How to Find Volume in TradingView: 2025 Practical Guide

How to find volume in TradingView is a common question for traders who want clearer market context. This article summarizes step-by-step methods to locate, interpret, and apply volume data on TradingView for stocks, crypto, and forex. You’ll learn how to add built-in volume indicators, use advanced volume tools like Volume Profile and On-Balance Volume (OBV), set alerts, and apply volume-based strategies with actionable examples. The guide also links to authoritative resources and practical trading materials to deepen your knowledge.

Why volume matters: quick primer

Volume measures the number of shares, contracts, or units traded in a given period. It is a primary confirmation tool for price moves: strong price moves accompanied by high volume are more likely to be genuine, while moves on low volume may be weak or unsustainable. For crypto markets where centralized reporting can vary, TradingView’s volume (or tick volume for some instruments) remains a vital input for technical analysis.

For a general definition, see the Trading volume entry on Wikipedia and Investopedia’s explanation of volume.

Overview of volume types on TradingView

• Actual volume: Number of units traded in markets that publish volume (typically stocks, futures, many crypto exchanges).
• Tick volume: Count of price changes (ticks) during a period — commonly shown for forex and some crypto pairs where exchange volume is not available.
• On-Exchange vs Aggregated volume: Some TradingView symbols report exchange-specific volume, while others aggregate across venues.

Step-by-step: How to find volume in TradingView

1. Open the chart: Go to TradingView and open the chart for the instrument you want to analyze (e.g., BTCUSD, AAPL, EURUSD).
2. Locate the built-in volume pane: By default, many TradingView charts include a volume pane below the price chart. If you don’t see it, continue to the next step.
3. Add the volume indicator manually:
   • Click the “Indicators” icon (f(x) symbol) at the top of the chart.
   • Search for “Volume” in the public indicators list.
   • Select “Volume” (built-in) or “Volume MA” if you want a moving average of volume.
4. Adjust settings: Click the gear/settings icon on the volume pane to change colors, scale, or enable “Relative Strength” or MA overlays.
5. Interpret the bars: Green (buying pressure) and red (selling pressure) bars correspond to up and down price candles or can be converted to that color setting in the indicator options.

Quick tip

If a symbol shows small or zero volume, switch to another data source on TradingView (click the symbol ticker → select a different exchange feed) or verify whether the instrument reports volume publicly.

Volume indicators to add in TradingView (practical list)

Beyond the basic volume histogram, TradingView offers many volume-based indicators. Use these to enhance entry/exit timing and validate trends.

• On-Balance Volume (OBV) — cumulative volume that adds/subtracts period volume based on price direction. OBV divergence from price can signal potential reversals.
• Volume Profile / VPVR (Volume Profile Visible Range) — shows volume traded at price levels instead of time. Ideal for finding high-volume nodes (support/resistance).
• VWAP (Volume Weighted Average Price) — average price weighted by volume. Widely used by intraday traders to assess institutional interest.
• Volume Oscillator — compares short-term and long-term volume moving averages to detect volume surges.
• Acc/Dist (Accumulation/Distribution) — blends price and volume to show accumulation versus distribution phases.

How to add advanced volume tools

1. Click “Indicators”.
2. Search for “VPVR” or “Volume Profile” and add “Visible Range” or “Fixed Range” as needed.
3. For VWAP, search “VWAP” and choose built-in or community scripts (built-in is recommended for clarity).

Reading Volume Profile (VPVR) on TradingView

Volume Profile visualizes volume across price levels. Key elements:

• Point of Control (POC) — price with the highest traded volume in the visible range. Often serves as major support/resistance.
• High Volume Nodes (HVNs) — range of prices where heavy volume traded; price tends to consolidate here.
• Low Volume Nodes (LVNs) — price areas with little trading; price can move quickly through LVNs.

Use VPVR to identify where institutions and market participants placed the most orders. To analyze a specific swing, add a Fixed Range volume profile across the swing high and low.

Practical examples: Using volume with price action

Below are real-world scenarios with actionable rules you can implement immediately on TradingView.

