YouTube introduced YouTube Shorts three years ago, and since then, it has become one of the most popular forms of video content. However, learning the best time to post YouTube Shorts will ensure you can leverage this content type for success.
Timing can impact your success, but figuring out the right time is always challenging. In short, the best time to post YouTube Shorts is:
- Between 6 pm and 10 pm from Monday to Friday
- Between 12 pm and 6 pm on Saturday and Sunday
The answer is not as simple as this, and you must consider many things. Keep reading for a guide on the best time to post Shorts on YouTube.
How do you Figure out the Best Time to Post YouTube Shorts?
You must consider several factors before you figure out the best time to post YouTube Shorts for your channel. After all, you need to maximize engagement and reach and target your audience effectively.
Here are the top factors you must take into account to figure out the best time to post YouTube Shorts:
1. The Time Zone of Your Audience
Your target audience will be active at a certain time, depending on their social media behaviour. As a creator, you will have to adjust your posting schedule to your follower’s timings.
The secret is to post at a time when most of your target audience is active. Such a schedule will allow you to maximize your reach and retain your audience. Learning about campaign planning will come in handy.
2. Target Audience
What type of audience are you targeting?
This is an important question to ask because the best time to post Shorts on YouTube based on your target audience will depend on their:
- Interests
- Location
- Age
- Internet behavior
- And more
For example, if you are targeting the younger demographic, then the best time to post Shorts will be during the evening on the weekend. That is when they are the most active.
On the other hand, if you are targeting working professionals, then the best time may be during their work timings. Such people check their phones when they have some downtime during their workdays.
3. Type of Content
There are different times of the day when people look for informative content or when they want to blow some steam and watch comedic videos.
Posting informative content may work well during the day. On the other hand, posting comedic videos may work best in the evening when people require entertainment.
So, think about the type of content you are posting, and then tweak your schedule accordingly. Once you do, it will enable you to reach your audience at the best times and match their search intent.
4. Days of the Week
The best time to post YouTube Shorts may also vary between days of the week. Remember that there are no strict rules for such postings.
Instead, you have to keep a check and determine what days of the week you are getting the most viewership and engagement.
Once you have this data, you will be in a much better position to determine the best time to post Shorts on YouTube.
When is the Best Time to Post YouTube Shorts: By Day
| Day of the Week | Best Time to Post YouTube Shorts |
| Monday | 2 pm to 4 pm & 6 pm to 10 pm |
| Tuesday | 5 pm to 10 pm |
| Wednesday | 3 pm to 6 pm |
| Thursday | 7 pm to 11 pm |
| Friday | 7 am to 9 am & 4 pm to 11 pm |
| Saturday | 9 am to 10 am & 6 pm to 12 am |
| Sunday | 10 am to 11 am & 3 pm to 9 pm |
We have broken down each day of the week and figured out the ideal times to post Shorts on YouTube based on research. Let’s review each one in detail to help you engage with your target audience:
Best Time to Post YouTube Shorts on Monday
The best time to post Shorts on YouTube on Monday is between 2 pm to 4 pm and 6 pm to 10 pm. You can also leverage the early morning hours of 7 am when people begin their days.
Then, it is best to utilize the lunch break hours, as people like to scroll their phones and consume content. Finally, the best and last time to post on Monday is in the evening.
Between the hours of 6 pm and 10 pm, people relax and wind up the day. So, be sure to remain mindful of the times you post on Monday.
Best Time to Post YouTube Shorts on Tuesday
People are active at various times on Tuesday on the Internet. However, the best time to post YouTube Shorts on Tuesday is the evening between 5 pm and 10 pm.
You can also leverage early mornings, as people are still getting through the work week. Most people have habits of checking their phones first thing in the morning that you can leverage.
Best Time to Post YouTube Shorts on Wednesday
Wednesdays are more or less similar to Tuesdays in terms of audience engagement and viewership. The best time to post YouTube Shorts on Wednesdays is 12 p.m. or between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Take hold of afternoon and evening spots to make the most of postings on Wednesday.
Best Time to Post YouTube Shorts on Thursday
Thursday nights are a great time to post because this is when people are excited about the weekend ahead and winding down. So, 7 pm to 11 pm serves as the best time to post YouTube Shorts on Thursday.
You can schedule your content ahead of time and post it during this timeframe. It will provide you with the highest viewership.
Best Time to Post YouTube Shorts on Friday
YouTube is filled with users on Friday because people are done or almost done with the workweek. A great time to post YouTube Shorts on Friday is early morning or 4 pm to 11 pm.
People are active throughout the day from morning till bedtime. So, you will find an audience that is highly receptive on Fridays.
Best Time to Post YouTube Shorts on Saturday
Post YouTube Shorts on Saturday at 9 am to 10 am & 6 pm to 12 am. Take advantage of night owls or early birds by posting early morning or after evening.
Saturday is the day of unwinding and relaxing, as the work week has ended and people have some leisure time. From early morning till night time, people tune into YouTube Shorts at various times throughout the day and night.
Best Time to Post YouTube Shorts on Sunday
Most people utilize Sunday to rest and rejuvenate before another hectic week ahead. A good window to post is between 10 am to 11 am & 3 pm to 9 pm.
