52-Week High/Low Range Calculator
Find out where a stock's current price sits within its 52-week range.
See % from high, % from low, range position, and midpoint instantly.
Why the 52-Week Range Matters
The 52-week high and low are among the most widely watched price levels in all of stock market analysis. Institutional investors, fund managers, and retail traders all reference these levels as key benchmarks.
A stock trading near its 52-week high signals strength and momentum. A stock near its 52-week low may represent value — or a falling knife. Context determines which.
The Formulas
% From 52-Week High (negative = below the high): % From High = (Current Price − 52W High) ÷ 52W High × 100
% From 52-Week Low (positive = above the low): % From Low = (Current Price − 52W Low) ÷ 52W Low × 100
Range Width (total volatility over the year): Range Width = (52W High − 52W Low) ÷ 52W Low × 100
Range Position (where in the range is price right now?): Range Position = (Current Price − 52W Low) ÷ (52W High − 52W Low) × 100
- 0% = at the 52-week low
- 100% = at the 52-week high
- 50% = exactly at the midpoint
Midpoint: Midpoint = (52W High + 52W Low) ÷ 2
Range Position Interpretation Table
| Position | Reading | Typical Approach |
|---|---|---|
| 0–20% | Near 52-week low | Potential value zone; also potential continued decline |
| 20–50% | Lower half of range | Recovering from lows; watch for trend reversal |
| 50–80% | Upper half of range | Building momentum; trend likely intact |
| 80–100% | Near 52-week high | Strong momentum; breakout potential |
New 52-Week High as a Bullish Signal
One of the most reliable patterns in technical analysis: stocks that break to new 52-week highs often continue higher. This is because new highs confirm that buyers are willing to pay more than anyone has paid in the past year — a sign of genuine strength, not just a dead-cat bounce.
Many professional momentum strategies buy stocks making new 52-week highs, not sell them.
Range Width and Volatility
The range width tells you how volatile a stock has been over the past year:
- Under 20% — low volatility (utilities, consumer staples)
- 20–50% — moderate volatility (typical S&P 500 stock)
- 50–100% — high volatility (growth tech, biotech)
- Over 100% — extreme volatility (small-caps, meme stocks)
A wide range doesn’t mean a stock is risky or cheap — it means it moves a lot in both directions.
Worked Example
- Current price: $150
- 52-week high: $200
- 52-week low: $100
% From High = ($150 − $200) ÷ $200 × 100 = −25.0% (25% below the high) % From Low = ($150 − $100) ÷ $100 × 100 = +50.0% (50% above the low) Range Width = ($200 − $100) ÷ $100 × 100 = 100% (wide/volatile year) Range Position = ($150 − $100) ÷ ($200 − $100) × 100 = 50% (right at midpoint) Midpoint = ($200 + $100) ÷ 2 = $150 ✓ (current price equals midpoint)
Interpretation: This stock is exactly halfway between its annual extremes — neutral positioning, no strong momentum signal in either direction.
Pro Tips
- Compare a stock’s range position to its sector peers — relative positioning matters.
- Stocks that reclaim their 52-week high after a correction are often strong buy candidates.
- Avoid “catching the falling knife” — a stock near its 52-week low can always go lower.
- Use range width to calibrate your stop loss — wider range = needs a wider stop.