Supertrend Calculator: What Do the Settings Actually Change?
Across 4 sample daily charts with at least 250 price bars each, changing the multiplier from 1.5 to 4 changes the direction-change count by up to 22. Changing the ATR period from 7 to 20 changes it by up to 6. Each chart below shows its own dates and usable indicator window.
Compare how settings change the Supertrend line on stored daily price examples. This tool counts line direction changes and reports ADX on those dates. The screener instead selects ADX threshold crossings, so the two event counts are not equivalent.
Example price-series end dates: 2026-10-15 to 2026-10-15.
Compare settings on a real chart
| ATR period | ×1.5 | ×2 | ×2.5 | ×3 | ×3.5 | ×4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 sessions | ||||||
| 10 sessions | ||||||
| 14 sessions | ||||||
| 20 sessions |
Each cell counts line direction changes, with the number occurring when ADX(14) ≥ 25 in brackets. The shaded cell shares the scanner’s default ATR period 10 and multiplier ×3; it does not reproduce the scanner’s event rule.
AMZN at period 10, multiplier ×3
8 direction changes over 239 sessions, 0 of them on a day the ADX called the trend strong — roughly 27 sessions per stretch.
| Date | New direction | ADX(14) that session |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-06 | Bullish | 12.1below threshold |
| 2026-01-20 | Bearish | 13.8below threshold |
| 2026-04-08 | Bullish | 14.2below threshold |
| 2026-06-03 | Bearish | 24.6below threshold |
| 2026-07-15 | Bullish | 22.6below threshold |
| 2026-07-28 | Bearish | 19.5below threshold |
| 2026-07-31 | Bullish | 20.3below threshold |
| 2026-09-15 | Bearish | 12.7below threshold |
How ATR period and multiplier change the line
The multiplier scales the volatility bands, while the ATR period changes volatility smoothing. Both can affect direction changes. Compare the measured counts across this sample rather than assuming the same relationship holds for every stock or market regime.
This demonstration contains 4 sample charts and at least 250 price bars per chart, with indicator warm-up reducing the usable window. Counts do not measure profitability or establish optimal settings.
What our scanner runs, and why
The scanner uses ATR period 10, multiplier ×3 and ADX(14). Its event requires ADX to move from below 25 to above 25, with direction determined by price relative to the line. The bracketed counts here instead count line flips with ADX at or above 25; these are different rules.
Questions readers ask
- What are the best Supertrend settings?
- Settings depend on the market, timeframe and intended use. The grid compares direction-change frequency, not strategy returns. ATR 10 and multiplier 3 are the scanner’s defaults; these samples do not establish the best settings for future trades.
- How is the Supertrend line calculated?
- Take the midpoint of each bar, measure recent volatility as the Average True Range over the chosen period, and place a band that many ATRs above and below the midpoint, multiplied by your multiplier. The line follows the lower band while the trend is up and the upper band while it is down, and it only ever moves in the trend's favour until price closes through it — which is the flip.
- Do these numbers match your screener?
- The ATR 10 and multiplier ×3 defaults match, but the event rules differ. This tool counts line flips; the screener selects ADX crossing from below 25 to above 25, with direction determined by price relative to the line. The two tools may also use price histories with different end dates, shown on each page. A flip here need not appear in the selected screener results.
Further reading
Pattern Vista is a technical-analysis research tool. Everything on this page is automated pattern detection and historical statistics published for educational purposes. It is not investment advice, not a recommendation to buy or sell any security, and past performance does not indicate future results. Full disclaimer