What pivot points are
Pivot points are support and resistance levels calculated from the previous period's high, low and close. Floor traders used them to plan the session before the open, and they remain popular for intraday trading because they are objective: anyone using the same formula and the same data gets the same levels. The central pivot (P) acts as a balance point, with resistances (R) above and supports (S) below.
How to use the calculator
Enter yesterday's high, low and close — or last week's or last month's values for higher-timeframe pivots — and pick a method:
- Classic: the original floor-trader levels.
- Fibonacci: levels spaced at 38.2%, 61.8% and 100% of the prior range.
- Camarilla: four tight levels on each side, built around the close; R3/S3 are often watched for reversals and R4/S4 for breakouts.
- Woodie: gives the close double weight in the pivot.
Use the same session definition as your broker or charting platform. In forex, daily pivots usually follow a trading day that ends at 17:00 New York time.
The formulas
Classic P = (H + L + C) / 3
R1 = 2P − L S1 = 2P − H
R2 = P + (H − L) S2 = P − (H − L)
R3 = H + 2(P − L) S3 = L − 2(H − P)
Fibonacci R1, R2, R3 = P + (H − L) × 0.382, 0.618, 1.000
S1, S2, S3 = P − (H − L) × 0.382, 0.618, 1.000
Camarilla R1..R4 = C + (H − L) × 1.1/12, 1.1/6, 1.1/4, 1.1/2
S1..S4 = C − (H − L) × 1.1/12, 1.1/6, 1.1/4, 1.1/2
Woodie P = (H + L + 2C) / 4, then R and S as in Classic
Worked example
Suppose an index printed a high of 46,300, a low of 45,700 and a close of 46,150 yesterday — a range of 600. Enter those values to reproduce:
- Classic: P = 46,050; R1 = 46,400, R2 = 46,650, R3 = 47,000; S1 = 45,800, S2 = 45,450, S3 = 45,200.
- Fibonacci: R1 = 46,279.2, R2 = 46,420.8, R3 = 46,650; S1 = 45,820.8, S2 = 45,679.2, S3 = 45,450.
- Camarilla: R3 = 46,315, R4 = 46,480; S3 = 45,985, S4 = 45,820.
- Woodie: P = 46,075; R1 = 46,450, S1 = 45,850.
Opening above the pivot is often read as a bullish bias for the session and opening below it as bearish, but that is a starting hypothesis, not a signal.
Common mistakes
- Using the wrong session. Pivots built on a midnight-to-midnight day differ from pivots built on the 17:00 New York close.
- Trading every level. On a quiet day price may never reach R2 or S2; on a trending day it can slice through all of them.
- Mixing methods on one chart. Pick one method and learn how your market behaves around it.
- Ignoring context. Pivots work best alongside the trend, recent highs and lows, Fibonacci levels and the news calendar.