If you want to succeed on social media, you need to run your accounts/channels tactically. You want to ensure that as many of your target audience as possible manage to see your posts/images/videos. We have previously looked at the best times to post on TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram. In this post, we will examine the best time to publish your YouTube videos.
Unlike some of the other social platforms, there is no precise best posting time on YouTube. This possibly reflects the lack of a feed on YouTube, compared to most other social networks. However, we have scoured the online literature and collated the times that a range of people believe make the most sense if you want high YouTube video engagement.
Allowing for the above factors, we found the best times to post on YouTube to be:
Best Times to Publish on Youtube:
- Monday: 2 PM to 5 PM
- Tuesday: 11 AM & 2 PM to 4 PM
- Wednesday: 9 AM & 2 PM to 4 PM
- Thursday: 2 PM to 4 PM & 6 PM
- Friday: 2 PM to 4 PM
- Saturday: 9 AM to 11 AM & 4 PM
- Sunday: 9 AM to 11 AM & 3 PM
Calculate your best publish to post YouTube videos based on your location and audience:
- How to Find the Best Times to Publish YouTube Videos?
- What Are the Best Times to Publish YouTube Videos in 2024? [Updated]
- Optimal YouTube Posting Times: Our Expert Analysis
- What Is the Best Time to Post on YouTube Shorts?
- Considerations for Timing YouTube Posts
- How to Use YouTube Analytics to Find the Best Time to Publish Videos?
- Best Practices for Publishing Videos on YouTube
- Wrapping Up
- Frequently Asked Questions
How to Find the Best Times to Publish YouTube Videos?
The best time to publish on YouTube differs across countries and cities since the audiences in different regions are active at different times. Factors like age, interests, and viewing habits also affect the best time to post on YouTube.
Our tool helps you calculate the best time to post on YouTube based on your audience's country and city. Suppose you operate your YouTube channel from the US, and most of your audience is from Los Angeles. According to our tool, the best times for you to post are 9 PM to 11 PM on Monday to Wednesday and 7 PM to 10 PM on Thursdays and Fridays.
Best times to post on YouTube example
Similarly, you can find the best times for other countries and regions, too. While these times may not be fully reflective of your audience's behavior, they do provide a good starting point to experiment and find the most effective time for your channel.
What Are the Best Times to Publish YouTube Videos in 2024? [Updated]
Best Time to Post (Days) Social Pilot Buffer Monday 2 PM to 4 PM 5 PM Tuesday 2 PM to 4 PM 2 PM Wednesday 2 PM to 4 PM 9 AM Thursday 2 PM to 4 PM 6 PM Friday 2 PM to 4 PM 3 PM Saturday 9 AM to 11 AM 4 PM Sunday 9 AM to 11 AM 11 AM
We gathered data from some studies conducted by reputed sites to find out the best times to publish YouTube videos in 2024. Here's what we found.
Social Pilot Views
According to Social Pilot, the best time to publish videos on YouTube is between 2 PM and 4 PM (EST) on weekdays. On weekends, the best time to post is between 9 AM and 11 AM.
Best times to post on YouTube
Based on the study of 50,000 accounts, Social Pilot found the following to be the best times to post on YouTube throughout the week.
- Monday: 2 PM to 4 PM
- Tuesday: 2 PM to 4 PM
- Wednesday: 2 PM to 4 PM
- Thursday: 2 PM to 4 PM
- Friday: 2 PM to 4 PM
- Saturday: 9 AM to 11 AM
- Sunday: 9 AM to 11 AM
These findings show that the most optimal times to post on YouTube fall within regular business hours. Since people are more likely to be online and browsing social media during this time, it makes sense to publish your videos during these peak hours.
However, the trend is different on the weekend. The best times to post on Saturday and Sunday are earlier in the day, reflecting people's leisure time. Again, it makes sense because most people tend to have plans and are less likely to be online during the evenings or on weekends.
Buffer Analysis
Buffer also conducted an analysis to find the best times to post on YouTube. According to them, 3 PM to 4 PM on a Friday is the best time of the whole week to publish on the platform.
Best times to post on YouTube
As for the best time every day of the week, here are the results:
- Monday: 5 PM
- Tuesday: 2 PM
- Wednesday: 9 AM
- Thursday: 6 PM
- Friday: 3 PM
- Saturday: 4 PM
- Sunday: 11 AM
Friday is also the best day to post on the platform, followed by Thursday and Wednesday. The weekend is the worst time to publish videos on YouTube.
People usually spend time with their friends and family during weekends. They also do their weekly chores and are less likely to be online. That's why videos posted during the weekend get fewer views.
