Most Ulta Beauty stores close at 9:00 PM Monday through Saturday, and close earlier at 6:00 PM or 7:00 PM on Sundays. However, standard operating hours vary depending on your specific location, regional mall guidelines, and seasonal changes. If you're rushing out for a last-minute foundation match or gift bag, knowing the general schedule isn't enough—you need to account for localized variances and holiday exceptions.
Getting locked out of a beauty supply run is frustrating, especially when you're racing against the clock before an event. This guide breaks down exact weekday, weekend, and holiday closing schedules, explains how to check your local store before leaving home, and covers smart strategies for successful last-minute shopping.
Standard Ulta Closing Times by Day of the Week
While storefronts adjust schedules based on foot traffic and local ordinances, most physical Ulta locations follow a predictable weekly baseline. Store openings generally happen at 10:00 AM, but closing times shift between weekdays and weekends.
- Monday to Thursday: Stores typically open at 10:00 AM and close at 9:00 PM. These are your best bet for a relaxed evening visit after work.
- Friday and Saturday: Doors open at 10:00 AM (sometimes 9:00 AM at high-volume centers) and stay open until 9:00 PM. Weekend traffic peaks in the late afternoon, so the last hour before closing is usually the quietest.
- Sunday: Sunday hours are shorter across almost all locations. Most stores operate from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM or 7:00 PM. If you assume they stay open until 9:00 PM like a normal weeknight, you will miss the window.
Standalone strip-mall locations often have independent exterior doors that allow them to stick strictly to these hours. On the other hand, Ulta stores embedded inside outdoor lifestyle centers or enclosed malls may match the mall's closing schedule, which can mean shutting down an hour earlier on Sundays.
Holiday Closing Schedules and Altered Hours
Holiday hours disrupt standard routines faster than anything else. While Ulta keeps doors open for many minor holidays with regular or slightly reduced hours, major holidays bring total closures or drastic shifts.
When planning around a holiday weekend, check this baseline schedule to avoid wasted trips:
- New Year's Day: Generally open with reduced hours, often closing around 6:00 PM.
- Easter Sunday: Completely closed chain-wide. Employees get the day off, so don't plan any emergency spring-shade purchases for Sunday morning.
- Memorial Day and Labor Day: Typically open with shortened hours, often closing at 6:00 PM.
- Independence Day (4th of July): Usually open with reduced hours, shutting down around 6:00 PM.
- Thanksgiving Day: Completely closed across all retail locations.
- Black Friday: Extended hours apply. Most stores open early at 6:00 AM and stay open late until 10:00 PM.
- Christmas Eve: Reduced hours are standard, with locations usually closing by 6:00 PM.
- Christmas Day: Completely closed everywhere.
- New Year's Eve: Typically open with early closures around 6:00 PM.
For complete official updates during seasonal shifts, consult the Ulta Store Locator or check major service updates via Ulta Guest Services.
How to Verify Your Local Store's Exact Closing Time
Never rely solely on generalized internet guides for your closest storefront. Strip malls, downtown boutiques, and suburban plazas handle lease agreements differently. Follow these quick steps to confirm reality before you drive:
- Use the official store finder on the brand website to look up your specific zip code.
- Check for a dedicated salon hours note. Sometimes the retail floor stays open while the salon stations close an hour or two earlier for the evening.
- Call the location directly if it's within 60 minutes of closing time. Staff can tell you if register lines are long enough that they might lock the doors right at the cutoff.
Smart Strategies for Last-Minute Shopping
Racing to the register ten minutes before closing requires discipline. If you walk in unprepared, you'll waste precious seconds wandering down aisles under fluorescent lights.
- Check stock online first: Use the store inventory toggle on the website or app to confirm your exact shade or product is sitting on the shelf before you leave the house. If it says "low stock," call ahead to have them hold it at the front register.
- Know your shade ahead of time: Don't try to shade-match foundation or concealer under hurried conditions five minutes before closing. Match yourself online or use screenshots of past purchases.
- Avoid salon bookings late in the day: Haircuts, brow waxes, and makeup applications have strict cutoff times. Salons almost always close earlier than the retail floor to allow clean-up.
- Understand same-day delivery cutoffs: If you realize you won't make it before closing time, check if local delivery apps or the brand's Same Day Delivery service is active in your zip code. Keep in mind that order cutoffs depend entirely on your local store's closing time.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Shoppers routinely run into predictable roadblocks when visiting beauty stores late in the evening. Keep these pitfalls in mind to save time and stress.
- Assuming mall hours equal store hours: If your Ulta is attached to a regional shopping mall, remember that mall security often locks interior entrance gates promptly at closing time, even if customers are still inside.
- Confusing holiday eves with normal days: Showing up at 8:30 PM on Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve guarantees a locked door. Always assume holidays feature compressed schedules.
- Ignoring register cutoff rules: Staff usually stop letting new customers in a few minutes before the hard closing time so that registers can close precisely on schedule. Don't expect to slip in at 8:59 PM for a leisurely browse.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does Ulta close on Sundays?
Most locations close early on Sundays, typically wrapping up at 6:00 PM or 7:00 PM. This is an hour or two earlier than their standard Monday-through-Saturday closing time of 9:00 PM.
Are Ulta stores open on major holidays?
It depends on the holiday. Stores are completely closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. They operate with reduced hours on holidays like New Year's Day, Memorial Day, and the 4th of July, and open with extended hours on Black Friday.
Do Ulta salon hours match store hours?
Not always. While the retail store might stay open until 9:00 PM, the brow bar, skin therapists, and hair salon stations often close earlier in the evening to finish appointments and sanitize equipment.
Can I pick up an online order right before closing?
Yes, buy online, pick up in store (BOPIS) orders can be retrieved until the store closes, provided you received a confirmation email stating the order is ready. Give yourself at least 15 minutes leeway so you aren't rushing staff at closing time.
