Is Walmart Open on Thanksgiving? Holiday Hours, What’s Closed, and When Stores Reopen

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Is Walmart Open on Thanksgiving? Holiday Hours, What’s Closed, and When Stores Reopen
Is Walmart Open on Thanksgiving

Walmart stores are closed on Thanksgiving Day, continuing the policy the retailer adopted in recent years to give associates the holiday off. If you’re planning a last-minute run on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, you’ll need an alternative—most locations will lock doors all day and resume operations on Black Friday.

Walmart Thanksgiving hours at a glance

  • Thanksgiving Day (Thu, Nov. 27, 2025): Stores closed nationwide.

  • Black Friday (Fri, Nov. 28, 2025): Most stores reopen early, commonly around 6 a.m. local time; exact opening can vary by location.

  • Curbside pickup & delivery: Ordering in the app/online remains available, but pickup and delivery windows resume after the holiday when your local store reopens.

  • Pharmacy & vision centers: Closed on Thanksgiving; services resume when the store reopens.

Tip: Use the retailer’s app or store finder to confirm your specific location’s Friday opening time, as some high-traffic markets may adjust hours.

Why Walmart stays closed on Thanksgiving

Since 2020, the chain has opted to keep doors shut on the holiday. The approach has stuck for multiple seasons and is now the norm across big-box retail: Thanksgiving is quiet, and the push shifts to early Black Friday openings with doorbuster pricing, extended weekend hours, and online-first deals that drop while stores are closed.

What is open on Thanksgiving instead?

If you truly need something on Thursday, you’re not out of luck. Many grocery chains and pharmacies operate with limited hours on Thanksgiving, and dollar stores often open reduced schedules. Hours vary widely by region and local laws (for example, some New England states restrict holiday retail). Always check a store’s local page or call ahead—common windows range from mid-morning openings to early afternoon closures.

Typical Thanksgiving patterns (may vary by city/state):

  • Supermarkets: Frequently open in the morning with early closings (midday to late afternoon).

  • Pharmacies: Selected locations open with reduced hours; 24-hour sites may keep standard pharmacy counters limited.

  • Warehouse clubs & big-box rivals: Largely closed on Thanksgiving; many pivot to early Friday openings.

Planning your Black Friday Walmart trip

With Thursday dark, expect higher-than-usual demand at opening time Friday. To save time:

  1. Build your cart in the app ahead of time so you can price-check and see in-stock alternatives.

  2. Use in-store maps in the app (where available) to locate high-demand items quickly.

  3. Consider pickup: Many doorbusters are in-store only, but a sizable portion of holiday deals run online with next-day or scheduled pickup once the store is open.

  4. Know return policies: Seasonal return windows and electronics exceptions may apply; keep receipts and packaging.

State and local quirks to remember

Holiday retail rules differ across the U.S. Some counties and municipalities limit Thanksgiving operating hours, and select states restrict large-store openings. Even where rules are loose, individual managers may adjust schedules for staffing and traffic. That’s why local verification is essential if you’re coordinating Friday morning plans or services like pharmacy refills.

Walmart is closed on Thanksgiving Day 2025. Plan any in-person shopping for early Black Friday, typically around 6 a.m. local time, and use the app to confirm your store’s exact reopening and service availability.