How to Overlay Charts on TradingView (Step-by-Step With Pro Tips)

Want to see how Bitcoin stacks up against the Nasdaq, or watch the EUR/USD pair move in relation to the US Dollar Index? Maybe you want to combine a few indicators to get a clearer picture. This guide walks you through how to overlay charts on TradingView, and I'll also share some tips on scaling and styling that the pros use to keep everything clean and easy to understand.

The quickest method to layer one chart over another

The goal: To add a second (or even a third) ticker to your main chart window.

Here's how to do it (on desktop or web):

1. Open up any chart you want to use as your base.
2. Look for the "Compare or Add symbol" button in the top toolbar and click it.
3. Type in the ticker symbol you want to overlay (like NDX for Nasdaq, DXY for the US Dollar Index, or ETHUSD) and press Enter.
4. TradingView will now display it on your main chart pane. It automatically switches the vertical scale to percentage change so you can fairly compare assets with different prices. If you switch this back to a regular "Price" scale, one of the lines will probably get squished if the prices are very far apart.

A handy tip: Feel free to pile on several symbols this way. Each one will show up as a new line in your chart's legend.

Make your overlays readable (scales, panes, alignment)

Ever add an indicator or a second stock to your chart, only to end up with a messy, unreadable squiggle? More often than not, the overlay itself is fine—the problem is with the scales and panes. Getting these settings right is the secret to a clean, informative chart. Let's break down the essential controls.

A) Choose % or price for fair comparisons

• When you use the Compare feature, your chart automatically switches to a percentage scale. This is perfect for seeing which investment performed better over time, because it puts everything on a level playing field. Switching back to the regular price scale really only makes sense if the two assets you're comparing trade at a very similar price per share.

B) Manage price scales like a pro

Juggling multiple lines on a chart can get chaotic. Here’s how to take control of the price scales on the sides of your chart.

• Pin to scale: For any symbol or indicator, click the three dots next to its name in the legend. Select Pin to scale to attach it to the left scale, the right scale, or even create a brand new scale. This is your go-to move for separating a super volatile stock from a more stable one, or just for de-cluttering.
• Merge scales: If your chart has too many scales, you can tidy it up. Just right-click on any price scale and select Merge all scales into one. This pulls everything back to a single column on the left or right.
• Place scales left or right: Want all your scales on one side for a cleaner look? Head to Chart Settings → Scales and choose your preferred side.
• Hide a scale: A scale will automatically appear if something is pinned to it. To make one disappear, just re-pin its items to another scale or select "no scale."
• Fix “blank space” near the scale: See an awkward empty gap next to your price scale? It usually means there's an extra, invisible scale hanging around. Find the indicator that's causing it and use the three dots → Pin to scale A to re-attach it to the main scale.

C) Move series between panes (same window)

Sometimes, you don't just want a new scale—you want a completely separate section in your chart window. That's what panes are for.

• To move an indicator (like an RSI or Moving Average), simply right-click its name or its line on the chart. Go to Move To and then choose Main chart, an Existing pane above/below, or create a New pane. You can also drag and drop it using your mouse or find it in the Object Tree for precise control.

Overlay indicators on price (or on other indicators)

Think of indicators like transparent layers you can stack on your chart. You're not just stuck with symbols; you can overlay them right on top of the price action or even on top of each other. Here's how it works:

• Place an indicator directly on the price chart: Simply add your indicator, then use the Move To → Main chart option. This is perfect for things like Moving Averages or VWAP that you want to see in context with the candlesticks.
• Combine multiple indicators in one pane: Instead of having a separate box for each one, you can use Move To → Existing pane below/above to make indicators like RSI and Stochastics share the same space, keeping your chart view clean.
• Put an indicator on another indicator: This is a neat trick. Click the three dots next to an indicator's name and select Add indicator/Strategy on…. Alternatively, you can pick it from the target indicator's Inputs → Source dropdown. (A quick heads-up: the source has to be another indicator, not a trading strategy.)
• For Pine Script coders: If you're writing your own code, setting overlay=true will plot your script directly on the main chart. Your scripts can also control how they scale, which is super handy when you're building custom overlays. If you're working with older code, you might need to know how to convert Pine Script v2 to v6 to ensure compatibility with current overlay features.

