Multi-timeframe trading describes a trading approach where the trader combines different trading timeframes to improve decision-making and optimize their chart analyses.

The goal of multi-timeframe trading is to enhance the profit profile of individual trades by trading long-term signals in a short-term timeframe. We´ll explain what this means with concrete examples in the following article.

Typically, traders make use of one so-called higher timeframe and one lower timeframe. The higher timeframe is used to analyze the longer-term chart and trend context to get a general sense of market direction and sentiment. Traders try to establish a directional bias (long, short, or neutral) on the higher timeframe and then look for specific trading opportunities in the higher timeframe direction on their lower timeframes. The lower timeframe is hereby used to time entries and manage trading positions. 

Top-down vs. bottom-up

One of the biggest mistakes traders make when performing a multi-timeframe analysis is that they start their analysis on the lowest of their time frames and then work their way up to the higher time frames. This would be called a bottom-up approach.

Starting your analysis on your lower timeframe where you place your trades creates a very narrow and one-dimensional view and it misses the point of the multiple time frame analysis. Often, traders just adopt a specific market direction or opinion on their lower timeframes and are then just looking for ways to confirm their opinion on the higher timeframe.

We recommend the top-down method. With a top-down approach, a trader starts their analysis on the higher timeframe to get a general sense of the market sentiment, the general trend context, and becomes aware of important price hurdles and key levels. On the lower timeframe, the trader then looks for trading opportunities based on the higher timeframe perspective. The trade then fits perfectly into the overall chart narrative.

Which timeframes to use?

The first question that always comes up when getting into multi-timeframe trading is which timeframes to use. I recommend keeping it simple, especially in the beginning. There is no need to reinvent the wheel.

The table above shows the most common timeframe combinations. To improve the consistency in your trading approach, I recommend picking one combination and sticking to it for an extended period of time. This way, you can gain experience with the specified timeframe combination and see if it is the right fit for your trading.

You want to avoid jumping around between timeframe combinations because it creates inconsistencies in your trading and introduces noise.

Stay with one timeframe combination for at least 30 to 50 trades before changing timeframes.

5 Multi-timeframe strategies

Now that you have settled on a timeframe combination, we can start utilizing our timeframes. But what do we look for in a higher timeframe specifically?

Here, traders can choose from a variety of different higher timeframe “cues” (or so-called confluence factors). Depending on your preferred chart analysis approach, you can find the right fit for your own multi-timeframe strategy.

In the following, I list a few confluence factors that are typical for a higher timeframe approach:

#1 Levels – Breakout

One of the most commonly used higher timeframe concepts is one of support and resistance levels. Traders who make use of support and resistance levels on the higher timeframe typically either look for a bounce or a break of a long-term horizontal level.

The image below shows the Daily timeframe level with a strong resistance level marked. The trader identifies the level on their higher timeframe and upon the break switches to a lower timeframe to look for trading bullish opportunities.

The image below shows the 1H timeframe after the break of the resistance level. The price trended higher after the breakout and the trader would have done well to adopt a bullish sentiment and look for bullish trend-continuations. 

#2 Levels – Bounce

Instead of looking for a higher timeframe breakout, traders can also choose to look for a bounce off a support or resistance level. In the image below, the strong resistance level has been holding multiple times on the higher 4H timeframe. As long as the price is not able to close above the level, a trader might adopt a bearish trade sentiment. Especially after seeing the signal of deceleration (smaller candlesticks), the higher timeframe bearish bias can be used to look for short trading opportunities on the lower timeframe.

The lower 15 min timeframe shows an interesting Head and Shoulders chart pattern at the time of the 4H deceleration candle. With the higher timeframe bearish bias in mind, a trader might have a trading plan to short the market after the successful breakout (or retest) of the neckline.  

The price fell sharply after the breakout and retest of the Head and Shoulders pattern. The strong higher timeframe resistance level and the deceleration candle allowed the trader to adopt a bearish bias early on, while the lower timeframe helped the trader to time the short trade effectively. 

Trading signals on a lower timeframe allow the trader to optimize the holding time and also the reward:risk ratio because the trade usually has a closer stop, and a more aggressive entry while utilizing a wider target based on the higher timeframe context.

#3 Highs and lows

Instead of using long-term support and resistance levels, some traders use local highs and lows for their multi-timeframe trading strategy.

The overall approach is hereby similar to the previously discussed support-and-resistance level strategy.

First, the trader is looking for a strong previous high (or low). In the image below, the price first overshot the previous high before strong bearish momentum entered the market and the price fell back below the high. In technical analysis, we refer to such a pattern as a fakeout (or trap) because the initial breakout is failing and trapping long-positioned breakout traders. 

