Chart patterns · Beginner

Bull Flag Pattern

A 1-minute lesson from the MarketPro academy, one of 22 in chart patterns.

Last reviewed 15 September 2026 by the MarketPro research desk · Editorial policy

Short answer

A bull flag is a short-term continuation pattern that appears after a sharp upward move (the "flagpole"), followed by a brief, mild pullback that slopes slightly downward or sideways (the "flag") before the prior uptrend potentially resumes. The pullback portion is typically shallow and contained within two roughly parallel trendlines, reflecting a pause for profit-taking rather than a genuine change in trend, with the pattern generally viewed as complete once price breaks back above the flag's upper boundary.

The pullback portion is typically shallow and contained within two roughly parallel trendlines, reflecting a pause for profit-taking rather than a genuine change in trend, with the pattern generally viewed as complete once price breaks back above the flag's upper boundary.

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Volume pattern: Volume is often heavy during the flagpole rally and noticeably lighter during the flag's consolidation, then picks up again on the breakout.
Duration: Flags are considered short-term patterns, typically resolving within a relatively small number of bars compared to the move that preceded them.
Measured move: The flagpole's length is sometimes projected from the breakout point as a rough guide to a potential continuation target.

A bull flag can also fail, with the pullback deepening into a larger reversal instead of a brief pause, so the pattern is best treated as one possible continuation scenario rather than an assured outcome.

Step 9 of 10 on Chart Reading Essentials

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MarketPro is a trading-signal and trading-education app operated by Harajuku Holdings LTD (Cyprus). Our signal desk publishes and tracks every trade idea in-app, and every page here is checked against the app's live behaviour before publishing. Last reviewed 15 September 2026. How we produce signals and content · About MarketPro

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