Example 1: Breakout confirmation

1. Identify a consolidation range or resistance level.
2. Look for a close above resistance on increased volume (volume above the recent average or a volume spike). If confirmed, the breakout is likely strong.
3. Place a stop below the breakout candle or structure low. Use VPVR to identify POC as possible stop area.

Example 2: Bull trap detection

1. Price makes a new high but volume is lower than in the previous rally — divergence between price and volume.
2. OBV shows no confirmation or is falling. This scenario increases the odds of a fake breakout.
3. Manage risk with tight stops or avoid entering until volume picks up.

Example 3: Trend continuation with volume sweeps

1. During an uptrend, price pulls back to a support zone. Look for a decrease in volume during pullback and then high volume on the next bullish candle (volume confirmation).
2. Enter when price resumes with increasing volume and momentum indicators align (e.g., RSI rising).

Volume strategies for different asset classes

Volume interpretation varies by asset type because reporting and liquidity differ.

Stocks and futures

• Use actual traded volume and look for institutional footprints (spikes, sustained higher-than-average volume).
• Combine with Level 2/order book data for intraday precision.

Crypto

• Confirm whether TradingView’s symbol uses aggregate or exchange-specific volume. Different exchanges can show divergent volumes for the same pair.
• Consider cross-checking volume with exchange explorers (e.g., Binance spot volume via the Binance API) or on-chain metrics for tokens.

Forex

• Use tick volume as a proxy. Though not perfect, tick volume often correlates with real trade flow and can be effective for intraday setups.

Setting volume alerts and scans in TradingView

TradingView lets you create alerts tied to indicators including volume. Use alerts to catch volume spikes or when volume crosses moving averages.

1. Right-click on the volume pane or indicator and select “Add Alert on Volume”.
2. Set condition for volume (e.g., volume > MA(volume, 20) * 2) or a fixed threshold.
3. Use the Screener tool to filter symbols by increasing volume or unusual volume using TradingView’s Stock and Crypto Screeners.

Common mistakes when using volume

• Ignoring context: A volume spike without price movement may indicate order cancellation or algorithmic noise.
• Over-trusting tick volume: In low-liquidity instruments, tick volume can mislead.
• Not accounting for time of day: Session opens/closes and scheduled news increase volume naturally.
• Using one indicator only: Combine volume with price structure, momentum, or volatility measures for robust signals.

Advanced tips: combining volume with other indicators

Volume is best used alongside other tools. Here are some high-value combinations:

• Volume + RSI/MACD: Use volume to confirm momentum indicated by RSI or MACD crossovers.
• Volume + VWAP: Gauge whether price staying above VWAP on high volume suggests institutional accumulation for intraday trades.
• Volume + Market Profile/VPVR: Confirm price reaction at high-volume nodes to validate support/resistance zones.

How to analyze unusual volume events

1. Note the time and magnitude of the volume spike relative to average volume (e.g., 3x 20-day average).
2. Check news sources (company releases, macro announcements) and social channels. Authoritative news portals or the instrument’s official page can explain fundamental causes.
3. Observe price behavior: sustained follow-through on high volume suggests continuation; failure or quick reversal suggests short-term exhaustion.

Use official sources for news when necessary, such as a company’s investor relations page or government filings (e.g., SEC EDGAR for US equities at SEC EDGAR).

Practical workflow: daily checklist to monitor volume on TradingView

1. Scan market movers by volume in the TradingView screener.
2. Open charts for top volume movers and enable Volume, OBV, and VPVR.
3. Check for divergences and confirm with price structure.
4. Set alerts for volume breakouts or spikes during trading hours.
5. Log trades and note how volume behaved; refine rules weekly.

Case study & learning resources

To deepen your approach beyond technical mechanics, study winning strategies and applied research. For example, read the coverage of the University of Chicago trading competition winners and their strategies to see volume’s role in algorithmic and discretionary trading: Inside UChicago trading competition — winners' strategies.

For downloadable strategy frameworks and PDFs that incorporate volume-based rules, check practical trading strategy guides: Practical Bitcoin trading strategies (PDF guide).

To understand macro crypto context where volume interpretation differs (e.g., during altcoin seasons), see analyses on Bitcoin dominance and seasonal correlations: Complete guide to Bitcoin dominance and Altcoin season 2025 analysis.

