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Continuation patternsBullishReliability: medium

Cup and Handle

Also known as: Cup with Handle

A rounded base (cup) followed by a small consolidation (handle). When price breaks above the handle, the uptrend usually continues.

Schematic illustration – idealized shape.

How it forms

First a U-shaped cup, then a slight pullback at the right rim in a narrow down-channel (the handle) with declining volume. The handle is the last breather before the breakout.

How it is typically traded

Entry

On a break above the upper handle boundary, ideally with volume.

Target

The depth of the cup, projected upward from the breakout point.

Stop-loss

Below the low of the handle.

Where & when – and the limits

Classically bullish, usually as a continuation in uptrends. A handle that is too deep (below the cup's midpoint) weakens the pattern. Patience: the cup needs time.

Related patterns

Education, not investment advice. Chart patterns describe probabilities, not guarantees – they fail regularly. Always manage risk with stop-loss and position size.

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