Volume Profile & POC Range
RTH Edition · TradingView Pine Script v5Session-based volume profile with Point of Control, Value Area, POC gravitational pull range, previous session reference levels, and an optional volume distribution histogram — a complete map of where the market committed its volume today and over the last two sessions.
Table of Contents
What Volume Profile Does
This is not a price chart. It is a volume map. Where most indicators plot what price did, the Volume Profile plots where market participants actually committed their money — bar by bar, level by level, across the full RTH session. The result is a picture of the session's true gravitational center: the Point of Control. Everything else on this indicator — the Value Area, the POC Range lines, the histogram, the previous session reference levels — exists to give that single price level its proper context.
Point of Control (POC)
The price level with the highest traded volume in the current RTH session. Plotted as a red line or dot, labeled with the exact price. The gravitational center of today's market.
Value Area High & Low (VAH / VAL)
The price range containing 70% of the session's total volume. Two blue lines or dots — defining where the institutional market agreed on value today.
POC Range Lines / Dots
Two dashed red lines (or dots) placed symmetrically above and below the POC. The gravitational pull boundary — inside, price is drawn back to POC. Outside, price is free to run.
Dot Display Mode
An alternative to line display — each level becomes a floating dot with a price label that tracks the right edge of the chart in real time. Dot size is independently configurable.
Previous Session POCs
Two amber dots showing the POC from each of the last two completed NY RTH sessions. Yesterday's volume center and the session before — persistent reference levels that price actively respects.
Volume Distribution Histogram
An optional horizontal bar chart showing how volume is distributed across price bins in the current session. Color-coded: gold for the POC bin, blue for Value Area bins, muted steel for outside the VA.
The Core Principle
Volume is what actually moves markets — not price alone, not time alone. The price level with the highest volume concentration is not random. It is where the most contracts changed hands. That level has memory. Price returns to it. Price rotates around it. And when the market finally breaks free of it — that break carries real momentum. Everything this indicator shows you is built on that single truth.
Volume Is the Truth
"Every candle on your chart shows you what price did. Volume profile shows you what the market was willing to fight for. When I see a POC sitting at a certain level, I know that is where the most business was done — where buyers and sellers agreed on price the most. That is not just a line. That is the market's center of gravity for that session, and price does not just walk away from it casually."
— George, MicrosTrader Live Trading Room- Price follows volume, not the other way around. High-volume levels attract price like a magnet. When price drifts away from a high-volume area, there is constant pressure pulling it back. That is not a theory — it is the observable behavior of auction markets, session after session. The POC is the strongest magnet on your chart during the RTH window.
- The POC is not a prediction — it is a fact. It is the actual, calculated price level where the most contracts were traded this session. It updates in real time as the session develops. When the session closes, it is locked in as a permanent record of where the majority of today's market activity took place.
- The Value Area defines "fair value" for the session. When price is inside the Value Area, it is in equilibrium — both buyers and sellers found acceptable prices in this range and executed 70% of their business here. Trades inside the VA are lower conviction. Trades that test and reject the VA extremes (VAH and VAL) have a defined boundary to trade from.
- Breakouts from the POC Range are momentum signals. When price absorbs the POC's gravitational pull and escapes cleanly beyond the POC Range lines, something has shifted. New information, new order flow, or a change in institutional bias. A confirmed break beyond the POC Range — especially with volume behind it — is one of the cleanest momentum signals available. Do not fight it.
- Prior session POCs are tomorrow's targets. Yesterday's POC, the POC from two sessions ago — these levels carry volume memory. Price frequently travels from one prior POC to another, treating each one as a resting point before the next leg. The Previous Session POC dots give you the last two sessions' centers of gravity at a glance. When a prior POC aligns with a Pre-Flight level, the confluence is powerful.
- Volume profile does not give you entries — it gives you context. Use the POC, VAH, VAL, POC Range lines, and prior session POCs as the framework around which you place your Pre-Flight level entries. Context from the volume map tells you why a Pre-Flight level is working — because it aligns with or rejects from a high-volume structure beneath it.
Feature Modules
Every line, dot, and visual element the Volume Profile places on your chart corresponds to one of these modules. Here is what each one is, what color it uses, and how to use it in your trading.
Point of Control (POC)
What it does: Calculates and plots the single price level with the highest total traded volume across the entire RTH session. This is the session's most contested price — more contracts changed hands at this level than any other. In line mode, the POC is a solid horizontal line labeled "POC [price]" to the right of current price. In dot mode, it becomes a floating dot with a matching label that tracks the right edge of the chart.
