Pivot Point Calculator
Enter the previous period's high, low and close and get a pivot point with support and resistance levels, drawn as a ladder.
Pivot Points
From the period before the one being traded: usually yesterday for a daily pivot.
The traditional method: the average of the high, low and close, with levels built from the previous range.
Pivot point
1.10167
From a previous range of 1.09000 to 1.11000 that closed at 1.10500, the central reference is 1.10167. Levels above it are read as resistance and levels below as support.
| Level | Price | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| R3 | 1.13333 | Third resistance: a price above the pivot where sellers may show up. |
| R2 | 1.12167 | Second resistance: a price above the pivot where sellers may show up. |
| R1 | 1.11333 | First resistance: a price above the pivot where sellers may show up. |
| P | 1.10167 | The central reference: the previous period’s average. Price above it is often read as stronger, below it as weaker. |
| S1 | 1.09333 | First support: a price below the pivot where buyers may show up. |
| S2 | 1.08167 | Second support: a price below the pivot where buyers may show up. |
| S3 | 1.07333 | Third support: a price below the pivot where buyers may show up. |
Pivot points are reference levels calculated from past prices. Many traders watch them, which is the only reason price may react; they are not predictions and there is no guarantee price will stop at, or respect, any of them.
How was this calculated?
- Pivot = (High + Low + Close) ÷ 3 = (1.11000 + 1.09000 + 1.10500) ÷ 3 = 1.10167
- R1 = 2 × Pivot − Low = 1.11333; S1 = 2 × Pivot − High = 1.09333
- R2 = Pivot + (High − Low) = 1.12167; S2 = Pivot − (High − Low) = 1.08167
What does this mean?
Pivot points are reference levels built from the previous period's price range. The central pivot is an average of the high, low and close. Resistance levels (R1, R2, R3) sit above it and support levels (S1, S2, S3) below it.
They are calculated from past prices and are watched by many traders, so they can act as levels where price pauses. They are references, not predictions, and price is free to ignore every one of them.
The formula
Pivot (P) = (High + Low + Close) ÷ 3
R1 = 2 × P − Low S1 = 2 × P − High
R2 = P + (High − Low) S2 = P − (High − Low)
R3 = High + 2 × (P − Low) S3 = Low − 2 × (High − P)
Worked example
Yesterday's high 1.1100, low 1.0900, close 1.1050. The pivot is (1.1100 + 1.0900 + 1.1050) ÷ 3 = 1.1017. R1 = 2 × 1.1017 − 1.0900 = 1.1133 and S1 = 2 × 1.1017 − 1.1100 = 1.0933.
Frequently asked questions
How are pivot points calculated?
The pivot is the average of the previous high, low and close. The support and resistance levels are then calculated from the pivot and the previous range, using the chosen method.
What do R1 and S1 mean?
R1 is the first resistance level above the pivot and S1 the first support level below it. Higher numbers (R2, R3, S2, S3) sit further away.
Which pivot method is best?
There is no best method. Classic is the most common; Woodie gives the close more weight; Fibonacci and Camarilla use different spacing. The method worth using is the one most other traders watch for the market in question.
Which period should the previous range come from?
The period before the one being traded. Daily pivots use yesterday's range; weekly pivots use last week's. The same formula applies to any period.
Learn more
This tool is for education and general information only and is not financial advice. Results are estimates that exclude spreads, commissions, swaps and slippage. Trading carries a risk of loss. Preferences you choose, such as your account currency, are remembered only in your own browser.