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Triangle patterns: symmetrical, ascending and descending

Chart patternsLast updated October 22, 2026
Quick answerA triangle is price squeezing between two trendlines. Symmetrical: both lines close in. Ascending: a flat ceiling with rising lows. Descending: a flat floor with falling highs. The close through a line is the breakout.
The details

The three triangles

  • Symmetrical: lower highs and higher lows squeeze price into a point. Neither side is winning yet; it usually breaks the way the trend was going.
  • Ascending: a flat ceiling and rising lows. Buyers keep paying more each time, and a close through the ceiling is the classic buy.
  • Descending: a flat floor and falling highs. Sellers are pressing, and a close through the floor is the classic breakdown.
Lower highsHigher lowsBreakout
Symmetrical: lower highs and higher lows
Sellers hold one priceBuyers step in higher each timeBreakout
Ascending: a flat ceiling, rising lows
The floor buyers defendLower highsBreakdown
Descending: a flat floor, falling highs

How to trade it

  1. Draw the two lines through at least two touches each (how to draw a trendline).
  2. Wait for a candle to close outside a line (why the close).
  3. Stop on the other side of the triangle; target the triangle's height from the breakout (stops and targets).

Let TriTrader+ find them

TriTrader+ draws the lines through the swing highs and lows on every close and names the shape. It calls the breakouts that tested best: up through symmetrical and ascending triangles and falling wedges, and a decisive daily close up through a descending triangle. See TriTrader+ Live.

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