YouTube Shorts, the short-form video feature allowing clips up to 60 seconds, has transformed the video-sharing landscape. Far from a fad, this super-popular platform hit 50 billion daily views in 2023, totaling 1.5 trillion views per month. These bite-sized videos are all about giving audiences instant entertainment.
However, to fully leverage YouTube Shorts’ potential, understanding the best time to post YouTube Shorts is vital. Posting Shorts on YouTube at the right time greatly impacts engagement, reach, channel growth, visibility, and ROI, offering the potential to go viral on YouTube.
In this guide, we’ll be covering all there is to know about the best time for YouTube Shorts to be posted, helping you optimize your videos to their full potential.
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| We extensively researched over half a million videos on 100,000 channels to bring you the best posting times. Stay with us as we share what we discovered through our careful research, giving you the lowdown on the best times to upload your YouTube Shorts. It’s all about making your content stand out, and we’re here to help you do just that! |
When is the Best Time to Post YouTube Shorts?
Our research and analysis show that weekdays, specifically Monday and Tuesday, are prime days for posting YouTube Shorts. In terms of timing, the best time to post YouTube Shorts are between 12 PM and 3 PM and 7 PM to 9 PM.
However, this golden time can vary. This timeframe is based on our research but may change depending on your content type, audience, industry, and time zone. It’s like trying to find the perfect recipe – what works for one might not work for another.
You’ll see that a whole bunch of variables come into play, so you need to figure out your own ideal posting timetable and stick with it. Something that calls for a trial and error approach, with plenty of experiments to see what works and what doesn’t.
When is the Best Time of Day to Post YouTube Shorts?
Even when you’ve narrowed things down to the best day to post on YouTube, you still need to consider specific times of the day. Each day has its own unique peaks and drop-off points, which should be factored into your publishing schedule.
Here’s an overview of what the figures say about the best times of day to release YouTube Shorts:
The Best Time to Post YouTube Shorts on Sunday
If you’re posting on Sunday, publish your content between 12 PM and 3 PM and 6 PM and 10 PM for optimal engagement.
The Best Time to Post YouTube Shorts on Monday
Start the week strong by dropping your YouTube Shorts during peak times of 12 PM-3 PM or 6 PM-9 PM.
The Best Time to Post YouTube Shorts on Tuesday
Peak times on Tuesday fall are between 1 PM and 4 PM, or plan for evening engagement with posts between 7 PM and 9 PM.
The Best Time to Post YouTube Shorts on Wednesday
Ideal posting hours on Wednesday are lunchtime at 12 PM-3 PM and later in the evening from 9 PM-11 PM.
The Best Time to Post YouTube Shorts on Thursday
Thursdays offer four peak windows, from 9 AM to 12 PM.
The Best Time to Post YouTube Shorts on Friday
On Friday, target the early slot from 11 AM-2 PM and 4 PM-6 PM.
The Best Time to Post YouTube Shorts on Saturday
Peak times on Saturday fall between 12 AM and 3 AM, mid-morning at 9 AM and 12 PM, or evening from 6 PM to 9 PM.
| Day of Week | Time To Post |
|---|---|
| Sunday | 12 PM and 3 PM or 6 PM and 10 PM |
| Monday | 12 PM-3 PM or 6 PM-9 PM |
| Tuesday | 1 PM and 4 PM or 7 PM and 9 PM |
| Wednesday | 12 PM-3 PM and 9 PM-11 PM |
| Thursday | 9 AM to 12 PM |
| Friday | 11 AM-2 PM and 4 PM-6 PM |
| Saturday | 12 AM and 3 AM, 9 AM and 12 PM and 6 PM to 9 PM |
Weekdays or Weekends: Which Works Better for YouTube Shorts
The question of whether weekdays or weekends are best for uploading YouTube Shorts has no direct answer, as it depends on your audience. Typically, peak timings on weekdays, specifically Monday and Tuesday, are the best times to post. More people watch videos to start their week, bringing higher engagement rates.
Mid-week, on Wednesdays and Thursdays, can still attract decent viewership, as people often turn to social media as a break from work. Engagement might dip slightly on Fridays as people wrap up work and shift focus toward the weekend. As for weekends, user engagement can vary quite a lot. Some viewers spend huge amounts of time-consuming content on Saturdays and Sundays, while others barely touch their devices.