Of course, if you want to skip the manual work of coding and combining indicators, tools like Pineify make this process incredibly intuitive. With its visual editor, you can easily overlay multiple indicators, customize their sources, and combine them into a single, cohesive script—all without writing a single line of Pine Script. This is perfect for traders who want to build complex, multi-layered indicators quickly and error-free.

Practical overlay workflows (with settings that matter)

Here are a few of my favorite, real-world ways to use overlays. I'll share the specific settings that make them work well, so you can set them up correctly the first time.

1) Cross-market comparison (e.g., BTC vs. NDX)

Let's say you want to see if Bitcoin is moving in line with tech stocks.

• Start by adding BTCUSD as your main chart.
• Then, use the Compare or Add symbol feature to pull up NDX (the Nasdaq 100 index).
• Here's the key: always keep the chart on % scale. This puts both assets on a level playing field, letting you easily compare their performance percentages, regardless of their actual price difference.
• If the lines are hard to tell apart, just merge the scales. You can also go into each line's settings and reduce the thickness or opacity for a cleaner look.

2) Currency pair vs. its driver (EURUSD vs. DXY)

The US Dollar Index (DXY) is a huge driver for the EUR/USD currency pair. Seeing them together is incredibly useful.

• Simply overlay the DXY chart onto your EURUSD chart.
• The most important step: Pin DXY to the opposite scale. This gives each its own axis on either side of the chart. You'll see the inverse correlation clearly without the lines overlapping and becoming a mess.

3) A stock vs. its sector or benchmark (AAPL vs. QQQ)

Want to know if Apple is outperforming the broader tech sector?

• Overlay the QQQ (which tracks the Nasdaq 100) on your AAPL chart.
• Again, use the % scale to instantly see if Apple is beating (or lagging) the market.
• For a great visual setup: make the QQQ line thin and change the AAPL chart to candlesticks. Then, use the Visual Order tool to make sure the candlestic stay on top of the line. This creates a perfect hierarchy.

4) Two oscillators in one pane (RSI + Stoch)

Sometimes you want to stack indicators to confirm signals. For more advanced indicator combinations, check out this comprehensive guide on understanding the QQE indicator, which can be effectively combined with other momentum indicators.

• Add both the RSI and Stochastic oscillators to your chart.
• Instead of having them in separate panes, use the Move To → Existing pane option to place one on top of the other. This lets you compare their signals bar-by-bar.
• If the scales clash and the pane looks crazy, you can pin one indicator to the same scale as the other. Alternatively, you can adjust their individual settings to normalize their ranges.

5) Advanced: Keeping visuals on the main chart from a pane script

This is a handy thing to know. Some scripts from the public library are designed to draw things like arrows or shapes directly on your main price chart, even though the script itself runs in a separate pane below (this is done with a command like force_overlay). It's good to be aware of this when you're browsing for scripts to use as overlays. If you're interested in creating more advanced trading setups, you might want to explore crafting a winning Pine Script breakout strategy that utilizes these overlay techniques.

Styling & Organization: Make Your Charts Crystal Clear

Think of your chart like a well-organized workspace. When everything has its place and is easy to see, you can make decisions faster and with more confidence. Here are a few simple habits that make a huge difference.

• Keep Your Lines Tidy: Ever have a chart with so many lines and colors that it becomes a confusing mess? You can easily fix that. Just click the little gear icon next to each indicator or drawing. From there, you can adjust the style, thickness, color, and opacity. Using simpler, cleaner visuals isn't just about looks—it helps your brain process the information much more easily. (TradingView)
• Use the Object Tree as Your Control Center: Instead of clicking around trying to find that one trendline you drew, use the Object Tree on the right sidebar. It’s like a table of contents for everything on your chart. You can reorder items, hide them temporarily, lock them so you don't accidentally move them, or delete what you don't need. A huge time-saver is being able to drag indicators from one chart pane to another right from the Tree. (TradingView)
• Master Multi-Chart Layouts: If you work with multiple charts at once, take a moment to learn about symbol syncing. This ensures all your charts update together when you switch assets. Also, understand how your drawings (like trendlines and arrows) behave—some might be tied to a specific symbol's price scale. Knowing this prevents that frustrating "Where did all my drawings go?" moment when you change symbols. (TradingView)

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Troubleshooting: quick fixes to common overlay issues

Having trouble with your chart overlays? Don't worry, it happens to everyone. Here are some simple solutions to the most common headaches.