People wake up later on Sundays and sleep early because work starts on Monday. So, keep these pointers in mind before you decide on the best time to post YouTube Shorts.
When is the Best Time to Post YouTube Shorts: By Content Type
Think about the industry you belong to and the type of content relevant to it. Creating YouTube content varies by type, so it is good to be mindful of this factor.
Our digital marketing experts in Toronto have rounded up some of the top content types and provided the ideal times to post for optimal engagement:
1. Best Time to Post YouTube Shorts for Entertaining Content
The entertainment industry is worth more than $2 trillion. These numbers will only increase as entertaining content gains even more traction.
If you are creating content for entertainment purposes, then you will enjoy good viewership. Some of the best times to post YouTube Shorts for this industry include the following:
- 7am
- 12pm
- 9pm to 10pm
Take advantage of the time people wake up, take lunch breaks, and relax in the evening.
2. Best Time to Post YouTube Shorts for Food-Related Content
According to a study in 2021, four out of five adults from Gen Z enjoy watching food content. Food content is highly popular as people love watching videos regarding food inspiration, new recipes, Mukbang, and more.
If you create food content, then the best time to post Shorts on YouTube includes the following:
- 7 am
- 11 am to 12 pm
- 5 pm to 7 pm
Meal times are the ideal times to upload food ideas. These are the times when people are hungry and look for food inspiration.
3. Best Time to Post YouTube Shorts for Travel Content
According to a recent study by Google, people are spending a lot of time on YouTube watching travel content. Views for such content are increasing by more than 118% each year.
If you are a travel creator, then the best time to post travel Shorts on YouTube may include the following:
- 10 am to 1 pm
- 9 pm to 11 pm
Nighttime serves as a great time, as this is when people are looking to get inspiration from travel ideas.
4. Best Time to Post YouTube Shorts for Educational Content
When it comes to educational content, people require some time to absorb the information. So, you have to post such content at times when people are willing to absorb information.
The best time to post educational YouTube Shorts may include the following:
- 8 am
- 11 am
- 3 pm
- 4 pm
People like learning things during the day, as nighttime is for relaxation and entertainment. Align your educational content postings with these timings for the best results.
What is the Best Time to Post YouTube Shorts: By Geographical Region
The leading countries based on YouTube audience size include the following:
- India: 467 million
- United States: 246 million
- Brazil: 142 million
- Indonesia: 139 million
- Japan: 78.4 million
Most of your audience will belong to these regions, which is why it is important to learn the best time to post YouTube Shorts for these regions.
Here is a breakdown:
| Geographical Region | Best to Post Shorts on YouTube |
| India | 6 pm to 9 pm |
| United States | 12 pm to 3 pm & 7 pm to 9 pm |
| Brazil | 5 pm to 8 pm |
| Indonesia | 2 pm to 6 pm |
| Japan | 9 pm to 12 pm |
Does the Best Time to Post on YouTube Shorts Matter?
Yes, it matters because it helps with maximum engagement and reach. When you understand the most active hours of your audience, you will easily target them.
Learning about the best time to post on YouTube shorts leads to:
1. Consistency
Viewers love consistency, and posting at the right time can help you build a consistent target audience. Post at the same time each week or day so people can know when to expect your content.
When you post new content at the same ideal time each week, it will lead to loyal viewers and a better following. So, show your audience you are consistent with posting YouTube Shorts.
2. Better ROI
As a creator, you are investing time and money into your channel, and you require returns. These help gauge whether what you are doing is working for your channel or not.
Reaching people at the right times will lead to better engagement and a more loyal following. These will lead to more monetization opportunities for your channel in the long run.
3. Higher Visibility
Finally, finding the best time to post on YouTube Shorts will lead to higher content visibility. The YouTube algorithm uses various factors to determine what content should be top in the search results.
Some of these factors also include posting times, content relevance, engagement rate, and more. So, when you maximize engagement by posting at the right time, you will boost the visibility of your content.
When is the Best Time to Post Shorts on YouTube: Insights by Marketing Reports
Various marketing reports and surveys have been conducted to learn the best time to post Shorts on YouTube. Let’s review each report and break down its data to gain better insights into the ideal times:
1. Social Media Marketing Report by Hubspot
Hubspot conducted a survey of more than 300 marketers and asked them to share their opinions on their marketing strategy. They gathered US data and determined that the best time to post on YouTube was between 3 pm and 6 pm.
Other studies and surveys have also shown that people watch YouTube at similar times. For example, most people watch them at the same time they would like to watch TV.
So, it is crucial to align your YouTube Shorts postings with these timings for the best results.
2. Social Pilot Observations
Social Pilot has observed that the best time to upload videos on YouTube is between 2 pm and 4 pm in the most densely populated zones.
YouTube takes some time to index your videos. So, you can post a few hours before the ideal time to give YouTube time to index the video and show it to people in search results at the ideal times.
3. Boosted Calculations
According to the calculations of Boosted, most users on YouTube come from the US. Just like Social Pilot, they also stress on the importance of posting a few hours early for YouTube to index the video.
