You should consider uploading long-form videos at 10:00 AM on Sundays as the best time to post on YouTube. You should upload Shorts from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Friday. It is better to post long videos in the morning and Shorts in the evening.
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What is the Best Time to Post on YouTube for Shorts & Videos?
All creators want to know the best time to post on YouTube for better results. You should upload long-format videos in the morning. On Sunday, 10:00 AM is the perfect time for long videos, while Friday, 4:00 PM, is for Shorts.
To know the best YouTube video upload time, let the algorithm first index your video and then test it before your viewers are active.
Quick Answer
What is the best time to post on YouTube?
To have the best result, you should upload long-format videos in the morning and Shorts in the evening.
Day of Week For Shorts For Long-Videos Sunday 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM Monday 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM Tuesday 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM Wednesday 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM Thursday 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM Friday 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM Saturday 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM It is always better to post at least 2-3 hours before peak hours. Because YouTube takes time to index and push the video.
Table of Contents:
- Best Time to Upload YouTube Videos
- What is the Best Time to Post YouTube Shorts?
- Why Your YouTube Upload Time Matters
- Comparison Between Shorts and Long-Form Videos
- What is the Best Time to Upload on YouTube in India?
- How to Find Your Own Best Time to Post?
- Dos and Don’ts of YouTube Upload Timing
- Conclusion
- FAQs
Best Time to Upload YouTube Videos
From 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM is the best time to upload YouTube videos. However, 10:00 AM on Sundays is the best slot to upload. Make a note that Monday, Tuesday, and Sunday are the best days, while Wednesday and Thursday are the weakest days.
The table shows the best time to upload long videos for each day of the week in your local time.
| Day | Best Times |
| Monday | Between 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM |
| Tuesday | From 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM |
| Wednesday | Around 7:00 AM, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM |
| Thursday | Between 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM, and around 7:00 AM |
| Friday | Approximately 11:00 AM, from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM |
| Saturday | From 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, and around 3:00 PM |
| Sunday | From 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM, and around 12:00 PM (best slot of the week) |
Tip: The highest engagement times of the whole week are on Sundays at 10:00 AM and Fridays at 12:00 PM. Thursday has the lowest engagement throughout the week.
What is the Best Time to Post YouTube Shorts?
You must know that the best time to upload YouTube Shorts is from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Remember, the best slots are 4:00 PM, 6:00 PM, and 7:00 PM on Fridays. YouTube short videos behave differently in comparison to long videos. People watch to remove exhaust and feel relaxed before they sleep.
Here are the best Shorts upload times by day (your local time):
| Day | Best Times |
| Sunday | Between 5:00 PM and 8:00 PM |
| Monday | Between 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM, and near 8:00 PM |
| Tuesday | From 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM |
| Wednesday | Between 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM |
| Thursday | From 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM |
| Friday | From 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM (best for Shorts) |
| Saturday | Around 11:00 AM and from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM |
If you create Shorts and long videos, upload them in mid-afternoon so that the algorithm has enough time to index and push your content before the peak hours.
Why Your YouTube Upload Time Matters
YouTube video upload time is very important because your video is tested by the algorithm in the first few hours. YouTube is not like TikTok; thus, early engagement and tips to get free YouTube subscribers matter. You should upload your video before your subscribers are active, as it gives your video a strong beginning. A strong early engagement sends signals to algorithms to show it to other viewers.
Here is why timing is worth planning:
1) Early testing: YouTube tracks the watch time and views just after you post a video. It helps in deciding who is the next viewer to watch it.
2) Indexing time: It usually takes YouTube around 2-3 hours to index your videos. If you upload them before the peak hours, your video is ready for your viewers and others.
3) Bigger reach: If you upload at the right time, it creates a huge difference between a thousand and a great number of views on the same video.
4) Helps small channels grow: Creators who don’t have a good deal of subscribers are dependent on early algorithm pushes.
Pro Tip: Suppose your viewers are highly active around 8:00 PM, and you post at the same time, it won’t bring you any results. Because YouTube’s algorithm takes some time to index your video. Therefore, you should post it around 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM so that YouTube can show it to your viewers post-indexing.