Color: Red (#d13a3a) — solid line or dot. The label appears as white text offset to the right of the current bar, controlled by the POC Label Offset setting.
How it updates: The POC recalculates on every confirmed bar during the RTH session as new volume data comes in. The label and line or dot position update in real time as the session's highest-volume level shifts. When the session closes, the final POC is locked and remains visible as a prior session reference level.
How to trade it: The POC is the session's magnet. When price trades away from it and stalls, the first natural destination is a return to POC. A test of POC from above frequently produces a bounce — a test from below frequently produces a rejection. A clean, high-volume break through POC signals a shift in session balance and targets the VAH or VAL in the opposite direction.
Toggle: Controlled by Show POC (Point of Control) in settings. On by default.
Value Area High & Low (VAH / VAL)
What it does: Plots the upper and lower boundaries of the session's Value Area — the price range containing exactly 70% of the session's total traded volume. The Value Area expands outward from the POC in both directions, incorporating the next highest-volume levels until 70% of total session volume is accounted for. VAH is the upper boundary, VAL is the lower boundary.
Color: Blue (#254983) — solid lines or dots, for both VAH and VAL.
How to trade it: The VAH is the upper edge of accepted value. Price approaching VAH from inside the Value Area is entering a zone where sellers previously set that boundary — expect resistance and a rotation back toward POC on the first test. A break and close above VAH with volume signals an upward expansion of value. The VAL operates identically in reverse. A failed break below VAL is a buy-the-hold setup targeting POC. A decisive break below VAL opens room to the downside.
Toggle: Controlled by Show VAH/VAL in settings. On by default.
POC Range — The Gravitational Boundary
What it does: Places two dashed lines or dots symmetrically above and below the POC, defining the gravitational pull zone. Inside this range, the POC's magnetic force is dominant — price tends to rotate back toward the POC rather than trend cleanly away. Outside this range, the POC's pull weakens significantly and price is free to move with much greater velocity and follow-through.
Color: Red (#d13a3a) dashed lines (line mode) or dots with labels (dot mode). In dot mode, the POC Range dots appear when both Use Dots Instead of Lines and Show POC Range Lines / Dots are enabled.
The escape signal: A bar that closes cleanly beyond a POC Range line or dot has escaped the gravitational field. If the following bar holds outside the range without immediately reversing, the momentum signal is confirmed. From there, the next targets are the VAH, VAL, or a prior session POC in the direction of the break.
Toggle: Controlled by Show POC Range Lines / Dots in the POC Range settings group. Off by default.
Dot Display Mode
What it does: When enabled, replaces all horizontal lines with floating dots that track the right edge of the chart in real time. Each key level — POC, VAH, VAL, and POC Range boundaries — becomes a dot at that price, positioned a configurable number of bars to the right of the current candle. A floating text label alongside each dot shows the level name and exact price. As new bars form, the dots and labels shift right automatically, always staying at the chart's leading edge.
Dot Size: Six options — Micro, Tiny, Small, Normal, Large, Huge. Micro renders a Unicode bullet character (●) on a transparent background, producing a dot smaller than TradingView's smallest native circle. This is the default and the cleanest option for charts with multiple levels displayed simultaneously. Larger sizes use TradingView's native filled circle style.
Label controls: Each level's label can be toggled individually — Show POC Label, Show VAH Label, Show VAL Label, Show POC Range Top Label, Show POC Range Bottom Label. Label font color is configurable via Label Font Color (default white).
When to use dots vs. lines: Lines give a clear historical view of where the POC, VAH, and VAL have been across the session — the horizontal line fills the session range, making the level's history visible. Dots give a cleaner right-edge reference with precise price labels — useful when you find line clutter distracting or when running multiple indicators on the same chart. The Previous Session POC dots are always rendered as dots regardless of this setting.
Toggle: Controlled by Use Dots Instead of Lines in the Dot Display settings group. Off by default.
Volume Distribution Histogram
What it does: When enabled, draws a horizontal bar chart showing how volume is distributed across price bins within the current RTH session. Each horizontal bar represents one price bin — the wider the bar, the more volume was traded at that price range. Bins are color-coded by their relationship to the Value Area, making it immediately clear where the market's volume is concentrated.
Color coding:
Gold (#c4963a) — POC bin: The bin containing the Point of Control. Always the visual anchor of the histogram — the widest bar in the profile.