Optimal YouTube Posting Times: Our Expert Analysis
Based on the studies we have discussed so far, we have concluded that the best time to publish videos on YouTube is the weekdays any time between 2 PM and 6 PM. Weekends aren't the most ideal time to post on YouTube.
However, if you do choose to publish your videos during this time, aim for earlier in the morning, from 9 AM to 11 AM.
Best Time to Post on YouTube on Monday
According to our analysis, the best time to post on YouTube on Monday is between 2 PM and 5 PM. For peak viewership, post at 5 PM.
If you want to post at a later time, 11 PM is also a good time. People are unwinding after a long day at work and may be more likely to browse YouTube during this time.
Best Time to Post on YouTube on Tuesday
On Tuesdays, the best time to publish on YouTube is between 2 PM and 4 PM, with 2 PM being the peak time for viewership. You can also post at 11 AM for decent engagement.
Tuesdays are almost as good as Fridays (the best day) for YouTube publishing.
Best Time to Post on YouTube on Wednesday
We have found that 2 PM to 4 PM to be the best time to post on YouTube on Wednesday. Interestingly, 9 AM is also a good time. You can expect good viewership during these times.
Best Time to Post on YouTube on Thursday
Thursday is similar to Tuesday and Wednesday when it comes to the best posting time. Anywhere between 2 PM and 4 PM is a good time, with 6 PM being another ideal time for publishing.
Best Time to Post on YouTube on Friday
Fridays are the most ideal day to publish videos on YouTube, with 2 PM to 4 PM being the best time. Amidst these times, 3 PM posts get the peak views.
Best Time to Post on YouTube on Saturday
Saturday isn't exactly the day to post if you want to get maximum engagement. But if you plan to post over the weekend, 9 AM to 11 AM and 4 PM are decent times. It's likely because people watch YouTube before and after doing weekend activities.
Best Time to Post on YouTube on Sunday
Sunday is slower than all other days when it comes to views on YouTube. Upload times between 9 AM to 11 AM and 3 PM can be considered decent, but don't expect peak engagement on this day.
What Is the Best Time to Post on YouTube Shorts?
YouTube Shorts, YouTube's alternative to TikTok and Meta's Reels, have been gaining popularity. Now, you can monetize your YouTube channel by getting 10 million views on your Shorts videos. To get there, you need to ensure you're posting at the right time.
The Buffer analysis found that the best time to post YouTube Shorts is between 3 PM and 4 PM on a Friday. On the other hand, the Social Pilot study reveals that 12 PM to 3 PM and 7 PM to 10 PM on all days of the week, particularly Monday and Tuesday, are the best times to post Shorts.
Let's look at the optimal times for posting YouTube Shorts throughout the week.
Best Time to Post on YouTube Shorts on Monday
On Mondays, you should post at the following times for the highest views on your YouTube Shorts videos:
- 7 AM
- 12 PM
- 8 PM
- 9 PM
As you can see, these times are near lunch breaks or after dinner, when people are more likely to be on their phones. Since the majority of YouTube users are working individuals, you should account for office hours when deciding when to post on YouTube Shorts.
YouTube users by gender and age
Best Time to Post on YouTube Shorts on Tuesday
The most ideal times to post on YouTube Shorts on Tuesday are between 11 AM and 12 PM, 5 PM to 7 PM, and 9 PM to 10 PM. In the morning, 7 AM is also a good time.
As you see, again, these are times when people are likely to be free. For example, 5 PM to 7 PM is when most people commute back home from work, and 9 PM to 10 PM is typically when people relax before winding down for the day. Both these times give people some free time to scroll through social media.
Best Time to Post on YouTube Shorts on Wednesday
The best time to post Shorts on Wednesday is between 3 PM and 6 PM. You can also post at noon or close to lunch break, as some people like to watch short videos while they eat.
Best Time to Post on YouTube Shorts on Thursday
On Thursdays, you can post on YouTube Shorts between 6 PM and 11 PM to get the highest views. The common trend between all these days is that even though Shorts are short-form videos, people still watch them during their breaks or after work hours instead of watching a few here and there during small pockets of free time throughout the day.
Best Time to Post on YouTube Shorts on Friday
Just like longer videos, Shorts also do best on Fridays. Some of the best times to post them are:
- 7 AM to 9 AM
- 11 AM to 1 PM
- 4 PM to 6 PM
- 9 PM to 11 PM
Since the Buffer study also found 4 PM to be a prime time for posting YouTube Shorts, it stands out as possibly the best hour of the day to post on this platform.
Best Time to Post on YouTube Shorts on Saturday
People may not have the time to watch too many longer videos over the weekend, but they definitely have some free time to watch Shorts here and there. The best times to post Shorts on Saturday are 9 AM to 10 AM, 3 PM to 6 PM, and 10 PM to 12 AM.
