Sainsbury’s festive hours revealed: will your local shut for 24 hours and what time on Boxing Day?

Lists are growing, ovens will soon warm up, and one change to your usual shop could throw holiday plans off course.

Sainsbury’s has set its festive trading timetable for 2025, with one UK‑wide shutdown and trimmed hours around the big days. Here’s what you need to know now, before the queues, sell‑outs and last‑minute dashes begin.

What Sainsbury’s has confirmed

The grocer will run extended openings in the run‑up to Christmas, then switch to shorter days across Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. It will shut every store for a full 24 hours on Christmas Day, in line with the Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004, which stops large stores from opening on 25 December.

Most Sainsbury’s supermarkets and convenience stores plan to open 6am–11pm from 18–23 December.

Expect an earlier close on Christmas Eve, a late start on New Year’s Eve, and reduced hours on New Year’s Day. Petrol filling stations will generally open 30 minutes before and close 30 minutes after the main store, with a later start on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Stores in Scotland will also follow specific hours on 2 January.

Key dates at a glance

Dates this year fall mid‑week: Christmas Eve on Wednesday 24 December; Christmas Day on Thursday 25; Boxing Day on Friday 26; New Year’s Eve on Wednesday 31; and New Year’s Day on Thursday 1 January 2026.

All Sainsbury’s stores across the UK will close on 25 December under the Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004.

Sainsbury’s notes that local variations can apply, so you should check your nearest store’s page on the official store locator as hours are published.

What this means for your shop

The long opening window from 18–23 December gives you six early starts and late finishes. You can spread your big shop rather than leaving everything to the 24th. Fresh produce and bakery counters tend to be busiest late afternoon; early morning often offers faster tills and better stock on staples.

The earlier close on Christmas Eve means you lose the late‑evening safety net. If you need last‑minute trimmings, plan to arrive by mid‑afternoon. Convenience branches will run two extra hours compared with supermarkets that day, which could help for forgotten batteries, foil, or cream.

Boxing Day hours start at 9am. Expect strong demand for pain relief, bread, milk and party food. Supermarkets finish at 6pm, so bigger top‑ups and returns sit within a shorter day. Convenience branches stay open to 9pm for late‑day essentials.

Online orders, collections and deliveries

Delivery slots and click‑and‑collect usually fill up early in December. If you rely on a specific day, secure a window as soon as your account allows. Collections on Christmas Eve run earlier than a normal Wednesday, so build in a margin for traffic and car park queues. If your order includes age‑restricted items, take valid ID to avoid a failed handover.

Petrol and driving plans

Filling stations shadow the main store with a 30‑minute cushion either side. On Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve they open an hour later than usual, which can catch early drivers. Fill up before the 24th morning rush if you’re travelling, and check tyre pressures the day before.

How to find your exact store’s hours

• Go to Sainsbury’s official website.
• Use the store locator and enter your postcode or town.
• Open your branch page to see the most accurate Christmas and New Year times once published.

Scotland’s second bank holiday

Scotland treats 2 January as an additional public holiday. Sainsbury’s supermarkets there plan to open 8am–8pm, while convenience stores follow their normal pattern. If you’re crossing the border, note the difference so you don’t turn up before opening.

Crowd‑beating tactics that save time and stress

• Shop early mornings between 6am and 8am from 18–23 December for quieter aisles and faster checkouts.
• Split your list: buy ambient goods a week early; leave short‑life items for 22–23 December.
• Use scan‑as‑you‑shop where available to cut queue time and track spend.
• Keep a “basics buffer” at home: UHT milk, long‑life cream, frozen veg and extra foil cover a missed item on the 24th.
• On Boxing Day, arrive soon after 9am for best stock on bread, milk and breakfast essentials.

Returns, exchanges and gift cards

Many retailers extend returns over the holidays. Sainsbury’s policies can vary by product category and concession, so keep receipts and original packaging. If you’re gifting clothes, leave tags on and include a gift receipt. Gift cards usually carry long validity, but you should check the printed terms before you wrap them.

Food safety and fridge space

Shorter hours on the 24th often push people to buy fresh meat earlier. Check use‑by dates and fridge temperature; aim for 0–5°C. If you buy poultry on the 20th or 21st, freeze it the same day and defrost in the fridge, allowing 24 hours per 2kg. Pre‑chill drinks outdoors if temperatures permit to free up shelf space.

Dates to circle now

Mark your diary for 18–23 December if you want the 6am–11pm stretch. Pencil in an afternoon cut‑off on Christmas Eve. Plan a 9am start if you need a Boxing Day refill. Note the later supermarket opening on New Year’s Eve at 10am and the earlier finish at 7pm. In Scotland, remember 8am–8pm on 2 January.

One shutdown, several short days, and six late‑open evenings: set your list against the clock, not the wish.