Walmart is closed on Thanksgiving Day in the United States.
For 2025, that means all Walmart stores are closed on Thursday, November 27, 2025.
Let’s walk through what that means for you, when stores are open around the holiday, and how to plan so you are not stuck without stuffing or paper plates.
Quick Answer for 2025
For Thanksgiving 2025:
- Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, Nov 27, 2025):
- All Walmart stores are closed all day.
- Black Friday (Friday, Nov 28, 2025):
- Walmart reopens early, around 6 a.m. local time, for Black Friday deals.
You can still shop on Walmart.com and in the app on Thanksgiving, but you cannot walk into a physical Walmart store until Friday morning. How Many Ounces in a Gallon.
Why Walmart Closes on Thanksgiving Now
For many years, people were used to Walmart being open on Thanksgiving. Some stores even stayed open for long hours and rolled directly into Black Friday.
That changed after 2020.
In 2021, Walmart announced that all U.S. stores would close on Thanksgiving Day as a “thank you” to associates for their work during the pandemic.
Since then, Walmart has kept the same pattern:
- Thanksgiving is a day off for store workers.
- Black Friday is still a big day, but it starts on Friday, not on Thursday night.
- Holiday deals begin earlier in the season, often online and in stores before Thanksgiving.
By 2024 and 2025, this is not a one-time thing. News outlets, along with Walmart’s own statements, confirm that Walmart is staying closed on Thanksgiving again, and Black Friday starts the next morning.
So when we plan our shopping now, we can treat Thanksgiving as a full-day closure every year, unless Walmart announces a major change.
When Walmart Is Open Around Thanksgiving
To plan well, it helps to look at the full week, not just the holiday.
The Day Before Thanksgiving
- Wednesday, Nov 26, 2025
Most Walmart stores follow their regular hours.
This is the big “last chance” shopping day for:- Turkey pans and roasting racks
- Paper plates, cups, napkins
- Canned goods and frozen pies
- Storage containers for leftovers
Because Thanksgiving itself is closed, the Wednesday rush can be heavy. Many shoppers now aim to finish Walmart runs by Wednesday afternoon or early evening.
Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, Nov 27, 2025)
- All Walmart stores are closed.
- There is no in-store shopping.
- There is no curbside pickup or same-day in-store services.
- You can still:
- Shop online at Walmart.com
- Browse Black Friday deals that start early online
- Place orders that will be fulfilled later
News roundups of store hours clearly list Walmart under the “closed on Thanksgiving” group for 2025.
Black Friday (Friday, Nov 28, 2025)
- Walmart stores reopen early, around 6 a.m. local time, for Black Friday.
- Expect:
- Doorbuster deals
- Crowded aisles early in the morning
- Heavier traffic in the parking lot
If you only care about food and household items, you may want to go a little later in the morning, after the first wave of deal-hunters has passed. How to Become a News Reporter in the United States.
What Other Big Stores Are Doing on Thanksgiving
It helps to see Walmart as part of a bigger shift. Many large retailers now close on Thanksgiving.
Big-Box Stores (Like Walmart)
For 2025, national reports show that on Thanksgiving Day:
- Walmart – closed
- Target – closed
- Costco – closed
- Best Buy – closed
- Home Depot – closed
- Many other big chains also stay closed and reopen for Black Friday.
So, if your plan is “I’ll just run to a huge store,” Thanksgiving itself is not the day for that.
Grocery Stores and Pharmacies
Some grocery chains and pharmacies still open on Thanksgiving, often with shortened hours. Examples from national lists for 2025 include:
- Some Kroger family stores (like Kroger, Fred Meyer, Ralphs) – open but closing earlier in the day
- Whole Foods – open for limited hours in many places
- Some regional grocery chains – open with reduced hours
- CVS and some 24-hour Walgreens – open in many locations, but hours can vary a lot
These stores are usually better for last-minute items like:
- Butter, milk, and eggs
- Extra rolls or dessert
- Small cookware or foil pans
- Over-the-counter medicine
But they are not a full replacement for a Walmart Supercenter, and selection can be limited.