Blue (#4b7fb5) — Value Area bins: Bins that fall inside the VAH/VAL range, representing the 70% volume zone. The bulk of the session's accepted pricing activity.
Muted steel (#6b7a8d) — Outside VA bins: Bins beyond the Value Area boundaries. Lower relative volume — the tails of the distribution where price visited but the market did not commit heavily.
A thin gold horizontal line marks the exact POC price across the full histogram width, providing a precise reference that aligns with the POC dot or line regardless of bin rounding.
Histogram Only mode: Enabling Histogram Only (Hide All Lines & Dots) hides all lines, dots, and labels — including Previous Session POC dots — and displays only the histogram. This is a clean profile-only view useful during pre-session analysis when you want to study the session's volume shape without any other overlays.
Histogram Position: Anchor the histogram to the Current Bar (right edge of chart) or the RTH Open bar (left side of the current session). RTH Open anchoring keeps the histogram stationary beside the session open, making it easier to compare the volume shape to where price opened.
Toggle: Controlled by Show Histogram in the Histogram settings group. Off by default.
Previous Session POCs
What it does: Displays two amber dots representing the Point of Control from each of the last two completed NY RTH sessions (9:30 AM – 4:00 PM Eastern Time). These are calculated independently of the main indicator's session mode — they always track the NYSE equity session window specifically, regardless of whether the main profile is in RTH or Globex mode.
Colors: Amber (Prev POC 1) — most recent completed session. Darker Amber (Prev POC 2) — the session before that. Both colors are individually configurable.
Dot sizing: The Previous Session POC dots have their own independent Dot Size setting, separate from the main indicator's dot size. This allows you to display current session levels at Normal or Small while keeping the previous session POCs at Micro — so the current session always visually dominates, and the prior reference levels stay present but unobtrusive.
Always dots: These levels are always rendered as dots regardless of whether Use Dots Instead of Lines is enabled. There is no line mode for previous session POCs — the dot format is intentional, keeping prior session data visually distinct from current session lines.
Visibility: Previous Session POC dots are hidden only when Histogram Only mode is active. All other display states show them normally.
Toggle: Controlled by Show Previous Session POCs in the Previous Session POCs settings group. On by default.
Multi-Day Profile Loading
What it does: The Number Trading Days To Load setting controls how many prior RTH sessions are loaded and displayed for the main volume profile. Each session produces its own POC, VAH, and VAL lines or dots. With multiple days loaded, prior session profiles remain visible on the chart, giving you a full stack of historical volume structure.
Default: 1 day (current session only). Range: 1–240 days.
How to use it: For daily trading preparation, set this to 3–5 days to see how the prior week's POCs align with your Pre-Flight levels. For deeper analysis, loading 10–20 days reveals multi-day volume structure and identifies "single prints" — price levels visited briefly with low volume that are likely to be revisited.
Performance note: Higher day counts require more calculation per bar. On lower timeframes (1 or 2 minute), loading more than 5–7 days may slow chart performance. On 5-minute and above, loading 10+ days is generally fine.
Complete Settings Reference
All settings are organized into groups within TradingView's indicator settings panel. Every name below matches exactly what you see on screen.
