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The VWAP explained simply

The VWAP is the average price traded during a day or since a chosen date, weighted by the amount traded. It shows whether buyers are on average in profit or at a loss.

5 min read Last checked: 2026-09-24

VWAP stands for Volume Weighted Average Price. Unlike a normal average, it gives more weight to prices where a lot was traded. Big investors such as funds use it to check whether they bought well.

What it's about

The VWAP sits as a line on the price chart. When the price is above it, most buyers since the start of the calculation have a paper gain. When it's below, they're on average at a loss.

An example: since the open, a stock has traded between €60 and €62, most of it around €60.50. The VWAP is then close to €60.50, even if the price is currently at €61.80.

How it's calculated

For each period, such as each minute or each day, you take a typical price, usually the average of high, low and close. You multiply that price by the volume and add everything up. Then you divide the result by the total volume.

With numbers: 1,000 shares traded at €60 and 3,000 at €61. The VWAP is (60,000 + 183,000) divided by 4,000, so €60.75. The simple average would be €60.50.

What signals traders read from it

  • Price above or below the VWAP: Many day traders only trade in that direction, so mostly buying above the VWAP and selling below it.
  • Pullback to the VWAP: In an uptrend the price often comes back to the VWAP. Some buy there because many others do too.
  • Anchored VWAP: Calculated from an important day, such as a low or a news event, it shows the average price of everyone who has bought since.

Where it misleads you

The classic VWAP starts fresh every trading day. In the morning it's based on little data and jumps around a lot, in the afternoon it barely moves. It's only useful for longer periods if you deliberately pick a start day, and then the result depends heavily on that choice.

The VWAP is also mainly a tool for large orders. The fact that many people watch it can make it work in the short term. It doesn't guarantee an edge over many trades.

An example trade with made up numbers

Lena trades within the day and has €10,000 in her account. She risks at most €150. A stock drops below the VWAP in the morning and climbs back above it around midday, at €60. Lena buys and sets her stop loss at €59. With €1 of risk per share, she buys 150 shares for €9,000. Costs: €1 each to buy and sell, plus about 2 cents of spread per share on each order.

If it works: The price rises to €62 by the afternoon. Lena is €300 ahead. After €2 in fees and €6 in spread, €292 is left.

If it goes wrong: The price slips back below the VWAP and the stop fills at €58.90. That's a €165 loss, €173 with costs.

Because the stop is so tight, Lena puts almost her whole account into a single trade. The maths works, but it feels different. If the price gapped past the stop, the loss would be much bigger.

Price and VWAP from the lowPrice · VWAPPrice rises above the VWAPzerotoinvest.com
Price and VWAP from the low Made up price data. The VWAP is calculated from the low after the drop (anchored VWAP), so it's the average price of all buyers since that day.

Summary

  • The VWAP is the average price, weighted by the amount traded.
  • Above the VWAP buyers are on average in profit, below it at a loss.
  • It starts fresh each day or from a start date you choose.

Did you get it?

1,000 shares traded at €60, 3,000 at €61. What's the VWAP?

€60.75, because the larger amount at €61 counts more.

Why does the VWAP swing more in the morning than in the afternoon?

Because early in the day it's based on few trades, and each new trade moves it a lot.

What does an anchored VWAP show?

The average price of everyone who has bought since a certain day.

Sources and further reading

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