Best Time To Post on YouTube Shorts on Any Day

Shorts are taking over YouTube, but getting into someone’s queue takes time. When you post a Short, it is quite a big factor in this. But when is the best time to post on YouTube Shorts? And how can you figure this out for your channel? In this blog, we’ll help you figure out when to post your Shorts.

A person checking their digital watch, which shows the time 16:47.

Does the Time Matter When Posting YouTube Shorts?

On YouTube, posting at the right time gives your video a strong burst of engagement. This helps carry it through the site’s algorithm. YouTube’s Shorts section continuously fine-tunes a person’s recommendations. This means posting at the right time could put you on everyone’s radar.

YouTube’s own stats show that Shorts get 70 billion views daily. It’s essential you try to direct as many of these as possible toward your videos. With plenty of competition in any niche, learning your peak viewing time is sure to help.

This goes beyond a fixed time every day. In fact, the best time to post YouTube Shorts on Friday is very different from Tuesday. Every YT account’s “best time” is unique to them. Figuring yours out could be what pushes your content to the top of the pile.

A person recording a vertical video of themselves as they sit on a chair and eat pizza.

Factors Affecting the Best Time To Post on YouTube Shorts

As mentioned above, plenty goes into deciding your content’s peak hours. These could easily change over time, so it’s important you keep checking them. Here are seven factors that will help you decide when to upload Shorts:

  • Your niche: Different sides of YouTube are active at different hours. For example, fitness fans are generally more likely to be awake early to do their morning workouts.
  • The day: Peak times are different on each day of the week. For example, the end of the workweek massively affects the best time to post YouTube Shorts on Saturday.
  • Work schedules: Similarly, people usually plan their YouTube time around their working hours. If it’s a public holiday, for example, your usual schedule might not apply.
  • Your audience: Your target audience may have unique viewing habits. If you’re making Shorts for children, they might be more active in the mid-afternoon after school.
  • Short type: The video itself also decides your ideal posting time. ASMR Shorts, for example, are better late at night when people are about to go to sleep.
  • Time zone: Do you have a thriving global audience? There may be a time of day that fits multiple time zones. This lets you connect with all of your key demographics.
  • Competition: If someone in your niche shares similar videos to yours, it’s worth avoiding their post times. Share your Short roughly an hour before or after your competitor.
A person scrolling through trending YouTube videos on their laptop.

When To Post YouTube Shorts vs. Longer Videos

The type of content you share affects when to post YouTube Shorts. Shorts are 60 seconds long at most. There are plenty of situations where people will be able to watch these but not longer vids. For example, users may scroll through YouTube’s Shorts page while on their way home from work.

However, Shorts and long-form videos use (broadly) the same algorithm. No matter their length, videos with good engagement and strong SEO could thrive on the platform. However, there are no substitutes for making quality content. People need to like your video to help others see it. But when is the best time to post YouTube Shorts?

Save longer videos for the evening when people are settling down. Plenty of users will watch a few YT Shorts on their lunch break. Posting around this time may give you a big boost. You can also use Shorts to advertise your other vids. This reminds them to watch your long-form content once they get the time.

A GoRead.io screenshot of YouTube’s viewer activity table.

Finding When Your Viewers Are on YouTube

A big part of YouTube is building an audience and working to maintain it. The site’s analytics will help you figure out your current viewers’ habits. This lets you build your content around them to create a consistent posting schedule. Here’s how to check your viewers’ activity on YouTube:

  1. Click on your profile picture in the top right.
  2. In the drop-down menu, tap YouTube Studio.
  3. Click Analytics on the Studio’s left-hand side.
  4. Tap the Audience tab under Channel Analytics.
  5. Scroll down to see when your viewers are active.

This table is in your local time and presents a day-by-day breakdown. This highlights your best post times for each day. When looking for the best time to post YouTube Shorts on Wednesday, for example, this is invaluable. These times, however, don’t tell the full story.

Your audience’s active time doesn’t account for new possible viewers. It only shows you people who have already watched your videos. Many of these might be subscribers. You can’t rely on this when trying to grow online or even when you want to become an influencer. However, their initial “burst” of likes can push your Short to more people.

People on a bus in the morning; some passengers are on their phones.

The Best Time To Post YouTube Shorts on Monday

At the start of the week, people might get up early. Posting at 7-8 a.m. gives your fans something to watch on their commute. Midday, around 12 p.m., is also another good time. However, the best time might be 8-9 p.m. This is when people will be winding down after their first day back.

The best time to upload a YouTube Short depends on so many factors. But these times offer an effective baseline for general audiences. Check this against your YouTube Analytics and adapt it as necessary. On Mondays, most people are easing into the workweek.

The Best Time To Post YouTube Shorts on Tuesday

On Tuesday, people are more comfortable in their routines. They might be less likely to sneak in an extra break. This means their YouTube Short viewing habits are usually more consistent and predicable. It’s also less likely that they’ll be online for their lunch break.

Your Short might get little engagement until the evening. 7-9 p.m. seems to be the best time to post YouTube Shorts on Tuesday. However, it’s still worth experimenting in the morning. You may get consistent engagement here every day of the week. It all depends on your audience.

