Trading in the stock market used to be confined to strict daytime hours, but with modern brokerage platforms like Webull, the game has changed! You no longer have to wait for the opening bell to seize opportunities or react to breaking news. Webull offers extensive trading hours, allowing you to trade much earlier than the traditional 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM ET window. This guide will walk you through exactly how early you can trade on Webull and what you need to know to make the most of these extended sessions.
Ready to unlock the full potential of your trading day? Let's dive in!
Understanding Webull's Trading Hours: Beyond the Bell
Webull offers access to trading beyond the standard market hours, significantly expanding your trading window. This extended access is primarily broken down into three key periods: Pre-Market, After-Hours, and the relatively new 24/5 Overnight Trading for select securities.
Tip: Don’t skim past key examples.
Step 1: Grasping the Core Trading Windows
Before we get into the "how-to," it's crucial to understand the different trading periods Webull provides. Each has its own characteristics, risks, and opportunities.
1.1 Regular Market Hours
This is the traditional trading window for the major U.S. stock exchanges (NYSE and Nasdaq).
Time: 9:30 AM ET to 4:00 PM ET (Eastern Time).
During these hours, liquidity is generally highest, bid-ask spreads are tighter, and most order types are available. This is typically where the majority of trading volume occurs.
1.2 Pre-Market Session
This session allows you to trade before the regular market opens. It's often influenced by overnight news, earnings reports released before the market, and global market movements.
Time: 4:00 AM ET to 9:30 AM ET.
This means you can start trading on Webull a full 5 hours and 30 minutes before the regular market opens!
1.3 After-Hours Session
This session extends your trading day after the regular market closes. It's often used to react to late-day news, earnings reports released after the market, or to adjust positions.
Time: 4:00 PM ET to 8:00 PM ET (though some sources mention 5:30 PM ET for standard extended hours, Webull generally offers until 8:00 PM ET for after-hours).
This gives you an additional 4 hours of trading time after the regular close.
1.4 24/5 Overnight Trading (for Select Securities)
This is Webull's most extensive offering, allowing you to trade certain stocks and ETFs almost continuously throughout the week.
Time: Sunday 8:00 PM ET to Friday 3:58 AM ET, effectively enabling trading 24 hours a day, 5 days a week for eligible securities.
This is a significant expansion of trading accessibility, allowing you to react to news and events as they happen, even in the middle of the night!
QuickTip: Read a little, pause, then continue.
Step 2: Enabling Extended Hours Trading on Webull
Trading during extended hours isn't always the default. You need to explicitly enable it when placing your orders.
2.1 For Pre-Market and After-Hours Trading:
On the Webull Mobile App:
Select the stock or ETF you wish to trade.
Tap on the "Trade" button.
Within the order ticket, look for the "Trading Hours" dropdown or similar option.
Select "Include Ext." or "Extended Hours." This tells Webull you want your order to be eligible for execution during the extended sessions.
Important Note: Only limit orders are accepted during pre-market and after-hours sessions. Market orders are generally not supported due to the inherent volatility and lower liquidity.
On the Webull Desktop Platform:
Locate the stock or ETF you want to buy or sell.
In the "Trade" widget, click the dropdown under "Trading Hours."
Click "Include Extended Hours."
As with the mobile app, ensure you are placing a limit order.
2.2 For 24/5 Overnight Trading:
This feature is specifically for a select list of stocks and ETFs. Not all securities are eligible.
How to Identify 24/5 Eligible Securities: Look for a purple 24 icon on the stock profile page within the Webull app, or visit the "24 Hour Market" section.
How to Place an Overnight Trade:
Choose an eligible stock.
Click on the "Trade" button.
Select the "LIMIT" order type. (Again, market orders are not supported for overnight trading).
Set your desired Limit Price, Quantity, and Time-in-Force.
Crucially, set the "Trading Hours" to "24 Hour Market."
Complete your order submission.
Step 3: Understanding the Risks and Considerations of Extended Hours Trading
Tip: Reread sections you didn’t fully grasp.
While the ability to trade early (and late!) on Webull offers immense flexibility, it comes with important caveats. Don't jump in without understanding the landscape!
3.1 Lower Liquidity and Wider Spreads:
During extended hours, fewer participants are actively trading compared to regular market hours. This means there might be fewer buyers and sellers, leading to lower liquidity.
Lower liquidity often results in wider bid-ask spreads, meaning there's a larger difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept. This can translate to less favorable execution prices for your trades.
3.2 Increased Volatility:
With lower liquidity, even small orders can have a disproportionately large impact on a stock's price. This can lead to higher price volatility during extended sessions.
News events (like earnings releases) often drop outside regular hours, causing rapid and significant price swings that you need to be prepared for.
