This calculator works out the MACD line, signal line, and histogram from your 12-period EMA, 26-period EMA, and previous signal line value, the core building blocks of the MACD indicator.
Enter your 12-period EMA, 26-period EMA, and prior signal line value, and the calculator returns the MACD line, signal line, and histogram, see our guide on how MACD actually works for more context.
This calculator is for educational purposes only and uses a simplified single-step signal line smoothing. Not financial advice.
When the MACD line crosses above the signal line, it's generally read as bullish, suggesting upward momentum may be building, when it crosses below, it's generally read as bearish, suggesting downward momentum may be building, neither crossover guarantees a sustained move.
The histogram visually represents the gap between the MACD line and signal line, a growing histogram suggests momentum is accelerating in the current direction, a shrinking histogram suggests momentum may be weakening, even before an actual crossover occurs.
12 and 26 periods are the conventional default settings established when MACD was developed, the MACD line itself is simply the 12-period EMA minus the 26-period EMA, this calculator lets you enter those two EMA values directly if you've already calculated them.
The underlying calculation applies identically to any timeframe, though shorter timeframes generally produce more frequent but noisier signals, while longer timeframes produce fewer but generally more significant ones.
MACD tracks the relationship between two moving averages and isn't bounded to a fixed range, RSI is bounded between 0-100 and focuses specifically on the ratio of average gains to losses, many traders use both together as a cross-check on momentum.