Comparison Between Shorts and Long-Form Videos
You will be surprised to know that YouTube shorts and long-format videos prefer totally different schedules. The perfect time for long videos is in the morning. While for Shorts, it is evening. If you create both types of videos, you get enough time to upload them.
Look at this comparison table for both formats.
| Factor | Long-Form Videos | YouTube Shorts |
| Best upload time | 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM | 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM |
| Top slot | Sunday 10:00 AM | Friday 4:00 PM |
| Best days | Monday, Tuesday, Sunday | Thursday, Friday, Saturday |
| Weakest days | Wednesday, Thursday | Monday, Tuesday |
| Reason | Watched for knowledge in the morning. | Scrolled to feel relaxed at night |
What is the Best Time to Upload on YouTube in India?
If you are searching hard to find the best time to upload YouTube videos in India, you should consider the same pattern but in IST (Indian Standard Time). To have the best possible results, upload long videos in the morning and YouTube Shorts in the evening. These uploading patterns are universal; anyone can use them.
Specific guide for Indian creators;
1) Best time to upload Shorts on YouTube in India: You should schedule your post between 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM IST. Remember, Friday evenings always bring the best results.
2) Long-form in India: Post around 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM. You should keep in mind that Sunday, 10:00 AM IST, is the best time.
3) Weekday backup: You also have a strong alternative to upload long-format videos around 12:00 PM on Fridays.
Finally, track data from YouTube Studio to know the best time for your viewers.
Bonus Tip: People in India watch content aggressively in the evening after school or office, around 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. This time frame works for long-format and short videos.
How to Find Your Own Best Time to Post?
If you want to know the best time to upload YouTube video in India, you had better use YouTube Studio. Track the peak hours of your viewers using the heatmap. It shows you the data according to your local time. Here is how you track it:
- Go to YouTube Studio and sign in to your YouTube channel.
- Go to the Analytics section
- Click the Audience Tab
- Tap “When your viewers are on YouTube”
Tip: Remember, schedule your content at least 2-3 hours prior to your viewers’ peak hours.
Dos and Don’ts of YouTube Upload Timing
Dos
- Upload short videos in the evening and long videos in the morning.
- Take the help of the YouTube Studio heatmap to know your best uploading time.
- Be consistent as YouTube’s algorithm pushes a routine.
- Always post before 2-3 hours of your viewers’ peak time.
- Analyze your uploading time monthly and improve it for growth or seasons.
Don’ts
- Don’t change your uploading schedule with one week of data.
- Never upload Shorts after peak evening hours.
- Not only does the best uploading time matter, but also creating attractive thumbnails, hooks, and catchy titles.
- Don’t consider the noon time of midweek as perfect.
Conclusion
Posting long-format videos in the morning and Shorts in the evening is the best time to post on YouTube. Remember, the long-format videos perform better on Sunday around 10:00 AM and the Shorts on Friday. You should always upload around 2 to 3 hours before your viewers’ active time.
Because your video takes some time to index. Start with these timings and finalize setup using the YouTube Studio heatmap.
Next Step: Go to YouTube Studio and track the audience heatmap. Post your next video 2-3 hours before the peak time.
FAQs
What is the best time to post on YouTube?
How can I know the best time to post for my YouTube channel?
To know the best time to post on YouTube, you should follow the steps below:
| Open YouTube Studio → Go to the Analytics section → Click Audience Tab → Tap “When your viewers are on YouTube.” |
With the help of a heatmap, you come to know the hours when your subscribers are active. You should post your content at least a few hours before the active hours.
When should we upload YouTube Shorts?
The best time to upload YouTube Shorts is from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. You should upload from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM and by 7:00 PM on Friday.
What is the best time to upload a video on YouTube in India?
You should upload long-form videos between 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM and Shorts between 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM in India.
What is the reason for posting before my viewers’ active time?
YouTube generally takes some time to index the video. Therefore, it is always better to post around 2-3 hours of peak time. You can test it by sharing it in small groups and begin recommending it as traffic increases.
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