# Marubozu

> A marubozu is a candle with a full body and no wicks, showing total control by buyers or sellers. Learn the types, what they signal and how to trade them.

Source: https://learn.tradelabsai.com/candlesticks/marubozu/  
Track: Candlesticks · Level: Beginner · Updated: 2026-10-03  
Publisher: TradeLabs AI (https://tradelabsai.com). Education, not financial advice.  
Cite as: TradeLabs Learn, "Marubozu", https://learn.tradelabsai.com/candlesticks/marubozu/

A marubozu is a candle with a full body and no wicks, or almost none. A **bullish marubozu** opens at its low and closes at its high. A **bearish marubozu** opens at its high and closes at its low. The name comes from a Japanese word meaning close cropped or bald, because the candle has no shadows. It shows that one side controlled the entire period, from the first trade to the last.

## Types of marubozu

*Figure: No wicks: the open and close are the extremes of the period.*

| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Full marubozu | No wicks at either end |
| Opening marubozu | No wick at the open end; a small wick at the close end |
| Closing marubozu | No wick at the close end; a small wick at the open end |

A closing marubozu, which closes exactly at its extreme, is often considered the strongest, because the side in control was still pushing at the very end of the period.

## What it means

A bullish marubozu says buyers took control immediately and never let go; sellers could not push price below the open at any point, and buyers were still active at the close. A bearish marubozu shows the same dominance by sellers. Marubozu candles often appear at the start of strong moves, at breakouts and during news driven trends.

**Example: A marubozu breakout**
A stock trades between $112 and $116 for two weeks. On earnings day it opens at $116.10, never trades lower and closes at $122.40, its high for the day, on four times average volume. The bullish marubozu breaks the range with total buyer control. Instead of buying at $122.40, a trader plans to buy a pullback to the $117 to $118 area, the broken range top, with a stop below $115.50.

## Context changes the meaning

| Location | Common interpretation |
|---|---|
| Breaking out of a range | Strong start of a new move |
| In the direction of the trend after a pullback | Trend resuming with force |
| After a long, extended trend | Possible climax; late buyers or sellers piling in |
| Against the trend at a key level | Possible reversal signal |

As with all strong candles, very large marubozu candles late in a trend can mark exhaustion rather than continuation. See [Momentum Candles](https://learn.tradelabsai.com/candlesticks/momentum-candles/).

## Marubozu in different markets

- **Stocks on daily charts:** true marubozu are relatively uncommon and stand out.
- **24 hour markets:** on low timeframes in crypto and forex, small candles with no wicks occur frequently and carry little meaning. Focus on large marubozu relative to recent candles.
- **Smart money concepts:** a large marubozu that breaks structure is a classic example of displacement and often leaves a fair value gap. See [Displacement](https://learn.tradelabsai.com/smart-money/displacement/) and [Fair Value Gaps](https://learn.tradelabsai.com/smart-money/fair-value-gaps/).

## Trading the marubozu

1. **Check size:** the body should be large compared with recent candles, not just wickless.
2. **Check location:** a range break or trend resumption is the strongest context.
3. **Entry:** on the next candle's break of the marubozu's extreme, or on a pullback into its body, often to its midpoint.
4. **Stop:** beyond the marubozu's opposite end, or below its midpoint for a tighter stop.
5. **Target:** the next opposing level or a measured move based on the range broken.

## Common mistakes

- **Chasing the close** of a huge marubozu with a stop far away.
- **Ignoring tiny wickless candles' insignificance** on low timeframes.
- **Missing exhaustion signals** after long trends.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is a marubozu candle?

A candle with a full body and no wicks, where the open and close are the period's extremes, showing complete control by buyers or sellers.

### Is a bullish marubozu a buy signal?

It shows strong buying, but context matters. At a breakout it can start a move; late in a trend it can mark exhaustion. Many traders wait for a pullback.

### How is a marubozu different from a momentum candle?

A marubozu is an extreme momentum candle with no wicks at all. Momentum candles can have small wicks.

Next, move on to multi candle formations in the [Head and Shoulders](https://learn.tradelabsai.com/chart-patterns/head-and-shoulders/) lesson of the Chart Patterns track.

## Continue learning

- Previous lesson: [Spinning Top](https://learn.tradelabsai.com/candlesticks/spinning-top/)
- Related: [Spinning Top](https://learn.tradelabsai.com/candlesticks/spinning-top/): A spinning top has a small body with wicks on both sides, showing indecision. Learn what it means after trends, in ranges and how traders use it for timing.
- Related: [Momentum Candles](https://learn.tradelabsai.com/candlesticks/momentum-candles/): Momentum candles have large bodies and small wicks, showing one side in control. Learn to spot them, what they signal at key levels and how to trade them.
- Related: [Displacement](https://learn.tradelabsai.com/smart-money/displacement/): Displacement is a fast, forceful move with large candles that breaks structure and often leaves a fair value gap. Learn to identify it and why traders rely on it.
- Related: [Breakouts](https://learn.tradelabsai.com/price-action/breakouts/): A breakout is when price moves decisively beyond support, resistance or a pattern. Learn signs of a real breakout, entry methods, stops and how to avoid fakeouts.
- Related: [Three White Soldiers and Three Black Crows](https://learn.tradelabsai.com/candlesticks/three-white-soldiers/): Three white soldiers are three strong rising candles; three black crows are three strong falling ones. Learn the rules, context and signs of exhaustion.
- Related: [How to Read Candlesticks](https://learn.tradelabsai.com/candlesticks/how-to-read-candlesticks/): Learn to read candlestick charts: open, high, low and close, bodies and wicks, timeframes, and what a candle tells you about buyers and sellers.