See open interest by strike for any symbol

What this recipe computes

• Call and put open interest per strike within ±10% of spot.
• The heaviest strikes by total open interest, read in price order.
• A tunable expiry window.

What it does not claim

• Open interest is a T+1 snapshot of positions standing at the previous close, not today’s trading.
• A tall bar says nothing about who holds the contracts or which side opened them.
• No gamma weighting, so this is not a GEX wall and can point elsewhere.

How to read it

1. Step 1

   Find the heaviest strikes

   The ladder shows where contracts sit, in price order rather than by size.

2. Step 2

   Compare calls against puts

   A strike heavy on one side reads differently from one heavy on both.

3. Step 3

   Cross-check the weighted view

   Gamma Levels weights the same open interest by gamma, and often ranks strikes differently.

Frequently asked questions

Does heavy open interest act as support?

Open interest records how many contracts exist at a strike. It does not establish who holds them, which side opened, or any obligation for price to behave near it.

Why does this disagree with the gamma walls?

Because walls weight open interest by gamma and this does not. A far strike with huge open interest can dominate here and barely register there.

Related glossary

• Open interest (OI)Open interest is how many options contracts remain open. Unlike volume, it does not reset each morning and usually updates after the session.
• Call wallA call wall is the strike above spot with the densest call open interest or call-side gamma. Traders often treat it as resistance when dealers hedge.
• Put wallA put wall is the strike below spot with the densest put open interest or put-side gamma. Traders often treat it as support when dealers hedge.
• Max painMax pain is the underlying price that theoretically minimizes total option-holder payoff at expiration.

Related personas

• GEX and Option Flow for Index TradersIndex traders care about session character: where call/put walls sit, whether gamma is dampening or amplifying, and whether premium is chasing or fading the move.
• Options Flow for Options SellersSelling premium works until you short the strike the tape is attacking. Flow and walls help you see where demand is concentrated before you choose short strikes.
• Options Flow for Swing TradersSwing traders care about positioning that can last more than a day: unusual flow, OI confirmation, and walls for multi-day levels.

Related recipes

• OI ladderSee where open interest actually sits by strike before you treat a GEX wall as the book.
• Gamma levelsAnswer "what are the gamma levels for this ticker" without opening a full structure map.
• Max pain lookupAnswer "where is max pain for this ticker" in one look, without reading a full structure report.