Pivot Point Calculator
Pivot points turn the previous session's range into the levels the market tends to react to next. Enter yesterday's high, low and close, pick one of the six standard methods, and get the pivot with its support and resistance levels.
How pivot points are calculated
- 01
The pivot (P) is the average of the previous session's high, low and close. It is the reference level: trading above it is read as bullish, below it as bearish.
- 02
Support and resistance levels are projected off that pivot using the previous range. R1 and S1 are the first levels either side; R2/S2 and beyond sit further out. R1, R2, S1 and S2 are identical across most methods, so the methods only really diverge from level 3 outwards.
- 03
Pick the method that matches how you trade. Traditional is the original floor-trader set, Fibonacci spaces the levels at 38.2%, 61.8% and 100% of the range, Camarilla pulls them in tight around the close for mean reversion, and DeMark gives a single level either side.
P = (High + Low + Close) / 3 · R1 = 2P - Low · S1 = 2P - High · Traditional R3 = High + 2 × (P - Low) · Classic R3 = P + 2 × Range
Worked examples
Frequently asked questions
What are pivot points used for?
They give you pre-defined levels for the session before it starts, calculated only from the previous session's high, low and close. Traders use them to place entries, stops and targets without redrawing lines by hand every day.
Why do Traditional and Classic give different numbers?
Because they are two different conventions that both get called "classic" in the wild, and they only agree up to R2/S2. Traditional projects level 3 off the high and low (R3 = High + 2 × (P - Low)), which is the original floor-trader formula used by Wikipedia, Babypips and EarnForex. Classic stacks whole ranges off the pivot instead (R3 = P + 2 × Range), which is what mypivots and FXCM use. TradingView ships both under exactly these two names. Neither is wrong, so we give you both rather than pick for you.
Which pivot method should I use?
Traditional is the most widely watched, which matters because these levels partly work by being watched. Fibonacci suits traders who already think in retracements. Camarilla produces tight levels around the close and suits mean reversion rather than breakouts. DeMark is the odd one out: it looks at whether the session closed above or below its open and gives a single level either side.
Why does DeMark ask for the open?
DeMark is conditional: it uses a different formula depending on whether the previous session closed above, below or exactly at its open. That comparison is the whole idea of the method, so it cannot be calculated from the high, low and close alone. The other five methods ignore the open, so the field only appears for DeMark.
Does Woodie use the open or the close?
Sources genuinely disagree. We weight the close, P = (High + Low + 2 × Close) / 4, which matches Babypips, EarnForex and Investing.com. TradingView and mypivots instead weight the current session's open. If you are cross-checking against a chart and the pivot looks off by a little, this is usually why.
What session do I use for the high, low and close?
Whatever timeframe you trade. Day traders use the previous day, swing traders the previous week or month. Crypto runs 24/7 so the daily period is usually taken as the UTC day.
Do pivot points actually work?
They are a reference, not a prediction. Their usefulness comes largely from how many traders watch the same levels, which concentrates orders there. Like any level, they should be tested on real history before you trade them.
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Not financial advice. This calculator is an educational tool, not financial advice. Trading carries substantial risk and you can lose some or all of your capital. Figures are estimates. Verify against your exchange's own margin, fee and liquidation rules before trading.