Best Time to Post on YouTube in 2025: Videos and Shorts

YouTube marketing has evolved significantly, but many businesses and marketers still struggle to gain views despite their best efforts. After spending hours perfecting videos, creating thumbnails, and crafting catchy titles, it’s frustrating to see engagement remain low.

The reality is, even the best content can get buried if posted at the wrong time. With 2 million videos uploaded daily, timing truly matters. Posting at the right moment can give your videos and Shorts a crucial visibility boost.

So, what is the best time to post on YouTube to get the most out of your videos and shorts?

To answer this question, we’ve analyzed 300k YouTube videos published through SocialPilot by 50k TikTok accounts.

Let’s break it down.

Why Does the Right Time to Post on YouTube Matter?

Timing is everything, especially when it comes to YouTube. Posting your videos at the right moment can significantly boost visibility and engagement, especially for shorts.

When you publish a video during peak activity times, it aligns with your audience’s viewing habits, increasing the likelihood of your video being seen and interacted with.

This strategic approach makes sure that your content doesn’t get lost in the vast sea of uploads, giving it a better chance to stand out and attract viewers. In essence, for businesses and marketers looking for tactics to optimize YouTube strategy, understanding and leveraging the optimal posting times can be a game-changer for your channel’s growth and success.

When is the Best Time to Post on YouTube

Let’s take a moment to consider how YouTube’s algorithm works. The platform’s algorithm prioritizes content that aligns with viewers’ preferences, engagement patterns, and viewing habits. Understanding this can help you strategically time your uploads to maximize visibility.

With 2 million videos uploaded daily on YouTube, posting at the right time is key to standing out.

Our research, analyzing data from thousands of channels, shows that the best times to post on YouTube are between 11 am to 3 pm and 7 pm to 10 pm on Mondays and Tuesdays. These time slots consistently saw higher engagement in terms of clicks, watch time, and subscriber growth for both long videos and shorts.

These times usually perform well across content types, be it tutorials, reaction videos, vlogs, or how-to content. Videos posted during these hours tend to gain early traction, helping boost visibility as viewers become more active.

While these aren’t the only times to post, they offer a great starting point for testing what works best on your channel.

What Patterns Did We Observe?

YouTube activity tends to pick up in the afternoon, peak early evening, and begin to slow down at night. Weekends are slightly earlier, with more viewers watching late morning to mid-afternoon.

But keep in mind, YouTube viewers are vastly diverse, and your best post time on YouTube may be different based on your niche, location, and viewer behavior. For example, a children-focused channel could do well on Saturday and Sunday mornings, but a productivity creator could do better with early-week releases.

Use these time slots as a baseline, and combine them with YouTube Analytics in order to refine your schedule for optimal impact.

When Is the Best Time to Post on YouTube by Day?

Knowing the best time to post each day helps you strategically schedule your content for maximum reach. Audience behavior varies from day to day, so understanding these patterns allows you to target your posts when viewers are most likely to engage, driving better results.

The Best Time to Post on YouTube on Monday

The best time to post on YouTube on Monday is 11 a.m., 3 p.m., and 7 p.m.

On Mondays, after getting back to their busy routines, people tend to check YouTube during their lunch break at 12 p.m. to unwind. The 3 p.m. slot targets those seeking a break as the workday winds down. Later down in the day, 7 p.m. is ideal since people are finishing their workday and transitioning into their evening routines, often relaxing with YouTube content.

The Best Time to Post on YouTube on Tuesday

The best time to post on YouTube on Tuesday is 11 a.m., 4 p.m., and 8 p.m.

Following Monday, Midday breaks at 12 p.m. remain a top choice for people to check YouTube. In the 4 p.m. slot, people start relaxing after work or school. 8 p.m. is the peak evening when viewers are likelier to watch long-form YouTube content, making it a great time to post.

The Best Time to Post on YouTube on Wednesday

The best time to post on YouTube on Wednesday is 12 p.m., 2 p.m., and 6 p.m.

