Article
IBKR TWS Indicators List: Bollinger Bands, MACD, Stochastic and RSI Settings
Every study group in Trader Workstation, how to add a study, the settings IBKR names for Bollinger Bands and MACD, the Stochastic versions, and how to get indicator values out of TWS.
Trader Workstation (TWS) groups its chart studies into eight sets: Comprehensive, Momentum, Moving Averages, Pivot, Regression, Trend, Volatility and Volume, plus a licensed set from Simpler Options. To add one, open a chart, choose Edit, then Studies, pick the study and click Add. IBKR describes Bollinger Bands as generally 2 standard deviations around the middle average, and MACD as generally a 12-period and a 26-period average with a 9-period signal line. The study list below comes from IBKR's Chart Indicators guide, last updated 16 October 2026. Educational content only.
How to add a study in TWS
In a TWS chart window, open the Edit menu and choose Studies. Pick a study in the available list and click Add to move the study into Applied Studies, then fill in its parameters and click Apply. Unticking a study later hides the study from the chart and keeps its settings.
IBKR says each study opens with the settings most traders use, and every field can be edited. The numbers in the dialog are the ones your chart uses, so read them there before comparing values with another platform.
TWS also offers an advanced chart built on TradingView, and IBKR says most indicators are available in both chart types. If you switch chart types, check the settings again in the chart you are using.
- Edit, then Studies, then pick a study and click Add.
- Set the parameters, then Apply and OK.
- Untick a study to hide the study and keep its settings.
Bollinger Bands, MACD, Stochastic and RSI settings in TWS
Bollinger Bands sit under Moving Averages. You choose the source (trades or midpoint), the type of the middle average (simple, weighted or exponential), the period and the number of standard deviations. IBKR describes the bands as generally 2 standard deviations from the middle band, and 20 periods is the common choice.
MACD sits under Momentum Studies in IBKR's TWS walkthrough. IBKR describes the two averages as generally 12 and 26 periods, with a 9-period exponential average as the signal line, and you can change the periods and the average type when you add the study.
The Stochastic family has several versions. The Fast Stochastic Oscillator has no slow average and reacts faster. The Slow Stochastic Oscillator has no fast average and reacts less. Lane's Stochastic Oscillator lets you edit the source, input price and observation period, with fast and slow averages fixed and always simple. Stochastic RSI applies the stochastic formula to RSI. IBKR points to the full Stochastic Oscillator for the most flexibility.
RSI sits under Momentum Studies and takes one setting, the number of bars. IBKR leaves that number to you; 14 is the common textbook setting.
| Study | TWS group | What you set | Common setting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bollinger Bands | Moving Averages | Source, average type, period, standard deviations | 20 periods, 2 standard deviations |
| MACD | Momentum | Fast and slow periods, average type, signal period | 12, 26, 9 |
| Stochastic Oscillator | Momentum | Source, input price, observation period, averages | 14, 3, 3 (textbook) |
| Fast Stochastic Oscillator | Momentum | No slow average | More sensitive |
| Slow Stochastic Oscillator | Momentum | No fast average | Less sensitive |
| RSI | Momentum | Number of bars | 14 (textbook) |
| Average True Range | Volatility | Period | 14 (textbook) |
Every TWS study group
IBKR's guide lists the studies below. Pick the group on the left of the Studies dialog to find each one.
