Tick Volume (Tick Vol)
Tick Volume measures the number of price changes (ticks) within a period. In forex where true volume is unavailable, tick volume serves as a reliable proxy for market activity.
- Family
- Volume
- Series
- Single series
- Best timeframes
- M15 · H1 · H4
- Last updated
- 2026-03-21
TL;DR
- Tick Vol is a volume indicator used in technical analysis
- High tick volume on breakouts confirms conviction. Low volume on pullbacks suggests healthy trend. Volume spikes often precede significant moves.
- Best timeframes: M15, H1, H4
- Skip to API docs
What is Tick Volume?
Tick Volume measures the number of price changes (ticks) within a period. In forex where true volume is unavailable, tick volume serves as a reliable proxy for market activity.
How Tick Vol is calculated
Tick Volume = count of price changes within the bar period
Note: This is not traded volume but correlates with actual market activity.How to interpret Tick Vol
High tick volume on breakouts confirms conviction. Low volume on pullbacks suggests healthy trend. Volume spikes often precede significant moves.
Trading strategies using Tick Vol
Strategy 1: Volume Confirmation
Use tick volume to confirm or reject price breakouts.
Entry rules
Only enter breakout trades when tick volume is above the 20-bar average.
Exit rules
Exit if volume does not sustain above average in the direction of the breakout.
Combining Tick Vol with other indicators
Tick Vol works best when combined with complementary indicators:
- Tick Vol + OBV: Combine for stronger confluence signals
- Tick Vol + MFI: Combine for stronger confluence signals
- Tick Vol + A/D Line: Combine for stronger confluence signals
Tick Vol across different timeframes
Tick Vol works across all 7 timeframes but performs best on M15, H1, H4 for most trading styles.
Accessing Tick Vol via the TickAtlas API
GET https://tickatlas.com/v1/indicator
Python example
import requests
url = "https://tickatlas.com/v1/indicator"
headers = {"X-API-Key": "YOUR_API_KEY"}
params = {
"symbol": "EURUSD",
"indicator": "Volumes",
"timeframe": "H1"
}
response = requests.get(url, headers=headers, params=params)
data = response.json()
print(data)Sample response
{
"success": true,
"data": {
"symbol": "EURUSD",
"indicator": "Volumes",
"timeframe": "H1",
"value": 1234567,
"updated_at": 1711548000,
"server_time": "2024-03-27T14:00:00+00:00",
"bid": 1.0856,
"ask": 1.0857
}
}Common mistakes to avoid
- Treating tick volume as identical to actual traded volume
- Ignoring volume analysis entirely in forex
Frequently asked questions
Is tick volume reliable in forex?
Yes. Multiple studies show tick volume correlates 90%+ with actual futures volume. It is a reliable proxy for measuring market activity and confirming price movements.
Continue learning
More volume indicators
- Indicator
On-Balance Volume (OBV)
OBV is a cumulative volume indicator that adds volume on up days and subtracts on down days.
Read more - Indicator
Money Flow Index (MFI)
MFI is a volume-weighted version of RSI.
Read more - Indicator
Accumulation/Distribution Line (A/D)
The A/D Line measures the cumulative flow of money into and out of a security.
Read more
Put Tick Vol to work in your application.
Sign up with $2.50 of starting credit and query pre-calculated Tick Vol data across 7 timeframes, from M1 to D1.