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INDICATORS · WILLIAMS %R

Williams Percent R in Crypto: Why the Value Changes Before Candle Close

Williams %R places the current close within the recent high-low range. With the live price as 'close', it can sweep its whole scale inside one bar.

By ChartsPod Editorial Team · Reviewed by ChartsPod Research
Published · Updated · 5 min read

Short answer

Williams %R = (highest high − close) ÷ (highest high − lowest low) × −100 over N bars. Using the live price as close, %R moves directly with price inside the bar; if the bar also sets a new high or low, the range itself changes. A move from −90 (oversold) to −15 (overbought) and back within one candle is possible on volatile pairs. Thresholds of −20 and −80 should be evaluated on closed bars.

Which part of Williams %R uses the live bar

ComponentUses current bar?Effect intrabar
Close (live price)YesDirect, unsmoothed
Highest high over NYes, if new highRange expands
Lowest low over NYes, if new lowRange expands
%RYesFast, unsmoothed

%R has no smoothing, so it reacts fully to every intrabar price change. It is effectively the inverse of the fast stochastic %K.

Check Williams Percent R in Crypto against a live market before relying on it.

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How much it moves inside one bar

Williams %R during one bar (illustrative)Williams %R during one bar (illustrative): OPEN: −72; MID: −18 (overbought); LATE: −55; CLOSE: −63.OPEN−72MID−18 (overbought)LATE−55CLOSE−63
Only Williams %R's closing value is kept in history. Original ChartsPod editorial graphic.
Illustrative intrabar range of Williams %R vs its closed valueIllustrative intrabar range of Williams %R vs its closed value: %R intrabar range 54 ; %R bar-to-bar change 15 .ILLUSTRATIVE INTRABAR RANGE OF WILLIAMS %R VS ITS CLOSED VALUE%R intrabar range54%R bar-to-bar change15
How far Williams %R travels inside a bar versus between bars. Original ChartsPod editorial graphic.

Rules

Williams %R signal hygieneWilliams %R signal hygiene: Signals on closed bars; Bar-close alerts; Backtest uses the same rule; Live value labelled provisional; Settings identical across chart and alerts.WILLIAMS %R SIGNAL HYGIENESignals on closed barsBar-close alertsBacktest uses the same ruleLive value labelled provisionalSettings identical across chart and alerts
Closed values are what history shows. Original ChartsPod editorial graphic.

ChartsPod's indicator reference includes Williams %R (terminal parameter W%R).

Compare Williams Percent R in Crypto across Binance, Bybit, OKX and Hyperliquid markets.

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Questions readers ask

Why does Williams %R move so fast?

It's unsmoothed and uses the live price.

Is it the same as stochastic?

It's the inverted fast stochastic %K.

Signals intrabar?

Use closed bars.

Sources and methodology

Indicator formulas are standard definitions; live-versus-closed behaviour follows TradingView's repainting documentation. Values in examples are illustrative.

  1. TradingView Pine Script: Repainting — live vs historical calculation.
  2. ChartsPod indicator reference — indicator calculations.

This article explains research tools and workflows. It is not financial advice, does not recommend buying or selling any asset and does not predict prices. Crypto derivatives carry a risk of rapid and total loss of margin.

CHARTSPOD EDITORIAL EDITION · RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ONLY · NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE.