Compiled by the Zolyp team · Studies checked
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Paste the times and results of your last posts and the free tool shows which days and hours work for your followers, in your time zone.
Find your best time to post on YouTubeWhat the published studies found
These are other companies' studies, summarised in our words with a link to each. They measure different accounts in different ways, so read them as a starting point to test, not a rule.
Buffer
Long-form videos and Shorts peaked at almost opposite times. Long videos did best in the morning, with Sunday the strongest day and a Sunday morning slot on top. Shorts peaked in the evening, with Friday the strongest day. Times are normalised to local time.
Sample: 1.8 million long-form videos and Shorts, measured by median engagement. The number of accounts and the date range are not stated.. Published 24 July 2026. The Best Time to Post on YouTube: Data from 1.8M Shorts and Long-form Videos, checked 14 October 2026.
SocialPilot
Weekday afternoons, roughly 2pm to 4pm, did best for long videos, with Wednesday to Friday strongest. Shorts did best around lunchtime or early evening, with Thursday to Saturday strongest. Times are given in the audience's local time.
Sample: 301,000 YouTube videos published through SocialPilot by 27,000+ channels, with engagement normalised per view. The date range is not stated.. Published Updated 15 July 2026 (date from the page's metadata). Best Time to Post on YouTube in 2026 (301K Videos Analyzed), checked 14 October 2026.
vidIQ
Weekend uploads had a small edge, with Sunday a few per cent above a channel's average day and Saturday just behind, while Wednesday was lowest. The upload hour made little difference by day 30. Hours are in US Eastern time.
Sample: 40.2 million US long-form uploads, measured by each video's 30-day views compared with the same channel's typical video.. Published Updated 23 June 2026. Best Time to Post on YouTube: What 40 Million Videos Actually Show, checked 14 October 2026.
Where they agree: Buffer and SocialPilot both found Shorts and long videos need different schedules, with Shorts doing better later in the day. For long videos they split: Buffer and vidIQ found Sunday ahead, SocialPilot found weekday afternoons. vidIQ's finding that the hour barely matters after 30 days is a useful reminder that the differences are small.
What YouTube itself says
YouTube says recommendations are based on what each viewer watches, likes, dislikes and subscribes to, along with their feedback and the reputation and quality of the channel. Its explainer does not list upload time as a signal.
Source: How YouTube Works: Algorithm-based recommendations, checked 14 October 2026
YouTube Analytics has a report showing when your viewers were online across YouTube in the last 28 days. YouTube suggests using it to help build your community, choose when to schedule a Premiere, or plan a live stream.
Source: YouTube Help: Understand your YouTube audience, checked 14 October 2026
How to see when your YouTube audience is online
YouTube Studio shows when your viewers were on YouTube over the last 28 days, in the Audience tab.
- Sign in to YouTube Studio.
- Select Analytics in the left menu.
- Select Audience from the top menu.
- Find the report showing when your viewers are on YouTube and note the busiest days and hours.
- Publish a little before that window, or schedule Premieres and live streams inside it. Newer channels may see limited audience data until they have more viewers.
Source: YouTube Help: Understand your YouTube audience, checked 14 October 2026
Tips that work whatever the study says
- Schedule long videos a little before your viewers' busiest time, so they are processed and showing when people arrive.
- Test Shorts and long videos on separate schedules. The studies suggest they peak at different times.
- Judge a video over days or weeks, not the first hour. YouTube keeps recommending videos long after upload, and Shorts can resurface later.
- Change one thing at a time. Move your upload slot for two to three weeks and compare views and watch time with your old slot.
- A regular upload day helps subscribers know when to expect you, which matters more than the exact minute.
- Our free tool at /tools/best-time-to-post works out your best times from your own post results.
Common questions
What is the best day to upload to YouTube?
For long videos, Buffer and vidIQ both found Sunday slightly ahead, and vidIQ found Wednesday lowest. SocialPilot found Wednesday to Friday best. The differences are small, so your own Audience report is a better guide.
Does upload time matter on YouTube?
Less than on most platforms. YouTube's recommendations are based on viewer behaviour and channel quality, and vidIQ's study of 40.2 million US uploads found the upload hour made little difference to 30-day views. Timing matters most for Premieres, live streams and the first day of views.
Is the best time different for YouTube Shorts?
Two studies say yes. Buffer found Shorts peak in the evening, especially Friday, while long videos peak in the morning. SocialPilot found Shorts did best around lunchtime or early evening.
Where can I see when my viewers are online?
In YouTube Studio, go to Analytics, then the Audience tab, and find the report of when your viewers are on YouTube. It covers the last 28 days.