Like Mondays and Tuesdays, the lunch breaks are when people scroll for videos, while 2 p.m. sees a peak as people reach mid-afternoon and take short breaks. 6 p.m. is also a sweet spot as people finish their work and look for entertainment or relaxation with YouTube content.

The Best Time to Post on YouTube on Thursday

The best time to post on YouTube on Thursday is 12 p.m., 3 p.m., and 8 p.m.

Lunchtime continues to be a strong window at 12 p.m., with people checking their phones. 3 p.m. works well as users start mentally checking out from work as the weekend nears. 8 p.m. in the evening is a great time when people are winding down, making it perfect for engaging content.

The Best Time to Post on YouTube on Friday

The best time to post on YouTube on Friday is 10 a.m., 1 p.m., and 9 p.m.

Fridays are one of the best days to post on YouTube. At 10 a.m, people are starting their weekends and ready for some rest and entertainment. The 1 p.m. slot catches the lunch crowd. 9 p.m. is also highly effective as it marks the end of the workweek, and people are now ready for casual YouTube content.

The Best Time to Post on YouTube on Saturday

The best time to post on YouTube on Saturday is at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 9 p.m.

Saturdays at around 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. garner many active views and engagement for newly published videos. 7 p.m. is a great time when people are relaxing at home, making it an ideal moment to catch their attention. This gives the audience ample time to discover the video and drive it forward.

The Best Time to Post on YouTube on Sunday

The best time to post on YouTube on Sunday is 9 a.m., 12 p.m., and 8 p.m.

Similar to Saturday, 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. is when viewers are easing into their Sunday vibes. By 7 p.m., people are wrapping up their day, preparing for the week ahead, and typically go through their YouTube feeds and engage with content before calling it a night.

Since the above posting times have been calculated after accounting for indexing time, it is evident that the average actual peak time is in the evening.

This insight becomes more interesting when you realize that most people use YouTube during typical TV-watching time. Isn’t that a win for streaming?

Time and Days to Avoid Posting on YouTube

Understanding the times to avoid posting on YouTube is crucial for maximizing your content’s visibility. Posting during periods when your audience is least active can result in lower engagement and reduced reach.

Worst Days to Post on YouTube:

• Sunday: Generally considered the worst day to post, as audience activity tends to be lower.
• Saturday: While slightly better than Sunday, engagement is still relatively low compared to weekdays.

Worst Times to Post on YouTube:

• Early Morning (12 a.m. – 6 a.m.): Most viewers are asleep, leading to minimal engagement.
• Late Evening (10 p.m. – 12 a.m.): While some users are active, the audience is smaller, and engagement may be limited.

Avoiding these times can help ensure your content reaches a broader audience and garners better engagement.

Factors to Consider Before Posting on YouTube

Choosing the best time to post on YouTube isn’t just about picking a random day and hour. It involves a mix of strategy, content niche, audience demographics, and many more things.

Here is the list of factors that you should consider for posting your YouTube Videos & Shorts:

1. Define Your Niche and Audience First

Before you worry about timing, be clear on what your channel is about and who it’s for.

• Are you targeting gamers, professionals, food lovers, or fitness enthusiasts?
• Are your viewers mostly students, working professionals, or parents?

Knowing this helps tailor not just your content, but also when to post it.

2. Consider the Type of Content You Are Posting

Different types of videos perform better at specific times:

• Tutorials or educational content → mornings or work hours
• Entertainment or vlogs → evenings or weekends
• Food or lifestyle content → around mealtimes or leisure hours

Match your publishing time to when your content is most relevant to your audience.

3. Research YouTube Engagement Trends

Watch how your niche behaves on YouTube:

• Are there peak times when viewers engage with similar content?
• Is there any time or day when your competitor’s videos (similar content) get more engagement

And there are many other things you can observe and analyze.

Do certain video types trend on specific days (e.g., weekend vlogs, Monday motivation)? And use this insight to fine-tune your posting schedule.

