Thanksgiving is peak planning time: menus finalized, guests RSVP’d, and last-minute items creeping onto your shopping list. If you’re wondering “Walmart Hours Thanksgiving 2025 – Is Walmart Open or Closed?”, here’s the clear, up-to-date answer and everything you need to plan around it.
Short answer
Walmart will be closed nationwide on Thanksgiving Day — Thursday, November 27, 2025. Most Walmart stores will reopen for Black Friday hours the following day (many locations open early for Black Friday).
What this means for shoppers
Walmart’s decision to close on Thanksgiving Day continues the retailer’s policy introduced in recent years that gives store associates the day off to be with family. That means you should not expect regular Walmart store hours on Thanksgiving — plan to do any in-store grocery runs, last-minute cookware swaps, or forgotten ingredient chases either the day before (Wednesday) or on Black Friday.
Walmart’s online shopping and Walmart.com services (including many Black Friday deals) will still be active, so if you need something immediate, check whether it can be ordered for home delivery or scheduled Pickup for a later time. Walmart’s Black Friday promotions and site deals are typically live around Thanksgiving weekend.
Key dates to remember
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Thanksgiving Day (Closed): Thursday, November 27, 2025 — all standard Walmart stores are closed.
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Black Friday (Open / Early Hours): Friday, November 28, 2025 — most locations reopen, with many stores opening early (commonly around 6:00 a.m. local time) to kick off Black Friday shopping.
Why Walmart closes on Thanksgiving
Walmart has kept Thanksgiving Day as a company-wide closure in recent years as part of a push to give employees the holiday off. The policy reflects broader retail trends where major national chains weigh employee benefits and public expectations about holiday closings versus the commercial opportunity of holiday shopping. If you value predictable store availability, this means you can reliably expect Walmarts to be closed on the holiday itself.
Are there exceptions?
While national corporate policy indicates stores are closed on Thanksgiving, there are always a few nuances to watch for:
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Some Wal-mart-branded fuel stations, third-party retailers inside a Walmart (e.g., Vision Centers in certain locations), or service providers may operate on different schedules — these are not always sync’d with store hours.
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Seasonal or local franchise exceptions are rare; in practice, most U.S. Walmart stores observe the closure.
Because local store hours can sometimes vary due to regional staffing or local management, it’s wise to check your local store’s hours if you’re uncertain. Several news outlets and Walmart’s local store pages recommend confirming directly.
Practical shopper tips (so you don’t get stuck)
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Shop early on Wednesday: If you need perishables for Thanksgiving dinner (turkey, sides, dairy), aim to shop Wednesday before the holiday to avoid closed doors on Thursday.
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Use Walmart.com for last-minute items: Many items can be ordered online and delivered, or scheduled for Pickup Friday or later. Check delivery cutoffs for your ZIP code.
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Call your local store if in doubt: Although national policy is clear, a quick call to your local store can confirm services (e.g., fuel center, Auto Care Center, or Vision Center) that might behave differently.
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Plan for Black Friday logistics: If you’re planning to shop Black Friday in-store, expect early openings (some Walmart locations have opened as early as 6 a.m.) and heavy traffic — consider Walmart’s online pickup windows to dodge lines.
FAQ — Quick answers
Q: Is Walmart open on Thanksgiving Day 2025?
A: No — Walmart stores are closed on Thursday, November 27, 2025.
Q: When does Walmart open for Black Friday 2025?
A: Most Walmart locations reopen on Black Friday, November 28, often early (many around 6:00 a.m. local time). Confirm your local store for exact times.
Q: Can I shop online at Walmart on Thanksgiving?
A: Yes — Walmart.com remains available, and Black Friday deals are typically promoted online over Thanksgiving weekend.
Q: Will Walmart pharmacies be open on Thanksgiving?
A: Pharmacy hours often differ from general store hours; however, because stores are closed for Thanksgiving, most in-store pharmacy services will be closed. Always check with your local pharmacy for exceptions.
Final thoughts
If your top question was “Walmart Hours Thanksgiving 2025 – Is Walmart Open or Closed?” — the definitive answer is that Walmart is closed on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 27, 2025). Plan ahead: shop Wednesday, order online, or wait for Black Friday early openings on Friday. The closure gives Walmart associates time with family, and it makes Thanksgiving a reliable day off across most U.S. locations.