Triangle Patterns Explained
A triangle is a consolidation where price coils between converging trendlines. It marks a pause before a breakout — the type of triangle hints at the likely direction.
The three triangles
An ascending triangle has a flat top and a rising lower trendline — higher lows pressing into resistance, usually breaking up. A descending triangle has a flat bottom and a falling upper trendline — lower highs pressing into support, usually breaking down.
A symmetrical triangle has both trendlines converging (lower highs and higher lows) and is direction-neutral: it breaks in the direction of the prevailing trend more often than not, but you wait for the break rather than guess.
Trading the breakout
Enter on a close beyond the trendline, ideally with a pickup in volume. The measured target is the height of the triangle's base projected from the breakout point.
Beware the false break: triangles are magnets for stop-runs, so a break that fails and reverses is common. Pair the break with market structure and treat the first pullback into the broken line as the higher-quality entry.
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Play Chart Bound free → Try today's Call the Candle →Frequently asked questions
Which way does an ascending triangle break?
Usually upward. Rising lows into a flat resistance level show buyers getting more aggressive, so the flat top tends to give way — though you still wait for the close to confirm.
Is a symmetrical triangle bullish or bearish?
Neither by default. It typically resolves in the direction of the trend that preceded it, but the reliable move is to trade the confirmed breakout rather than predict it.
How do I set a target from a triangle?
Measure the height of the widest part of the triangle (the base) and project that distance from the point where price breaks out.