Sierra Chart Numbers Bars Settings for Beginners: Core Controls Explained

Sierra Chart Numbers Bars settings for beginners: the short answer

The Numbers Bars study draws volume at each price inside every bar, so you see a footprint instead of a plain candle. For beginners, five groups of controls do most of the work: the data type shown in the columns, the bar layout, the text and column sizing, the color thresholds, and the calculation settings. Change one at a time and watch how the footprint responds.

This guide explains those controls in plain language. For a full workspace walkthrough, see our footprint chart setup guide. For interpretation, see how to read a footprint chart.

Before you start: data requirements

Numbers Bars needs tick-level data with bid and ask information. Futures such as ES, NQ and CL usually work well because exchange data includes trade detail. Spot forex such as EURUSD is different: volume is typically broker or feed tick volume, not centralized volume, so the numbers describe your feed only.

Also check that the chart's bar period is sensible. A 5-minute ES chart gives a readable footprint, while a 1-minute chart often crowds the text.

How to add the study

1. Open the chart, then go to Analysis and choose Studies.
2. Find Numbers Bars Calculated Values or the main Numbers Bars study in the available list, and add it.
3. Open Settings for the study and work through the tabs below.

Sierra Chart documents the study in detail in its Numbers Bars documentation. Menu names can vary a little between versions, so verify against your build.

The Numbers Bars study and what it replaces

When the study is active, it replaces the normal bar drawing with a grid of numbers per price tick. Each row is one price level. Each cell shows traded volume or a related value. This is the same raw data that sits behind a regular bar, only broken out by price.

Bid ask columns: the core display choice

The bid ask columns are the most recognized footprint layout. The left number is volume that traded at the bid (sellers hitting), and the right number is volume at the ask (buyers lifting).

Example on ES: at one price you might see 120 on the left and 340 on the right. That means more volume traded at the ask than the bid at that level. It describes what happened, not what will happen next.

Other data types you can show

• Volume: one total number per price, simpler and less crowded.
• Bid vs ask volume: the two-sided view described above.
• Delta: ask volume minus bid volume at each price.
• Number of trades: counts of prints, useful on CL where a few large orders can distort volume.

Beginners should start with bid vs ask volume, then try delta once the layout feels familiar.

Layout and sizing controls

A footprint is only useful if you can read it. These controls change legibility more than meaning.

Bar spacing and column width

Increase bar spacing and width until the numbers fit without overlapping. If numbers shrink or vanish, the bar is too narrow for the font.

Font size

Choose a font you can read without squinting. Too large and the text clips, too small and you lose details. Match the font to your monitor and chart height.

Price increment per row

On NQ, with a 0.25 tick, every tick can create a very tall footprint. Some setups group several ticks into one row to reduce clutter. The trade-off is lost detail, because volume at nearby prices gets merged.

Color thresholds: making large numbers stand out

Color thresholds tell Sierra Chart when to recolor a cell based on its value. Without them, every number looks the same and the eye has no anchor.

Fixed value thresholds

You set a number, such as 200, and any cell above it is highlighted. This is easy to understand but depends on the instrument and session. A threshold that works for ES midday will be too low during the open, and far too high on a quiet EURUSD feed.

Percentage and ratio thresholds

Ratio options compare one side to the other. A common beginner use is highlighting a cell when ask volume is, for example, 300 percent of the neighboring bid volume. This is often called an imbalance. It is a descriptive filter, not a trade signal.

Practical steps

1. Start with a single highlight color for the biggest numbers.
2. Pick a threshold that highlights only a small share of cells, so color stays meaningful.
3. Review a quiet session and a busy session, and adjust.
4. Keep bid and ask colors visually distinct, such as red-leaning and green-leaning tones.

Calculation and data settings

These controls affect what is counted, so changes here alter the numbers, not just the look.

• Volume type: Some setups let you choose between total volume and trade-based counts. Confirm what your feed supplies.
• Filtering small prints: A minimum size filter can hide small orders. That can reduce noise, but it also removes real volume from the totals.
• Session and reset: Make sure bars use the session you intend. A CL chart set to the wrong session template will break daily comparisons.

Remember that your results depend on the data feed. CME Group explains how its market data and trading hours work on the CME Group website, which is useful context for futures sessions.

A simple setup routine for ES

1. Load a 5-minute ES chart with tick-level data.
2. Add Numbers Bars and select bid vs ask volume.
3. Set the price grouping to the tick size first, then widen only if cluttered.
4. Adjust font and bar width until the text is crisp.
5. Add one color threshold for large cells.
6. Save the chart settings, then test on a few sessions.

If you use a premade workspace, compare it with this routine using our chartbook template evaluation guide.

Common beginner mistakes

• Using a 1-minute chart and expecting readable text.
• Setting color thresholds once and never revisiting them for different sessions.
• Treating a highlighted imbalance as a signal rather than context.
• Comparing tick volume on EURUSD with centralized futures volume.
• Changing many settings together, so you cannot tell what caused a difference.

Conclusion

Numbers Bars is easiest to learn when you treat each control as a separate lever: data type, layout, thresholds and calculation. Start with bid and ask columns, make the text readable, and use color thresholds sparingly. Then practice reading the output on historical sessions before relying on it in live conditions. No setting guarantees any trading outcome; the footprint only describes what traded. To explore ready-made Sierra Chart order flow tools, visit SierraOnShop.

FAQ

Why are my Numbers Bars cells empty or missing?

Usually the bar is too narrow, the font too large, or the data lacks bid and ask detail. Widen the bars, shrink the font, and confirm your feed supplies tick data.

Can I use Numbers Bars on forex like EURUSD?

Yes, but the volume usually comes from your broker or data feed, so it represents only that feed's activity. Treat comparisons with futures volume carefully.

Should I group several ticks into one row?

Only if the footprint is too crowded to read. Grouping reduces clutter but merges volume from nearby prices, which hides detail.

What is the difference between delta and bid ask columns?

Bid ask columns show both sides separately. Delta shows one number, ask volume minus bid volume, which is shorter but hides how large each side was.