = 'SPY'
AND ( (sip_timestamp >= '2024-07-03 16:30:00' AND sip_timestamp < '2024-07-03 19:00:00')
OR (sip_timestamp >= '2024-11-29 17:30:00' AND sip_timestamp < '2024-11-29 20:00:00')
OR (sip_timestamp >= '2024-12-24 17:30:00' AND sip_timestamp < '2024-12-24 20:00:00')
OR (sip_timestamp >= '2025-07-03 16:30:00' AND sip_timestamp < '2025-07-03 19:00:00')
OR (sip_timestamp >= '2025-11-28 17:30:00' AND sip_timestamp < '2025-11-28 20:00:00')
OR (sip_timestamp >= '2025-12-24 17:30:00' AND sip_timestamp < '2025-12-24 20:00:00'))
GROUP BY session_day
)
ORDER BY session_dayFor Dec 24, 2025, the last SPY option cross happen by 13:15 ET, 15 minutes after the 1:00 p.m. bell. The earliest half day for the panel, Jul 3, 2024, stop 14 minutes after e close. The difference still remain even when wall clock time change: no matter the hour equity session end, late trading classes dey run about quarter hour after am. Volume study or closing price calculation wey assume say trading stop by 4:00 p.m. on any of these dates go read the wrong bar. Our guide on when options expire cover the calendar side of the same question.
Wetin holder fit do for the last 15 minutes
Trading and exercising dey run on two different clocks.
For late trading class, holder still fit open or close position after 4:00 p.m. ET, as long as broker route the orders into that window. Plenty retail platforms dey stop accepting option orders by 4:00 p.m., even for names wey dey trade reach 4:15. For practical purposes, na mostly professional traders dey use that extra window.
For class wey stop by 4:00 p.m., position go freeze until 9:30 the next morning. The underlying fit continue to move for overnight stock trading throughout that period, but option no go reprice for any tape until the next session open.
Exercise na separate matter. American style contract fit get exercised on any business day up to expiration; European style contract fit only get exercised at expiration. American versus European style options explain that difference. At expiration, clearing house dey automatically exercise contracts wey finish at least one cent in the money, unless holder file different instruction through broker. Broker cutoff for those instructions dey come earlier than clearing house deadline, and e dey vary by firm. Wetin happen if option expire in the money explain the mechanics.
For same day expiry, that tail na the last chance to trade out of the contract. When 0DTE options trade cover the whole session from start to finish.
Data notes
Every panel dey aggregate all listed contracts for each underlying, instead of just one expiry. So the times above na the last print anywhere inside that name's chain. SPX and SPXW contracts dey combine into one SPX series; those two roots na the standard and weekly listings for the same index. All clock times na US Eastern, converted from the trade timestamps. The 2024, 2025 and July 2026 windows dey fixed inside the SQL, so these numbers no go change as new data enter. Trade fit get reported to the tape well after e happen: class wey stop by 4:00 p.m. fit show stray stamp after that hour, and the final stamp for a session fit sit far outside the posted trading hours.
FAQ
Each day, what time options dey stop trading?
Single stock options and most fund options dey stop for 4:00 p.m. ET. Broad based index options, plus options on small group of broad based funds, dey trade reach 4:15 p.m. ET. Regular session for both dey start by 9:30 a.m. ET.
SPX options dey trade after stock market close?
Yes. SPX index options continue trading reach 4:15 p.m. ET for regular session, fifteen minutes after the 4:00 p.m. equity close. As the panels above show, SPY option contracts dey print for that same window.
On expiration day, what time options dey stop trading?
PM settled index option wey dey expire that day dey stop by 4:00 p.m. ET. Settlement dey use the 4:00 p.m. close. AM settled monthly index option dey stop trading when the session before its expiration date end. Settlement dey use the next morning opening prints. AM and PM settled options explain the difference.
On half day, what time options dey stop trading?
When scheduled early close happen by 1:00 p.m. ET, options follow the shorter session. The late trading classes dey run about fifteen minutes after that time. The half day panel above measure that gap for every early close since July 2024.
Person fit trade options after hours?
Listed options no get broad after hours session. Regular trading dey end by 4:00 or 4:15 p.m. ET. The chain go remain inactive until the next 9:30 a.m. open. As of August 2026, the listing exchange for SPX and VIX dey run separate overnight session for those index products. Most retail brokers no dey carry am.
Every panel here come with the SQL wey produce am. Open one, change the date or ticker, then ask the same question for any name on the Strasmore terminal.