A doji with very long upper and lower wicks, showing extreme indecision as the price swung widely in both directions before closing near the open.
What Is a Long-Legged Doji?
The long-legged doji is a Doji variant with unusually long shadows extending both above and below the body. The open and close are near the middle of the candle's range. This creates a plus or cross shape with tall wicks on both sides.
The pattern reveals extreme volatility and indecision within a single session. Buyers and sellers each pushed the price aggressively in their direction, but neither side held the advantage at the close.
What It Signals
A long-legged doji is a stronger indecision signal than a standard doji because the wide range shows that significant capital was deployed by both sides. On USD/JPY during a major news event (like an NFP release), a long-legged doji on the daily chart captures the whipsaw effect, where the initial reaction and the secondary reversal cancel each other out.
After a prolonged Trend, a long-legged doji suggests the trend may be exhausting. At a key Support or Resistance level, it signals a potential turning point.
How to Use It
Do not trade the long-legged doji in isolation. Instead, treat it as an alert that a directional move is likely coming. Wait for the next candle to establish direction, then trade in that direction. The doji's high and low create natural stop-loss reference points for whichever direction the market ultimately chooses.
Related Terms
Doji
A candlestick where the open and close are virtually equal, forming a cross or plus shape. It signals market indecision and a potential reversal.
Dragonfly Doji
A doji candlestick where the open, close, and high are at the same level with a long lower wick. It signals bullish rejection when appearing at the bottom of a downtrend.
Gravestone Doji
A doji candlestick where the open, close, and low are at the same level with a long upper wick. It signals bearish rejection when appearing at the top of an uptrend.
Spinning Top
A candlestick with a small body centered between relatively long upper and lower wicks. It signals indecision, with neither buyers nor sellers controlling the session.
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