What is POC in Volume Profile?

POC (Point of Control) is the price level with the highest traded volume. It often acts as strong support or resistance.

Key Takeaways

Difficulty:Advanced

Reliability:Very High

Category:volume

Timeframes:1H, 4H, Daily

Volume Profile

volume📊 1H, 4H, Daily

Shows volume traded at each price level, identifying key support/resistance zones.

Formula

Code

Volume Profile = Sum of volume at each price level

Detailed Explanation

Volume Profile displays volume horizontally at price levels instead of time-based.

Key Components:
- POC (Point of Control): Price with highest volume
- VAH (Value Area High): Upper boundary of value area
- VAL (Value Area Low): Lower boundary
- Value Area: Contains ~70% of volume

Trading Setup Example

Entry, stop loss, and take profit levels.

📈 Buy Setup

📉 Sell Setup

Always wait for signal confirmation before entering a trade.

Where This Indicator Works Best

Trend context and market position.

📈 Bullish Context

📉 Bearish Context

Confirms price moves through volume analysis.

Live Chart — Volume Profile

See Volume Profile in action on a live chart. Try changing the settings and timeframe.

Volume Profile is a manual drawing tool or chart type and cannot be auto-overlaid as a study.

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Parameters

Lookback

Default: Session

Period to analyze

📈 Bullish Signals

Price breaks above high volume node with momentum

📉 Bearish Signals

Price breaks below high volume node with momentum

Python Implementation

Basic volume profile calculation

Python

import numpy as np

def volume_profile(df, bins=50):

price_bins = np.linspace(df['low'].min(), df['high'].max(), bins)

profile = {}

for i in range(len(price_bins)-1):

mask = (df['close'] >= price_bins[i]) & (df['close'] < price_bins[i+1])

profile[price_bins[i]] = df.loc[mask, 'volume'].sum()

return profile

TradingView Pine Script

Try on TradingView

JavaScript

// TradingView has built-in Volume Profile indicator

// Add from Indicators > Volume Profile

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MT5 MQL5 Code

C++

// Volume Profile typically calculated manually or via custom indicator

Python Libraries

numpy

Numerical computing

pip install numpy

Common Mistakes

✗Ignoring LVN as fast-move zones

✗Not updating profile for new data

Confirmation Signals

Price action at levels

RSI

Candlestick patterns

Best For

Support/resistance identificationKey level tradingInstitutional level analysis

💡 Pro Tips

•HVN (High Volume Nodes) act as magnets
•LVN (Low Volume Nodes) price moves through quickly
•POC is the price with most volume - strongest level

Last updated: February 8, 2026

Educational Disclaimer

This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Trading involves significant risk and you may lose your capital. Always consult a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Learn More

Investopedia - Technical Indicators— Financial Education BabyPips - Technical Indicators— Trading School MetaTrader 5 Docs— Official Documentation

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Indicators

On-Balance Volume (OBV)

Cumulative indicator that adds volume on up days and subtracts on down days. Shows buying/selling pressure.

Volume Weighted Average Price (VWAP)

Average price weighted by volume, commonly used as a benchmark for institutional trading.

Back to All Indicators