Parabolic SAR Indicator: A Step Of 0.03, Not The Usual

Written by Dominic Walsh · Published 22 Jun 2026 · Last updated 9 Sep 2026

The parabolic sar indicator draws one of Welles Wilder’s oldest tools. A dot trails the move and jumps to the other side when price crosses it. This build ships faster settings than the textbook pair, which changes how it behaves.

This build ships as a compiled .ex4 for MT4 and .ex5 for MT5; the screenshots below come from EURUSD H1.

Platforms	MT4 (.ex4) + MT5 (.ex5)
Chart window	Main price chart
Plots	1: Parabolic SAR
Alerts	popup, push notification, email, sound
Inputs	8

What the Parabolic SAR Indicator draws on the chart

One indian red `Parabolic SAR` plot uses dot code 159.

Dots sit under price during an uptrend and above it during a downtrend.

No line and no separate pane ship with this build.

The side the dots sit on is the whole reading.

• Parabolic SAR: arrow, indian red, arrow code 159

How the Parabolic SAR Indicator calculates its values

The dot accelerates toward price

Each bar moves the stop toward the extreme point of the current move. How far it moves depends on an acceleration factor, so the dot speeds up the longer a move runs.

Step and cap set that acceleration

`Step` `0.03` is added each time the move makes a new extreme. `MaxStep` `0.15` caps how fast the dot can close in. Both figures sit above the usual 0.02 and 0.20 pairing.

A cross flips the whole thing

When price trades through the dot, direction reverses. The stop resets to the previous extreme and the acceleration returns to `Step`. That reset is what gives the tool its name.

How to read the signals

Dots below price mean the tool reads an uptrend, and above means the reverse.

The gap narrows as a move continues, because acceleration builds.

A flip is always late, since price has to reach the dot first.

A faster step means tighter dots and more flips.

Alert channels in this build: popup, push notification, email and sound, one message per closed bar.

`EnableAlerts` controls the routes and starts true with `EnablePopup`. `EnablePushNotify` sends to a phone, `EnableEmail` sends mail and `EnableSound` plays `SoundFile`. Those three arrive off. A flip reports once per closed bar.

Every Parabolic SAR Indicator input

Core settings

Setting	What it does	Default
Step	Acceleration added at each new extreme, default `0.03`.	0.03
MaxStep	Ceiling on that acceleration, default `0.15`.	0.15

Alert settings

Setting	What it does	Default
EnableAlerts	Master control for the alert routes, default `true`.	on
EnablePopup	Terminal box on a flip, default `true`.	on
EnablePushNotify	Phone message on a flip, default `false`.	off
EnableEmail	Mail on a flip, default `false`.	off
EnableSound	Clip on a flip, default `false`.	off
SoundFile	Which clip plays, default `”alert.wav”`.	alert.wav

Settings that fit your chart

A trailing stop suits trending charts. EURUSD H1 is the reference chart, where the faster step gives a flip every day or so. On M5 the dots flip constantly. H4 and daily let a single run hold for weeks.

When the Parabolic SAR Indicator fails

In a range the dots flip back and forth and every flip costs.

`Step` `0.03` is half again as fast as the standard, so it exits sooner.

The tool is always in the market, since it only ever switches sides.

Copy the compiled Parabolic SAR Indicator file into your MQL4/Indicators folder, and the MT5 build into MQL5/Indicators, then restart the terminal and drag it onto a chart. The step-by-step guide with screenshots is at how to install MT4 and MT5 indicators.

Download the Parabolic SAR Indicator for MT4 and MT5

The zip holds the compiled Parabolic SAR Indicator build for MT4 and MT5, plus a short README. Compiled files only, no source. Enter your email below and the download link arrives in your inbox.

FAQ

Why does Step 0.03 differ from the textbook?

Wilder published 0.02 with a cap of 0.20. This build uses 0.03 and 0.15, which accelerates faster early and then stops accelerating sooner. The result is a tighter trail and more flips than the classic settings.

What does MaxStep 0.15 limit?

How quickly the dot can close in on price once a move is running. Without a ceiling the acceleration would keep building until the stop met price almost immediately, which would end every trend early.

Why does the Parabolic SAR plot use a dot?

Arrow code 159 renders as a small dot, which is how the study has always been drawn. It also avoids implying direction the way an arrow would, since the dot marks a stop level rather than an entry.

Should I set Step back to 0.02?

If you want the published behaviour, yes. The faster default suits shorter timeframes where an early exit costs less than a late one. On daily charts most traders prefer the original pairing.

Are results guaranteed?

No. Trading involves risk. Results are not guaranteed; past performance is not indicative of future results. Use the Parabolic SAR Indicator as one input. Always backtest before trading live.