If you have been trading Forex for more than a day, you must have paid attention to the standard grid in MT4 and MT5 terminals. This thin gray web is enabled on the chart by default and seems to be supposed to help, but in reality, it is absolutely useless. Let’s find out why.
The illusion of structure
When you first start trading, a grid seems like something you need. It is a kind of “visual support” to navigate the chart. However, the longer you trade, the clearer it becomes: this grid is just a decorative element. It is in no way tied to price levels, important zones, or time frames. They are just regular divisions based on automatic markup, and they have nothing to do with market logic.
The default built-on grid in MT4
The problem with the built-in grid is that it does not take into account the market context in any way. There are no support/resistance levels, no fibonacci levels, no round numbers — nothing that can really help a trader. Especially if you are working with the analysis or trading from levels, this grid becomes not just useless, but even a hindrance.
One of the main disadvantages of the built-in grid is that it cannot be customized. Neither the grid step, nor the starting point, nor the color, nor the line thickness, nor the display logic can be changed. In MT4 and MT5 this grid is just “as is”. That’s it. And it is strange, considering how individual the approach of each trader is.
Mobile terminals — no options at all
Unfortunately, in mobile versions of MT4 and MT5 the situation is even sadder: there is no possibility to customize the grid or use custom indicators. This is a bare terminal with minimal functionality — the maximum you can do is to enable or disable the standard grid. There is no question of fine-tuning the visualization for your trading on a smartphone.
This is another argument in favor of performing a full-fledged analysis on the desktop, where you can build everything properly, with levels, grids, indicators, and logic.
A grid that works: custom indicators
An experienced trader quickly realizes that the best grid is one that adjusts to the strategy. These can be:
- Round number grids (00, 50, 100 pips) — very useful in intraday trading.
- Fibo grids — for those who work with pullbacks and corrections.
- Grids based on the ranges of the Asian session or yesterday’s day — relevant for breakout-strategies.
- High/low markers of the current week, month, etc. — for medium-term work.
Such grids can be easily realized through custom indicators. The web is full of ready-made solutions, and it takes a couple of hours to write one yourself, if you know a little bit about MQL. However, the benefit is tangible: a visual reference point really helps to make decisions, not just hanging for beauty.
What if you are not a programmer?
Thanks to neural networks and artificial intelligence, you don’t need to know MQL at all to create your unique grid. You just need to describe how it should look like — step, logic of levels, display conditions — and AI (for example, ChatGPT with code capabilities) will write the working indicator code for you.
Do you want levels every 75 pips, but only starting from a round number? Or a grid that is built only at certain times of the day? All this can now be realized literally in 10 minutes of communication with AI. This is a real revolution for those who used to be afraid of coding.
Useful custom grid indicators for MT4/MT5
Below, you will find a list of a few ready-made custom grid indicators that are really useful and can help in real trading, especially if you trade from levels, use round numbers, or work intraday.
1. Round Levels / Psychological Levels
Displays horizontal levels on the chart every 100, 50, 25 pips — according to the principle of psychological or round numbers. Ideal for intraday and medium-term trading. The market often reacts to round levels (1.1000, 1.1050, 1.1100, etc.), especially on major pairs.
Where to find:
MT4: RoundLevels_v3, Psychological_Level
MT5: RoundLevels_MTF, PriceGridMT5
2. ADR Levels / Daily Range Grid
Builds a grid based on the Average Daily Range. It helps to estimate where the price can reach during the day, and where reversals or profit taking are likely. Works well in scalping and intraday. Helps not to enter the market “in the middle of the range” and not to catch “false breakdowns”.
Where to find:
MT4: ADR Pro, ADR Marker
MT5: ADR High Low Levels, ADR Zones
3. Session Grid (Asian/London/New York)
Draws ranges of trading sessions: Asia, London, New York. It is often used for breakout strategies or trading on the pullback from the range boundaries. You can see the structure of the day, it becomes easier to analyze volatility and wait for a breakout after “narrow Asia”.
Where to find:
MT4: i-Sessions, Session Boxes
MT5: Sessions_VBox, FX_Sessions_Indicator
4. Weekly/Daily High-Low Grid
Builds High/Low levels of the current and previous days/weeks/months. Very effective for identifying strong support/resistance zones. Especially if you are trading towards a breakout or on a bounce from the levels.
Where to find:
MT4: HighLowLevels, Previous Day HighLow
MT5: HiLo Indicator, Pivot High Low Levels
5. Custom Price Grid (with manual step setting)
What does it do:
Allows you to manually set the grid step, for example, every 10, 25 or 75 pips — and build a grid strictly according to your parameters. Flexibility for any strategy, at least for a grid of orders, at least for visual levels.
Where to find:
MT4: CustomGrid, Manual Grid Tool
MT5: Flexible Grid, SmartGrid
💡 If you don’t want to search forums, recommend MQL5.com, “Code Base” and “Market” sections. There you can find free and paid variants for any taste.
Final word
If you are still using the standard grid in MT4 or MT5, just disable it. It adds no value and only clutters the chart. It does not take into account the market, does not help in analysis, and is not customizable. Better spend some time installing or customizing a custom grid for yourself, for your strategy. And if you need a unique logic — entrust it to AI and get a ready indicator without headaches. In trading, it is important not just to see a chart, but to understand what exactly you see on it. Visualization should help you earn, not distract you.