Core Profile Settings
| Setting Name | Default | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| Number Trading Days To Load | 1 | How many prior RTH sessions to load and calculate volume profiles for. Set to 1 for current session only. Increase to 3–5 to see prior session POC and Value Area levels on your chart. Range: 1–240. |
| Show POC (Point of Control) | On | Toggles the red POC line (or dot in dot mode) and its price label. The POC is the central reference level of the entire indicator. |
| Show VAH/VAL | On | Toggles the two blue Value Area High and Value Area Low lines or dots. These show the boundaries of the 70% volume zone around the POC. |
| Extend Lines Right | Off | When enabled, extends all POC, VAH, and VAL lines to the right indefinitely so prior session levels remain visible as active reference zones. Only applies in line mode — dots always track the current bar's right edge. |
| Line Offset | 10 | How many bars from the session open to start drawing the POC and Value Area lines. Keeps the session open area clean. Only applies in line mode. |
Dot Display
| Setting Name | Default | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| Use Dots Instead of Lines | Off | Switches all current session levels from horizontal lines to floating dots that track the right edge of the chart. When enabled, the Line Offset and Extend Lines settings have no effect. |
| Dot Offset (bars from candle) | 10 | How far to the right of the current candle the dots are positioned. Positive values push dots further right. Negative values can position them to the left of current price. Range: -200 to 200. |
| Dot Size | Micro | Size of the current session level dots. Micro (default) uses a tiny Unicode bullet — the smallest possible dot. Options: Micro / Tiny / Small / Normal / Large / Huge. Applies to the current session's POC, VAH, VAL, and POC Range dots. |
| Label Offset From Dot (bars) | 12 | How many bars to the right of the dot the price label appears. Increase if labels overlap with other chart elements. Range: 0–100. |
| Label Font Color | White | The color of all dot label text — POC, VAH, VAL, and POC Range labels. Applies to all current session dot labels. |
| Show POC Label | On | Shows or hides the "POC [price]" text label alongside the POC dot. The dot itself remains visible regardless of this toggle. |
| Show VAH Label | On | Shows or hides the "VAH [price]" label alongside the VAH dot. |
| Show VAL Label | On | Shows or hides the "VAL [price]" label alongside the VAL dot. |
| Show POC Range Top Label | On | Shows or hides the price label for the upper POC Range dot. Only relevant when both dot mode and POC Range are enabled. |
| Show POC Range Bottom Label | On | Shows or hides the price label for the lower POC Range dot. |
POC Range
| Setting Name | Default | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| Show POC Range Lines / Dots | Off | Activates the two gravitational boundary markers above and below the POC. In line mode, these appear as dashed red lines. In dot mode, they appear as red dots with optional labels. This is the primary toggle for the POC Range feature. |
| POC Range Distance (points) | 6 | How many points above and below the POC the range boundary lines or dots are placed. The default is calibrated for typical ES and MES conditions. Adjust if needed for your instrument. Range: 1–30. |
| Line Width | 1 | Pixel width of the POC Range dashed lines in line mode. Range: 0–5. |
| POC Label Offset | 30 | How many bars to the right the "POC [price]" label is pushed from the current bar in line mode. Increase if the label overlaps with price action or other indicators. |
| POC Range Line Label Offset | -50 | Position offset for the POC Range line labels in line mode. The negative default pushes labels to the left of the current bar. |
Histogram
| Setting Name | Default | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| Show Histogram | Off | Activates the volume distribution histogram. When enabled, a horizontal bar chart appears beside the current price range showing how session volume is distributed across price bins — gold for the POC bin, blue for Value Area bins, and muted steel for bins outside the VA. |
| Number of Bins | 50 | The number of price buckets the session range is divided into for the histogram. More bins means finer price resolution. Range: 10–200. |
| Width of Widest Bin | 30 | The maximum width in bars of the widest histogram bar, which always represents the highest-volume bin. All other bars scale proportionally. Range: 20–100. |
| Histogram Position | Current Bar | Where the histogram is anchored. Current Bar anchors the histogram to the right edge of the chart, so it moves with price. RTH Open anchors it beside the session open bar, keeping it stationary as the session develops. |
| Offset from Anchor (bars) | 1 | How many bars from the anchor point the histogram is drawn. Adjust to prevent the histogram from overlapping with candles or other chart elements. Range: -300 to 300. |
| Histogram Only (Hide All Lines & Dots) | Off | When enabled, hides all lines, dots, and labels — including Previous Session POC dots — and shows only the histogram. Use this for a clean, distraction-free profile view during pre-session analysis. |
Previous Session POCs
| Setting Name | Default | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| Show Previous Session POCs | On | Toggles both previous session POC dots on or off. When enabled, two amber dots appear — one for yesterday's POC and one for the session before that. |
| Dot Offset (bars from candle) | 10 | How far to the right of the current candle the previous session POC dots are positioned. Defaults to the same offset as the main dot display. Range: -200 to 200. |
| Label Offset From Dot (bars) | 12 | How many bars to the right of the dot the "Prev POC 1" and "Prev POC 2" labels appear. Range: 0–100. |
| Prev Session 1 Color | Amber | Color of the most recent prior session POC dot and label. Default is bright amber (rgb 255, 153, 0) — visually distinct from the current session's red POC and blue VAH/VAL. |
| Prev Session 2 Color | Darker Amber | Color of the second most recent prior session POC dot and label. Default is a darker amber (rgb 180, 100, 0) — slightly muted from Prev Session 1 so the two prior levels are visually differentiated at a glance. |
| Show Labels | On | Shows or hides the "Prev POC 1 [price]" and "Prev POC 2 [price]" text labels alongside the previous session dots. |
| Dot Size | Micro | Size of the previous session POC dots — independent of the main Dot Size setting. Allows you to display current session levels at a larger size while keeping prior session references small and unobtrusive. Options: Micro / Tiny / Small / Normal / Large / Huge. |
Supported Timeframes
The Volume Profile only calculates on intraday timeframes of 30 minutes or below — specifically 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 15, and 30-minute charts. On daily or weekly charts, the indicator will not display. For best results on ES and MES, use this indicator on the 5-minute chart where the volume distribution is detailed enough to be meaningful without excessive computation time.