Hence, it’s vital to consider the type of content you publish and who you’re targeting. For instance, educational or industry-related content may perform better on weekdays, while entertainment-focused Shorts could engage more on weekends. Even so, the best times overall to post your YouTube Shorts are peak hours on Mondays and Tuesdays – 12 PM – 2 PM and 7 PM – 9 PM – which have shown consistently higher engagement rates.
Best Times to Post YouTube Shorts by Country
Something else that needs to be taken into account is where your target audience is located. Peak engagement hours vary significantly from one market to the next, calling for strategic scheduling – especially if you target users in multiple regions.
In terms of the countries with the most YouTube users worldwide, these are the best times to post new YouTube Shorts:
India: The best times to post YouTube Shorts in India are from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM and 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM, aligning with peak activity periods.
United States (USA): Consider posting YouTube Shorts from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM for maximum engagement in the USA.
Brazil: In Brazil, the ideal time to post YouTube Shorts is from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM, targeting viewers during their lunch breaks.
Indonesia: To maximize engagement in Indonesia, schedule your YouTube Shorts for 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
Mexico: The best times to post YouTube Shorts in Mexico are from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM and 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM.
Japan: In Japan, aim for 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM to align with evening leisure hours when users are more likely to be engaged with online content.
Pakistan: To target the Pakistani audience effectively, consider posting YouTube Shorts from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
Italy: The best times to post YouTube Shorts in Italy are during the late afternoon and early evening, targeting users during their free time.
Germany: The best times to post YouTube Shorts in Germany are from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
Vietnam: For optimum engagement in Vietnam, aim for the time slots of 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM.
Philippines: To target the Filipino audience effectively, schedule your YouTube Shorts for 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
South Korea: In South Korea, the ideal time to post YouTube Shorts is from 9:00 PM to 12:00 AM, aligning with late-night leisure hours.
Spain: Aim for the late afternoon and early evening hours to post YouTube Shorts in Spain during users’ relaxation periods and leisure time.
United Kingdom (UK): For maximum engagement in the UK, consider posting YouTube Shorts from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
| Country | Best Times to Post YouTube Shorts |
|---|---|
| India | 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM and 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM |
| United States (USA) | 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM |
| Brazil | 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM |
| Indonesia | 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM |
| Mexico | 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM and 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM |
| Japan | 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM |
| Pakistan | 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM |
| Italy | Late Afternoon and Early Evening |
| Germany | 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM |
| Vietnam | 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM |
| Philippines | 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM |
| South Korea | 9:00 PM to 12:00 AM |
| Spain | Late Afternoon and Early Evening Hours |
| United Kingdom (UK) | 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM |
Remember, these timings are based on general trends and may vary depending on your specific target audience and content.
Best Time To Post YouTube Shorts By Industry
Niche-specific content has been shown to perform better at some times than others. It’s, therefore, important to consider the exact type of content you’ll be posting to time it for maximum engagement.
For example:
Food: If your YouTube Shorts showcase food and recipes, share them around 7 AM, between 11 AM and 12 PM, and from 5 PM to 6 PM.
Technology: For tech-themed YouTube Shorts, the best posting days are Mondays and Tuesdays, especially between 12 PM and 3 PM or from 7 PM to 10 PM, depending on who watches your videos.
Entertainment: Entertainment Shorts are a hit any time, but particularly around 7 AM, between 12 PM and 1 PM, and from 9 PM to 10 PM.
Education: When sharing educational Shorts, think about when your audience has quiet time to focus, like at 8 AM, 11 AM, and between 3 PM and 4 PM.
Travel: For those sharing travel content, post your Shorts from 10 AM to 1 PM and between 9 PM and 11 PM.
| Industry | Best Time To Post YouTube Shorts |
|---|---|
| Food | 7 AM, between 11 AM and 12 PM, and 5 PM to 6 PM |
| Technology | 12 PM and 3 PM or 7 PM to 10 PM |
| Entertainment | 7 AM, between 12 PM and 1 PM, and 9 PM to 10 PM |
| Education | 8 AM, 11 AM, and between 3 PM and 4 PM |
| Travel | 10 AM to 1 PM and between 9 PM and 11 PM |
The Worst Time to Post Your Shorts on YouTube
Posting YouTube Shorts at the wrong times can severely impact your content’s visibility and engagement. Weekends typically see a dip in activity, as viewers often devote their time to family, outings, or offline hobbies, leading to fewer people watching videos.
Late-night hours, especially from 12 AM to 5 AM, are also less ideal for posting, as most viewers are asleep during these times, meaning your Shorts might get lost in the noise by the time your audience is active again. Additionally, during major events like sports finals or cultural festivals, people’s attention is directed elsewhere, making it challenging for your content to stand out.
