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Relative volume (RVOL) calculator
Relative volume compares how much a stock has traded today with what is normal for it. A stock trading three times its usual volume is getting attention; whether that attention is buying or selling is a separate question.
The regular session has 390 minutes; use a value from 1 to 390.
Two ways to measure it
Same-time comparison divides today's volume by the average volume the stock had at the same time of day over recent sessions. This is the fair comparison, because volume is not spread evenly over the day.
Estimate from the daily average spreads the average daily volume evenly over the 390-minute regular session. It is quick, but volume is heaviest at the open and the close, so early in the session it makes RVOL look higher than it really is. Treat it as a rough guide.
Reading the number
- Below 1×: quieter than usual
- Around 1×: a normal day
- 2× and above: many traders treat this as unusual activity worth a look
High relative volume says that something is happening, not which way price will go. Check the order flow and the tape to see whether buyers or sellers are driving it.
Pre-market volume
Pre-market volume is much thinner than regular-session volume. Compare it with past pre-market sessions, not with a full day.
FAQ
What is relative volume?
Relative volume (RVOL) is current volume divided by the normal volume for the same period. 2× means twice the usual amount.
Where does Nasdaq Life show it?
The scanner lists volume next to price change, and the Engine column flags single trades that are large compared with the stock's average minute volume.