GuideHow to read a liquidation map and a liquidation heatmap
A liquidation map answers one question: at which prices will leveraged positions be force-closed, and how much money stands there. This guide explains what you see on the map, how to read it step by step and what it cannot tell you.
What is a liquidation?
A trader who opens a position with leverage puts up margin. When the price moves against the position and the margin no longer covers the loss, the exchange closes the position by force: a liquidated long is sold, a liquidated short is bought. The price at which this happens is the liquidation price of that position.
What is a liquidation level?
Many positions have liquidation prices close to each other. Added together, they form a level, for example "$15.8M of long liquidations at 82,700". If the price comes there, that amount is sold by force. A group of large levels standing side by side is called a cluster.
The current numbers for Bitcoin — the price, the amounts within 2% and 10% of the price, the largest levels and the time — are on the BTC liquidation map.
How do I read a liquidation map step by step?
- Find the price. Everything below it is long liquidations, everything above it is short liquidations.
- Look at the length of the bars. A bar is a price level; its length is the dollar amount that gets force-closed there.
- Compare the two sides near the price. The sums within 2% and within 10% show which side has more money close to the price.
- Find the largest levels. They are listed under the map with their amounts and the distance from the price.
- Check the time. Levels move as positions are opened and closed; the page states the time of its numbers.
How do I read a liquidation heatmap?
A heatmap draws the same levels over time on the price chart. Time runs left to right, price runs bottom to top, and the brighter the band, the more money stands at the level.
- A band that grows brighter is a cluster being built.
- A band that ends where the price touched it is a cluster the price has taken.
- A band that fades without the price coming near means the owners closed their positions.
Should I use the map or the heatmap?
| Liquidation map | Liquidation heatmap | |
|---|---|---|
| What it shows | One moment with exact amounts | Two days of history |
| Use it to see | What stands near the price now | How clusters were built and which of them are fresh |
| On Liqwall | Liquidation map | Liquidation heatmap |
What are the common mistakes?
- Reading a level as a forecast. A cluster does not promise that the price will go there. It shows what happens if it does.
- Looking at one exchange only. Positions on different exchanges have different levels. Check the map by exchange as well.
- Using an old picture. A cluster seen yesterday may already be gone. Look at the time of the numbers.
Where can I see it on Liqwall?
- Hyperliquid liquidation map: 61 markets, from Bitcoin to gold and stock indices.
- Liquidation map by exchange: Binance, OKX, Bybit, Gate and Hyperliquid on one chart.
- Liquidation heatmap: Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana.
- Liquidations that have already happened.
In the terminal the map lies over the price chart next to the order book: you see how each cluster was built and what the price did there.Free forever — this is not a trial. Sign-up takes a minute, no card required.
Questions and answers
Does the price always go to the largest liquidation cluster?
No. A cluster shows where forced orders will appear if the price comes there; it does not pull the price by itself.
Why did a cluster disappear?
Either the price reached it and the positions were liquidated, or their owners closed or moved them.
What is the difference between long and short liquidations?
Long liquidations stand below the price and are forced sales. Short liquidations stand above it and are forced purchases.
Can I get an alert when the price comes to a level?
Yes. With a free account the terminal sends alerts to the phone, Telegram or e-mail.