Regardless, your viewers are less likely to procrastinate on Tuesday. Their “weekend hangover” is likely gone, and they’ll be focusing on work.

A person with a facemask looking at their phone while on a subway.

The Best Time To Post YouTube Shorts on Wednesday

As the week goes on, people’s habits change. This doesn’t mean they’ll be scrolling through YouTube in the middle of the workday. They might be more reliably active at around 12-1 p.m. as they start their lunch break, however.

This can also make them more likely to watch Shorts on their way home. At the very least, they might start to wind down sooner. Aim for 5-6 p.m., though don’t be afraid to try 7 p.m., too. It’s tricky to nail down a video’s prime time. But engagement in the early evening can help it thrive all night.

The Best Time To Post YouTube Shorts on Thursday

Thursday marks the back half of the week. This is when people start to really look forward to the weekend. They might want to watch light-hearted skits instead of serious or educational content. This could even translate to them spending more time scrolling as they wind down.

Aim for 7-11 p.m. This is quite a wide range, but your viewers may be busy on Friday night. A lot of them will relax more on Thursday, in part to psych themselves up. Pick a time between 7 and 11 p.m. when most of your current fans are online. This helps you pull in new and older viewers.

The Best Time To Post YouTube Shorts on Friday

At the end of the week, people might be checking their watches more than they should. Some may even be scrolling through Shorts for a minute or two between their tasks. Aim for 11 a.m.-1 p.m. At the very least, you’ll catch people taking an early lunch.

It’s also worth sharing a Short around 5 p.m. Anybody with a busy night ahead might spend their whole commute on their phones. Similarly, you’ll catch many viewers who are exhausted and looking for light-hearted vids.

People staying home will most likely be awake later than usual. This means posting at 9-10 p.m. can give more engagement. These vids might even reach people when they come home from a busy night.

A person sitting up in bed and scrolling through their phone.

The Best Time To Post YouTube Shorts on Saturday

For a lot of people, each weekend is different. This means finding the best time to post YouTube Shorts on Sunday and Saturday can be trickier. 

9-10 a.m. is a good starting point. People will be slowly waking up, and wanting to spend extra time in bed. They might be scrolling their social media platforms for a while before getting up.

This also frees them up for the early-mid afternoon. Anywhere between 3-6 p.m. may be a strong contender, depending on your analytics. 10 p.m. will also help you reach late-night scrollers who don’t have plans. Some people even recommend posting your Short close to midnight.

The Best Time To Post YouTube Shorts on Sunday

Sunday is once again likely to be quite open, especially since more people have the day off. The morning may net you even more views than on Saturdays. Aim for 9-11 a.m., as some people will be waking up much later than usual.

3-5 p.m. is a good range for a mid-afternoon Short post. People may be getting ready for work the next day, however. This means the early-mid evening is a little less free. 9 p.m. vids could still get you high view counts, though.

Shorts that prepare people for the working week (such as productivity tips) are especially useful on this day. Fun skits and other light-hearted Shorts can also help fight the “Sunday scaries.”

Four clocks showing time zones in London, New York, Tokyo, and Moscow.

Extra Tips for Figuring Out Your Post Times

The above times are generally when people are active. But you may need more than this to find your best times. Here are some more tips for identifying when to post YouTube Shorts so you can build your online presence and your channel:

  • Don’t be too late: Even when people scroll late at night, they’ll mostly find Shorts from several hours ago. Posting after midnight is never a good idea.
  • Cross time zones: Find optimal times that also match your international viewers. Late at night in Europe could be the early evening in the US, for example.
  • Check your analytics: You’ll also need to post at times that fit your existing fans. Your analytics should always be a factor in when you decide to post.
  • Add captions: People might not watch Shorts without captions on public transport. Add them before your vid goes live. This makes the early evening a better option.
  • Upload consistently: People will come to expect your uploads at certain times. Keep a clear schedule, and watching your videos will be a routine for some.
  • Experiment: However, it’s still worth trying out other posting times every now and again. This might be your only way to figure out if there’s a better time.
  • Match your content: Always share Shorts that suit the time people will be watching. Do you want to post a Get Ready With Me video? Aim for the morning.

Frequently Asked Questions

At what time do YouTube Shorts go viral?

Your Shorts are more likely to go viral in the evening, around 8 p.m. This is because more people are free to scroll and engage after a busy day.

What’s the worst time for YouTube Shorts?

Your Shorts will get little traction from local fans if you post them too late. For US creators, the very early morning from midnight onwards might be the worst time.

How many Shorts can I upload per day?

You can upload as many Shorts as you want. However, stick to one or two a day. You also don’t need to share them on all seven days of the week.

Does SEO help YouTube Shorts?

Search engine optimization for YouTube Shorts uses special keywords to boost your videos. With the right hashtags and search terms, you’re sure to see better long-term Short performance.

What is the best general time for YouTube Shorts?

On any day, evening Shorts tend to do well. However, this could be the early or late evening. It all depends on the specific day.

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So many factors go into the best time to post on YouTube Shorts. This means you might need a boost to reach your full potential on the platform. At GoRead.io, we can help your YouTube and Instagram profiles reach new heights.

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