Trading Tools

Moving Averages in Pine Script

5 min read

Moving Averages in Pine Script

Moving averages are the foundation of technical analysis. This guide covers every type of moving average you can build in Pine Script.

Simple Moving Average (SMA)

The most basic moving average - equally weighted average of prices.

Basic SMA

//@version=6
indicator("Simple Moving Average", overlay=true)
 
length = input.int(20, "Length")
 
sma20 = ta.sma(close, length)
 
plot(sma20, title="SMA", color=color.blue)

Multiple SMAs

//@version=6
indicator("Multiple SMAs", overlay=true)
 
// Different lengths
sma20 = ta.sma(close, 20)
sma50 = ta.sma(close, 50)
sma200 = ta.sma(close, 200)
 
plot(sma20, color=color.green, title="SMA 20")
plot(sma50, color=color.orange, title="SMA 50")
plot(sma200, color=color.red, title="SMA 200")

Exponential Moving Average (EMA)

Gives more weight to recent prices, making it more responsive to price changes.

Basic EMA

//@version=6
indicator("EMA", overlay=true)
 
length = input.int(20, "Length")
 
ema20 = ta.ema(close, length)
 
plot(ema20, title="EMA", color=color.purple)

EMA vs SMA Comparison

//@version=6
indicator("EMA vs SMA", overlay=true)
 
length = input.int(20, "Length")
 
smaVal = ta.sma(close, length)
emaVal = ta.ema(close, length)
 
plot(smaVal, color=color.blue, title="SMA")
plot(emaVal, color=color.red, title="EMA", linewidth=2)

Weighted Moving Average (WMA)

More weight to recent prices, but uses linear weighting instead of exponential.

Basic WMA

//@version=6
indicator("WMA", overlay=true)
 
length = input.int(20, "Length")
 
wma20 = ta.wma(close, length)
 
plot(wma20, title="WMA", color=color.teal)

Custom WMA Calculation

//@version=6
indicator("Custom WMA", overlay=true)
 
length = input.int(20, "Length")
 
// Manual WMA calculation
wma = 0.0
weightSum = 0.0
 
for i = 0 to length - 1
    weight = length - i
    wma := wma + close[i] * weight
    weightSum := weightSum + weight
 
wma := wma / weightSum
 
plot(wma, title="Custom WMA", color=color.orange)

Volume Weighted Moving Average (VWMA)

Weighted by volume - gives more weight to bars with higher volume.

Basic VWMA

//@version=6
indicator("VWMA", overlay=true)
 
length = input.int(20, "Length")
 
vwma20 = ta.vwma(close, volume, length)
 
plot(vwma20, title="VWMA", color=color.fuchsia)

VWMA vs SMA

//@version=6
indicator("VWMA vs SMA", overlay=true)
 
length = input.int(20, "Length")
 
vwmaVal = ta.vwma(close, volume, length)
smaVal = ta.sma(close, length)
 
plot(vwmaVal, color=color.purple, title="VWMA", linewidth=2)
plot(smaVal, color=color.gray, title="SMA")

Smoothed Moving Average (SMMA)

Combines EMA and SMA characteristics - smooth with less lag.

SMMA

//@version=6
indicator("SMMA", overlay=true)
 
length = input.int(20, "Length")
 
smma = ta.rma(close, length)
 
plot(smma, title="SMMA", color=color.olive)

Double Exponential Moving Average (DEMA)

Reduces lag significantly compared to regular EMA.

DEMA

//@version=6
indicator("DEMA", overlay=true)
 
length = input.int(20, "Length")
 
ema1 = ta.ema(close, length)
ema2 = ta.ema(ema1, length)
dema = 2 * ema1 - ema2
 
plot(dema, title="DEMA", color=color.maroon)

Triple Exponential Moving Average (TEMA)

Even more smoothing, even less lag than DEMA.

TEMA

//@version=6
indicator("TEMA", overlay=true)
 
length = input.int(20, "Length")
 
ema1 = ta.ema(close, length)
ema2 = ta.ema(ema1, length)
ema3 = ta.ema(ema2, length)
tema = 3 * ema1 - 3 * ema2 + ema3
 
plot(tema, title="TEMA", color=color.navy)

Hull Moving Average (HMA)

Designed to reduce lag while maintaining smoothness.

HMA

//@version=6
indicator("HMA", overlay=true)
 
length = input.int(20, "Length")
 
// HMA formula
halfLength = math.floor(length / 2)
sqrtLength = math.floor(math.sqrt(length))
 
hma1 = ta.ema(close, halfLength)
hma2 = ta.ema(hma1, 2)
hma = ta.ema(2 * hma1 - hma2, sqrtLength)
 
plot(hma, title="HMA", color=color.lime)

Arnaud Legoux Moving Average (ALMA)

Modern MA that balances smoothness and responsiveness.

ALMA

//@version=6
indicator("ALMA", overlay=true)
 
length = input.int(20, "Length")
offset = input.float(0.85, "Offset", minval=0, maxval=1)
sigma = input.float(6, "Sigma")
 
// ALMA calculation
alma = ta.alma(close, length, offset, sigma)
 
plot(alma, title="ALMA", color=color.aqua)

Moving Average Crossover System

Combining multiple MAs for trading signals.

