Hammer
A Hammer is a single-candle bullish reversal pattern that forms after a downtrend, marked by a small real body near the top of the range and a lower wick at least twice the length of the body.
The long lower wick shows sellers pushed price sharply lower during the session, but buyers stepped in and drove price back up to close near the open — an early sign selling pressure is exhausting.
- Appears after a clear downtrend — context is essential to calling it a Hammer.
- Small body (bullish or bearish) sits in the upper third of the candle's range.
- Lower wick is at least 2x the length of the body.
- Little to no upper wick.
- Wait for a bullish confirmation candle before entering — a Hammer alone is not a trade signal.
- A common stop-loss placement is just below the Hammer's low.
- Higher trading volume on the Hammer or the confirmation candle adds conviction.
Educational only — not financial advice. Combine any candlestick pattern with broader market context, risk management, and your own trading plan.
Common questions
A Hammer is a bullish reversal signal — it appears after a downtrend and suggests buyers are starting to overpower sellers.
They look identical, but a Hammer forms after a downtrend (bullish), while a Hanging Man forms after an uptrend (bearish). Context, not shape, tells them apart.