# Runaway Gap

Flags continuation gaps printing mid-trend: a bar opening entirely beyond the prior bar's range, at least 0.1% of price by default, in the direction of a 50-bar trend already held for 10 bars, on solid but not climactic volume between 1x and 3x average. Each gap zone stays boxed until filled, with a measuring-gap target projection and alerts for prints, retests, fills and target hits.

- Indicator in the LuxAlgo Library, by LuxAlgo, published Jun 5, 2026.
- Access: free.
- Concepts: [Runaway Gap](https://www.luxalgo.com/library/concept/runaway-gap/) (primary)
- Open on Vela: https://vela.luxalgo.com/chart?pineScriptCodeId=z3b2z41rkdy1gafnqhjttcvj
- Page: https://www.luxalgo.com/library/indicator/runaway-gap/

**Runaway Gap** separates the mid-trend continuation gap from every other gap a chart prints, the first dedicated implementation of the [runaway gap](https://www.luxalgo.com/library/concept/runaway-gap/). A qualifying bar must open entirely beyond the previous bar's range, clear a minimum size in percent of price or ATR units, print with an established trend, and carry conviction volume without frenzy. Each accepted gap is boxed and extended forward, numbered within its trend, and paired with the classical measuring-gap projection: the trend-origin-to-gap-midpoint distance extended beyond the gap.

## How to Trade the Runaway Gap?

- **Gap prints**: a with-trend continuation signal; the untraded zone is expected support in an uptrend, resistance in a downtrend, and the Gap Zone Retest alert fires when price first returns to it.
- **Measured target**: the dotted Target line is a coarse objective for what remains of the move. The estimate turns ambiguous once a trend prints several gaps.
- **Gap filled**: a decisive close that re-enters the zone fades it to gray and breaks the continuation case: the trend had less behind it than it appeared, or the gap was exhaustion in disguise.

## Runaway Gap Settings

- **Minimum Gap Size** (default 0.1) with its unit selector (default % of Price; ATR available) and **ATR Length** (default 14): the size floor.
- **Trend Basis** (default SMA) with length (default 50): the average defining trend direction.
- **Established Trend (bars)** (default 10): bars price must already hold the trend side, filtering launch-point gaps of breakaway territory.
- **Apply Volume Filter** (default on) with **Volume Average Length** (default 20), **Minimum Volume (x Average)** (default 1) and **Maximum Volume (x Average)** (default 3).
- **Measured Target Projection** (default on); style: **Pattern Labels** and **Show Trend Basis** (both on).

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How do runaway and exhaustion gaps differ?

Both appear inside an existing trend, which is why the volume cap exists: the [Exhaustion Gap](https://www.luxalgo.com/library/indicator/exhaustion-gap/) arrives late on frantic participation and fills quickly, while the runaway prints mid-move on solid but controlled volume. This build rejects gap bars above 3x average volume for exactly that reason.

### Why was an obvious gap ignored?

It failed a filter: too small, against the trend basis, before the trend had held long enough, or on volume outside the accepted window. Minimum Gap Size 0 and a disabled volume filter loosen everything but the trend requirement.

### What does the number on a label mean?

It counts qualifying gaps within the current trend. Each additional one stretches the measuring guideline thinner and, per the classical reading, makes it likelier that the newest gap is the trend's last.

## Related indicators

- [Gap Fill Breakouts](https://www.luxalgo.com/library/indicator/gap-fill-breakouts/) (Gap Fill): markdown at https://www.luxalgo.com/library/indicator/gap-fill-breakouts.md
- [Breakaway Fair Value Gaps](https://www.luxalgo.com/library/indicator/breakaway-fair-value-gaps/) (Breakaway Gap): markdown at https://www.luxalgo.com/library/indicator/breakaway-fair-value-gaps.md
- [Session Gap Fill](https://www.luxalgo.com/library/indicator/session-gap-fill/) (Gap Fill): markdown at https://www.luxalgo.com/library/indicator/session-gap-fill.md
- [Rising & Falling Window Signals](https://www.luxalgo.com/library/indicator/rising-falling-window-signals/) (Common Gap): markdown at https://www.luxalgo.com/library/indicator/rising-falling-window-signals.md
- [Exhaustion Gap](https://www.luxalgo.com/library/indicator/exhaustion-gap/) (Chart & Candlestick Patterns): markdown at https://www.luxalgo.com/library/indicator/exhaustion-gap.md
- [Ascending Base](https://www.luxalgo.com/library/indicator/ascending-base/) (Chart & Candlestick Patterns): markdown at https://www.luxalgo.com/library/indicator/ascending-base.md
- [On-neck / In-neck / Thrusting](https://www.luxalgo.com/library/indicator/on-neck-in-neck-thrusting/) (Chart & Candlestick Patterns): markdown at https://www.luxalgo.com/library/indicator/on-neck-in-neck-thrusting.md
- [Rising/falling Three Methods](https://www.luxalgo.com/library/indicator/rising-falling-three-methods/) (Chart & Candlestick Patterns): markdown at https://www.luxalgo.com/library/indicator/rising-falling-three-methods.md

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Source: https://www.luxalgo.com/library/indicator/runaway-gap/ (LuxAlgo Library). Free to use with attribution: https://www.luxalgo.com/library/license/
