What candlestick patterns are
A candlestick shows price movement for one period, such as an hour or a day. The body is the range between the open and the close. The wicks (also called shadows) show the high and the low. A filled or red body usually means the close was below the open. A hollow or green body usually means the close was above it.
A candlestick pattern is a shape made by a single candle or a short group of candles that traders read as a hint about who controlled the period, buyers or sellers. Candlestick patterns in forex, metals, indices and crypto CFDs all work on the same idea, because they are drawn from the same open, high, low and close data.
A pattern is not a signal on its own and does not predict the next move. It describes what already happened. Its meaning depends on where it appears, how it fits the trend, and what follows it.
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How the grid is organised
Below this text you will find all candlestick patterns as cards, each with its drawn shape. You can sort them in three ways:
| Grouping | What it means |
|---|---|
| By candle count | Single-candle patterns (Doji, Hammer, Marubozu), paired patterns (Engulfing, Harami, Piercing Line) and multi-candle patterns (Morning Star, Three White Soldiers) |
| By direction | Bullish patterns point to buying pressure, bearish patterns to selling pressure, and neutral ones such as the Spinning Top show indecision |
| By role | Reversal patterns appear at the end of a move, continuation patterns appear during a pause inside a move |
Some patterns look the same but mean different things depending on the trend before them. The Hammer and the Hanging Man have the same shape. The first appears after a fall and the second after a rise. The cards and the guide pages point out these pairs.
Where a beginner should start
If you are new to charts, read the section in this order:
- Reading Candlestick Charts explains body, wicks, colours and timeframes.
- The Doji page shows how indecision looks on a chart.
- Bullish Engulfing and Bearish Engulfing show how paired patterns work.
- Morning Star and Evening Star show how multi-candle patterns build.
Practise spotting these shapes on a demo account or in the Practice Simulator before you use them with real money.
What an experienced trader will find
Each pattern page goes beyond the shape. It covers:
- strict and loose definitions, and how charting software often draws them differently
- the context that makes a pattern more or less meaningful: trend, support and resistance, session, volatility
- confirmation approaches and common failure cases
- where a stop-loss is usually placed relative to the pattern, and how to size a position for it
Price-action pages such as Pin Bar and Inside Bar show how traders turn candle shapes into rule-based setups. For larger structures built from many candles, see Chart Patterns. For indicators and the wider framework, see Technical Analysis.
A note on risk
Candlestick patterns fail often, and a pattern that looks clear can be followed by a move in the opposite direction. Leveraged forex and CFD trading can lose money fast, including more than you planned if you trade without a stop-loss. Read Risk Management and use the Risk-reward calculator and the Lot size calculator before you act on any pattern.
Frequent questions
Is there a candlestick patterns PDF?
This section works as an online reference with a drawn shape for every pattern. If you want an offline copy, you can use your browser's print or save-as-PDF function on any page.
Do candlestick patterns work in forex?
They describe forex price action the same way they describe other markets. They do not guarantee any result. Context and risk control matter more than the shape itself.
Which timeframe should I use?
Patterns on higher timeframes are built from more trading activity and usually show less noise. Lower timeframes produce more patterns and more false ones.
Are all candlestick patterns listed here?
The grid below covers the widely used patterns, from single candles to multi-candle formations. Each card links to its full guide page.
What should I read after this section?
Go to Chart Patterns and Trading Strategies, and keep the Trading glossary open for any term you have not seen before.