Measure

The measure tool calculates and displays the distance between two chart points. It reports the price difference in the instrument's quote currency, the time interval, and the percentage change — making it a quick-replace substitute for manual calculations. Unlike permanent drawing tools, the measure annotation can be kept on the chart for reference or deleted after use.

When you complete a measurement, the tool displays three values at the midpoint of the measurement line. Each field can be independently toggled on or off in the settings, allowing you to customize the measurement display to show only the information you need.

The measure tool automatically snaps to the nearest bar when you click or release. This ensures that measurements are bar-accurate — they align with actual price data rather than arbitrary pixel positions. The snap behavior uses the same bar-snap threshold configured in the crosshair settings, so measurements are consistent with crosshair positions.

If you need to measure from a specific price level rather than a bar, hold Alt/Option while clicking to temporarily disable bar snapping. This allows you to set start and end points at any pixel position on the chart, which is useful for measuring gaps between drawings or levels that do not align with bar prices.

By default, measurements placed with the measure tool persist on the chart until you delete them. They appear in the object tree alongside other drawings and can be selected, moved, or deleted like any annotation. This is useful when you want to keep a measurement for reference throughout your analysis session.

Alternatively, you can enable transient mode in the settings. In transient mode, the measurement disappears when you release the mouse button or press Esc. This gives you a quick "look and forget" measurement without cluttering the chart. The measurement values flash briefly in a tooltip before disappearing.

1. 1
   Select the measure tool

   Choose the ruler icon from the zoom and measure toolbar section.
2. 2
   Set the start point

   Click at the first price bar or level you want to measure from.
3. 3
   Drag to the end point

   Hold and drag to the target bar or level. A dashed line follows the cursor.
4. 4
   Release to complete

   Release the mouse to place the measurement. The label shows price delta, time, and percent change.
5. 5
   Delete when done

   Select the measurement and press Delete, or use the eraser tool to remove it.

You can place multiple measurements on the same chart. Each measurement is an independent annotation with its own line and label. This is useful for comparing multiple price swings, such as measuring each wave in an Elliott Wave count or comparing the amplitude of successive corrections in a trending market. Each measurement can be individually styled and toggled.

The measure tool works on all standard chart types (candlestick, bar, line, area, Heikin-Ashi). On non-standard chart types like Renko, Kagi, Point-and-Figure, and Range bars, the measurement behavior adapts. Time delta on Renko charts measures the number of bricks rather than time intervals. On Point-and-Figure charts, the price delta is measured in box units. The measure tool automatically detects the chart type and adjusts its display units accordingly.

For users who prefer keyboard interaction, the measure tool can be operated without the mouse. Use Tab to activate the chart area, Enter to set the start point, arrow keys to move to the end point, and Enter again to complete the measurement. This keyboard workflow is slower than click-drag but provides pixel-perfect positioning and is essential for users with accessibility needs.

Measurements can span multiple panes in a multi-pane layout. Start the measurement in the main price pane and drag into an indicator pane below — the measure tool crosses pane boundaries seamlessly. The price delta reflects the main instrument's price values, and the time delta reflects the shared time axis. This cross-pane measurement is useful for measuring the distance from a price level to an indicator extreme (e.g., from a support level to an RSI oversold reading).

• 1.Zoom & measurement overview — Chart tools documentation
• 2.Zoom in reference — Zoom tools
• 3.Zoom out reference — Zoom tools
• 4.Risk-reward calculation guide — Trading guide
• 5.Non-standard chart types — Chart types documentation