Williams %R (Williams %R)
Williams %R is a momentum oscillator identical to the inverse of the Stochastic Oscillator. It ranges from 0 to -100, measuring how close the closing price is to the highest high of the lookback period.
- Family
- Momentum & oscillators
- Series
- Periods 14
- Best timeframes
- M15 · H1 · H4
- Last updated
- 2026-03-21
TL;DR
- Williams %R is a oscillator indicator used in technical analysis
- Above -20 is overbought; below -80 is oversold. Similar interpretation to Stochastic but inverted scale.
- Best timeframes: M15, H1, H4
- Skip to API docs
What is Williams %R?
Williams %R is a momentum oscillator identical to the inverse of the Stochastic Oscillator. It ranges from 0 to -100, measuring how close the closing price is to the highest high of the lookback period.
How Williams %R is calculated
%R = (Highest High - Close) / (Highest High - Lowest Low) × -100
Default period: 14How to interpret Williams %R
Above -20 is overbought; below -80 is oversold. Similar interpretation to Stochastic but inverted scale.
Trading strategies using Williams %R
Strategy 1: Williams %R Extremes
Trade reversals from overbought/oversold zones.
Entry rules
Buy when %R crosses above -80. Sell when %R crosses below -20.
Exit rules
Exit at opposite extreme or use trailing stop.
Combining Williams %R with other indicators
Williams %R works best when combined with complementary indicators:
- Williams %R + Stochastic: Combine for stronger confluence signals
- Williams %R + RSI: Combine for stronger confluence signals
- Williams %R + CCI: Combine for stronger confluence signals
Williams %R across different timeframes
Williams %R works across all 7 timeframes but performs best on M15, H1, H4 for most trading styles.
Accessing Williams %R 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": "WilliamsR_14",
"timeframe": "H1"
}
response = requests.get(url, headers=headers, params=params)
data = response.json()
print(data)Sample response
{
"success": true,
"data": {
"symbol": "EURUSD",
"indicator": "WilliamsR_14",
"timeframe": "H1",
"value": -41.57,
"updated_at": 1711548000,
"server_time": "2024-03-27T14:00:00+00:00",
"bid": 1.0856,
"ask": 1.0857
}
}Common mistakes to avoid
- Confusing the inverted scale (0 to -100 instead of 0 to 100)
- Trading against strong trends based solely on extreme readings
Frequently asked questions
How is Williams %R different from Stochastic?
They are mathematically equivalent but with inverted scales. Williams %R = -100 + Stochastic %K. The main difference is visual representation.
Continue learning
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Put Williams %R to work in your application.
Sign up with $2.50 of starting credit and query pre-calculated Williams %R data across 7 timeframes, from M1 to D1.