Shorts have been steadily growing in popularity since 2021, and you should make the most of them. But how long should YouTube shorts be? And when will a longer video be a better choice? These videos come with a lot of questions. In this post, the GoRead.io team shows how a video’s length could affect your Shorts strategy.
How Long Should YouTube Shorts Be?
Shorts can be 60 seconds or less. This is a hard limit the platform places on these videos. If you try to upload a longer Short, the site will process it as a normal video. This is still the case, even if you make it vertical or square. Similarly, the format has a 15-second minimum.
Most Shorts are actually much less than 60 seconds. You should always aim to make your video as snappy as possible while still getting the message across. This format is about keeping the viewer’s attention, after all. With short-form video content, you should get to the point right away.
You’ll need a great idea to keep someone’s focus for the entire minute. Your video must be free of fluff, unnecessary pauses, or anything that slows it down the pace even slightly. Aim for roughly 30 seconds, and only go beyond this if you just can’t tighten it up further.
General YT Short Requirements
The YouTube Shorts time limit isn’t the only requirement you should bear in mind. The video can only be a Short if it’s square or vertical. If you’re uploading on mobile, you’ll be able to crop and pan the video. This gives you an easy way to make sure your footage fits the format.
On PC, you might instead have to edit the video yourself with special software. Make sure that you render and export it vertically. Otherwise, YouTube will try to process it as a full-length video.
It’s possible to add copyrighted music through YouTube’s own library. But this will cap the Short at 15 seconds, with no way around it. You might also want to add the YouTube hashtag “#shorts” to the vid’s title. This helps people see at a glance that it’s a Short.
Ways Around the YouTube Shorts Time Limit
It’s just not possible to make a Short longer than 60 seconds. But Shorts more than 30 seconds long might struggle to keep people’s attention anyway. However, there are still certain tricks that help you get around this YouTube Shorts limit. Here are four of the routes you can take.
1. Multi-Part Videos
Some people use Shorts to make a full “series” of videos. Want to share some of your industry’s top tips? Make each one its own video. This way, every tip has time to breathe. Your viewers will also keep coming back for more, turning regular viewers into subscribers.
2. Link to Longer Vids
Use the YouTube Shorts length limit to “tease” your full videos. You can clip your long-form content and share it as a Short. This could convince casual scrollers to give your profile a chance. Some topics simply demand videos longer than 60 seconds.
3. Rapid-Fire Editing
Even a brief pause can push your video beyond the YouTube Shorts maximum length. It’s worth editing your vids to get rid of even the smallest bit of filler. Once you crop out every pause, you might have a perfect short-form video.
4. Speed Settings
It’s even possible to speed your video up in the editing stage. Make sure you can still hear every word, however. Your goal here is to create easily digestible content. This only works if you’re not overwhelming the viewer.
Turning Your Videos Into Shorts: Step-by-Step Guide
It’s possible to upload YouTube Shorts by “converting” your longer videos. This can act as an ad for the full video. Alternatively, it can simply let you share the vid’s main point. Here’s how to turn long-form content into Shorts:
- Go to your video’s usual watch page.
- Click Remix, then Edit Into a Short.
- Select a part of the video and crop it.
- Pan the camera to fit a vertical format.
- Tap Next to add creative filters or text.
- Upload the Short to your YT channel.
People will be able to click the Short and view the longer vid. Turning your usual content into shareable videos helps you reach more people. Some users just scroll through Shorts to find longer videos they think are worth their time.
Experimenting with YT Shorts is a chance to attract potential leads. To help with this, you may want to save the conclusion for the full video. This might be the push they need to really check out your channel.
The Best Length for YouTube Shorts
Ultimately, your Short should be as long as it needs to be and not a second longer. Do what you can to make it as brief as possible. But only if you aren’t sacrificing a key point in the process. A lot of YouTube’s most-liked videos are actually Shorts that are nearly a minute long.
Quality and video length have a clear relationship. The better a video is, the more time people will be willing to put into it. But how long can Shorts be before someone simply scrolls away to the next one?
No matter your video’s length, the first few seconds matter most. In fact, experts at TikTok say a Gen Z audience only has an eight-second attention span. As soon as you tap the record button, get straight to the point.
Why Average View Duration Matters
YouTube’s algorithm uses many metrics and analytics to decide which content to boost. One of the most important stats is watch time. If people scroll away from your video right away, this tells YouTube it isn’t worth watching. The platform will then be less likely to recommend it to others.
