What it shows
Heikin Ashi candles are synthetic candles computed from averaged prices to smooth out noise. The HA close is the average of the real open, high, low and close, and the HA open is the average of the previous HA candle's open and close, which makes trends appear as long runs of same-colored candles with few opposing wicks. Bodies and wicks are drawn like normal candles but from these derived values.
How it's built
Per period: HA close = (open + high + low + close) / 4; HA open = (previous HA open + previous HA close) / 2; HA high = max(high, HA open, HA close); HA low = min(high-side equivalents on the low: min(low, HA open, HA close)). Candles remain uniformly spaced in time but their plotted prices are averages, not traded prices.
Switch to it
Open the chart-type menu in the header (next to the interval buttons) and pick Heikin Ashi — or pin it as a favourite for one-click switching.
When to use it
- Riding trends longer by filtering the single-candle noise that shakes traders out
- Identifying trend strength: strong runs show shaven candles with no wick against the trend
- Spotting slowdown early, when bodies shrink and opposing wicks reappear before a reversal
- Backdrop for trend-following systems and trailing-stop management
Settings reference
Open Chart Settings (gear, or double-click the chart background) with this type active. Every setting, its possible values and what it changes:
| Setting | Control | Possible values | Default | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Color bars based on previous close | checkbox | on/off | off | Colors each Heikin-Ashi candle by comparing its (smoothed) close to the previous candle's close instead of its own open. |
| Body | checkbox + two-colors | on/off; any color (up / down) | on; up #089981, down #F23645 | Fills the smoothed Heikin-Ashi candle bodies with the up/down color. Unchecked, bodies are not drawn and only wicks and borders remain. |
| Borders | checkbox + two-colors | on/off; any color (up / down) | on; up #089981, down #F23645 | Draws an outline around each candle body in the chosen up/down colors. Unchecked, bodies have no outline. |
| Wick | checkbox + two-colors | on/off; any color (up / down) | on; up #089981, down #F23645 | Draws the high/low wick lines in the chosen up/down colors. Unchecked, wicks are hidden. |
| Precision | select | Default, 0 (1), 1 (1.1), 2 (1.01), 3 (1.001), 4 (1.0001), 5 (1.00001), 6 (1.000001), 7 (1.0000001), 8 (1.00000001) | Default | Number of decimal places shown on the price scale and price readouts. Default derives the precision from the symbol's own price scale. |
Watch out for
- All HA prices are synthetic averages: never place orders, stops or targets at HA levels, and note the current HA candle repaints relative to real price
- Because HA opens are anchored to the prior candle's midpoint, gaps are absorbed and entries can appear better or worse than what was actually tradable