Walmart will close all U.S. stores on Christmas Day, giving associates the holiday off

Walmart announced it will close all U.S. stores on Thursday, December 25, 2025, pausing in store retail operations for the holiday. The company said most locations will operate reduced hours on Christmas Eve, commonly closing around 6 p.m. local time, and that stores will resume normal business on December 26. The companywide shutdown applies to brick and mortar locations nationwide.

The announcement also noted operational adjustments for online orders and deliveries in the holiday window. Ship by dates and express delivery cutoffs will be changed to reflect the December 25 closure, affecting fulfillment timelines and last mile services. Customers who plan to order for holiday delivery should expect altered shipping deadlines in the days before and after the closure.

For employees, the decision removes the obligation to work on Christmas Day and aligns with the company message that the schedule prioritizes associate time with family. Store associates who have traditionally worked holiday shifts will now have the day off, a change that could influence holiday staffing plans and overtime needs in the surrounding days. Managers will need to finalize schedules for December 24 and December 26 to accommodate reduced hours on the eve of the holiday and the return to normal operations the day after.

Logistics teams and third party delivery partners will also feel the effects. Adjusted cutoffs and temporary pauses in store operations require coordination across supply chain, distribution, and last mile networks to avoid delays and to set customer expectations for order arrival. The post holiday period on December 26 is likely to see increased traffic both in stores and online as shoppers and returns activity resumes.

Walmart framed the December 25 closure as part of its holiday scheduling strategy, stressing associate well being and family time. Employees and customers should look for further communications from the company with specific schedule details and updated shipping deadlines as the holiday approaches.