How to Find Your Own Best Time to Post on YouTube?
Whether your main goal is to build brand awareness, add more subscribers to your channel, or simply make money, knowing exactly when to time your Shorts is crucial. Every YouTube audience is different, with its own unique preferences and peak usage hours. Here’s what you need to do to find the best time to post your Shorts, in accordance with the type of content you publish and who it’s aimed at:
1. Use Analytics and Insights
YouTube analytics offers something of a blueprint for your best posting times.
To check when your viewers are online, go to YouTube Studio, click on Analytics, then Audience, and you’ll find a graph showing peak viewer times.
The day with the darkest purple bars indicates maximum online viewers, while a lighter shade means fewer users are online that day. Additionally, this approach helps you get more views on YouTube Shorts and allows you to fine-tune for increased engagement.
2. Consider Your Main Audience Demographic
Different age groups and interests peak at different times. If your main audience is students, afternoons and early evenings might be best. By contrast, working adults may prefer mornings or late evenings. Understanding who watches your content is essential to determine when they’re active.
3. Take Time Zones Into Account
If your audience spans the globe, time zones play a crucial role. Where an audience extends across multiple time zones, aiming for a time that captures most of your viewers at their peak online hours is essential. If necessary, you’ll need to calculate the overlap in active hours across these time zones in order to find an optimal posting window.
4. Track Trends & Events
Stay aware of major events or trends that could affect viewer availability. If there’s a big football game or a public holiday, consider how this might impact your usual posting schedule. Timing your content before or after such events can ensure it doesn’t get overlooked unless it’s the kind of event that could spark a major social media activity spike.
5. Monitor Your Competitors
Keeping an eye on your competitors’ posts can give you hints about optimal posting times. While you shouldn’t copy their schedule exactly, noticing patterns in their posting times and engagement rates can offer valuable insights for refining your strategy.
6. Conduct Experiments
Play around with your content by changing posting times and measuring performance. Try posting at different hours and days, then analyze which times bring the best engagement and viewer retention. Keep a record of these experiments to determine your own best posting schedule.
7. Appeal To The YouTube Algorithm
Lastly, posting when your audience is most active boosts early engagement, which signals to the YouTube algorithm that your content is worth promoting. Aim for those peak times to capitalize on initial views, likes, and comments, propelling your videos into recommended feeds and increasing your visibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does the Posting Time Affect the Algorithm’s Recommendation for YouTube Shorts?
Yes – posting content that quickly generates engagement tells the YouTube algorithm that your content is worth promoting and recommending. This can make a huge difference to the visibility and discoverability of your Shorts.
2. Should I Post at the Same Time Every Day for YouTube Shorts?
It depends on the type of content you publish and your target audience. If your viewers’ peak activity hours are the same every day, then yes. However, if your target audience is online and active at different times, varying your schedule could help drive engagement.
3. Can I Schedule Posts for YouTube Shorts in Advance?
Yes – scheduling your posts in advance is a great way to ensure you never miss a peak audience activity period. All you need to do is go into the “Visibility” tab and then hit “Schedule” to set the date, time, and time zone for your video to be published.
4. How Long Should I Experiment With Different Posting Times Before Assessing Results?
It will take at least a few weeks to collect enough data to work with. You may find that your audience’s peak usage hours shift somewhat from one week to the next, so it’s best to experiment for a while to understand the bigger picture.
5. How Do I Get More Views on YouTube Shorts?
Keep your content unique, relevant, and of genuine value to your target audience. Master the art of creating compelling titles and thumbnails while ensuring your text content is optimized for SEO. Also, take every opportunity to promote and share your Shorts via as many social channels as possible.
6. Is There a Specific Duration Limit for a YouTube Short?
Yes – the maximum duration for YouTube Shorts is 60 seconds. However, this does not mean that all of your videos need to be a full 60 seconds long, as many demographics prefer shorter, punchier videos.
7. Can YouTube Shorts Be Monetized Like Regular YouTube Videos?
Yes – you can monetize the Shorts you publish way as your longer-form content. However, YouTube Shorts watch time does not count toward the 4,000 hours of watch time required to be eligible for the YouTube Partner Program (YPP).
8. Is There a Limit to the Number of YouTube Shorts I Can Upload?
No – you can publish as many YouTube Shorts as you like, but it’s best not to get carried away. Research suggests that posting between one and three Shorts daily is best for optimal engagement, but this can vary by niche and audience demographic.
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