Creating successful videos on YouTube involves several key factors, including compelling titles, eye-catching thumbnails, strong YouTube SEO, and—most importantly—the quality of the content itself. With so much to consider, it can be challenging to determine what will truly resonate with your audience.
However, one aspect that can significantly impact your video’s success is timing. Through the analysis of over a million YouTube videos, we’ve gathered valuable insights into one critical factor: the best time to post on YouTube.
While this isn’t a guaranteed formula for viral success—since elements like content quality and SEO play substantial roles—posting your videos at the right time can give them a better chance to shine. It’s a simple yet effective step to help maximize your content’s visibility and engagement.
In this blog, we’ll explore the best times to upload YouTube videos, backed by data and audience behavior trends. Additionally, we’ll guide you on how to post a video on YouTube and identify the optimal posting schedule tailored to your audience, whether you’re a business, a casual content creator, or a full-time YouTuber.
The Best Time to Post on YouTube
Based on our analysis, the best time to post on YouTube videos is Friday between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. Videos uploaded during this window tend to receive the highest views. Other peak times include Tuesday at 2 p.m. and Thursday at 6 p.m.
Audience behavior on YouTube follows a fairly predictable pattern. According to Statista, a significant portion of YouTube users are working-age adults, with 21% of male users and 17% of female users falling between 25 and 44 years old. This demographic trend influences when users are most active on the platform.
During weekdays, viewership is generally lower in the early morning hours, increasing steadily mid-morning, during lunch breaks, and peaking in the late afternoon and evening. Interestingly, there are also some late-night hot spots, such as 11 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays. Viewership typically rises as the week progresses, reaching its peak on Fridays before declining over the weekend.
Conversely, the worst times to post on YouTube are between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. when most viewers are asleep. Other low-traffic periods include early Monday mornings (4 a.m. to 5 a.m.), Saturday mornings at 8 a.m., and Sunday evenings at 9 p.m.
While YouTube stands out from other platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and LinkedIn with a distinct peak posting time, there are still other favorable times throughout the week that shouldn’t be overlooked. Let’s take a closer look at the best times to post a Youtube video each day:
- Monday: 5 p.m.
- Tuesday: 2 p.m.
- Wednesday: 9 a.m.
- Thursday: 6 p.m.
- Friday: 3 p.m.
- Saturday: 4 p.m.
- Sunday: 11 a.m.
These insights, backed by research, confirm that YouTube users are most active outside regular working hours, making these time slots optimal for maximizing your content’s visibility and engagement.
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Best Time to Post on YouTube on Monday
For maximum engagement on Monday, aim to post your video by 5 p.m. The next best times are 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. when views also tend to peak.
⏰ Peak Time for Views on Monday: 5 p.m.
Recommended Content Types: Start the week with something engaging like tutorials, vlogs, or trending topics. People are gearing up for the week and looking for content to wind down after work.
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Best Time to Post on YouTube on Tuesday
On Tuesday, aim for 2 p.m. as the peak time to post, followed by 8 p.m. This time frame offers excellent opportunities for audience engagement, similar to Friday’s peak hours.
⏰ Peak Time for Views on Tuesday: 2 p.m.
Recommended Content Types: Educational videos, explainer videos, and Q&A sessions work well, as audiences tend to be more receptive to content that adds value mid-week.
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Best Time to Post on YouTube on Wednesday
The best time to post on Wednesday is 9 a.m., with 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. also showing significant engagement.
⏰ Peak Time for Views on Wednesday: 9 a.m.
Recommended Content Types: Mid-week, audiences are looking for inspiration. Share motivational content, reviews, or entertainment pieces that are easy to digest.
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Best Time to Post on YouTube on Thursday
Thursday’s peak posting time is 6 p.m., followed by 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. for optimal reach.
⏰ Peak Time for Views on Thursday: 6 p.m.
Recommended Content Types: People are gearing up for the weekend, so content related to “weekend prep,” reviews, or trend-based content tends to perform well.
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Best Time to Post on YouTube on Friday
Friday stands out with 3 p.m. being the top time for posting, followed by 9 p.m., both of which draw the most views for the week.
⏰ Peak Time for Views on Friday: 3 p.m.
Recommended Content Types: Release content related to weekend activities, such as “weekend plans,” “best of the week” lists, or casual, fun videos that align with viewers’ leisure time.
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Best Time to Post on YouTube on Saturday
Though Saturdays tend to be quieter on YouTube, the optimal time to post is between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
⏰ Peak Time for Views on Saturday: 4 p.m
.Recommended Content Types: Focus on light-hearted or highly engaging videos like social media marketing challenges, DIYs, or funny clips, as these are more likely to be shared and enjoyed on a more relaxed day.
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Best Time to Post on YouTube on Sunday
Sunday is the slowest day, but uploading at 11 a.m. can yield the highest views, followed by 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.
⏰ Peak Time for Views on Sunday: 11 a.m.
Recommended Content Types: Offer relaxing or reflective content such as week-in-review videos, relaxation techniques, or lifestyle tips that help viewers wind down and prepare for the upcoming week.
The Optimal Times to Post YouTube Shorts
Timing plays a crucial role in maximizing the reach and engagement of your YouTube Shorts. Based on insights from a comprehensive dataset, the best time to post YouTube Shorts is on Friday between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.. Other highly effective time slots include:
- Thursday at 6 p.m.
- Tuesday at 2 p.m.
Why Timing Matters
This data reflects the viewing patterns of YouTube audiences, ensuring that your content gets the attention it deserves when activity on the platform is at its peak. Notably, this dataset analyzed the median views of all YouTube videos—both Shorts and long-form—making these findings relevant regardless of the format you’re using.