The POC & How It Controls Price
"Think of the POC as the eye of the storm. All the activity, all the volume, all the real business of the session is concentrated at that level. Everything around it is just noise trying to pull away before the gravity brings it back. When I'm in a trade and price is rotating — not trending, not breaking — I always ask myself where the POC is. Because that's where it's headed."
— George, MicrosTrader Live Trading RoomHow the POC Develops Through the Session
- At the open, the POC is simply the midpoint of the first bar. As each subsequent bar closes and its volume is recorded, the POC migrates to whichever price level has accumulated the most total volume. In the early session, the POC can move quickly as initial trade flows establish dominance at certain levels.
- By mid-session, the POC typically stabilizes. The weight of accumulated volume makes it increasingly difficult for any single price level to displace the established POC. This stabilization is itself information — a stable POC in the middle of the session's range suggests a balanced market. Price is likely to continue rotating between VAH and VAL until a catalyst creates an imbalance.
- A migrating POC is a directional signal. When the POC steadily migrates upward throughout the session — each recalculation finding a higher level as the highest-volume point — that is institutional accumulation. Buyers are committing more and more volume at progressively higher prices. A migrating POC in one direction is a confirmation signal for trend-following entries in that direction.
- The prior day's POC is often today's first target. After the overnight session, price frequently gravitates toward the prior RTH POC before establishing the new session's direction. If today's open is above yesterday's POC, that level becomes support. If the open is below it, that level is the first resistance. Pre-Flight levels and prior POCs that align within a few ticks represent extremely high-probability support and resistance zones.
- When multiple prior session POCs cluster at the same level, pay attention. A cluster of two or three prior POCs within 2–3 points of each other is a high-volume structural level that has repeatedly attracted the most market activity. These clusters are the strongest support and resistance zones visible from volume profile analysis. Do not trade through them carelessly.
- The POC is always the primary target on mean-reversion trades. When price has broken out to a Pre-Flight extreme and shows rejection signs, the first target of the counter-trade is always the current session's POC. Not an arbitrary line, not a fixed number. The POC is where the bulk of today's business was done, and the market has a continuous gravitational pull back to that level.
The POC Range Lines
The two dashed red lines above and below the POC represent the boundary of the POC's gravitational field. Understanding this concept changes the way you read intraday price action.
Inside the POC Range — Recognizing Magnetic Behavior
- Most intraday price movement happens inside the POC Range. The market spends the majority of its time rotating between the POC and its surrounding range. Inside the gravitational field, expect price to make moves toward the VAH or VAL, stall, and rotate back toward POC. These are the lower-conviction scalp moves — they happen frequently but resolve back to center.
- Avoid counter-trend entries inside the POC Range on trend days. On a day when the market is in a clear trend, the POC Range acts as a pause zone — not a reversal zone. Price will briefly re-enter the range, tempt you into a counter-trade, and then continue in the trend direction. Wait for a clear POC Range escape confirmation before committing to the trend direction.
- The middle of the POC Range is the lowest probability location for any entry. If price is drifting between the POC Range lines with no Pre-Flight level nearby and no volume catalyst, there is no trade. This is the dead zone. Sit on your hands until price reaches a boundary — POC Range line, VAH, VAL, or a Pre-Flight level — and shows a reaction.
Escaping the Range — The Momentum Signal
- The setup: watch for a bar that closes beyond a POC Range line. Not a wick through it — a full-bodied close beyond it. That bar tells you something. It tells you the normal gravitational rotation has absorbed enough buying or selling pressure to break containment.
- The confirmation: the next bar holds outside the range. If the bar following the initial break does not immediately reverse back inside the POC Range, the escape is real. Price has broken free of the gravitational field. The next destination is the VAH, VAL, a prior POC, or a Pre-Flight level in the direction of the break. Let it run.