The company has determined that you will get the highest engagement level if you post on Friday, Saturday, and Wednesday. They have also stated that the best time to post YouTube Shorts is 5 pm, or any time before 9 pm.
Boosted also found that the best time to post YouTube Shorts on Sunday include 11 am and 5 pm.
How to Upload YouTube Shorts
Once you have incredible content, it is time to learn how to upload YouTube Shorts. There are multiple ways you can do that, and we will review each one:
-
How to Upload YouTube Shorts on Your PC
Here are the steps you can follow to upload YouTube Shorts on your PC:
- Sign in to YouTube Studio
- Click Create on the top-right corner
- Then, click Upload videos
- Select a file of short videos
Just make sure that you upload the Shorts with a vertical or square aspect ratio. You can edit the title and description to optimize it for search.
-
How to Upload YouTube Shorts on Android
Open YouTube on your Android device, and follow these steps:
- Click on Create
- Then, go to Upload a video
- Select the right aspect ratio
- If the video is longer than 60 seconds, then click on Edit into a Short to trim
- Click on Next to edit
- Again, click on Next to edit video details
- Select audience
- Click on Upload
Make sure you select the right privacy settings for a seamless user experience.
-
How to Upload YouTube Shorts on iPhone & iPad
If you have an iOS device, here are the steps you can follow to upload YouTube Shorts:
- Click on Create
- Go to Upload a video
- Select the right aspect ratio
- Click on Next to edit your video
- After editing, click on Next again to add details to your video
- Select audience
- Click on Upload
You can also schedule your Shorts and then upload it at the ideal time you want.
Additional Tips to Post YouTube Shorts at the Ideal Time
Even after reading everything, you might want to maximize your posting time for the highest returns. So, here are some additional tips to help you leverage the best time to post YouTube Shorts:
Gain Insights into Your Audience
First, you have to understand the behaviour of your audience to post at the best times. YouTube Analytics is an incredible tool that will offer you insights into audience preferences and habits.
Here is how you can access analytics and learn from it:
- Click on the Analytics tab on the left side of your YouTube account
- A drop-down menu will open from where you can select Shorts to see a performance breakdown
- The viewer’s chart will help you identify what times work best for your channel
For example, the chart will be for an entire month, and you will see how much of your audience is available at what times. Then, you can see what will work best for you.
Experiment with Different Posting Times
As we have established before, the best time to post YouTube Shorts has many variable factors. Because of this, we recommend you experiment with different times and see what works best for you.
There is no single answer, as the answer depends on your audience’s activity levels, interests, location, and more.
However, if you are wondering how to experiment with different posting times, then you can follow these tips:
- Post at different times of the day
- Keep an eye on engagement for reels, such as the number of shares, comments, and likes
- Connect dots and see patterns in the engagement levels
- Keep adjusting the schedule according to your findings
Your engagement patterns will change as your audience grows and changes. So, keep an eye out for YouTube analytics, and then adjust your schedule as per your needs.
Managing Multiple Times to Post on YouTube Shorts
Finally, you can manage multiple times to post on YouTube Shorts. This will be applicable once you have a proper audience and content.
Some ways you can manage multiple postings include the following:
-
Use Scheduling Tools
It can be a hassle to keep up with the days and times of your postings. Instead, the best thing to do is utilize scheduling tools that will post the YouTube Shorts on time.
Here are some top tools you can add to your scheduling arsenal today:
- Hootsuite
- Planable
- Sprout Social
- Loomly
- And more
You can select one that suits your budget and YouTube content management needs.
-
Vary the Content
If you are posting at different times, you can vary the content you post at these times. For example, you can post informative videos early in the day and then post entertaining videos later in the evening.
The posting time and content type will depend on the audience and their behaviours. So, analyze your audience and manage multiple timings and posts by experimenting and seeing what works for you.
-
Leverage the Power of Hashtags
Finally, you can leverage the power of hashtags to post YouTube Shorts. It will help you make your content discoverable at the right times.
In the long run, this will help you have higher engagement and reach, even if you don’t post at the ideal time based on your research. Once you have a loyal following, they will automatically look out for your content and wait for you to post.
FAQs
How often should I post YouTube Shorts?
It is important to find a frequency that works best for your channel and be consistent with it. However, you should begin by posting YouTube Shorts at least three times per week for the best results.
What are the peak hours for YouTube?
Some of the most popular times to watch content on YouTube are late afternoon and evening, between 3 pm and 9 pm. You can post content during any of these peak hours for maximum engagement.
How do I get more views on YouTube Shorts?
You can get more views by optimizing the Shorts, adding trending music, leveraging hashtags, creating incredible content, and learning the best time to post YouTube Shorts.
Is it better to schedule YouTube Shorts?
You can start scheduling once you have enough audience and content. It will allow you to build better consistency and create a seamless experience for your viewers.
Final Thoughts
Content and video marketing is a challenge for many creators. Learning the best time to post YouTube Shorts will help make this challenge easier for you.
You can go through all of these factors and decide the ideal time based on your audience, their demographics, and behavior. Once you do, you will see incredible levels of reach and engagement for your YouTube channel.