| Group | Studies |
|---|---|
| Comprehensive | Correlation Coefficient, Ichimoku Clouds, Zig Zag |
| Momentum | Accelerator/Decelerator, Accumulation Swing Index, Accumulation/Distribution, Chaikin Money Flow, Chaikin Oscillator, Chande Momentum Oscillator, Commodity Channel, Double Smoothed Stochastics Bressert, Elder-Ray, Envelope, Fast Stochastic Oscillator, Force Index, Intraday Intensity, Intraday Intensity %, Keltner Channel, Lane's Stochastic Oscillator, Momentum, Money Flow Index, Percentage Price Oscillator, Price Oscillator, Rate of Change, Relative Momentum Index, Relative Strength Index, Slow Stochastic Oscillator, Stochastic Oscillator, Stochastic RSI, True Strength Index |
| Moving Averages | Adaptive Moving Average, Arnaud Legoux Moving Average, Bollinger Band Width, Bollinger Bands, Departure Chart, Ease of Movement, Hull Moving Average, Know Sure Thing, MA Crossover, McGinley Dynamic, Moving Standard Deviation, Percent B, TRIX, Triangular Moving Average, Variable Moving Average, Wilder Moving Average |
| Pivot | Camarilla, DeMark, Fibonacci, Floor and Woodie Pivot Points, Pivot Points, Pivot Points High/Low |
| Regression | Awesome Oscillator, Least Squares Moving Average, Linear Regression (Least Square), Linear Regression Curve, Intercept, R-Squared and Slope, Raff Channel, Standard Deviation Channel |
| Trend | ADX/DMI, ADXR, Aroon Oscillator, Aroon Up/Dn, Balance Of Power, Bill Williams Alligator and Alligator Oscillator, Chande Kroll Stop, Chop Zone, Choppiness Index, Connors RSI, Coppock Curve, DMI, Detrended Price Oscillator, Donchian Channels and Channel Width, Ergodic Oscillator, Fisher Transform, High Low Bands, Mass Index, Parabolic SAR, Performance, Price Volume Trend, Relative Vigor Index, Swing Index, Typical Price, Vertical Horizontal Filter, Volatility Stop, Vortex, Weighted Close |
| Volatility | Average True Range, Chaikin Volatility, Chande Volatility Index Dynamic Average, Historical Volatility Ratio, Relative Volatility Index |
| Volume | Intraday and Moving Volume Weighted Average Price, Klinger Volume Oscillator, Negative and Positive Volume Index, Net Volume, On Balance Volume, Percentage Volume Oscillator, Volume * PMO, Volume Exponential and Simple Moving Average, Volume Oscillator, Volume Rate of Change, Volume Weighted Moving Average |
| Licensed (Simpler Options, John Carter) | Combo Wave, Porsche Dots, Probability Zones, Rolling Weekly Pivots, TTM Squeeze, Wave A, Wave B, Wave C |
Getting indicator values out of TWS
The TWS API sends price bars, through historical data requests and live bar updates, and it never sends the values of a chart study. A program that needs RSI or MACD computes them from the bars itself.
Values computed in a program can differ from the TWS chart for three reasons: the source (trades or midpoint), the average type, and how many bars of history the calculation starts from. Match all three before you compare numbers.
- The API returns bars; indicators are computed from the bars.
- Match source, average type and history length before comparing.
- Delayed data works for testing with no market data subscription.
The same indicators on a MyLinedChart chart of your IBKR data
MyLinedChart charts your IBKR data on your own computer: pick Interactive Brokers in the provider list and sign in to TWS or IB Gateway on the same machine. The chart uses the market data your account already has, and delayed data works with no subscription.
The indicator list includes Bollinger Bands (20, 2), MACD (12, 26, 9), a Stochastic (KDJ, 9, 3, 3), RSI, moving averages, VWAP, ATR-style volatility tools and more, and every setting can be changed to match your TWS chart. Each indicator's value for every bar exports with the OHLCV, your drawn levels and your notes as XLSX, JSON or CSV. MyLinedChart reads your account and never places, modifies or cancels an order.
To build an indicator TWS does not have, see Custom Indicators on Your IBKR Chart, Described in Natural Language. For what IBKR data costs, see IBKR API Pricing: Free API Access, Paid Market Data. Download the app from Download MyLinedChart.
FAQ
Where is the indicator list in TWS?
Open a chart, choose Edit, then Studies. The left side of the dialog lists the study groups; pick a study and click Add.
What are the default Bollinger Band settings in TWS?
IBKR describes the bands as generally 2 standard deviations from the middle average. The period is set in the dialog; 20 is the common choice, and the middle average can be simple, weighted or exponential.
What MACD settings does TWS use?
IBKR describes MACD as generally a 12-period and a 26-period average with a 9-period exponential signal line. You can change the periods and the average type when you add the study.
Which Stochastic should I pick in TWS?
Fast reacts quickest, Slow is smoother, Lane's has fixed simple averages, and Stochastic RSI applies the formula to RSI. IBKR points to the full Stochastic Oscillator for the most control.
Can the TWS API return indicator values?
No. The API returns price bars. Compute the indicator from those bars, using the same source, average type and history length as your chart.
Sample Structured Chart-Data Exports
Review how chart drawings, annotations, OHLC, volume, and execution context become reusable structured data.