By strategically posting your YouTube Shorts during these high-engagement windows, you can boost visibility, increase views, and attract more subscribers to your channel.
Finding the Best Time to Post YouTube Videos and Shorts
Every audience is unique, and while there are general guidelines for the best time to upload to YouTube, these may not always align with your audience’s preferences. To maximize views on YouTube, you need to tailor your posting schedule based on your audience’s behavior.
Fortunately, YouTube Analytics provides powerful tools to help you determine the best time to post a YouTube video.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to finding your ideal time slots.
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Access YouTube Studio
To get started, head over to YouTube Studio. The easiest way to access it is by going directly to studio.youtube.com.
If you’re new to YouTube Studio, it’s worth taking the time to familiarize yourself with its features. Think of it as the control center for your channel. Here, you can:
- Upload videos and Shorts.
- Monitor your subscribers and comments.
- Manage monetization.
- Track video performance.
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Explore Your Analytics
Once inside YouTube Studio, navigate to the Analytics tab in the left-hand menu. You’ll land on the Overview page, where you can access detailed insights into your channel’s performance, including:
- Total viewership and watch time.
- Subscriber growth.
- Engagement metrics.
Make it a habit to check your analytics regularly—it’s one of the best tools for optimizing your content strategy.
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Navigate to the Audience Tab
Now, let’s dig deeper into your audience data. Click on the Audience tab at the top of the Analytics page. This section provides valuable insights, including:
- Audience demographics (age, location, gender).
- The type of content your viewers engage with (videos, Shorts, or Lives).
- Insights into which videos are helping you grow your audience.
For identifying the best time to post on social media, scroll down to the “When your viewers are on YouTube” graph.
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Analyze the ‘When Your Viewers Are on YouTube’ Graph
The heat map in this section is your key to understanding audience activity. Here’s how to interpret it:
- Dark purple blocks: These indicate the times when your audience is most active on YouTube.
- Light purple blocks: Represent times of lower audience activity.
For example, if your audience is most active between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Mondays and 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays, those time slots are prime opportunities for posting your videos.
Keep in mind that this data is based on the past 28 days and is updated in real time, so it’s essential to monitor it periodically to account for shifts in audience behavior.
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Fine-Tune Your Posting Strategy
Using this data, you can develop a posting schedule that aligns with your audience’s habits. If you post videos on YouTube when your audience is most active, your content is more likely to appear on their homepages, resulting in higher engagement.
Additionally, if you’re experimenting with Shorts or Live videos, you can apply the same data to determine when your audience is more likely to interact with these formats.
By consistently analyzing your metrics and adapting to your audience’s preferences, you’ll be well on your way to growing your YouTube channel effectively.
Ultimate Checklist for Creating High-Performing YouTube Videos and Shorts
While posting at the right time can give your YouTube channel a boost, it’s only part of the equation. For sustained growth and success, you’ll need to focus on a variety of factors.
Use this comprehensive checklist to ensure your YouTube videos and Shorts are optimized for maximum social media impact:
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Polish Your Channel
- Invest in high-quality channel art, including a profile picture, banner image, and video watermark.
- Write a detailed channel description that highlights your niche and value.
- Create a standout channel trailer or spotlight video to introduce new viewers to your content.
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Understand the YouTube Algorithm
YouTube’s algorithm determines how content is shown to viewers based on metrics like watch time, engagement, and views. Learn how the algorithm works to increase the visibility of your videos and Shorts.
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Master YouTube SEO
- Conduct keyword research and incorporate those terms into your video titles, descriptions, and tags.
- Optimize your channel description and playlists to improve discoverability.
- Treat your video descriptions like mini-blog posts, including keywords naturally.
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Create Eye-Catching Thumbnails
- Use bright, high-contrast colors and bold text to grab attention.
- Include faces and emotions in thumbnails to connect with viewers.
- Maintain consistent branding across your thumbnails for a polished look.
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Capture Attention Immediately
- Skip long introductions and dive straight into the core content.
- Clearly deliver on the promises made in your video title and thumbnail.
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Incorporate Pattern Interrupts
Avoid monotony in your videos with dynamic edits, such as:
- Text overlays, transitions, and animations.
- B-roll footage and visual effects to maintain viewer engagement.
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Develop Video Series
Turn successful videos into ongoing series. Regular installments give your audience a reason to return and stay engaged with your channel.
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Leverage YouTube Shorts
With over 70 billion daily views, Shorts can help you reach new audiences. Focus on creating snackable, engaging content and explore creative ideas to draw in subscribers.
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Post Consistently
Establish a regular posting schedule. Platforms like YouTube reward creators who maintain consistency, so use a social media content calendar to stay organized and on track.
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Engage With Your Community
- Reply to and like viewer comments to foster relationships.
- Highlight audience comments in your videos for added engagement.
- Encourage discussions by asking questions and moderating comments to keep your community positive.
How to Post Video on YouTube: Wrapping Up
Video marketing is no easy task. The immense effort and time required to produce and export a single video can be overwhelming.
That’s why it’s essential to explore every strategy that can help your hard work get the recognition it deserves — including how to post a YouTube video at the right time.
By leveraging the methods shared above and insights from our study of over 50,000 YouTube accounts, you’ll be able to pinpoint the optimal times to post both YouTube Shorts and long-form videos.
Take inspiration from the general peak times, dive into your audience data using YouTube Analytics, and kickstart a well-planned YouTube marketing strategy.
However, remember that timing is just one piece of the puzzle. It gives you an edge, but the true game-changer is delivering high-quality, engaging content that resonates with your audience.
For even better results, use social media management tools like Viralpep to schedule your YouTube videos and Shorts seamlessly and enhance your YouTube marketing performance.