How to Plan Around Walmart Being Closed
We can use the closure as a planning tool instead of a surprise. What Is a News Anchor?
1. Make Your Walmart List Early
At least a few days before Thanksgiving week, make a simple list:
- Food
- Turkey or ham
- Stuffing mix and broth
- Potatoes, onions, and vegetables
- Pie ingredients or frozen pies
- Kitchen Tools and Supplies
- Roasting pans and baking sheets
- Foil, parchment paper, plastic wrap
- Storage containers and zipper bags
- Household and Guest Items
- Paper towels
- Toilet paper
- Cleaning wipes and trash bags
- Extra blankets or pillows for guests
Then choose a day to do one big Walmart trip before Wednesday night. That trip becomes your “Walmart run,” and it removes a lot of stress later.
2. Use Walmart’s Online Options
Even when the physical store is closed, Walmart still wants us to shop. We can:
- Browse Black Friday deals online
- Order items for:
- Home delivery
- Next-day shipping where available
- Later pickup after the holiday
News coverage notes that many big retailers, including Walmart, lean on online shopping when stores are closed on the holiday.
So if you suddenly remember something on Thanksgiving, you may not get it that day, but you can still place the order.
3. Map Out Backup Stores
Because we know Walmart will be dark on Thanksgiving, it helps to think through backups:
- Check which grocery store chains near you are open with limited hours.
- Look up whether nearby pharmacies are open and for how long.
- Note gas stations or convenience stores that often stay open on holidays.
That way, if you truly need one or two small items on Thanksgiving itself, you have a plan that does not involve driving from one closed big-box store to another. The Good News in the Bible.
Tips for a Smooth Thanksgiving Without Walmart
Here are some easy steps we can use so the Walmart closure does not wreck our day:
Step 1: Shop Early in the Week
If possible, do your big Walmart trip:
- The Sunday–Tuesday before Thanksgiving, or
- Wednesday morning at the latest
Earlier in the week means:
- Fewer empty shelves
- Shorter lines
- More time to adjust if something is out of stock
Step 2: Double-Check the Night Before
On Wednesday night, do a fast “kitchen check”:
- Open the pantry.
- Look at the fridge and freezer.
- Think through each recipe step by step.
Ask yourself (silently, not to me):
Do we have enough butter, oil, and spices?
Do we have enough coffee for the morning?
Do we have enough drinks and ice?
If you are missing simple items, you can still run to Walmart on Wednesday. After midnight, you are out of luck until Friday.
Step 3: Separate “Must-Have” and “Nice-to-Have”
If you do hit a snag on Thanksgiving:
- Must-have items might justify a trip to a grocery store or pharmacy that is open.
- Nice-to-have items may not be worth the stress.
For example:
- Turkey roasting pan: must-have.
- Fancy centerpiece: nice-to-have.
- Paper plates if you have none: must-have for many families.
- Extra holiday-themed napkins when plain ones are fine: nice-to-have.
This simple filter keeps us from panic-shopping.
Step 4: Remember Black Friday Is Right Behind It
Anything that can wait a day probably should. Ahmed al-Sharaa’s Historic Visit.
Because Walmart reopens early on Black Friday, you can:
- Restock household goods
- Grab non-urgent items
- Check out any big sales that interest you
Knowing that Walmart is back at 6 a.m. Friday makes it easier to let some purchases wait.
Holiday Game Plan Wrapped Up
So, to bring it all together:
- No, Walmart is not open on Thanksgiving Day 2025.
- All U.S. Walmart stores are closed on Thursday, November 27, 2025.
- Stores reopen early on Black Friday, usually at 6 a.m. local time, and the holiday sales roll on from there.
- Many other big-box retailers follow the same pattern, while some grocery chains and pharmacies stay open for limited hours.
If we treat Thanksgiving as a true day off for big stores, we can plan our Walmart runs earlier in the week, lean on online ordering when needed, and use smaller grocery or pharmacy trips only as a last resort.
That way, the turkey gets roasted, the plates are stacked, and Walmart’s locked doors do not lock up our whole holiday plan.
