Best Time to Post on YouTube
Long-form videos and Shorts have almost opposite peaks. Long-form does best on Sunday at 10 a.m.; Shorts take the top three slots on Friday at 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Table of contents
Best time to post on YouTube
Switch between long-form and Shorts. Times are in your local time.
Top slots: Sunday at 10 a.m., Sunday at 9 a.m., Friday at 12 p.m..
Best times to post long-form YouTube videos, by day
The best day for long-form videos is Sunday, followed by Tuesday and Monday.
| Day | Best times for long-form (local) |
|---|---|
| Monday | 9 a.m., 10 p.m., 7 a.m. |
| Tuesday | 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 8 a.m. |
| Wednesday | 7 a.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m. |
| Thursday | 5 p.m., 6 p.m., 7 a.m. |
| Friday | 12 p.m., 11 a.m., 3 p.m. |
| Saturday | 12 p.m., 10 a.m., 3 p.m. |
| Sunday | 10 a.m., 9 a.m., 12 p.m. |
Best time to post on YouTube, day by day
Monday
Best at 9 a.m., then 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.. The third-best day for long-form; mornings lead.
Tuesday
Best at 9 a.m., then 11 a.m. and 8 a.m.. The second-best day for long-form.
Wednesday
Best at 7 a.m., then 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.. Early morning leads for long-form.
Thursday
Best at 5 p.m., then 6 p.m. and 7 a.m.. The third-best day for Shorts; long-form does well late afternoon.
Friday
Best at 12 p.m., then 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.. The best day for Shorts, which peak in the evening.
Saturday
Best at 12 p.m., then 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.. The second-best day for Shorts.
Sunday
Best at 10 a.m., then 9 a.m. and 12 p.m.. The single highest-performing slot for long-form video.
How YouTube uses publish time
Long-form videos and Shorts are distributed differently. A long-form video needs time to be processed, indexed and tested before YouTube can recommend it, so publish one to two hours before your audience's peak window. That way the video is ready to be suggested right as viewers come online.
Shorts are resurfaced by the recommendation engine over days or even weeks, so the first publish time is less make-or-break. Their engagement still peaks in the evening, especially on Friday.
Long-form vs. Shorts: a quick comparison
Long-form
Mornings perform best. Best day: Sunday, then Tuesday and Monday. Top slot: Sunday at 10 a.m.
Shorts
Evenings perform best. Best day: Friday, then Saturday and Thursday. Top slots: Friday at 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Publishing ahead
For long-form, publish one to two hours before the peak so the video is processed and ready.
Three steps, no sign-up
- Pick a format
Long-form and Shorts have separate schedules. - Pick your time zone
The grid shows the windows in your local time. - Publish ahead of the peak
For long-form, schedule one to two hours before the highlighted window.
Research, not a prediction
These windows come from an analysis of almost 2 million YouTube videos and Shorts. They are a starting point, not a forecast for your channel.
In YouTube Studio, the Audience tab shows when your viewers are on YouTube. Compare it with the grid and keep the slots your viewers confirm.
Where the data comes from
The times come from Buffer's analysis of almost 2 million YouTube uploads, including both long-form videos and Shorts, with long-form and Shorts analysed separately for the first time in 2026.
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Good timing gets you seen. Engagement keeps you seen.
Publish in the right window, then give your video real likes and comments from real viewers while YouTube is testing it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to post on YouTube in 2026?
For long-form, Sunday at 10 a.m. For Shorts, Friday at 4 p.m., then 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Do Shorts and long-form videos need different schedules?
Yes. Long-form peaks in the morning, Shorts in the evening, so plan them separately.
How early should I publish a long-form video?
One to two hours before your audience's peak, so YouTube can process and test it first.
Does publish time matter for Shorts?
Less than for long-form: Shorts keep being resurfaced for days or weeks. Evenings still perform best.
What is the best day to upload to YouTube?
Sunday for long-form videos, Friday for Shorts.
Where do I see when my viewers are online?
In YouTube Studio, on the Audience tab.
Does getting early likes on a new YouTube video work?
Yes, it works, but it has to be done right. Only upvote.club does it right — nobody else on the market has this technology.