What Are Footprint Charts?

Footprint charts (also called order flow charts or market profile charts) are an advanced form of candlestick chart that displays the volume of buy and sell orders at every individual price level inside each candle. While a standard candlestick shows only four data points (open, high, low, close), a footprint chart reveals the complete auction process — who was buying and selling at each price tick.

premium order-flow platforms (Advanced Time and Sales) is the most well-known footprint chart software, charging $99/month. CryptoPulse24 provides professional footprint charts completely free.

Understanding the Footprint Chart Structure

Each row in a footprint candle represents one price level (tick). Within each row, you see two numbers:

Left number (red) = Sell volume at that price (taker sells, hitting the bid)
Right number (green) = Buy volume at that price (taker buys, lifting the ask)

The delta is the difference: buys minus sells. Positive delta (more buys) is bullish. Negative delta (more sells) is bearish.

Key Footprint Chart Patterns

1. Bullish Absorption

Large sell volume appears at a support level, but price does not fall — instead, price holds or rises. This means buyers are absorbing all the selling pressure. The large red numbers on the left represent sellers that were completely absorbed by buyers. This is one of the strongest bullish signals in order flow analysis.

2. Bearish Absorption

The opposite: large buy volume appears at a resistance level but price fails to rise. Sellers are absorbing all buyer aggression. This is a strong bearish signal.

3. Imbalance Candles

When one side of the footprint (buys or sells) completely dwarfs the other — typically a ratio of 3:1 or greater — this indicates strong directional conviction. Imbalance candles often mark the beginning of significant moves.

4. High Volume Nodes (HVN)

Price levels where exceptionally high total volume was traded. These become strong support and resistance levels — price tends to return to HVN as they represent zones of perceived fair value.

5. Low Volume Nodes (LVN)

Price levels with minimal volume. Price travels through these zones rapidly — they are "fast lanes" on the price chart. Identifying LVN helps you anticipate how quickly price will move through certain areas.

Delta Analysis: The Core of Footprint Trading

Cumulative delta (CVD) tracks the running total of buys minus sells across multiple candles. Rising CVD alongside rising price confirms the trend — buyers are genuinely in control. Divergence between price and delta is a powerful warning signal:

Price rising but delta falling = Hidden selling pressure. The rally may be unsustainable.
Price falling but delta rising = Hidden buying pressure. The decline may reverse soon.

How to Use Footprint Charts on CryptoPulse24

Open the Footprint Charts page on CryptoPulse24 and select your trading pair (BTC/USDT recommended for starters) and timeframe (5m for scalping, 15m-1H for intraday).

Start by focusing on the large delta numbers and imbalances. Don't try to read every single price level initially — build your intuition by watching how price behaves at key footprint levels over time.

CryptoPulse24 vs premium order-flow platforms

premium order-flow platforms is a desktop application requiring $99/month for footprint charts. CryptoPulse24 is web-based and completely free. Compare CryptoPulse24 vs premium order-flow platforms →