Ichimoku Cloud Calculator
Calculate all five Ichimoku Cloud components: Tenkan, Kijun, Senkou A, Senkou B, and Chikou. Enter values for instant results with step-by-step formulas.
Formula
Tenkan = (9H + 9L)/2 | Kijun = (26H + 26L)/2 | Span A = (Tenkan + Kijun)/2 | Span B = (52H + 52L)/2
Each Ichimoku component uses the midpoint of the high-low range over different lookback periods. Tenkan-sen uses 9 periods for short-term equilibrium, Kijun-sen uses 26 periods for medium-term, and Senkou Span B uses 52 periods for long-term. Senkou Span A averages the Tenkan and Kijun. Spans A and B are projected 26 periods forward to form the cloud.
Worked Examples
Example 1: EUR/USD Bullish Ichimoku Setup
Problem: Calculate Ichimoku levels for EUR/USD with: 9-period H/L: 1.1100/1.0950, 26-period H/L: 1.1150/1.0900, 52-period H/L: 1.1200/1.0800, Close: 1.1050.
Solution: Tenkan-sen = (1.1100 + 1.0950) / 2 = 1.10250\nKijun-sen = (1.1150 + 1.0900) / 2 = 1.10250\nSenkou Span A = (1.10250 + 1.10250) / 2 = 1.10250\nSenkou Span B = (1.1200 + 1.0800) / 2 = 1.10000\nChikou Span = 1.1050 (current close)\nCloud Top = 1.10250, Cloud Bottom = 1.10000
Result: Price at 1.1050 is above the cloud (bullish). Cloud is bullish (Span A > Span B). TK Cross neutral (equal). Signal: Buy.
Example 2: GBP/USD Bearish Cloud Breakdown
Problem: GBP/USD data: 9-period H/L: 1.2600/1.2500, 26-period H/L: 1.2700/1.2450, 52-period H/L: 1.2750/1.2400, Close: 1.2420.
Solution: Tenkan-sen = (1.2600 + 1.2500) / 2 = 1.25500\nKijun-sen = (1.2700 + 1.2450) / 2 = 1.25750\nSenkou Span A = (1.25500 + 1.25750) / 2 = 1.25625\nSenkou Span B = (1.2750 + 1.2400) / 2 = 1.25750\nCloud Top = 1.25750, Cloud Bottom = 1.25625\nPrice 1.2420 is below cloud
Result: Price below cloud (bearish). Cloud is bearish (Span B > Span A). Tenkan below Kijun (bearish TK). Signal: Strong Sell.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Senkou Span A and B form the cloud and what does cloud thickness mean?
Senkou Span A is the average of the Tenkan-sen and Kijun-sen, plotted 26 periods ahead. Senkou Span B is the midpoint of the 52-period high and low, also plotted 26 periods ahead. The area between these two lines forms the Kumo (cloud). When Senkou Span A is above Senkou Span B, the cloud is bullish (typically colored green), indicating upward equilibrium. When Span B is above Span A, the cloud is bearish (typically red). Cloud thickness represents the strength of support or resistance. A thick cloud is harder for price to penetrate, while a thin cloud suggests weak equilibrium that price can easily break through. The forward projection of the cloud provides future support and resistance levels.
What are the key Ichimoku trading signals and how are they ranked?
Ichimoku generates three main signal types ranked by strength. The TK Cross is the weakest signal, occurring when Tenkan-sen crosses Kijun-sen. A bullish TK Cross above the cloud is strong, inside the cloud is neutral, and below the cloud is weak. The Kijun Cross occurs when price crosses the Kijun-sen. A bullish Kijun cross above the cloud is strong. The Cloud Breakout is the strongest signal, occurring when price breaks through the cloud. A bullish breakout through a thin cloud during a bullish TK cross with Chikou Span confirmation creates the most reliable buy signal. The strongest signals have all five components aligned: price above cloud, bullish TK cross, rising Kijun-sen, bullish cloud ahead, and Chikou Span above historical price.
What timeframes work best for Ichimoku Cloud analysis?
The original Ichimoku settings (9, 26, 52) were designed for the Japanese stock market trading week of 6 days, where 9 represents 1.5 weeks, 26 represents one month, and 52 represents two months. These default settings work remarkably well across most timeframes and markets. For daily charts, the defaults are standard and widely used. For weekly charts, some traders use 7, 22, 44 to align with calendar weeks. For intraday trading, the defaults still work but some traders prefer adjusted settings like 7, 22, 44 for 1-hour charts. The key principle is that Ichimoku works best on higher timeframes (4-hour and above) where there is enough data for the indicator to generate reliable equilibrium levels. Lower timeframes produce more noise and false signals.
How do you use the Ichimoku Cloud for support and resistance trading?
The Ichimoku Cloud provides multiple layers of support and resistance. In an uptrend, the Tenkan-sen provides first support (minor), the Kijun-sen provides second support (major), and the cloud top provides strong support. In a downtrend, these levels become resistance in reverse order. The cloud itself acts as a zone of support or resistance rather than a single price level, making it more realistic than traditional horizontal levels. When price approaches the cloud, traders watch for rejection (bounce off the cloud edge) or penetration (break through). A key technique is to use the cloud as a trailing stop zone. For long trades in a bullish trend, hold the position as long as price stays above the cloud, using the cloud bottom as the trailing stop level.
How does the Ichimoku Cloud compare to other technical indicators?
The Ichimoku Cloud is unique because it combines trend identification, support/resistance levels, momentum signals, and forward-looking projections in a single indicator. Most other indicators provide only one or two of these functions. Moving averages show trend but lack support/resistance precision. Bollinger Bands show volatility but not trend direction. RSI shows momentum but not support levels. MACD shows trend and momentum but not price-based support. The Ichimoku Cloud combines all these elements while also projecting future levels through the forward-plotted cloud. Its main disadvantage is visual complexity, which can overwhelm beginners. Despite its Japanese origins and initial forex focus, Ichimoku has proven effective across stocks, futures, crypto, and all liquid markets worldwide.
Is my data stored or sent to a server?
No. All calculations run entirely in your browser using JavaScript. No data you enter is ever transmitted to any server or stored anywhere. Your inputs remain completely private.