Where to get reliable volume data for crypto

Volume can differ across exchanges. For crypto traders who require reliable exchange volume:

• Use exchange-specific tickers on TradingView (e.g., BINANCE:BTCUSDT) for exchange-reported volume.
• Cross-check with exchange data portals such as Binance’s official data pages or the exchange’s API documentation. You can register accounts on major exchanges to access deeper data:
• Register on Binance
• Register on MEXC
• Register on Bitget
• Register on Bybit

Example: Step-by-step BTC volume analysis on TradingView

1. Open TradingView and choose ticker BINANCE:BTCUSDT to view Binance-reported volume.
2. Add the built-in Volume histogram and a 20-period Volume MA (use Indicators → “Volume” → apply moving average).
3. Add VPVR (Visible Range) to the right and set the range to cover the last 90 days.
4. Identify recent volume spikes and cross-check whether price closed above/below the consolidation with volume confirmation.
5. Set an alert: Right-click the volume pane → Add Alert → Condition: Volume > 2 * MA(Volume, 20). This notifies you of significant volume surges that may indicate breakouts or capitulations.

Interpreting volume divergence: examples and action

Volume divergence occurs when price moves in one direction while volume trends the opposite. Common signals:

• Price new high + lower volume: Potential weakening of the uptrend. Consider reducing position size or tightening stops.
• Price new low + lower volume: Potential lack of conviction by sellers; watch for reversals or range-building.
• OBV divergence: If OBV trends down while price trends up, sellers may be accumulating off-chart positions—exercise caution.

Using volume in automated strategies (Pine Script basics)

For algorithmic traders, TradingView’s Pine Script provides access to volume data via the built-in variable volume. A simple example logic:

• Condition: If volume > 2 * sma(volume, 20) and close > sma(close, 50), generate a long signal.
• Always backtest with realistic slippage and fees and use walk-forward testing to avoid overfitting.

See TradingView’s developer documentation for Pine Script: TradingView Pine Script docs.

Best practices and checklist before trading on volume signals

• Confirm volume reading source: exchange vs aggregate vs tick volume.
• Consider market hours and scheduled news.
• Use multiple timeframes — analyze daily for context and intraday for entries.
• Implement risk management: position sizing, stop loss, and maximum portfolio risk.
• Log every trade and analyze performance by volume conditions.

Further reading and learning path

To complement indicator mechanics with practical strategy development, use the following resources:

• Educational articles on technical indicators like OBV and Volume Profile (Investopedia and TradingView help center provide solid overviews).
• Community scripts on TradingView — examine reputable authors and read comments to evaluate reliability.
• Case studies and research. For strategy ideas and PDF resources, consult the guide: Practical Bitcoin trading strategies (PDF).
• Explore competition reports for applied strategies: UChicago competition — winners' strategies to see how top competitors incorporate volume in models.

FAQ: Quick answers

Q: Can I rely solely on volume for trade decisions?

A: No. Volume is a confirmation tool. Combine it with price structure, momentum, and risk controls for dependable signals.

Q: How is tick volume different and when to use it?

A: Tick volume is a proxy used when real trade counts aren’t available (common in forex). It counts price updates and generally correlates with real activity, especially for liquid pairs and intraday analysis.

Q: Does TradingView show on-chain volume for tokens?

A: TradingView shows exchange-reported trading volume; for on-chain metrics (e.g., token transfers, active addresses) use blockchain explorers or analytics platforms (e.g., Glassnode, CoinMetrics).

Conclusion — mastering volume on TradingView

Understanding how to find volume in TradingView is fundamental for modern traders. Start with the basic volume histogram, then layer OBV, VWAP, and Volume Profile to extract deeper market context. Use alerts and the screener to catch unusual activity, and always cross-check exchange data for crypto. Practice with a clear checklist, log trades, and gradually refine rules to match your time frame and risk tolerance.

For strategic context and applied studies, review the linked guides and competition analyses above, and consider opening accounts on major exchanges to access reliable volume feeds: Binance, MEXC, Bitget, and Bybit.

Keep learning and testing: study volume in context, and over time it will become one of the most reliable components of your trading toolkit.