Target Christmas Eve Hours 2025: Close Time & Details

Few things feel as last-minute as a Christmas Eve shopping run, and knowing exactly when the doors close can save a lot of stress. Target has set consistent hours for Christmas Eve 2025—7 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time—so you can plan your trip without guesswork. Whether you’re picking up gift cards or grabbing forgotten ingredients, this guide covers everything from pharmacy hours to online backup options so you can finish your holiday errands with confidence.

Christmas Eve store hours: 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. local time · Christmas Day status: Closed · Pharmacy hours on Christmas Eve: Vary by location; check local store · Online shopping availability: 24/7, including holidays · Holidays with paid time off for employees: 6 major holidays (including Christmas Day)

Six key numbers, one pattern: Target prioritizes consistency on Christmas Eve while leaving some flexibility for local operations.

The table below captures the key details at a glance.

What time does Target close on Christmas Eve?

Standard Christmas Eve store hours

• Target stores nationwide will open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. local time on Christmas Eve (Target Corporate News – official holiday hours).

That 13-hour window gives shoppers a full day to pick up last-minute gifts, groceries, or decorations. The same schedule has been confirmed by editorial outlets like People.com (lifestyle news) and USA Today (major newspaper), both citing Target’s official announcement.

Pharmacy and optical department hours

• Pharmacy hours on Christmas Eve differ from store hours – check the Target app or website for exact times (Target Help Center – finding store hours).

At a Durham, NC, location, the in-store CVS pharmacy runs 9 a.m.–1:30 p.m. and 2 p.m.–7 p.m. (Target store page – Durham Renaissance Pkwy CVS hours). That’s a tighter window than the main store, and the lunch closure is typical. Optical departments often follow similar adjusted schedules.

Exceptions for specific locations

• Mall-based Target stores may follow the mall’s holiday hours (Axios – Christmas Eve store hours roundup).

If your Target sits inside a shopping center, confirm via the store’s individual page on Target.com. The safest bet: use the store locator tool on Target.com or the Target app to pull up live hours for your specific store (Target Help Center).

The pattern: Target’s baseline hours are uniform, but pharmacy and mall-adjacent exceptions require a quick check. Don’t assume the pharmacy is open until 8 p.m.

What holidays does Target have off?

Full closure days

• Target is closed on Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day (Target Corporate News – holiday store hours).

Holidays with early closure

• Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve: stores close at 8 p.m. local time (Axios – Christmas Eve store hours roundup).

Paid holidays for employees

• Full-time employees receive paid time off on six major holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day (Target Corporate News – holiday benefits).

The catch: Christmas Eve is not one of the six paid holidays, though stores close early. That means hourly staff work a shorter day without holiday premium pay unless local store policy says otherwise.

Is Target open on Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving store policy

• Target stores are closed all day on Thanksgiving (Target Corporate News – Thanksgiving closure).

Comparison with other retailers

• Walmart also closes on Thanksgiving; many grocery chains open limited hours (al.com – Thanksgiving store hours).

Online shopping on Thanksgiving

• Target.com remains open 24/7, so you can shop from the couch while the turkey digests (Target Corporate News).

What this means: Target’s all-in on giving Thanksgiving back to employees. If you need something in person, you’ll have to wait until Black Friday (doors at 6 a.m. (Target Corporate News – Black Friday hours)) or rely on the website.

Is Target on New Year’s Day?

New Year’s Day store hours

• Target stores are closed on New Year’s Day (Yahoo Finance – Target holiday closures).

New Year’s Eve hours

• New Year’s Eve stores close early, typically at 8 p.m. local time (Axios – Christmas Eve store hours roundup).

Holiday pay for New Year’s

• New Year’s Day is one of the six paid holidays for eligible employees (Target Corporate News – holiday benefits).

The implication: New Year’s Eve shopping is possible until 8 p.m., but you’ll have to stock up for January 1 because doors stay locked. Plan a quick run on December 31 for anything you’ll need the next day.

Can I shop online at Target 24/7?

Online store availability during holidays

• Target.com is accessible 24/7, including on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (Target Corporate News).

Order pickup and delivery options

• Drive Up and Order Pickup may have limited availability on Christmas Eve; check the Target app for real‑time updates (Target Help Center).

Same‑day services on Christmas Eve

• Same-day delivery via Shipt or DoorDash may operate on reduced hours; order early in the day to avoid cutoff (Target Corporate News).

Why this matters: online never sleeps, but fulfillment does. If you need items by Christmas morning, place your order by midday on Christmas Eve to slip in before the Drive Up window closes.

Christmas Eve timeline at Target

• Late November: Target announces holiday store hours for the season (Target Corporate News).
• Dec. 24 – Christmas Eve: Stores open 7 a.m.–8 p.m.; pharmacy hours may differ.
• Dec. 25 – Christmas Day: All Target stores closed.
• Dec. 26: Stores resume regular hours (or extended hours for returns).

The pattern: Target front-loads the announcement well before the holidays, giving shoppers weeks to prepare. The actual Christmas Eve schedule hasn’t changed in recent years, providing reliable predictability.

Confirmed facts vs. what’s unclear

What the experts say

“On Christmas Eve, stores will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. local time.”

– Target corporate communications, Target Corporate News (official press)

“Target’s Christmas Eve hours have been confirmed as 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time, with all locations closed on Christmas Day.”

– People.com (editorial coverage of Target’s holiday schedule)

The upshot: both Target’s own statement and a major lifestyle publication agree on the core hours. No conflicting information from other reputable sources.

Summary

Target’s Christmas Eve schedule is straightforward: stores open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. nationwide, with online shopping available around the clock. What trips up shoppers is the pharmacy window—often shorter and with a lunch break—and the early cutoff for Drive Up. For anyone racing against the holiday clock, the choice is clear: hit the store before 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve, or fall back on Target.com for 24/7 ordering. Hesitate, and you’ll find locked doors on Christmas Day.

For those shopping in Australia, Target Mt Druitt hours may differ from the standard Christmas Eve schedule.

Frequently asked questions