Renko Charts in Thinkorswim: Complete Setup, Settings & Troubleshooting

Vibrant featured image showing Renko chart bricks and Thinkorswim platform, with title text 'Renko Charts in Thinkorswim: Setup Guide and Best Practices

If you want cleaner trends and fewer noisy signals, Renko bars in Thinkorswim can help. This guide shows the exact setup steps, recommended starting settings, and fixes for common Thinkorswim Renko issues.

TL;DR In Thinkorswim: Chart Settings (gear) → Time axis → Aggregation Type: Range → Range Type: Renko Bars. Start with an ATR-based brick size (ATR(14) on your timeframe), use a confirm brick to reduce false breakouts, and keep your rules consistent. Jump to steps • Watch setup

Best for: traders who want a cleaner trend view, fewer whipsaws than candles, and a repeatable chart setup. If your Renko chart looks “blank” or “stuck,” jump to Troubleshooting.

Quickstart: Enable Renko Bars in Thinkorswim

Thinkorswim Renko is typically enabled under Range charts. If you do not see “Renko” under Style, use the steps below.

  1. Open a chart for your symbol.
  2. Click Chart Settings (gear icon).
  3. Open the Time axis tab.
  4. Set Aggregation Type to Range.
  5. Set Range Type to Renko Bars, then click Apply.
  6. Confirm your brick size (fixed or ATR-based), then click Apply again.
  7. Save the chart as a Style so you can reuse it across symbols.
Thinkorswim Renko setup in Chart Settings Time axis: Aggregation Type Range and Range Type Renko Bars

Tip: If Renko Bars still do not appear, switch briefly to Range Bars, click Apply, then switch back to Renko Bars and Apply again. This often forces a refresh.

Recommended Renko Settings (brick size, confirm brick)

Your brick size should reflect current volatility. Many traders begin with an ATR-based brick size and then fine-tune. Use the table below as a starting point (education only):

Trading style Goal Brick size starting point How to adjust
Swing trading Fewer, cleaner signals Larger bricks (ATR-based or larger fixed) If you get chopped up, increase brick size a little
Day trading More frequent signals Smaller bricks (but not tiny) If signals come too late, decrease brick size a little
Changing volatility Consistent “feel” across regimes ATR(14) on your timeframe Recheck weekly or after big volatility shifts

Confirm brick logic: After a boundary break (trendline, flag, neckline), wait for the first confirm brick that closes beyond that level before entering. This reduces early entries on marginal breaks.

Pro tip: Pair Renko with a simple trend filter such as a Supertrend or a fast/slow moving average cross. Trade in the trend direction and let the Renko structure handle entries.

Need a brick size fast? Use the Renko Brick Size Calculator and the ATR Renko brick size method.

UniRenko in Thinkorswim (what you can and cannot do)

Many traders search for “UniRenko bars for Thinkorswim,” but Thinkorswim does not include a native UniRenko bar type. What you can do is set up Renko Bars (Range charts) with an ATR-based brick size and consistent rules so your chart behaves predictably.

If you specifically need UniRenko features (like additional parameters beyond classic Renko), you typically need a platform that supports UniRenko directly. If you stay on Thinkorswim, keep it simple: standard Renko Bars + a volatility-aware brick size + a confirm brick rule.

Once your chart type is consistent, indicators become easier to interpret. Here are a few that work well with Renko: Renko chart indicators.

Troubleshooting and Gotchas

  • Renko bars not showing. Go to Chart Settings → Time axis → confirm Aggregation Type is Range and Range Type is Renko Bars. If it still fails, switch to Range Bars, Apply, then switch back to Renko Bars and Apply again.
  • I changed brick size but nothing changed. Click Apply, then reload the chart. Some layouts cache range charts until you force a refresh.
  • Chart looks empty or “stuck.” Brick size may be too large for current movement or the symbol is not moving enough. Reduce brick size slightly, zoom out, or test on a more liquid symbol.
  • Renko looks too noisy. Brick size is likely too small. Increase it a little and add a simple trend filter (Supertrend or moving averages).
  • Signals are late. Brick size may be too large or you are stacking too many filters. Decrease brick size slightly or simplify confirmation rules.
  • I do not see volume. Renko removes time from the main chart. If you need volume context, add volume in a separate pane, but keep decisions price-led.
  • Does Thinkorswim have UniRenko? Not natively. Use Renko Bars with consistent settings, or use another platform for UniRenko-specific bar behavior.

Common Renko Setup Mistakes in Thinkorswim

Even a good strategy fails if the chart setup is off. The most common mistakes include using a brick size that is too small, changing settings too often, and entering on the first touch of a boundary instead of waiting for a confirm brick. To fix this, choose a volatility-aware brick size, standardize your layout, and use a confirm brick rule for breakouts.

Once your Renko setup is stable, patterns become easier to spot and test. Learn more about Renko patterns and backtesting Renko strategies.

FAQs

How do I add Renko bars in Thinkorswim?
Open Chart Settings (gear) → Time axis → set Aggregation Type to Range → set Range Type to Renko Bars → Apply. Then set your brick size and save the layout as a chart style.
Does Thinkorswim have UniRenko?
Not as a native bar type. Thinkorswim supports Renko Bars under Range charts. If you need UniRenko-specific behavior, you typically need a platform that supports UniRenko directly.
Why does my Renko chart look jagged in Thinkorswim?
Your brick size is likely too small for the symbol and timeframe. Increase brick size slightly or use an ATR-based brick size to reduce noise.
Should I use wicks in Renko on Thinkorswim?
Close-only bricks are cleaner for analysis. Wicks can exaggerate volatility and make reversals look more dramatic than they are.
What brick size should I use?
Start with ATR(14) on your timeframe and adjust. Larger bricks mean fewer, cleaner swings. Smaller bricks mean more signals and potentially more whipsaws. The Renko Brick Size Calculator helps you choose a starting point.
How do I confirm entries on Renko?
Wait for a close beyond your pattern boundary and enter on the first confirm brick in that direction. A simple trend filter (for example Supertrend) can help reduce countertrend trades.

Further Reading

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Education only, not financial advice. Test any approach on your own instruments, brick sizes, and timeframes.