Price Span

The Price Span is the vertical counterpart to the level segment. In technical analysis, traders frequently need to measure price height at an isolated instant: the reach of a single candle's wick, the size of an opening gap between yesterday's close and today's open, or the risk distance between an entry price and an invalidation stop.

Existing charting tools leave a noticeable gap for this task:

• A Vertical Line marks an exact date or event, but it spans every price infinitely from the top to the bottom of the screen and carries no price measurement readout.
• A Price Range tool creates a two-dimensional shaded rectangular box that spans across time as well as price.
• An Info Line connects two points, but requires dragging diagonally across both price and time.

The Price Span functions as an on-chart caliper. Anchored strictly to a single bar's timestamp, it provides an instant, uncluttered readout of point distance and percentage change straight up and down the price axis.

The Price Span tool requires 2 clicks. The first click establishes the Span start, locking the measurement to a specific bar and starting price. The second click establishes theSpan end, defining the target price level.

Only the first anchor carries a time coordinate. The second anchor exists solely for its price. Its grip is an intelligent compound handle positioned directly on the vertical run:

• Dragging the end handle vertically moves the terminus of the measurement up or down.
• Dragging the end handle horizontally translates the entire span across time to a different bar while preserving the measured price interval.
• Dragging the line body moves the measurement to another bar or price level seamlessly.

Both endpoints feature subtle end-cap tick marks to clearly delimit the measured interval, and a central readout card reports both absolute point change and percentage difference.

Customize the appearance and data readout of the Price Span through the floating style popup:

Wick Rejection & Absorption Analysis: In Japanese candlestick theory, long wicks (shadows) signal aggressive liquidity absorption and rejection of price. When evaluating a potential pin bar or hammer reversal, use a Price Span to measure the wick length against the total bar range. A wick that accounts for more than two-thirds (66%) of the candle's total span confirms decisive rejection.

Gap Sizing & Fill Probabilities: When a market opens with a gap (common in equities after earnings or index futures on Sunday open), place a Price Span between Friday's close and Monday's open. Comparing this gap size against the 14-day Average True Range (ATR) indicates whether the gap is a common filling gap (small relative to ATR) or a breakaway gap (large relative to ATR).

Stop-Loss & Risk Calibration: Before submitting an order, place a Price Span from your planned entry price to your technical invalidation level (e.g. below the swing low). The instant point readout lets you verify your position sizing and dollar risk in seconds without switching to an external calculator.

1. 1
   Select Price Span

   Click Price Span in the Lines menu or press the keyboard shortcut Alt+S.
2. 2
   Click the starting price

   Click on the target candle at the initial price level (e.g. the candle low or open).
3. 3
   Click the terminal price

   Click at the second price level on the same bar (e.g. the candle high or wick tip).
4. 4
   Inspect the readout

   Read the point distance (ΔP) and percentage change in the attached badge.
5. 5
   Reposition as needed

   Drag the entire span sideways to compare the range of other candles across the chart.

• A Price Span measuring an unusually large bar range indicates a volatility expansion or news event, often kicking off a new directional trend.
• Successive bars with diminishing Price Spans signal volatility compression, anticipating an imminent breakout.
• Measuring wicks with Price Span reveals whether buyers or sellers dominated the closing auction of the bar.

Comparative Range Analysis: Draw a Price Span on an initial breakout candle. Drag the span to preceding consolidation candles to visually demonstrate that the breakout bar was 2x or 3x the average candle height, confirming institutional participation.

Visual Risk Unit (1R) Reference: Set a Price Span equal to your trade risk (entry to stop loss). You can drag or duplicate this calibrated span above your entry to visually benchmark 1R, 2R, and 3R profit targets directly on the chart structure.

• 1.Japanese Candlestick Charting Techniques — Steve Nison
• 2.Measuring Price Range and Volatility — StockCharts ChartSchool
• 3.Price Span and Range Measurement — TradingView Help
• 4.Position Sizing and Risk Calculation Basics — Investopedia