3.3 Limit Orders Only:
As mentioned, Webull generally only accepts limit orders for extended hours trading. This is a crucial protective measure. A limit order ensures your trade will only execute at your specified price or better, protecting you from unexpected price swings due to low liquidity.
Attempting to use market orders during these times could lead to unfavorable fills.
3.4 Limited Market Participation and Order Protection:
The "order protection rule" (Rule 611 of Regulation NMS), which aims to ensure trades are executed at the best available price across all exchanges, typically does not apply during extended hours.
This means your order might not be routed to the exchange with the absolute best price, potentially resulting in slightly worse execution than you might get during regular hours.
Additionally, some securities, like most options (with certain index and equity exceptions), warrants, rights, OTC stocks, and fractional shares, may not be available for extended hours trading.
3.5 Reacting to News:
One of the primary benefits of extended hours trading is the ability to react instantly to news, such as earnings reports, global economic data, or company announcements, which often occur outside regular market hours. This can give you an edge in capitalizing on immediate price movements.
Step 4: Displaying Extended Hours Data on Charts
To effectively trade during extended hours, you need to see the price action. Webull allows you to display extended hours quotes on your charts.
QuickTip: Pause at lists — they often summarize.
4.1 On the Webull Mobile App:
Choose your desired stock or ETF symbol.
Select the Chart Toolbox (often a clover icon at the bottom right of the chart).
Tap "Settings" and then "Including Extended Hours" (or similar wording).
4.2 On the Webull Desktop Platform:
Choose your desired stock or ETF symbol.
Click the "Ext." button located at the bottom right of the chart display.
By enabling this, you'll see the full price movement, including pre-market and after-hours activity, helping you make more informed decisions.
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| How Early Can You Trade On Webull |
Conclusion
Webull provides some of the most flexible trading hours in the industry, starting as early as 4:00 AM ET for pre-market trading and extending through after-hours until 8:00 PM ET. For a select list of securities, their innovative 24/5 Overnight Trading even allows for nearly continuous trading from Sunday evening to Friday morning. This expanded access offers incredible opportunities to react to news, capitalize on momentum, and manage your portfolio with greater agility. However, remember to always use limit orders and be acutely aware of the increased volatility and lower liquidity that are characteristic of these extended sessions. Trade wisely, stay informed, and make the most of Webull's extended trading capabilities!
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are 10 frequently asked questions about trading hours on Webull, starting with "How to":
How to trade pre-market on Webull?
To trade pre-market, open an order ticket for the desired stock, select "Limit" as the order type, and choose "Include Ext." or "Extended Hours" under the "Trading Hours" option before placing your order. Pre-market hours are from 4:00 AM ET to 9:30 AM ET.
How to trade after-hours on Webull?
Similar to pre-market, to trade after-hours, select "Limit" for your order type and enable "Include Ext." or "Extended Hours" in the order ticket. After-hours trading typically runs from 4:00 PM ET to 8:00 PM ET.
How to enable extended hours trading on Webull?
Extended hours trading is enabled within the order entry window. When placing a trade, look for a "Trading Hours" option (often a dropdown) and select "Include Extended Hours" or "Include Ext."
How to know if a stock is available for 24/5 trading on Webull?
Eligible stocks for Webull's 24/5 Overnight Trading will have a distinct purple "24" icon displayed on their stock profile page within the Webull app. You can also find a dedicated "24 Hour Market" section in the app.
How to view extended hours data on Webull charts?
On the mobile app, go to the chart, tap the chart toolbox icon (often a clover), then "Settings," and enable "Including Extended Hours." On the desktop, look for an "Ext." button usually at the bottom right of the chart and click it.
How to place a limit order for extended hours on Webull?
When you open an order ticket, ensure "Limit" is selected as the "Order Type." Then, proceed to enable extended hours trading as described in the previous questions. Limit orders are the only order type generally supported for extended hours.
How to handle volatility during extended hours on Webull?
Recognize that volatility is higher due to lower liquidity. Use limit orders to control your entry and exit prices. Consider smaller position sizes and be prepared for wider bid-ask spreads. Stay informed about any news related to the stocks you are trading.
How to find the exact extended trading hours for specific securities on Webull?
While the general hours are 4:00 AM ET - 9:30 AM ET (pre-market) and 4:00 PM ET - 8:00 PM ET (after-hours), and 24/5 for select securities, Webull's platform will automatically adjust the available "Trading Hours" options based on the security you've selected and the current time.
How to manage risk when trading early on Webull?
Always use limit orders, understand the stock's typical behavior during extended hours, avoid trading with capital you cannot afford to lose, and stay updated on company-specific or market-wide news that might impact prices.
How to access Webull's customer support for questions about trading hours?
You can typically access Webull's customer support through the "Menu" or "Account" section of the Webull app or desktop platform. Look for "Help Center," "Customer Service," or "Contact Us" options to reach them via chat, email, or phone.
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