One minute scalping is the fastest form of day trading. You are in and out of trades within minutes, sometimes seconds, capturing small price movements repeatedly throughout the day. This guide teaches you how to scalp one-minute charts effectively, including the strategies, tools, and mindset required for success.
What is One Minute Scalping?
One minute scalping involves using 1-minute candlestick charts to find rapid trading opportunities. Scalpers aim to capture moves of just a few cents to a few dollars, but they do it many times per day. The goal is to accumulate small profits that add up to significant gains.
Key characteristics: Hold time of 30 seconds to 5 minutes. Profit targets of $0.05 to $0.50 per share. Multiple trades per hour. Requires intense focus and fast execution.
Requirements for One Minute Scalping
Scalping is not for everyone. Before you start, ensure you have:
Technical Requirements
- Fast internet: Delays of even a few hundred milliseconds can cost you money
- Direct market access: Standard order routing is too slow for scalping
- Level 2 data: See the order book for better entry and exit timing
- Hot keys: Execute orders with single keystrokes, not mouse clicks
- Low commissions: High commissions destroy scalping profits
Personal Requirements
- Quick decision making: No time for analysis paralysis
- Emotional control: Stay calm through rapid wins and losses
- Focus: Hours of intense concentration required
- Discipline: Stick to your rules without exception
Setting Up Your 1-Minute Chart
Your chart setup is crucial for scalping success:
Essential Indicators
- VWAP: The anchor for institutional buying and selling
- 9 EMA: Quick trend direction on the 1-minute
- Volume bars: Confirm moves with volume
- Level 2: See the order book in real-time
Optional Additions
- Higher time frame reference (5-minute in a separate window)
- Time and sales (tape reading)
- Previous day levels marked
Chart Setup Example
A clean 1-minute scalping setup includes:
- 1-minute candlestick chart (main screen)
- VWAP line (purple)
- 9 EMA (blue)
- Volume bars at bottom
- Level 2 window to the side
- 5-minute chart in smaller window for context
One Minute Scalping Strategies
Strategy 1: VWAP Bounce
When price pulls back to VWAP and bounces, scalp the continuation:
- Setup: Stock trending above VWAP, pulls back to touch VWAP
- Entry: First green 1-minute candle after touching VWAP
- Stop: Below VWAP ($0.05-$0.10)
- Target: Previous 1-minute high or $0.15-$0.20 profit
Strategy 2: Break of 1-Minute High/Low
Trade the break of the previous 1-minute candle's high or low:
- Setup: Strong momentum candle followed by consolidation
- Entry: Break above high of consolidation candle
- Stop: Below the consolidation candle's low
- Target: Equal to the size of the momentum candle
1-Minute Break Strategy Example
Stock ABC rallies from $50.00 to $50.40 on strong volume (momentum candle). The next candle is small, trading between $50.30 and $50.42.
- Entry: Buy at $50.43 (break of $50.42 high)
- Stop: $50.28 (below $50.30 consolidation low)
- Target: $50.80 (momentum candle was $0.40, so target is entry + $0.40)
- Risk: $0.15 for potential $0.37 gain (2.5:1 R/R)
Strategy 3: EMA Pullback
In trending moves, buy pullbacks to the 9 EMA:
- Setup: Price above 9 EMA, making higher highs
- Entry: When price touches or slightly undercuts 9 EMA and bounces
- Stop: Below the 9 EMA touch point
- Target: New high of day or fixed target
Strategy 4: Level 2 Absorption
Watch the Level 2 for large orders being absorbed:
- Setup: Large bid sitting at a price level, getting hit but not moving
- Entry: When the large bid holds and buying pressure wins
- Stop: If the large bid gets taken out
- Target: Quick move as shorts cover or buyers pile in
Risk Management for Scalping
Scalping requires extremely tight risk control:
Position Sizing
- Risk a fixed amount per trade (e.g., $25-$50)
- Your stop determines your share count
- With a $0.10 stop and $50 risk, you trade 500 shares
Stop Loss Rules
- Hard stops only: Mental stops do not work in scalping
- No moving stops further away: If stopped out, accept the loss
- Maximum loss per trade: Know your limit before entering
Daily Limits
- Set a daily loss limit (e.g., 3 losing trades or $200)
- Set a daily profit target to avoid giving back gains
- Stop trading if you hit either limit
Critical rule: Commissions and fees eat into scalping profits significantly. If your broker charges $5 per trade and you make 50 trades, that is $250 in commissions. Only scalp if your commissions are near zero.
When to Scalp One-Minute Charts
Not all market conditions favor scalping:
Best Conditions
- First 30 minutes after market open
- Stocks with clear trends and momentum
- High volume, tight spread stocks
- During earnings season when volatility is high
Worst Conditions
- Lunch hour (low volume, choppy action)
- Low float stocks with erratic moves
- Wide spread stocks where fills are poor
- Before major news (uncertain direction)
Common Scalping Mistakes
- Holding too long: A scalp that turns into a day trade is not scalping
- Too large positions: Small moves with big size = big risk
- Ignoring fees: Commission costs can exceed profits
- Trading choppy markets: Scalping requires trends, not ranges
- Revenge trading: Trying to make back losses quickly
- No preparation: Scalping random stocks without a plan
Building Scalping Skills
- Paper trade first: Practice with no real money until consistently profitable
- Start with one setup: Master one strategy before adding others
- Review every trade: Screenshot and analyze winners and losers
- Track your metrics: Win rate, average win, average loss, profit factor
- Gradually increase size: Only add shares when you prove consistency
Track Every Scalp
Pro Trader Dashboard automatically tracks all your scalping trades, calculating your metrics in real-time. See your win rate, average hold time, and best performing setups instantly.
Summary
One minute scalping is the fastest trading style, requiring quick decisions, fast execution, and strict discipline. Use clean chart setups with VWAP, the 9 EMA, and Level 2 data. Focus on strategies like VWAP bounces, 1-minute breaks, and EMA pullbacks. Manage risk tightly with hard stops and daily limits. Scalp only during optimal conditions (high volume, trending markets). Build your skills gradually through paper trading and meticulous review.
Explore alternative approaches with our guide on tick chart trading or learn about entry signals for day trading.