ClearPath Trader

Bollinger Band Width

Distance between upper and lower Bollinger Bands, often normalized. Falling width = squeeze; rising width = expanding volatility.

Category: Volatility · Complexity: ★☆☆☆☆ (1/5)

Tags: volatility, live-overlay, volatility

Live chart overlay: BBW

Bollinger Band Width chart illustration

Formula

Width = (Upper − Lower) / Middle

How to read

Falling width = squeeze; rising width = volatility expansion. Use as a regime flag, not a direction.

Limitations

Does not say which way price will break.

Typical settings

20, 2σ

Bollinger Band Width is part of the ClearPath Encyclopedia of Indicators — 190 models explained with standard SVG illustrations, so you can study an indicator before you put it on a live chart.

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