How to Read Volume Profile (And Find Hidden Support and Resistance)

Most traders look at volume as a bar at the bottom of their chart. It tells you how much was traded during a candle — useful, but limited. Volume profile flips the axis. Instead of showing volume over time, it shows volume at each price level. And that changes everything about how you find support and resistance. What Is Volume Profile? Volume profile is a horizontal histogram plotted alongside your price chart. Each bar represents the total volume traded at a specific price level over a chosen period. The result is a map of where the market actually transacted — not where indicators suggest support might be, but where real buying and selling concentrated. Three key levels emerge from every volume profile: Level What It Means Point of Control (POC) The single price with the highest traded volume. The market's "fair value" for that period. Value Area High (VAH) Upper boundary of the zone containing 70% of total volume. Value Area Low (VAL) Lower boundary of that 70% zone. The area betwe