4. Understand Time Zones

If your audience spans multiple regions or countries, post based on the majority time zone or schedule separate uploads for different regions and countries using YouTube’s scheduling tool. As we already mentioned best time to upload videos and shorts for various countries and time zones is in the above sections.

5. Analyze Subscribers and Viewers’ Behavior

Use YouTube features like:

“When your viewers are on YouTube”

“Other videos your audience watched”

This shows active hours, related interests, and helps you post shorts and long videos at times when your viewers are most likely to engage, so your post can go viral and get more views.

6. Run Test Uploads & Compare Results

Don’t assume things without doing A/B testing! Try to upload the same type of video at different times/days and compare the results on various parameters.

Because sometimes even a small change in post timing can impact YouTube views, engagement, and virality.

7. Geographical Relevance in YouTube Posting Time

If your business targets a specific region, optimize for local visibility.

• Add your business location to your channel’s About section.
• Use location-specific keywords in your YouTube video titles, tags, and descriptions to help the YouTube algorithm recommend your videos locally. It also helps YouTube recommend your videos right people at the right time.

Best Times to Post on YouTube by Location & Time Zone

As discussed in the previous section, choosing the right time to post on YouTube requires considering factors like audience demographics, content type, and time zones.

We’ve taken these factors into account to identify the best posting times based on location, ensuring that your content reaches the right audience at the right moment.

Posting at the right time based on your audience’s time zone can greatly impact your video’s visibility, especially in 2025, with so much content being uploaded. A 3 p.m. post in New York might be ideal, but it’s dinner time in London.

Understanding your audience’s location and posting during their peak hours is key to boosting engagement. If your subscribers are spread across different time zones, look for time slots where those peak hours overlap; that’s your sweet spot for reaching a wider global audience. Our global data reveals the best posting times by location, based on extensive research.

Best Time to Post on YouTube in the USA

In the USA, the optimal posting times on YouTube are 2 p.m., 5 p.m., and 9 p.m. EDT, especially on weekdays. Publishing during these hours ensures your content reaches a broader audience, driving better engagement.

Best Time to Post on YouTube in Australia

In Australia, posting at 7 a.m., 12 p.m., and 8 p.m. AEST maximizes engagement. These time slots help capture a diverse audience and increase visibility for your YouTube video.

Best Time to Post on YouTube in India

In India, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. IST on weekdays is the perfect window to publish content. These times align with when viewers are most likely to be active, boosting engagement during peak hours.

Best Time to Post on YouTube in the Philippines

In the Philippines, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. PHT offers the best chance to connect with active viewers. These time slots, especially on weekends, align with local engagement patterns and maximize visibility.

Best Time to Post on YouTube in Canada

In Canada, 2 p.m., 5 p.m., and 9 p.m. Central Time Zone are ideal for reaching the largest audience. These prime hours increase content visibility and enhance engagement on weekdays.

Best Time to Post on YouTube in UK

For the UK, posting at 2 p.m., 4 p.m., and 6 p.m. CET helps maximize reach. These time frames ensure your content reaches a wide audience during key engagement windows.

These timings vary across different geographies and reflect watching habits, ensuring better engagement rates.

What are the Best Times to Post on YouTube for Long Videos and Shorts?

Determining the best times to post on YouTube is crucial for maximizing visibility and engagement, especially with the constant influx of content being uploaded.

After analyzing 300k YouTube videos published through SocialPilot by 50k TikTok accounts, we’ve identified the most effective times for both long-form videos and Shorts. Here’s what we found:

Best Times to Post Long Videos on YouTube

Long videos typically perform best during late afternoons and early evenings when viewers have more time to engage. The optimal times are:

These times ensure your long videos reach viewers during peak engagement periods, particularly when users are winding down after work or school.

Timing is critical for YouTube success. By following these recommended posting times, you’re already on the right track. For a more in-depth approach to video marketing, check out our YouTube Video Marketing Guide.

