Spinning Top
A spinning top is a candle with a small body and upper and lower shadows longer than the body. It shows indecision: buyers and sellers both pushed price around but neither won, so it can warn that a trend is losing momentum.
Some candles shout; the spinning top shrugs. Price moved up, moved down, and closed near where it opened. On its own that means little — but after a long trend, it can be the first sign that the dominant side is running out of energy. This entry explains how to recognise a spinning top, how it differs from a doji and how to use it.
- Category
- Price Action
- Reading time
- 3 min
- Also called
- Spinning top candlestick, Spinning tops
- Updated
The spinning top in plain words
Spinning tops have small bodies with upper and lower shadows longer than the body, and they signal indecision.1
Neither buyers nor sellers gained ground during the session.2
A single spinning top is not a tradeable signal, but a cluster of them after a strong move suggests the trend is losing momentum.3
How to read a spinning top, step by step
Check the body
Small compared with the full range.
Check the shadows
Both longer than the body.
Note the trend
Indecision matters most after a strong move. See Trend.
Look for clusters
Several in a row mean stronger hesitation.
Wait for the next candle
Confirmation decides the direction.
Combine with levels
At support or resistance it carries more weight. See Support and Resistance.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Measuring the candle
Spinning topOpen $50.20, close $50.00, high $51.50, low $48.80.
| Body | $50.20 − $50.00 = $0.20 |
| Upper shadow | $51.50 − $50.20 = $1.30 |
| Lower shadow | $50.00 − $48.80 = $1.20 |
Both shadows are many times the body, the classic spinning top shape.1
Example 2 — Confirmed reversal
Bearish confirmationAfter a 10-day rally, a spinning top forms. The next day closes 3% lower on high volume.
| Spinning top | Warning |
| Next candle | −3%, strong |
A spinning top can signal a reversal if the next candle confirms it.2
Example 3 — Just a pause
Trend continuesIn an uptrend, a spinning top is followed by a strong bullish candle to a new high.
| Spinning top | Pause |
| Next candle | New high |
Indecision can resolve in the trend's direction too, which is why confirmation matters.3
Spinning top vs doji
| Aspect | Spinning top | Doji |
|---|---|---|
| Body | Small | Almost none |
| Shadows | Longer than the body | Any length |
| Message | Indecision | Stronger indecision |
| See also | Harami, star patterns | Doji |
How traders use spinning tops
Momentum warnings
Spotting a tiring trend. See Momentum.
Tightening stops
Protecting profits when indecision appears. See Trailing Stop.
Part of bigger patterns
The middle candle of star patterns. See Morning Star and Evening Star.
Range markets
Common in sideways trading. See Range.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages
- Easy to recognise.
- Early warning of fading momentum.
- Useful within larger patterns.
Disadvantages
- Not a signal on its own.
- Very common, so often meaningless.
- Direction depends on the next candle.
Going deeper
Read as far as you need. Each level builds on the one before it.
Colour doesn't matter much
Beginner
A spinning top can close slightly up or slightly down; what matters is the small body and long shadows.2
Clusters and exhaustion
Intermediate
Don't act on the candle alone
Advanced
Active traders are advised to wait for the next candle and other technical signals before trading a spinning top.2
Common mistakes
Trading every spinning top
Most are just noise.
Ignoring the trend
Indecision matters after strong moves.
Confusing it with a doji
A doji has almost no body.
Skipping confirmation
The next candle sets the direction.
Check your understanding
Test yourself before moving on. Each answer comes with an explanation.
Key points to remember
- A spinning top has a small body and long shadows on both sides.
- It signals indecision.
- After a strong trend it can warn of fading momentum.
- It needs confirmation from the next candle.
- A doji is an even more extreme version.
Frequently asked questions
Is a spinning top bullish or bearish?
How small must the body be?
Where are spinning tops most useful?
Further learning
- Doji
The extreme version of indecision.
- Candlestick
Candle anatomy.
- Morning Star and Evening Star
Patterns built around small bodies.
- Harami
Another indecision pattern.
Sources
This article is written in our own words. The sources below support the specific facts, rules and figures marked with a number in the text. Links open the original publisher’s page.
- StockCharts ChartSchool. Candlestick Pattern Dictionary (opens in a new tab) Checked .
- Corporate Finance Institute. Spinning Top Candlestick Pattern (opens in a new tab) Checked .
- IG. 16 Candlestick Patterns Every Trader Should Know (opens in a new tab) Checked .
Read more elsewhere
- Trading Metrics (our sister site): Spinning Top (opens in a new tab)
Educational content, not financial advice. Examples use hypothetical prices and simplified costs; actual fees, margin rules and regulations vary by broker, market and country. Trading Metrics is our sister site, under the same ownership; we are not affiliated with any other publisher linked above. Last reviewed . Report an error or request a source credit.