Pivot points turn the previous period's high, low and close into a set of horizontal levels — a central pivot plus support levels below and resistance levels above. Because the inputs are fixed once the period has closed, every trader using the same method and the same data gets the same numbers. That is their main appeal: they are objective and can be calculated before the session starts.
This guide shows how the numbers are calculated by hand, so you can check any platform or our pivot point calculator.
Step 1: take the completed previous period
For daily pivots you need yesterday's high (H), low (L) and close (C). Use only a period that has finished. Calculating "today's" pivots from today's own high and low is a common mistake: the levels would keep changing during the day and back-tests would look far better than reality (look-ahead bias).
Forex trades around the clock, so "yesterday" depends on where your platform cuts the day. Many brokers use a server day that ends at 5 pm New York time; others use midnight GMT or another time zone. If two platforms disagree on pivot levels, a different day boundary is the usual reason.
Step 2: calculate the pivot
Worked example (EUR/USD, illustrative prices)
Previous day: High 1.0900, Low 1.0820, Close 1.0870.
P = (1.0900 + 1.0820 + 1.0870) ÷ 3 = 3.2590 ÷ 3 = 1.08633
Step 3: classic support and resistance
R2 = P + (H − L) S2 = P − (H − L)
R3 = H + 2(P − L) S3 = L − 2(H − P)
| Level | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| R3 | 1.0900 + 2 × (1.08633 − 1.0820) | 1.09867 |
| R2 | 1.08633 + 0.0080 | 1.09433 |
| R1 | 2 × 1.08633 − 1.0820 | 1.09067 |
| P | (H + L + C) ÷ 3 | 1.08633 |
| S1 | 2 × 1.08633 − 1.0900 | 1.08267 |
| S2 | 1.08633 − 0.0080 | 1.07833 |
| S3 | 1.0820 − 2 × (1.0900 − 1.08633) | 1.07467 |
Other methods from the same inputs
Using the same day (and an open of 1.0835 for DeMark):
| Level | Fibonacci | Camarilla | Woodie | DeMark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R4 | 1.09140 | |||
| R3 | 1.09433 | 1.08920 | ||
| R2 | 1.09128 | 1.08847 | 1.09450 | |
| R1 | 1.08939 | 1.08773 | 1.09100 | 1.09250 |
| Pivot | 1.08633 | 1.08633 | 1.08650 | 1.08725 |
| S1 | 1.08328 | 1.08627 | 1.08300 | 1.08450 |
| S2 | 1.08139 | 1.08553 | 1.07850 | |
| S3 | 1.07833 | 1.08480 | ||
| S4 | 1.08260 |
- Fibonacci pivots space the levels at 38.2%, 61.8% and 100% of yesterday's range around the classic pivot.
- Camarilla levels are built around the close with multiples of 1.1 × range ÷ 12, 6, 4 and 2, so the inner levels sit much closer together — that is why they are popular with short-term traders.
- Woodie weights the close twice: P = (H + L + 2C) ÷ 4.
- DeMark picks a formula depending on whether the period closed above, below or at its open, and gives only one support and one resistance.
Daily, weekly or monthly pivots?
| Pivot period | Inputs | Typically watched on |
|---|---|---|
| Daily | Previous day's H, L, C | 1- to 60-minute charts (including 15-minute charts) |
| Weekly | Previous week's H, L, C | 1-hour and 4-hour charts |
| Monthly | Previous month's H, L, C | Daily charts |
If you want more levels on an intraday chart, you can plot daily and weekly pivots together rather than inventing extra levels — or use Camarilla, which has four on each side.
How traders use pivot levels
- Reference points: where price is relative to the central pivot is a quick read on the session so far.
- Planning exits: some traders place targets just before the next level and stops beyond the level they are trading from.
- Confluence: a pivot that lines up with an existing support or resistance zone or a round number gets more attention than one in empty space.
None of this makes a level reliable on its own. Pivots are arithmetic, not a forecast; in strong trends price frequently runs through R1, R2 and R3 in a single session. Size positions so that being wrong is affordable — the position size calculator does the maths.
Risk warning
Leveraged forex and CFD trading can lose you money quickly, and losses can exceed what you planned when prices gap. EU regulators found that 74–89% of retail CFD accounts lose money. This page is general education, not advice.
Last reviewed: October 4, 2026