Since people can stay up late on Saturday (no work the next day!), posting late at night can also be advantageous.
Best Time to Post on YouTube Shorts on Sunday
Sundays are another decent day to post YouTube Shorts, with the best times being 10 AM to 11 AM, 3 PM to 5 PM, and 9 PM. On Sundays, 12 AM-Shorts won't do so well since people have to be up for work the next day, so they tend to go to bed earlier.
Considerations for Timing YouTube Posts
You have some cool YouTube video ideas in your head, and you want to ensure they get seen by as many people as possible. The key is to publish your videos at the highest audience activity times. While the studies mentioned above provide a general idea of the best times to post on YouTube, here are some additional factors that impact what this time may be for your specific channel.
Time Zones
The times we've mentioned above are in Eastern Standard Time (EST). If you're in a different time zone, adjust these times accordingly.
For example, if you're in PST (Pacific Standard Time), add three hours to the EST times mentioned above. This means that 2 PM EST would be 11 AM PST. Do the same with other time zones, too.
Choose the time zone based on where your audience is most concentrated. For example, if you're based in New York, but your main audience is in California, post at times that are more convenient for them.
User Behavior
Your audience's user behavior also determines the best times for you to post content on YouTube. If your target audience is busy with work or school during the day, you should post late in the evenings.
Suppose your target audience is college students. They won't be active in the morning because they have classes. These students are most likely to view your videos between 7 PM and midnight.
If you already have some existing content, it can tell you quite a bit about your audience's behavior. At what time do you get the most comments or likes? That's when people are most active.
Engagement Trends
You can get an idea of your audience's engagement trends by looking at your YouTube Studio analytics. The ''Audience'' tab shows you everything from the age of your audience to the kind of content they watch, such as videos, live streams, or Shorts. Here, you can also see which other channels your audience has watched in the past 28 days.
Use this data to gauge engagement trends for your channel. For example, you can check the number of returning visitors and watch time (hours) to see which days of the week or times of day your channel gets the most views.
Audience Geographical Location
Not all of your audience will be from the same country or region. As the region changes, so does the time when your audience is active. Due to this, your audience's geographical location also impacts the best times to post content on YouTube.
You can use YouTube scheduling tools and platforms to schedule your videos to be published at different times of the day, targeting specific geographic regions.
Content Type
It's quite interesting how different types of content have different engagement trends. For example, if you post videos teaching high school students scientific concepts, you can expect to get more views during the evening or over the weekend when your audience is studying.
Similarly, troubleshooting instructions or tips about working on a new software may get more engagement during the day when people are at work. Try times that make the most sense based on your audience's routine. Then, compare your engagement results to see if they actually work for you.
How to Use YouTube Analytics to Find the Best Time to Publish Videos?
YouTube Analytics provides you with a detailed understanding of your channel's performance and your audience. Here are two ways to use it to find the best time to post for your particular audience.
Method 1: Use the ‘‘When Your Viewers Are on YouTube’’ Graph
YouTube has a ''When Your Viewers Are on YouTube'' section in its Analytics panel. It shows when your viewers are watching videos on the platform, using a heat map showing the days and hours throughout the week.
Source: support.google.com
You can see the data for the past 28 days to get an idea of when your audience is most active. The darker the color, the higher the number of views watching videos at the time.
You'll only see this graph if you have enough viewer data. If you haven't gotten enough views, you can use the method below.
Method 2: Use the ‘’Real Time’’ Graph
The ‘’Real Time’’ graph shows you the number of viewers your channel has had every hour for the past 48 hours. It's a great way to see your viewership immediately after you post a video.
Just checking this graph once won't help. You'll have to check it every time you post a new video to see how the viewers are interacting with that specific video. Also, watch for spikes in traffic during certain hours of the day. Create a spreadsheet for the month to get an overall view of the best time to post videos for your audience.
If your content goes on a new tangent or your audience shifts, you can always create a new spreadsheet or re-evaluate the old one.
Best Practices for Publishing Videos on YouTube
Some tips, such as using YouTube hashtags and posting at the optimal times, are general best practices to follow on YouTube. Others are a little more strategic.
Work With YouTube's Algorithm
YouTube's algorithm suggests videos to users based on their behavior. As the platform itself explains,
"We track what viewers watch, how long they watch, what they skip over, and more. This helps us figure out what kind of videos they like best and what we can recommend to them next."
Keeping this in mind, you should post more of those videos which have done well in the past. Their past performance indicates that users like to watch them, which ultimately makes them the algorithm's favorite.