This higher timeframe signal is providing us with a bearish bias that we will carry over to our lower timeframe.

On the lower timeframe, the price is building a flag breakout pattern shortly after the fakeout signal. Flags are among the most popular trend-continuation patterns. The break of the trendline typically signals the entry for a trend continuation.

The downtrend unfolded after the flag breakout.

The signal duration of the higher timeframe is hereby used optimally. The longer the prediction period, the lower the accuracy usually is. Trading the fakeout directly on the higher timeframe usually results in significantly longer holding periods. By using the lower timeframe to time the entry and the exit, the holding time can often be reduced to an absolute minimum. The shorter the holding time, the fewer additional risk factors – such as news events or overnight exposure – the trader has. 

#4 Candlesticks

Candlestick trading is a very popular trading approach, but it often lacks robustness when traders solely rely on a single candlestick. To improve the signal quality, traders can apply a multi-timeframe approach to candlestick signals.

The image below shows a bullish engulfing candlestick on the higher Daily timeframe. At the same time, the price is in an overall bullish uptrend. Furthermore, the bullish candlestick also occurs right at the 30 EMA (moving average). Many traders use moving averages for their trend-following pullback trading.

The candlestick signal fits well into the trend narrative. After identifying the engulfing candlestick, a trader can now move to a lower timeframe to look for bullish trading signals into the higher timeframe bias.

The image below shows the lower 5min timeframe. The blue area marks the high of the Daily engulfing candlestick. After the breakout, the price trended higher. A trend-following trader might have been able to execute a breakout long trade to capture the bullish momentum.

Whereas some traders might just trade the Daily signal blindly, a multi-timeframe approach allows the trader to find the perfect entry price and benefit from the short-term momentum that the engulfing candlestick signals.

#5 Patterns

Instead of looking for single candlesticks on the higher timeframe, traders can also use complex chart patterns as their signal for a higher timeframe bias.

In the image below, the higher 4H timeframe shows an overall bearish trend with a sideways flag pattern. The trendline describes the lower boundaries of the flag pattern.

After the breakout, the price is returning back to the trendline to perform a retest. When the price reaches the trendline, the candlestick signals deceleration – the candlestick turns and shows bearish momentum. This signal could be used to move to a lower timeframe with a bearish bias in mind. 

At the time of the higher timeframe retest signal, the lower 5min timeframe forms a triple top range pattern. Lower timeframe patterns are ideal when it comes to trading plan creation because they offer a clear and objective entry point. For a short trading plan, the trader waits for a bearish breakout below the low of the pattern.

A breakout then signals a trade entry. In this case, the trader is going with the higher timeframe trend and also with the lower timeframe breakout momentum. Both timeframes are perfectly aligned.

After the breakout, the price fell sharply. The long-term trend continued and with the lower timeframe signal, a trader might have been able to execute a high reward:risk ratio trade.

Endless possibilities

By no means are the introduced trading approaches the only ones for multi-timeframe trading; they just serve as a source of inspiration to create your own multi-timeframe trading strategy.

There are no limitations when it comes to building a multi-timeframe strategy and traders can make use of all types of trading tools and concepts. Be it price action, classic chart patterns, or indicator signals, all combinations are conceivable. 

Final words and tips

The most important aspect of a multi-timeframe trading strategy (and of all other trading approaches for that matter) is consistency. Resist the urge of jumping around timeframes and always wanting to combine new timeframes. 

The more noise and inconsistencies you have in your trading, the worse the results typically are. Therefore, pick one timeframe combination and stick with it for at least 30 trades to get a rough idea of how well it fits into your overall trading philosophy. After 30 trades with the same approach, you will have a much better idea of how well it suits you.

And here are my final tips when it comes to multi-timeframe trading:

1. Start your chart analysis on the higher timeframe. The top-down approach keeps you open-minded and you will generally make much better trading decisions.
2. Be clear about your higher timeframe signal(s). Although I have introduced five different multi-timeframe strategies, it does not mean that you should be trading all five at the same time.  Pick one trading strategy that suits you and then follow it for an extended period of time. System hopping is a great danger and has to be avoided.
3. Do your chart analysis at the same time each day. When you choose the 4H as your higher timeframe, for example, set an alert for each 4H candle close and go through your markets one by one to update your charting tools and look for your higher timeframe signals.
4. You don´t have to have a bias. Not always will you be able to arrive at a clear bullish or bearish chart bias and it is important to stay open to the idea of having a “neutral” bias. You do not have to trade all the time. Wait for the right chart situation and avoid taking suboptimal trades where you do not have an edge.

Have I missed something? Take a look at the video below and leave a comment on YouTube. I look forward to hearing from you.