- Combine the escape signal with Pre-Flight context. A POC Range escape that also aligns with a break of the ONH, RTH High, or prior week's high is one of the most powerful setups in the MicrosTrader system. Both volume structure and price structure are confirming the same move.
- A failed escape is equally powerful. When price pushes through a POC Range line but immediately snaps back inside within one or two bars, that is a trap. The failed escape is a mean-reversion signal targeting the POC itself. Traders who chased the breakout are now trapped, and their exits fuel the reversal.
The Rule
Inside the POC Range: expect rotation, not trend. Outside the POC Range: expect momentum, not reversal. Apply this lens to every intraday move and you will immediately see which price action to trade and which to ignore.
The Value Area High & Low
"The Value Area is where 70% of the business was done. When price is inside it, the market is in agreement — this is acceptable pricing. When price leaves the Value Area, something is different. Either the market is finding new value at a higher or lower level, or it is making a mistake that will get corrected. The VAH and VAL are the lines between those two possibilities. React at one of those lines and you have one of the highest-quality setups available."
— George, MicrosTraderVAH and VAL as Trading Levels
- VAH is resistance on the first test from inside the Value Area. The first time price approaches VAH from below during a session, it is entering territory where sellers previously pushed price back down. That selling pressure built the VAH boundary. Honor it. Look for a rejection candle at VAH and target a return to POC as the primary trade. A break above VAH that holds is a new session high-probability long targeting the next Pre-Flight level above.
- VAL is support on the first test from inside the Value Area. Same logic in reverse. The first test of VAL from above frequently holds and rotates back toward POC. The break below VAL — especially if it coincides with a Pre-Flight support failure — is the short entry targeting prior session low, ONL, or the next lower Pre-Flight level.
- The Value Area of the prior session is an important overnight reference. When today's RTH session opens above yesterday's VAH, the market has opened outside of yesterday's accepted value range. This is a bullish structural shift. Opening inside the prior day's Value Area is a range-day signal — expect rotation between VAH and VAL until a catalyst breaks one boundary with conviction.
- VAH and VAL update throughout the session as new volume accumulates. Just like the POC, the Value Area boundaries shift in real time as the session's volume distribution changes. In the early session, VAH and VAL can move significantly. By the second half of the RTH session, they typically stabilize. Mid-to-late session VAH/VAL reactions are more reliable as the boundaries have been tested and reinforced by accumulated volume.
Previous Session POCs
The two amber dots on your chart represent the Point of Control from each of the last two completed NY RTH sessions — the 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM Eastern window. They are not lines, not zones, not approximations. They are the exact price levels where the most volume was transacted on those days. And markets do not forget them.
"Yesterday's POC is not ancient history. It is the most recent memory the market has. When price comes back to yesterday's POC, there are traders on both sides who remember that level — longs who got in there, shorts who got stopped there, institutions who built positions there. All of that history is sitting at that price, waiting. That is why it acts as support or resistance so reliably. The market did its biggest business there. It does not just walk through it casually."
— George, MicrosTraderHow the Previous Session POCs Are Calculated
- The indicator tracks the NY RTH session (9:30 AM – 4:00 PM ET) independently. Regardless of whether the main profile is in RTH or Globex mode, the Previous Session POC feature always monitors the NYSE equity hours window. When a session closes, the indicator scans all bars within that session's range and identifies the price level with the highest volume density — the same calculation method used for the current session's POC.
- Two sessions back means two completed trading days. The "Prev POC 1" amber dot represents the most recently completed session — yesterday if you are trading intraday, or the last session if you are viewing the chart in the evening. "Prev POC 2" represents the session before that. As each new session closes, the dots roll forward: Prev POC 2 becomes the old Prev POC 1, and the just-closed session becomes the new Prev POC 1.
- The dots update at session close, not in real time during the session. While the current session's POC recalculates bar by bar, the previous session POCs are fixed at the close of their respective sessions. They do not change during the trading day — they are permanent volume records of completed sessions.
- The dots always float to the right edge of the chart. Unlike historical lines, which stretch across the session's time range, the previous session POC dots are always positioned at the current bar's right edge. They are reference levels for right now — for the trade you are considering today — not historical markers on a timeline.
Trading the Previous Session POC Levels
- Yesterday's POC is the first target for overnight gap fills. When the current session opens above or below yesterday's POC, price frequently gravitates back toward that level at some point during the session. If today's open is above yesterday's POC and price begins to pull back, that level is the first natural support — where yesterday's buyers are likely to defend. A hold of yesterday's POC on a pullback is a high-probability bounce entry.