Best Times to Post YouTube Shorts

For Shorts, content performs best during casual viewing times, with users engaging with short-form videos during breaks or leisure hours. The ideal posting times for Shorts are:

By following these times, you’ll align with periods when your audience is most likely to engage with shorter, more digestible content. Want to take your YouTube Shorts strategy to the next level? Explore more tips and insights in our detailed YouTube Shorts guide.

Best Times to Upload on YouTube by Industry

We did research and found out the best times for YouTube that can give maximum engagement. Here are some of the best YouTube upload times for several industries:

1. Gaming

Best Time to Post: 3 p.m., 7 p.m., and 9 p.m.

Gaming content thrives when players are most active, often in the late afternoon and evening. Viewers engage during breaks or after school/work, making it important to post when they’re ready to dive into gaming content.

2. Education

Best Time to Post: 9 a.m., 12 p.m., and 6 p.m.

Educational content performs well when people are actively seeking to learn—typically during the morning and lunch hours. Posting around midday gives your content a better chance of being discovered by students and professionals.

3. Fitness & Health

Best Time to Post: 6 a.m., 10 a.m., and 7 p.m.

Fitness enthusiasts usually engage with content early in the morning before workouts and in the evening after finishing their day. Posting during these times ensures your fitness videos align with user routines.

4. Beauty & Fashion

Best Time to Post: 11 a.m., 3 p.m., and 8 p.m.

Beauty and fashion content thrives during mid-morning and evening, as people seek fresh ideas to start their day or to wind down after work. These time slots help your content stay relevant and engaging.

5. Technology

Best Time to Post: 8 a.m., 12 p.m., and 6 p.m.

Tech content performs well during mid-morning and lunch hours, with many tech enthusiasts browsing for updates and reviews at these times. Posting during these windows helps you capture that active audience.

6. Food & Cooking

Best Time to Post: 11 a.m., 4 p.m., and 7 p.m.

Food-related content is best posted around mealtime, so viewers can get inspired to cook or enjoy food-related videos. Late afternoon and evening slots are optimal to connect with hungry viewers.

7. Entertainment

Best Time to Post: 1 p.m., 5 p.m., and 9 p.m.

Entertainment content does well when people are unwinding, typically around lunchtime and in the evening. Posting during these hours allows your content to reach a relaxed audience ready to engage.

8. Travel

Best Time to Post: 10 a.m., 2 p.m., and 6 p.m.

Travel videos perform well during the late morning and afternoon, with viewers dreaming of their next vacation or exploring new destinations. Early afternoon slots help maximize engagement.

9. Business & Finance

Best Time to Post: 7 a.m., 11 a.m., and 6 p.m.

Business and finance content is best posted in the early morning and midday when professionals are likely looking for tips, news, or market updates. These are the times when your audience is actively seeking information.

10. Kids Content

Best Time to Post: 8 a.m., 3 p.m., and 7 p.m.

Children and parents engage with kids’ content primarily in the morning before school and in the evening after school hours. Posting during these peak times ensures your content is seen when it’s most relevant.

Now, the bigger question is, will these work? Absolutely yes.

Start using these YouTube posting times in 2025 to find out what works for you and gives you maximum views and likes.

But if you are a social media manager and managing multiple social media accounts, one question that can probably come to your mind would be:

How to Find Your Own Best YouTube Posting Time Using YouTube Analytics?

Now that you know the average best times to post on YouTube, it’s time to take it a step further by discovering the ideal time to upload videos for your specific channel.

But how can you know for sure? What if you could pinpoint that perfect time without lifting a finger?

While you can use tools such as SocialPilot for scheduling your videos on best times, you can also do so by accessing the analytics in YouTube Studio.

Let’s go through the step-by-step process using YouTube analytics to find your best time.

Finding the Optimal YouTube Posting Time Based on Your Channel’s Audience Insights

Step 1: Access the Analytics section

Firstly, head to the YouTube studio.

On your channel dashboard, find the Analytics section in the left-hand side menu. Click on it to access tons of data to understand your Page’s performance.

