How to use TradingView Heatmaps

A TradingView Heatmap is a visual market analysis tool. It displays selected assets as blocks, using size and colour to represent different data points. Depending on the heatmap you choose, each block may represent a stock, ETF or another supported instrument.

The purpose is simple: make market movement easier to compare at a glance. A Heatmap does not tell you what to trade. It shows selected data in a visual format so you can decide what deserves further research.

TradingView Heatmaps rely on two key settings:

• Size by
• Color by

The 'Size by' setting controls how large each block appears. The 'Color by' setting controls what the colour of each block represents.

For example, a stock heatmap might use market capitalisation to determine block size and daily percentage change to determine colour. This can help you see whether movement is concentrated in larger companies, smaller companies, one sector or several areas of the market.

Depending on the market and settings you choose, Heatmaps may help you review:

• Market leaders
• Market laggards
• Sector performance
• Relative price movement
• Large-cap versus smaller-cap movement
• ETF activity
• Broader market concentration

For example, if a stock index is higher, a Heatmap can help show whether the move is broad-based or driven by a smaller number of large companies.

Follow these steps to set up your first Heatmap.

Step 1: Open TradingView Heatmaps

Log in to TradingView, open the Products menu and select Heatmaps. Choose the heatmap that matches the market you want to review.

Step 2: Choose the market map

Select the market or asset class you want to view. Depending on TradingView availability, this may include stocks, ETFs or other supported heatmaps.

Step 3: Set the market universe

For some heatmaps, you can choose a country, index, exchange or other market universe. This determines which assets appear on the map.

Step 4: Adjust the Size by setting

Use the Size by setting to choose what determines the size of each block. This may be based on market capitalisation, turnover, assets under management or another available metric.

A larger block does not automatically mean a stronger opportunity. It simply means that asset is larger according to the metric you selected.

Step 5: Adjust the Color by setting

Use the Color by setting to choose what the colour represents. Colour may reflect daily performance, longer-term performance, volatility or another selected value.

A group of similar colours may suggest that several related assets are moving in a similar way.

Step 6: Review the broader pattern

Look for areas where movement appears concentrated. You might ask:

• Are gains or losses concentrated in one sector?
• Are larger assets moving differently from smaller ones?
• Is movement broad-based or isolated?
• Are related assets showing similar behaviour?
• Does the Heatmap support or challenge what your other tools are showing?

These questions can guide your next step.

Cell size

Cell size shows the relative importance of an asset based on the size metric you selected.

For example, if the heatmap is sized by market capitalisation, larger companies usually appear as larger blocks. This helps you see whether large assets are having an outsized visual impact.

Cell colour

Cell colour shows the performance or comparison metric you chose.

For example, if colour is based on one-day performance, stronger positive or negative moves may appear more prominently depending on the colour scale. Treat colour as a signal to investigate, not a conclusion.

Grouping

Some heatmaps let you group instruments by sector, industry or another category. Grouping makes it easier to see whether movement is concentrated in one part of the market.

For example, a stock heatmap can show whether technology shares, energy shares or financial companies are moving differently from the wider market.

Example: using a Heatmap after a market move

Say a major stock index is higher during a session.

A Heatmap can help show whether the move is spread across several sectors or concentrated in a small number of large companies.

• If only a few large blocks are strongly positive, the index move may be more concentrated.
• If many sectors show similar positive movement, the move may look broader.

This does not predict what happens next. It gives you visual context before further analysis. . Match the timeframe to your expected holding period and check a higher timeframe for context.

Both tools help you scan markets, but they suit different tasks.

• A Heatmap is useful when you want to see broader market movement visually.
• A Screener is useful when you want to filter instruments using specific criteria.

In simple terms:

• Use a Heatmap to spot visual patterns.
• Use a Screener to build a filtered list.
• Use a chart to analyse one instrument in more detail.

Want to build filtered lists too? See our companion guide on how to use TradingView Screeners.

A chart shows price movement for one instrument in more detail. A Heatmap shows relative movement across many instruments at once.

For example, a Heatmap may help you notice that one sector is moving strongly, while a chart lets you review an individual instrument inside that sector.

The Heatmap gives context. The chart supports deeper analysis.

Reading colour without checking the setting Always check what the colour represents. A colour scale may be based on daily performance, longer-term performance, volatility or another metric.

Ignoring cell size A large block may dominate the map because of the size setting, not because it has the largest percentage move.

Assuming the reason for a move A Heatmap shows what is moving, but it does not explain every cause. News, earnings, economic data, liquidity or broader sentiment may all matter.

Using one timeframe only A one-day Heatmap and a one-month Heatmap can show very different patterns.

Treating visual patterns as trade signals A Heatmap is a research tool, not a trading recommendation.

A simple workflow could look like this:

1. Open a Heatmap to review broader market movement.
2. Check whether movement is broad-based or concentrated.
3. Use a Screener to build a more focused list.
4. Open individual charts for deeper analysis.
5. Review relevant news and risk factors.
6. Add relevant instruments to a Watchlist for future review.

This approach uses the Heatmap as a starting point, not as a final decision.

TradingView Heatmaps can help users see broader market movement at a glance.

After reviewing a Heatmap, you can use other TradingView tools to investigate further. For example, you could:

• Use Screeners to filter instruments that match selected criteria.
• Add relevant symbols to a Watchlist for future review.
• Open individual charts to look more closely at price movement.
• Use News Flow to review recent developments that may be affecting a market, sector or company.
• Create Alerts around selected conditions you want to monitor.

This can help turn a broad visual overview into a more structured research process. A Heatmap can show what is moving, but it does not explain every reason behind the move or indicate what action should be taken.ary by account.