FVG vs Liquidity Void: What's the Difference?

Both fair value gaps and liquidity voids describe areas where price moved without normal order flow. They're often confused or used interchangeably. But they're different concepts with different characteristics and different trading implications.

Fair Value Gap: The Precise Pattern

A fair value gap is a specific three-candle pattern where the impulse candle creates a gap between the surrounding candles' ranges.

Key characteristics:

• Defined by exactly three candles
• The gap has a precise boundary (Candle 1 extreme to Candle 3 extreme)
• Typically small to moderate in size
• Price tends to return and fill these gaps
• Used as precise entry zones on retests
• Can be classified into multiple types (standard, inverting, engulfing, etc.)

Think of it as: A targeted price void at a specific three-candle structure.

Liquidity Void: The Broad Imbalance

A liquidity void is a large area where price moved extremely fast with minimal trading activity. There's no specific candle-count pattern - it's simply a region where very little two-sided order flow occurred.

Key characteristics:

• Not defined by a specific candle pattern
• Can span many candles worth of price movement
• Typically large - bigger than standard FVGs
• Created by extreme events (news, session opens, major structure breaks)
• Price may return to fill the void, but often in stages
• Less precise boundaries - the entire area is the void

Think of it as: A highway where price drove through at full speed without stopping.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Aspect	Fair Value Gap	Liquidity Void
Pattern	Specific 3-candle structure	No specific pattern
Size	Small to moderate	Large, often spanning many candles
Boundaries	Precise (Candle 1 to Candle 3)	Approximate (start to end of fast move)
Frequency	Common (several per session)	Rare (major moves only)
Fill behavior	Price often returns and fills completely	May fill in stages or partially
Entry precision	High (trade the gap boundary)	Low (the void is too large for precise entry)
Timeframe	Works on all timeframes	Most visible on higher timeframes

How They Relate

Fair value gaps often exist within liquidity voids. When price makes a massive move (creating a void), individual three-candle gaps form along the way.

Example:

• Price drops 200 points in 15 minutes during a news event
• This entire 200-point move is a liquidity void - price flew through with minimal interaction
• Within that move, multiple individual FVGs formed at specific candle structures
• The FVGs give you precise levels within the broader void

Trading Implications

Trading FVGs

FVGs provide precise entry zones:

• Wait for price to return to the gap boundary
• Enter on confirmation at the gap
• Stop-loss beyond the gap boundary
• Clear, defined risk

Best for: Active entries with defined risk/reward.

Trading Liquidity Voids

Voids provide directional context rather than precise entries:

• A large void below price suggests eventual downside filling
• Price may take days or weeks to fill a large void
• Entering anywhere in the void is imprecise
• Instead, look for FVGs within the void as your actual entry points

Best for: Understanding broader market dynamics and potential targets.

Combining Both

The most effective approach uses both:

1. Identify liquidity voids on higher timeframes - these show you where price is likely to travel (directional context)
2. Find FVGs within or at the edges of voids - these give you precise entry zones
3. Trade the FVGs with the void as your larger thesis

When Voids and FVGs Don't Fill

Strong Trends

In powerful trending markets, both FVGs and voids may remain unfilled for extended periods. The trend's momentum keeps price moving without retracing.

Void behavior in trends: Large voids created by trend impulses often fill only when the trend exhausts - which could be weeks or months later.

FVG behavior in trends: Individual FVGs within the trend may fill during pullbacks, but the broader void remains.

News Events

Major news events create voids that may never fully fill if the news represents a fundamental shift. A central bank decision or geopolitical event can create a permanent gap in the market.

Identifying Each on Your Chart

Spotting FVGs

Look for the three-candle pattern:

• Check if Candle 1's high and Candle 3's low don't overlap (bullish)
• Check if Candle 1's low and Candle 3's high don't overlap (bearish)
• Mark the gap between them

Automated FVG indicators like Smarter Money Suite handle this efficiently.

Spotting Liquidity Voids

Look for large, one-directional moves:

• Multiple consecutive candles in the same direction with large bodies
• Minimal wicks (price didn't pause or pull back)
• Often associated with high-volume candles
• The entire span of the move is the void

Practical Framework

1. Zoom out - On the 4H or Daily chart, identify any liquidity voids (large unfilled areas). These are your potential target zones.

2. Zoom in - Within or at the edges of these voids, identify specific FVGs. These are your entry points.

3. Trade the FVGs - Use the FVG retest methodology (confirm, enter, stop, target) with the knowledge that the broader void supports the direction.

4. Target the void fill - Your extended targets can be the far edge of the liquidity void, while your immediate targets are the standard FVG targets.

Key Takeaways

• FVGs are precise 3-candle patterns with defined boundaries - used for entries
• Liquidity voids are broad areas of fast, one-directional movement - used for context and targeting
• FVGs often exist within liquidity voids - giving you precision inside a larger thesis
• Trade FVGs for entries and use voids for directional context
• Both may remain unfilled in strong trends or after major news events
• The best approach combines both: identify voids for the bigger picture, trade FVGs for precision