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Volume Profile
2026-03-21

High Volume Nodes vs Low Volume Nodes

Understanding HVN and LVN — how price behaves at areas of high and low trading activity, and how to use them in your trading strategy.

HVN and LVN help you understand where price is likely to find support, resistance, or move through quickly.

High Volume Nodes (HVN)

An HVN is a price range with significant trading activity — a thick cluster of volume bars. HVNs represent price acceptance: the market has spent time and traded size in this zone.

  • Support in uptrends — price bounces at HVN zones
  • Resistance in downtrends — price stalls at HVN zones
  • Price revisits — price often returns to HVN areas
  • High liquidity — institutions hold large positions here
10510310199High Volume Node (HVN)Low Volume Node (LVN)← Price finds support at HVNGAPPrice slices through →Price respects → support / resistancePrice ignores → fast moves

The diagram compares HVN (left) with dense volume and LVN (right) with sparse activity and a visible gap.

Low Volume Nodes (LVN)

An LVN is a price range with below-average activity — thin or empty areas. LVNs represent price rejection: the market moved through quickly.

  • Magnets for price — price is drawn toward LVN gaps
  • Fast moves through — price zips through LVN zones
  • Gap fills — LVN areas often get filled on retracement
  • Poor support/resistance — don't expect LVN to hold

Trading Strategies

SetupAction
Price at HVN support in uptrendLook for long entries
Price at HVN resistance in downtrendLook for short entries
Price entering LVN zoneAnticipate fast move
LVN gap being testedWatch for fill before continuation

Markets oscillate between building HVN (acceptance) and leaving LVN (rejection). Understanding this cycle helps you anticipate what comes next.