Golden Cross / Death Cross

//@version=6
indicator("MA Crossover", overlay=true)
 
fastLength = input.int(12, "Fast Length")
slowLength = input.int(26, "Slow Length")
 
fastMA = ta.ema(close, fastLength)
slowMA = ta.ema(close, slowLength)
 
// Crossover signals
goldenCross = ta.crossover(fastMA, slowMA)
deathCross = ta.crossunder(fastMA, slowMA)
 
// Plot MAs
plot(fastMA, color=color.green, title="Fast MA")
plot(slowMA, color=color.red, title="Slow MA")
 
// Plot signals
plotshape(goldenCross, location=location.belowbar, style=shape.labelup, color=color.lime, text="GOLDEN\nCROSS")
plotshape(deathCross, location=location.abovebar, style=shape.labeldown, color=color.red, text="DEATH\nCROSS")

Triple MA Strategy

//@version=6
indicator("Triple MA System", overlay=true)
 
ma1Length = input.int(10, "Fast MA")
ma2Length = input.int(50, "Medium MA")
ma3Length = input.int(200, "Slow MA")
 
ma1 = ta.ema(close, ma1Length)
ma2 = ta.ema(close, ma2Length)
ma3 = ta.ema(close, ma3Length)
 
// Trend filter
uptrend = close > ma3 and ma2 > ma3
downtrend = close < ma3 and ma2 < ma3
 
// Entry signals
longSignal = ta.crossover(ma1, ma2) and uptrend
shortSignal = ta.crossunder(ma1, ma2) and downtrend
 
// Plot
plot(ma1, color=color.green, title="Fast")
plot(ma2, color=color.orange, title="Medium")
plot(ma3, color=color.red, title="Slow")
 
plotshape(longSignal, location=location.belowbar, style=shape.labelup, color=color.green, text="LONG")
plotshape(shortSignal, location=location.abovebar, style=shape.labeldown, color=color.red, text="SHORT")

Moving Average Ribbon

Visual display of multiple moving averages.

Ribbon

//@version=6
indicator("MA Ribbon", overlay=true)
 
// Multiple MAs
ma10 = ta.ema(close, 10)
ma20 = ta.ema(close, 20)
ma30 = ta.ema(close, 30)
ma40 = ta.ema(close, 40)
ma50 = ta.ema(close, 50)
 
// Plot all
plot(ma10, color=color.lime, title="MA 10")
plot(ma20, color=color.green, title="MA 20")
plot(ma30, color=color.yellow, title="MA 30")
plot(ma40, color=color.orange, title="MA 40")
plot(ma50, color=color.red, title="MA 50")

Dynamic Moving Average

Adjusts based on volatility.

Variable Moving Average

//@version=6
indicator("Variable MA", overlay=true)
 
length = input.int(20, "Base Length")
sensitivity = input.float(2.0, "Sensitivity")
 
// Volatility-adjusted length
volatility = ta.atr(14) / close
dynamicLength = math.max(2, math.floor(length * (1 + volatility * sensitivity)))
 
vma = ta.ema(close, int(dynamicLength))
 
plot(vma, title="Variable MA", color=color.purple)

Complete Moving Average Indicator

//@version=6
indicator("Complete MA System", overlay=true)
 
// === INPUTS ===
maType = input.string("EMA", "MA Type", options=["SMA", "EMA", "WMA", "VWMA", "DEMA", "TEMA", "HMA"])
maLength = input.int(20, "MA Length")
showCloud = input.bool(true, "Show Cloud")
showSignals = input.bool(true, "Show Signals")
 
// === CALCULATIONS ===
ma = switch maType
    "SMA" => ta.sma(close, maLength)
    "EMA" => ta.ema(close, maLength)
    "WMA" => ta.wma(close, maLength)
    "VWMA" => ta.vwma(close, volume, maLength)
    "DEMA" => ta.dema(close, maLength)
    "TEMA" => ta.tema(close, maLength)
    "HMA" => ta.hma(close, maLength)
 
upperCloud = ta.sma(close, maLength * 2)
lowerCloud = ta.sma(close, maLength / 2)
 
// === PLOTTING ===
plot(ma, color=color.blue, title=maType, linewidth=2)
 
if showCloud
    p1 = plot(upperCloud, color=color.new(color.green, 70))
    p2 = plot(lowerCloud, color=color.new(color.red, 70))
    fill(p1, p2, color=color.new(color.gray, 90))
 
// === SIGNALS ===
if showSignals
    buySignal = ta.crossover(close, ma)
    sellSignal = ta.crossunder(close, ma)
 
    plotshape(buySignal, location=location.belowbar, style=shape.labelup, color=color.green, text="BUY")
    plotshape(sellSignal, location=location.abovebar, style=shape.labeldown, color=color.red, text="SELL")

Moving Average Reference

TypeFunctionLagSmoothness
SMAta.sma()HighLow
EMAta.ema()MediumMedium
WMAta.wma()MediumMedium
VWMAta.vwma()MediumMedium
DEMAta.dema()LowHigh
TEMAta.tema()Very LowVery High
HMAta.hma()Very LowHigh

Next Steps

  • rsi - Learn RSI indicator
  • macd - Learn MACD indicator
  • basics - Build trading strategies

Master moving averages to build a solid foundation in technical analysis.

Graph View

Backlinks