- A prior session POC that aligns with a current session VAH or VAL is a layered confluence level. When yesterday's POC sits within a few ticks of today's VAH, that price has two forms of structural memory: yesterday's volume center and today's Value Area boundary. These double-confirmed levels produce the most reliable reactions. Do not take the first approach to such a level lightly — it has compounded significance from both the volume distribution and the current session's fair value boundary.
- When today's POC migrates toward a prior session POC, pay close attention. If the current session's developing POC is steadily shifting toward yesterday's POC level, it suggests that the market is finding equilibrium at that same price two sessions in a row. This is a strong indication of a significant support or resistance zone — one that institutions are repeatedly marking as the highest-activity price. A session that closes with today's POC matching yesterday's POC is telling you that level is extremely important to the current market structure.
- Prior session POCs serve as interim targets on trending days. On a strong directional day — a day where price is clearly trending up or down and has escaped the POC Range — the previous session POC levels become the natural stopping points along the way. Price may pause at yesterday's POC before continuing, or it may blow through it with momentum and head toward Prev POC 2. Either way, knowing where these levels are helps you manage targets and trail stops logically rather than using arbitrary numbers.
- Two prior session POCs that cluster together are a high-conviction level. If yesterday's POC and the session before that both sit near the same price — within 2–3 ticks — that cluster represents two days of maximum volume concentration at the same location. These clustered prior POCs behave like major support or resistance zones that can absorb significant intraday momentum. Treat them with the same respect you would give a prior week's high or a major Pre-Flight structural level.
- Use the independent dot size setting to keep the chart readable. The Previous Session POC dots have their own size control specifically so you can visually subordinate them to the current session levels. Keep the current session's POC dot at Normal or Small if you prefer a larger dot, and set the Previous Session POC dots to Micro or Tiny. The current session's levels are primary — the prior session dots are reference context. Let the visual hierarchy on the chart reflect that priority.
Session Window Note
The main volume profile runs on the RTH session window (8:30 AM – 3:15 PM ET). The Previous Session POC feature specifically tracks the NY equity session (9:30 AM – 4:00 PM ET) — a slightly different window used to align the prior POC calculation with the full NYSE trading day. This distinction means that a prior session POC calculated by this feature may differ by a tick or two from what the main indicator's multi-day loading shows, depending on whether the 8:30–9:30 pre-market activity produced the highest-volume level. In practice, the levels agree the vast majority of the time.
Workflow & Best Practices
The Volume Profile is most powerful when integrated into your daily session preparation alongside the Pre-Flight indicator. Here is the complete workflow for using both together.
- Before the session, identify the previous two session POCs. They are already on your chart as amber dots — note their exact prices and mark them alongside your Pre-Flight levels. These are your first reference levels for the morning. Know them before the bell rings.
- Note any alignment between prior session POCs and Pre-Flight levels. A Pre-Flight level that sits within a few ticks of a prior session POC carries compounded significance — both price structure and volume structure agree on that level's importance. These overlapping levels deserve the highest attention during the session.
- Enable "Show POC Range Lines / Dots" at the start of every session. The POC Range markers must be visible for you to identify gravitational pull behavior in real time. Turn them on as part of your pre-session setup.
- Compare today's open to the prior session's Value Area. Did we open above the prior VAH (bullish), inside the prior Value Area (rotational), or below the prior VAL (bearish)? This single observation sets your directional bias before you analyze a single Pre-Flight level.
- Let the current session's POC develop through the first 30–45 minutes before trading it. The early-session POC moves quickly and can be unreliable as a reference level until volume has accumulated across multiple price areas. Watch it stabilize before using it as an entry anchor.
- Trade VAH and VAL reactions only with Pre-Flight confirmation. A test of VAH that also happens to be at the ONH or prior RTH High is a double-confirmed resistance level. A VAH test without any Pre-Flight confluence is a lower-quality setup. Demand the overlap before executing.
- When price escapes the POC Range, stay with the move. A legitimate POC Range escape — confirmed close outside the range, second bar holding — is a momentum signal that frequently travels to the VAH or VAL in the direction of the break, and then continues toward a Pre-Flight level beyond. Keep a runner working toward the next structural level, which may be a prior session POC.