• "Why does my chart look so flat and boring all of a sudden?" This usually happens when you're comparing two assets with very different prices (like a stock and a cryptocurrency) and your scale is set to Price. The solution is simple: just switch your scale to % to see the percentage moves, or use separate scales for each. (TradingView)
• "There's a strange empty space next to my price scale." That annoying gap is almost always an extra, unused price scale pane. To clean it up, just Pin items to Scale A (or merge the scales). The blank space will disappear. (TradingView)
• "My chart is a mess with two different price scales." If the two scales are cluttering your view, you can easily combine them. Right-click on any price scale and select Merge all scales into one. You can choose to merge everything to the left or right side. Alternatively, you can pin all your indicators to a single scale in the settings. (TradingView)
• "I can't seem to find where to control the scales anymore." The controls for linking scales have moved! Don't panic. Just use the context menu (right-click) on the specific symbol or indicator name to find the options for adjusting scale linking. (TradingView)

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Quick Q&A (Overlay FAQs)

Q1: Can I put the same stock or asset on my chart, but from two different time periods, to compare them? A: Not directly on the same chart pane. TradingView doesn't have a built-in way to, for example, see Apple's 2020 price line overlapping its 2025 price. A great workaround for this is to use the multi-chart layout to place them side-by-side.

Q2: When I'm comparing two things, should I use the percentage scale or the regular price scale? A: Go with the percentage scale almost every time for comparing performance. It's the only way to fairly compare a cheap stock with an expensive one. The standard price scale is really only helpful if the two items have very similar price values to begin with.

Q3: How do I put one indicator on top of another indicator? A: It's simpler than it sounds! Just click the three dots (•••) next to the indicator's name in your list. Then, select "Add indicator/Strategy on..." and choose the other indicator. You can also sometimes do this directly in the indicator's Settings → Inputs by changing the "Source."

Q4: The scale on the side of my chart vanished. What happened? A: Don't worry, you didn't break it! That scale only appears when an indicator or drawing is specifically attached to it. If it's gone, it just means nothing is currently pinned to it. To bring it back, attach something to a new scale. You can also manually hide it by setting an item to "no scale."

Q5: Can custom scripts and indicators change how overlays work? A: Absolutely. When coders write scripts in Pine Script, they can use the overlay=true setting to place things directly on the main price chart. More advanced scripts can even create their own calculations in a separate pane below but still keep lines or visuals on the main chart. For traders looking to master more complex technical analysis, exploring tools like the HawkEye Volume Indicator can provide deeper insights into market structure and smart money flow.

Situation	Recommended Scale	Why
Comparing stocks with very different prices (e.g., $50 vs. $500)	Percentage (%)	Levels the playing field to show relative performance.
Comparing assets with similar prices (e.g., $150 vs. $180)	Price	Gives you a clear view of the actual price difference.
Focusing on the volatility of a single asset	Price	Provides the most straightforward view of price movement.

Next steps (give these a try)

Here are a few hands-on ways to get comfortable with these features right on the chart.

1. See why percentages matter: Pull up a chart you're watching and use the 'Compare or Add symbol' feature to overlay a major index, like the S&P 500. Now, toggle between viewing the comparison in Price and in %. You'll instantly see how the percentage view gives you a much clearer picture of the relative performance.
2. Understand chart scales: Try this: Pin a second stock to its own new scale (you'll see two price scales on the right). Watch how the two charts move independently. Then, click merge scales to see them move together against a single scale. It’s a quick way to see how they interact.
3. Manage your indicators: Add two different indicators to your chart. Instead of letting them clutter the main window, use the Move To → Existing pane option to stack them neatly below your price chart. Then, play with their Inputs and Style settings (like changing colors or line thickness) until you can see both signals clearly without them overlapping.
4. Layer your analysis (for power users): If you're feeling adventurous, explore the Add indicator/Strategy on… menu. This lets you place a technical indicator or strategy on top of another indicator's pane, creating a layered signal. It's a powerful way to build complex setups.