CPR & Pivot Point Calculator

What Is the Central Pivot Range (CPR)?

The Central Pivot Range (CPR) consists of three levels — TC (Top Central), Pivot (P), and BC (Bottom Central) — calculated from the previous session's high, low, and close. Together they form a range that acts as a key support/resistance zone for the current session.

CPR is widely used by intraday and swing traders to gauge market direction, identify potential reversals, and determine whether the day is likely to trend or stay rangebound.

Pivot (P) = (High + Low + Close) ÷ 3

BC (Bottom Central) = (High + Low) ÷ 2

TC (Top Central) = (2 × Pivot) − BC

The CPR width (distance between TC and BC) indicates expected volatility. A narrow CPR suggests a trending day; a wide CPR suggests a rangebound session.

What Does a Flipped CPR Mean?

Normally, TC is above BC (bullish bias). When the formula produces TC below BC, the CPR is said to be "flipped". This happens when the previous session's close was below the midpoint of the high-low range.

Normal CPR (TC > BC) — the market closed in the upper half of the previous session's range. Indicates potential bullish bias for the next session.
Flipped CPR (TC < BC) — the market closed in the lower half of the previous session's range. Indicates potential bearish bias. The calculator swaps TC and BC in the display and flags this with a badge.

The flip is not a guarantee of direction — it is a probabilistic bias. Always combine CPR with price action confirmation.

Narrow vs Wide CPR

Narrow CPR (< 0.3% of Pivot) — the previous session had a close very near the midpoint. This compresses the CPR into a tight zone, often signalling a breakout or trending day ahead.
Wide CPR (> 1% of Pivot) — the previous session had a close far from the midpoint, creating a wide zone. Price is more likely to stay rangebound within the CPR, making it harder for a trend to develop.

When you see a narrow CPR, watch for a decisive break above TC or below BC — the move that follows is often strong. When CPR is wide, consider range-trading strategies within the CPR zone.

What Is a Virgin CPR?

A Virgin CPR (also called Untested CPR) is a CPR level from a previous day that was never touched or tested by price during its session. Virgin CPR levels act as strong support/resistance zones when price eventually reaches them — even days or weeks later.

Traders track virgin CPR levels from past sessions as potential high-probability reversal zones. If a daily CPR from three days ago was never tested, and price approaches it today, it is likely to produce a reaction.

Example Calculation

Previous Day: High = 18,500 | Low = 18,200 | Close = 18,400

Step 1 — Pivot = (18,500 + 18,200 + 18,400) ÷ 3 = 18,366.67

Step 2 — BC = (18,500 + 18,200) ÷ 2 = 18,350.00

Step 3 — TC = (2 × 18,366.67) − 18,350.00 = 18,383.33

CPR Width = 18,383.33 − 18,350.00 = 33.33 points (0.18% of Pivot)

TC > BC → Normal CPR (Bullish Bias). Width is narrow (0.18%) → Trending day likely.

Pivot Point Methods Explained

Classic (Traditional) — the most common method. Pivot = (H+L+C)/3. Support and resistance are derived symmetrically from the range. Used by most charting platforms as the default.
Fibonacci — same pivot formula, but S/R levels use Fibonacci ratios (38.2%, 61.8%, 100%) of the previous range. Popular among traders who use Fibonacci retracements in their analysis.
Woodie — gives double weight to the close: Pivot = (H+L+2C)/4. This makes the pivot more reactive to where the market actually closed, rather than the range midpoint.
Camarilla — uses the close as the base and multiplies the range by fixed factors. Known for providing tighter S/R levels. R3/S3 are breakout levels; R1/S1 are scalping levels.

How to Use This Calculator

Get previous session data — find the previous day's High, Low, and Close for your instrument. Most charting platforms (TradingView, Zerodha Kite) show this on daily candles.
Enter the values and click Calculate.
Check the CPR first — note whether it is normal or flipped, and whether it is narrow or wide. This sets your bias for the day.
Use the S/R levels — from the Classic, Fibonacci, Woodie, or Camarilla tabs as potential entry/exit zones, stop loss placement, or target levels.
Combine with price action — pivot levels work best when confirmed by candlestick patterns, volume, or your own indicators at those levels.

Pivot points and CPR are not magic lines — they are calculated reference levels that the market respects because thousands of traders use them. The CPR tells you the day's likely character (trending vs rangebound), and the S/R levels give you price zones to watch. Use them as part of your trading plan, not as the entire plan.