Start a Series or Playlist
Of the YouTube features that can help you grow on the platform, playlists or series are one of the most useful. They work in a similar way to YouTube's algorithm in that they keep viewers consuming content on your own channel rather than going elsewhere.
For example, if you post hair styling tutorials, you can create a playlist called "5 Minute Hair Tips" or "Quick and Easy Hairstyles for Busy Mornings." Drew Gooden has created multiple playlists to categorize his different commentary videos, such as for video games, Christmas movies, media analysis, and life hacks.
Schedule Posts in Advance
Don't mess up your sleep schedule in an attempt to get the posting time just perfect. Instead, use a scheduling tool. There are some free social media scheduling tools that you can get started with and then transition to paid ones as your channel grows.
Don't Overlook Shorts
YouTube Shorts get over 70 billion views per day. That's right, you read that correctly.
Posting on Shorts can help you appear in the Shorts feed, from where you can draw viewers to your long-form content. YouTube's current algorithm is Shorts-friendly, and as we've mentioned, keeping up with the algorithm is the way to go for success on the platform.
Wrapping Up
Now that you know the best times to post on YouTube and YouTube Shorts, you can be more strategic about your posting routine. Don't just go with the general studies, though. Learn more about your audience, too. When are they most active? When do they interact most with your videos?
YouTube analytics come in handy in this regard. You can use insights from your account to find when your audience views content and what format they're most interested in. Based on these findings, you can then determine the best time to post on YouTube for your channel.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do YouTube posting times affect views?
The most effective YouTube posting times are determined based on audience activity and behavior. You can expect to get more views and engagement if you post your content when your audience is most active. So, following optimal times equals chances of higher engagement.
What is the best time to post YouTube Shorts?
According to Buffer, the best time to post on YouTube Shorts is 3 PM to 4 PM on Fridays. Social Pilot found that 12 PM to 3 PM and 7 PM to 10 PM throughout the week are the best times to post Shorts.
How often should I post on YouTube?
Ideally, you should try to post at least once a week. However, if you can only churn out one post a month, and it's a high-quality one, that would suffice. The key is to create a schedule for posting regularly so that your audience knows you're consistent.
What is the best day to publish videos on YouTube?
Friday is the best day to post on YouTube, with Thursday and Wednesday in tow. In comparison, Sunday is the worst day to publish videos on the platform since people are busy getting ready for the next work week or in personal activities.
Is it better to post every day on YouTube?
It's not easily possible to post new content every day, and even if you do, the quality will suffer. Posting too often can also result in oversaturating your audience, leading to disengagement. You may post YouTube Shorts everyday or every other day. As for long-form videos, 2-3 times a week is recommended.
What is the best time to stream on YouTube?
The best time to stream on YouTube is between 6 PM and 9 PM on weekdays. Over the weekend, you're likely to get more viewers in the early afternoon hours, from 12 PM to 3 PM.
Is posting 3 times a week on YouTube good?
Posting thrice a week on YouTube is a good frequency. It allows you to maintain consistency and keep your audience engaged without sacrificing the quality of your content.
What are some tips for scheduling YouTube videos?
The majority of users watch YouTube at a similar time to when they watch television. That being said, your ideal posting time depends on your target audience. The time that works best for one channel will not necessarily work as well for another channel.
Also, be sure to upload your video a little ahead of these peak viewing times. As it takes a little while for YouTube to index your video and populate its search results, you need to post a few hours earlier.
What is the best time to upload YouTube videos targeting Americans?
According to Social Post, the best time to upload YouTube videos targeting Americans in the EST time zone is between 2 PM and 4 PM from Monday to Friday. On the weekends, you should post between 9 AM and 11 AM for peak viewership.
What is the best time to upload videos to YouTube over the weekend?
During the weekends, users are far more likely to be active on YouTube during the afternoon (at the times that they would normally be working on weekdays). So, Social Pilot recommends posting in the morning between 9 AM and 11 AM. Buffer also recommends 11 AM for Sundays, but they found 4 PM to be the best time to post on YouTube on Saturdays.
What is the best time to upload YouTube videos that target mostly male audiences?
According to Frederator Networks, the best times to post on YouTube (especially if you target mostly male audiences) are:
- On Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 2 till 4 p.m.
- On Thursdays and Fridays from noon till 3 p.m.
- On Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. till 11 a.m.
Does it really matter at which time you upload a video to YouTube?
Yes! According to HowSociable, social media is all about timing. If you post a video at a poor time, it can offer little reward. Though, if you share your video on YouTube at the right time, you can generate massive rewards. As a matter of fact, according to Misfit Hustler, publishing a video on YouTube at the best time can get you up to 2 to 5 times more views. So, it is important that you post your videos intelligently, instead of just randomly.
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