Swing High
A peak with lower highs on both sides — a local turning point in price.
Also called: pivot high · local high
In plain language
A swing high is a candle whose high exceeds a set number of candles on either side. It marks a point where buying stopped and selling took over.
Swing points are only confirmed after the fact. You cannot know a high is the swing high until enough candles to its right have failed to exceed it.
The lookback you choose determines how many swing points you see. A tight definition finds many minor pivots; a wide one finds only major turns.
Why it matters
Swing highs are where short stops go and where long targets often sit. They are the anchor points that make structure measurable.
Common mistakes
- Marking a swing high in real time before it is confirmed.
- Switching lookback lengths until the structure supports a held position.
Keep exploring
These concepts are connected. Understanding one usually makes the next one easier.
A trough with higher lows on both sides — a local turning point where buyers took control.
A swing high that exceeds the previous swing high, confirming upward momentum.
A swing high that fails to reach the previous swing high, showing weakening demand.
The pattern of highs and lows that describes whether a market is trending or ranging.
A price area where selling has repeatedly been strong enough to stop an advance.