But we are looking for a specific graph. You will find it in the “Audience” tab of the “Analytics” section.

You will see a purple bar graph. That’s our destination. Now the next step is to assess it.

On the other hand, if you don’t see the graph under this section, it is because your channel didn’t gain enough viewer data in the last 28 days.

But don’t worry, later in the article, we will discuss the ways to find out the best time to post videos on YouTube without the help of the audience graph.

For now, let’s continue with the further steps.

Step 2: Find the Best Day and Time to Get More YouTube Videos & Engagement

The “Where to find your audience” graph shows you the data for the last 28 days and is based on your time zone.

The dark purple bars in the graph indicate the timings on a specific day when most of your audience is present on YouTube.

Similarly, the lighter bars indicate the times when the presence of the audience is the lowest.

So basically, these reports tell you the time when most of your audience is present on YouTube to watch your videos.

It is helpful because the best time to post on YouTube is when most of your audience is live to see your video. If you post keeping these times in your mind, your video will appear on the home page when the most audience is present.

Unlike other social platforms, you can’t post on YouTube every day, given the time it takes to make a single video. So you need to choose the best day to post on YouTube based on your preferences.

What to do if you have multiple dark bars throughout the week?

In such a case, pick a day with a shade lighter purple bars that comes near your main day. It has been seen that videos tend to get most of their views in the first 2 days. So, it’s better to align your posting with the two peak days.

For instance, in the above example, Friday has the darkest bar, and Thursday stands second. Now posting on Thursday will also get you a view of Friday. But posting on Friday will get you the views of Saturday, which is clearly a bad day according to the graph.

Finding the Best YouTube Posting Time When Your Channel Is New

Alright, you are new on YouTube or don’t have enough daily flux of audience for the “When your viewers are on YouTube” report to appear. How do you find your best time?

By crunching some numbers manually.

You will find another section in YouTube analytics, inside the ‘Overview’ tab called ‘Real time’ on the right-hand side.

It provides the number of views you have got in each hour within the time frame of the last 48 hours.

I’d recommend tracking this data for a month or quarter in a spreadsheet to spot the pattern of views across a week. This way, you will be able to find what day and time your audience remains the most active.

Also, you can use the average best time to post data we discussed in the beginning to kickstart the tracking process. See if the universal time works for your niche or not.

But how are you going to take care of so many posting times? We have a solution. Keep reading.

If you’re wondering how to gain more views in the early stages, check out our guide on how to get more views on YouTube for additional tips and strategies to accelerate your channel’s growth.

Is There an Easier Alternative to Find the Best YouTube Posting Time?

Finding the best time to post on YouTube can be time-consuming and challenging, especially for new channels. Fortunately, SocialPilot’s AI-suggested time for publishing simplifies this process, eliminating the guesswork. Here’s how it helps:

• Analyzes audience activity and engagement patterns to recommend the best time to post.
• Pulls insights directly from your connected YouTube account, making scheduling smarter.
• Saves time—no need to dig through data manually.

The best part? SocialPilot shows you the ideal time to post right when you’re scheduling your video, ensuring you reach your audience when they’re most active. This boosts the chances of your content being seen, clicked, and shared.

Additionally, with SocialPilot’s YouTube Analytics feature, you can track your video performance and fine-tune your posting strategy based on real-time insights.Because timing really does matter on YouTube, SocialPilot makes it easier to get it right.

Maximizing Your YouTube Marketing Success

Video marketing takes significant time and effort, so ensuring your content gets the visibility it deserves is crucial. By following the methods we’ve discussed, including insights from our research on 50,000+ YouTube accounts, you can identify the best times to post both YouTube Shorts and long-form videos. Use SocialPilot’s YouTube Analytics feature to fine-tune your strategy and improve engagement.

Remember, posting at the right time is just one part of the equation. The key to success is consistently delivering high-quality content that resonates with your audience.

For easier scheduling and to optimize your YouTube strategy, check out SocialPilot’s pricing to find the right plan for your marketing needs.