How pivot points work
Pivot points are price levels calculated from the previous period's high, low and close. Day traders use the daily pivots, swing traders the weekly ones. Because so many traders watch the same levels, price often reacts near them.
The central pivot (P) is the balance point. Trading above it is generally read as bullish for the session, below it as bearish. The R levels above are resistance and the S levels below are support.
The four methods
Classic is the most widely used:
P = (High + Low + Close) ÷ 3, R1 = 2P − Low, S1 = 2P − High
Fibonacci pivots space the levels at 38.2%, 61.8% and 100% of the previous range from the pivot.
Camarilla levels are built around the previous close with tighter spacing. Many intraday traders fade moves into R3 or S3 and trade breakouts through R4 or S4.
Woodie pivots give extra weight to the close, or to today's open if you enter it.
Tips
Use the high, low and close from the same time your broker uses for the daily candle. For forex, most traders use the New York 17:00 close. Pivots are most useful on liquid markets like the major forex pairs, gold, indices and the biggest coins.
Retracement and extension levels from a swing. Free, no sign-up.
Open the fibonacci calculatorFrequently asked questions
Which pivot method is best?
Classic pivots are the most popular, so more traders watch them. Camarilla suits short-term mean-reversion trading. Try each on your market and see which levels price respects most.
Are pivots useful for crypto?
Yes, especially for Bitcoin and Ether. Because crypto trades all day, choose a fixed daily close, usually 00:00 UTC, and use it consistently.
Results are estimates for education and planning. Broker contract sizes, fees and margin rules differ, so always confirm on your platform before you trade.