Comparison
Double Top vs Double Bottom
They are mirror images. A double top is two failed attempts at the same high after an advance, and it is bearish once price closes below the low between them. A double bottom is two defended lows after a decline, and it is bullish once price closes above the high between them.
Double Top
bearish bias
A double top forms when price rallies to a high, pulls back, rallies to roughly the same high again and fails. The low between the two peaks is the line that confirms the reversal when it breaks.
Double Bottom
bullish bias
A double bottom is two tests of roughly the same low separated by a bounce. It suggests sellers could not push price lower a second time, and it confirms when price breaks above the high between the two lows.
Side by side
| Aspect | Double Top | Double Bottom |
|---|---|---|
| Forms after | An advance | A decline |
| Shape | Two peaks at roughly the same level, like an M | Two troughs at roughly the same level, like a W |
| Confirmation | A close below the low between the peaks | A close above the high between the troughs |
| Target | Pattern height projected down from the break | Pattern height projected up from the break |
How to tell them apart on a chart
- Look at the trend into the pattern: tops form after rallies, bottoms after declines.
- M is a top, W is a bottom.
- Until the middle level breaks, both are just a range with two tests of one side.
Double Top: confirmation and invalidation
Confirms: A close below the swing low between the two peaks confirms the pattern. Before that, it is only a possible double top.
Invalidated: A clean close above both peaks invalidates it and often turns the area into a breakout instead.
Double Bottom: confirmation and invalidation
Confirms: A close above the swing high between the two lows confirms the reversal.
Invalidated: A sustained close below both lows means support has failed and the pattern is void.
Frequently asked questions
Is a double bottom the opposite of a double top?
Yes. Same structure, opposite direction and opposite bias.
How far apart should the two peaks or troughs be?
Far enough that there is a clear swing between them. Two touches on neighbouring candles is a tweezer pattern, not a double top or bottom.
Full guides
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Educational content only, not financial advice. Chart patterns describe probabilities, not certainties, and every pattern can fail. See our disclaimer.