Draws a volume profile for each session on the chart, with the point of control and the 70% value area high and low lines.
In plain English
What it shows
- One volume profile per session: how much traded at each price. The POC (busiest price) is orange, and the value area high and low (about 70% of volume) are dashed lines.
How traders use it
- See where each session did most of its trading.
- Compare one session's profile with the next.
What it does not tell you
- It is built from candle volume, not trade by trade.
- Intraday charts only.
Overview
Session Volume Profile draws one horizontal volume profile per session, starting at the left of each session and covering 40% of its width by default. Each row shows how much volume traded at that price. The point of control (POC), the busiest row, is drawn in orange, and the value area high and low (VAH and VAL) are dashed lines.
How it works
The profile is built from the chart's candles. Each bar's volume is spread evenly over the rows between its low and high. On futures, rows are 4 ticks by default; on crypto, each session is split into 40 rows.
The value area starts at the POC and grows toward the larger neighbouring row until it holds 70% of the session's volume. For futures you can choose the RTH session (09:30 to 16:00 New York), the overnight session (18:00 to 09:30), both separately, or the full 18:00 to 17:00 trading day. Crypto always uses the UTC day.
How to use it
- Some traders watch how price reacts at the POC, VAH and VAL.
- Use it to compare where volume built up in today's session with earlier sessions.
- Some traders note whether a session opens inside or outside the prior value area.
- Use the RTH and overnight split to see how the two sessions differ.
These are ways some traders read it, for learning. They are not trade signals.
Settings
| Setting | Default |
|---|---|
| Sessions (futures)rth = 09:30-16:00 New York; eth = overnight 18:00-09:30; both = RTH and overnight separately; day = the full 18:00-17:00 trading day. Crypto always uses the UTC day.Options: rth, eth, both, day | rth |
| Row size (ticks, futures) | 4 |
| Rows per session (crypto) | 40 |
| Value area % | 70 |
| Width % of the session | 40 |
| Value area lines (VAH / VAL) | On |
| Point of control (POC) | On |
| Profile colour | #5b9cf6 |
| Value area colour | #5b9cf6 |
| POC colour | #ff9800 |
Notes and limits
- Intraday charts only (1 minute to 4 hours).
- It is built from candle volume, so it shows where volume traded by bar range, not trade by trade.
- For a profile from recorded trades, see Volume Profile (trades).
Education only. Not financial advice. Indicators mark what happened on the chart; they do not predict what price will do. Trading futures, forex, crypto and other markets carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for everyone.