- Use prior session POC dots as interim targets and trail stops. On trending days, manage your runners against the prior session POC levels. When price reaches yesterday's POC, either the trade pauses and you protect a portion of gains, or it blows through and continues — either way, you have a logical management point grounded in volume structure rather than a made-up number.
- Use the histogram for pre-session analysis, not during-session trading. Enable the histogram — or switch to Histogram Only mode — during your morning prep to study the shape of the volume distribution. Once the session starts and you are in active trading mode, disable it for a clean chart.
- Revisit the profile at 11:30 AM and 1:00 PM EST. The RTH session has natural activity pauses around these times. Check where the POC has settled, whether it has migrated, and whether the VAH/VAL have held. Compare the current developing POC to the previous session POC dots — is today's session finding equilibrium at the same level as yesterday? That is important information for the afternoon trade.
The Session Closes at 3:15 PM EST on This Indicator
The main RTH session window is set to 8:30 AM – 3:15 PM Eastern Time. This excludes the late-afternoon thinning of volume that can distort the profile's final readings. The Previous Session POC feature tracks the full 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM ET equity session window for its historical calculations. Both windows are active simultaneously on your chart.
Quick Reference Card
All levels, colors, and trading behaviors at a glance.
Level Color Legend
Point of Control
Red (#d13a3a) line or dot. Highest-volume price of the session. The gravitational center — the market's most important level during RTH.
Value Area High
Blue (#254983) line or dot. Upper boundary of the 70% volume zone. Resistance on first approach from inside the Value Area.
Value Area Low
Blue (#254983) line or dot. Lower boundary of the 70% volume zone. Support on first approach from inside the Value Area.
POC Range
Red (#d13a3a) dashed lines or dots. The gravitational pull boundary above and below the POC. Inside = rotation. Outside = momentum.
Prev POC 1
Amber dot. Yesterday's completed session POC. The most recent prior volume center. Acts as support or resistance when price returns to it.
Prev POC 2
Darker amber dot. Two sessions ago. Second prior volume center. With Prev POC 1, forms a stack of volume memory levels for the current session.
Histogram Color Guide
Gold Bin — POC
The bin containing the Point of Control. Always the widest bar — the highest-volume price bucket in the session.
Blue Bins — Value Area
Bins inside the VAH/VAL range, representing the 70% volume zone where the market concentrated its activity.
Steel Bins — Outside VA
Bins beyond the Value Area boundaries. Lower relative volume — the tails of the distribution where price visited but commitment was thin.
Price Location vs. Expected Behavior
| Where Price Is | Expected Behavior | Trade Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Inside POC Range | Gravitational pull toward POC dominant. Rotational, non-trending. | Wait for a boundary level. No mid-range entries. |
| At POC (from above) | POC acts as support — bounce potential targeting VAH or POC Range upper. | Buy the hold with Pre-Flight confirmation. Stop below POC Range lower. |
| At POC (from below) | POC acts as resistance — rejection potential targeting VAL or POC Range lower. | Short the rejection with Pre-Flight confirmation. Stop above POC Range upper. |
| At VAH (from inside VA) | Resistance zone — first-test rejection toward POC is highest probability. | Short the rejection, target POC. Wait for full-body close above VAH to flip long. |
| At VAL (from inside VA) | Support zone — first-test hold toward POC is highest probability. | Buy the hold, target POC. Wait for full-body close below VAL to flip short. |
| Beyond POC Range (upper) | Gravitational pull broken. Momentum mode — free to run higher. | Ride momentum toward VAH, prior POCs, Pre-Flight levels above. Keep a runner. |
| Beyond POC Range (lower) | Gravitational pull broken. Momentum mode — free to run lower. | Ride momentum toward VAL, prior POCs, Pre-Flight levels below. Keep a runner. |
| At Prev POC 1 or Prev POC 2 | Prior volume memory level. Frequent pause, reaction, or reversal point. | Treat as support or resistance with Pre-Flight confirmation. Use as an interim target on trending runs. |
| Above prior session VAH | Market opened outside prior accepted value — bullish structural position. | Prior VAH becomes support. Bias long until current session establishes new POC above. |
| Below prior session VAL | Market opened outside prior accepted value — bearish structural position. | Prior VAL becomes resistance. Bias short until current session establishes new POC below. |
The Volume Profile Golden Rule
"The POC is the magnet. The POC Range lines are the edge of its pull. Inside those lines, price belongs to the POC — it will be drawn back to it. Outside those lines, price belongs to momentum — let it go. Know which side of the line you are on before you place a single order."