If your viewers stick around and engage, YouTube will help your video reach a wider audience. This means shorter vids may have better luck. The Shorts page lets people move to another vid with a simple swipe. If your video is already quite short, they’ll be more likely to see it through.
Finding the best length for YouTube Shorts is often a case of trial and error. But throughout it all, you should keep an eye on your average view duration. This shows you if your Shorts are able to sustain how long you make them.
YouTube Shorts Ideas
Shorts and long-form YouTube videos definitely have some crossover in terms of content. There are, however, plenty of trending topics that might be better for YT Shorts. Here are a few ideas that will help you make the most of this format:
- Hacks and tips: You might just want to share ideas that will save people time. Shorts let you get this information across right away, possibly in a multi-part video series.
- Song previews: Are you an artist ready to debut their next single? Use Shorts to show a small part of it. This builds hype and helps your work reach more people.
- General teasers: Similarly, many people make Shorts to tease their next YT project. You can use this to share parts of an upcoming video that you’re especially proud of.
- Reaction videos: Use Shorts to show your reaction to key moments in your favorite TV shows or movies. These could even be clips from a full extended reaction vid.
- Skits and jokes: Short-form videos are inseparable from memes and humor as a whole. If you come up with a great joke, you could act it out as a Short.
- Product updates: Community posts rarely get good reach, and bite-sized updates won’t need a full vid. Use a YT Short to post updates about your product or channel.
- Challenges: In every niche, there are always new social media challenges worth trying out for yourself. Many of these can easily fit into a YouTube Short format.
Should You Use the Full 60 Seconds?
It’s clear that shorter videos are simply easier for people to watch. But beyond this, you can also run into problems uploading 60-second Shorts. If it’s even a millisecond too long, YouTube won’t process it as a Short. Cropping it to fit the absolute maximum might also affect the “punchline.”
Even if you want a longer video, aim for 59 seconds at maximum. This lets you guarantee your Short fits the requirements. However, shorter videos still have a better chance with the YouTube algorithm. This isn’t just because they’re easier to watch; they’re also more rewatchable.
Some people loop their video to make it seem “endless.” They do this by matching the vid’s last frame with its first frame. This makes the video more satisfying but also means people will stick around to watch it play again. Rewatches mean extra views; this can also make people more likely to share the Short.
When To Make Your Short a Full Video
You can’t always squeeze your video idea into a short-form package. Plenty of topics simply fit a longer format. But how long should a YouTube Short be before you decide to change course? If you’re pushing 50 seconds and still have something to say, consider scrapping the Short.
Shorts are very popular, with Alphabet reporting 70 billion views across the format daily. However, this only scratches the surface of YouTube’s options. Video essays that are over eight hours long can still get viral success. Switching to a long-form video isn’t giving up — it’s letting your content thrive.
For example, you can definitely use Shorts to make great product reviews. But you may struggle to dive into the deeper points. If your video needs more room to breathe, do what’s best for your content and your channel. Even just three minutes might be enough here.
Similarly, not every piece of content pairs well with vertical videos. Gameplay vids might need to be horizontal in order to show off the world in detail, for example.
Does a Short’s Length Affect Its Visibility?
There are a number of factors that go into a Short’s visibility or discoverability. For example, vids with an age restriction naturally have a smaller audience. This means less opportunities to show YouTube’s algorithm that the Short’s worth a watch.
A video’s actual length won’t affect if someone sees it or not. But this length can still decide how well the Short performs. For example, if a video is too long for its premise, people won’t watch it to the end. The Short will then end up reaching fewer people.
Similarly, people are more likely to share bite-sized videos. Shorter videos will most likely get more viewers, but not just because of the platform’s visibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
[FAQ] Are shorter YT Shorts better?
Shorter vids are snappier and get to the point much faster. But this doesn’t mean they’re always better. Think about your next Short idea. Will it be better as a longer YouTube vid?
[FAQ] What is a good average view duration for Shorts?
Ideally, people will watch your Shorts from start to finish. They might even rewatch them if it has a good ending. Users must watch at least most of your Short for it to succeed.
[FAQ] How long are viral Shorts on YouTube?
Shorts of any length can get tons of engagement. But longer Shorts need to be the best they possibly can. Only truly great Shorts sustain an audience for nearly a full minute.
[FAQ] What is the perfect time for a YT Short?
There’s no clear answer to this; it always depends on the video. But you could aim for around 30 seconds. This means even if you need more time, there’s plenty to spare.
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