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Chart Patterns

The 20 most important chart patterns every trader needs to recognize. Bullish and bearish setups, explained.

Complete overview of 20 trading chart patterns including symmetrical triangles, flags, rectangles, head and shoulders, double tops, double bottoms, wedges, pennants, and cup and handle patterns

Chart patterns are the foundation of technical analysis. They reveal the battle between buyers and sellers and help you predict where price is heading next. Whether you trade crypto, forex, or stocks, these patterns appear across every timeframe and every market. Each card below shows both the bullish and bearish version so you can spot opportunities in any direction.

Symmetrical Triangle

Symmetrical Triangle chart pattern showing both bullish continuation with breakout above resistance and bearish continuation with breakdown below support

Price consolidates between converging trendlines with lower highs and higher lows. The direction of the breakout depends on the prevailing trend. Volume typically decreases during formation and spikes on breakout, confirming the move.

Bullish Setup

Forms in an uptrend. Breakout above the upper trendline confirms continuation. Target equals the widest point of the triangle projected from breakout.

Bearish Setup

Forms in a downtrend. Breakdown below the lower trendline confirms continuation. Volume increase on breakdown adds confirmation.

Bull Flag & Bear Flag

Bull Flag and Bear Flag chart patterns showing sharp impulse moves followed by tight consolidation channels before continuation

A sharp impulse move (the pole) followed by a tight consolidation channel (the flag). One of the most reliable short-term continuation patterns. The flag retraces a small portion of the pole before price continues in the original direction.

Bull Flag

Sharp move up, then a slight downward channel. Breakout above the flag signals continuation. Target equals the pole height projected from breakout.

Bear Flag

Sharp drop, then a slight upward channel. Breakdown below the flag confirms the downtrend. Mirror image of the bull flag with equally high reliability.

Rectangle

Rectangle chart pattern showing price bouncing between horizontal support and resistance in both bullish and bearish scenarios

Price bounces between horizontal support and resistance, forming a clean range. The longer the consolidation, the stronger the eventual breakout. This pattern represents a temporary equilibrium between buyers and sellers.

Bullish Rectangle

Forms in an uptrend. Breakout above resistance confirms continuation. Target equals the height of the rectangle projected upward.

Bearish Rectangle

Forms in a downtrend. Breakdown below support confirms continuation. The range acts as a pause before sellers push price to new lows.

Head & Shoulders

Head and Shoulders and Inverse Head and Shoulders chart patterns showing three-peak and three-trough reversal formations

One of the most well-known reversal patterns in technical analysis. Three peaks or troughs where the middle one is the most extreme. The neckline connecting the two valleys (or peaks) is the key level to watch for confirmation.

Inverse H&S (Bullish)

Three troughs with the middle one deepest. Break above the neckline signals bullish reversal. Volume should increase on the right shoulder and breakout.

H&S (Bearish)

Three peaks with the middle one highest. Break below the neckline confirms the bearish reversal. One of the most reliable topping patterns.

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Double Top & Bottom

Double Top M-shape bearish reversal and Double Bottom W-shape bullish reversal chart patterns

Price tests the same level twice and fails to break through. The classic M-shape (top) and W-shape (bottom) are among the easiest patterns to identify and trade. Confirmation comes when price breaks the middle peak or trough.

Double Bottom (Bullish)

W-shaped. Two equal lows, break above the middle peak confirms reversal. Signals sellers are losing control at that support level.

Double Top (Bearish)

M-shaped. Two equal highs, break below the middle trough confirms reversal. Signals buyers have exhausted their strength at resistance.

Asc/Desc Triangle

Ascending Triangle with flat resistance and rising support, and Descending Triangle with flat support and falling resistance

One side of the triangle is flat while the other converges. This shows one side (buyers or sellers) getting increasingly aggressive while the other holds firm. The measured move target equals the triangle height projected from breakout.

Ascending (Bullish)

Flat resistance, rising support with higher lows. Buyers are pushing harder with each attempt. Breakout above flat resistance triggers the move.

Descending (Bearish)

Flat support, descending resistance with lower highs. Sellers are pushing harder. Breakdown below flat support triggers the move.

Pennant

Bullish and Bearish Pennant chart patterns with converging trendlines after strong impulse moves

Similar to a flag but with converging trendlines instead of parallel ones. Forms after a strong impulse move. The tight consolidation shows the market catching its breath before continuing in the direction of the prior move.

Bullish Pennant

Forms after a sharp rally. Tight converging lines show brief consolidation. Breakout above the upper line continues the uptrend.

Bearish Pennant

Forms after a sharp drop. Tight consolidation before the downtrend continues. Breakdown with volume confirms the pattern.

Cup & Handle

Cup and Handle bullish continuation and Inverse Cup and Handle bearish continuation chart patterns

A rounded formation (cup) followed by a small pullback (handle). One of the strongest continuation patterns, often seen in strong trends. The cup represents gradual accumulation or distribution, while the handle is the final shakeout before the move.

Cup & Handle (Bullish)

Rounded bottom, small pullback handle. Breakout above the rim confirms the pattern. Strong long-term continuation signal often seen in strong uptrends.

Inverse C&H (Bearish)

Rounded top, small rally handle. Breakdown below the rim confirms the pattern. Signals a major shift from accumulation to distribution.

Falling & Rising Wedge

Falling Wedge bullish reversal and Rising Wedge bearish reversal chart patterns with converging trendlines

Both trendlines slope in the same direction but converge. The key insight is that wedges break opposite to their direction. A falling wedge is bullish despite pointing down, and a rising wedge is bearish despite pointing up.

Falling Wedge (Bullish)

Both lines slope downward, support falls less steeply. Despite the downward direction, breakout above the upper trendline signals a strong bullish reversal.

Rising Wedge (Bearish)

Both lines slope upward, resistance rises less steeply. Despite the upward direction, breakdown below the lower trendline signals a strong bearish reversal.

Triple Top & Bottom

Triple Bottom bullish reversal with three equal lows and Triple Top bearish reversal with three equal highs

Price tests the same level three times without breaking through. Stronger confirmation than a double top or bottom because the level has been tested an additional time. Each bounce or rejection adds to the significance of the eventual breakout.

Triple Bottom (Bullish)

Three equal lows, each bounce confirms support strength. Break above the resistance formed by the peaks confirms the bullish reversal.

Triple Top (Bearish)

Three equal highs, each rejection confirms resistance. Break below support formed by the troughs confirms the bearish reversal.

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