Optimal Times to Post on YouTube in 2025 [Insights]
While short-form videos have taken the internet by storm, it’s fascinating to see that YouTube still reigns supreme among video marketers, outpacing even the trendsetters TikTok and Instagram. According to HubSpot Blog research, YouTube stood out as the most impactful social media content creation platform in 2023, boasting an impressive 79% growth year-over-year. In fact, 95% of surveyed marketers rated YouTube’s ROI as average or high, with the majority planning to double down on their investment in this powerhouse platform.
With so much attention on YouTube, I decided to dig deeper into the best times and days for video publishers to post. After all, timing can make or break the success of your content—and knowing when to hit “upload” could be the key to staying ahead in a competitive landscape.
A survey of over 1,500 marketers for the Social Media Trends Report explored the question, “What’s the best time to post on YouTube?” The responses revealed the following:
- 24% indicated 6 PM to 9 PM.
- 22% chose 12 PM to 3 PM.
- 20% preferred 3 PM to 6 PM.
When it comes to the best days for posting, Saturday emerged as the most popular, followed by Friday and Sunday. One possible explanation is that weekends offer consumers a chance to unwind after a busy week, making them more likely to seek out entertaining content.
Weekends offer consumers a valuable opportunity to immerse themselves in YouTube, allowing them to explore and connect with their favorite content creators without the rush of weekday demands. Unlike TikTok and Instagram, which excel at delivering bite-sized entertainment ideal for quick scrolls during a coffee break, YouTube often invites a deeper commitment through its longer-form videos.
That said, the platform is evolving—YouTube Shorts, its answer to the short-form craze, is rapidly rising in popularity, proving that even YouTube is adapting to the fast-paced preferences of modern audiences.
When is the Worst Time to Post on YouTube?
If you’re trying to maximize your reach, knowing when not to post can be just as important as finding the ideal time. Research shows that Mondays and Tuesdays are the least popular days for marketers to upload content, with only 9% of respondents favoring either day—placing them firmly at the bottom of the rankings.
As for timing, these windows proved to be the least effective:
- 6 AM to 9 AM
- 9 PM to midnight
- 9 AM to 12 PM
Interestingly, early morning posts (between 6 AM and noon) were recommended by just 22% of marketers, suggesting that uploading during these hours may not provide the traction your content deserves. In a competitive platform like YouTube, timing truly is everything.
Does It Matter What Time You Post on YouTube?
The answer to whether timing matters when posting on YouTube is both yes and no. In the short term, the timing of your upload can significantly influence how many views your video attracts in the first few hours. Maximizing visibility during this period can drive traffic to your content and support channel growth.
In the long term, however, the posting time has minimal impact. For example, a video posted at 3 AM can still accumulate substantial views over the following months or years. Unlike platforms like Instagram, where fresh content is crucial, YouTube prioritizes relevance over novelty. This means that even if a video underperforms initially, it can gain traction later if it is highly relevant to a user’s search query. The key focus should always be on creating high-quality, relevant content.
Another trend to watch is the rise of AI in content creation. In 2023, 71% of marketers reported using generative AI for content, with AI-created content outperforming traditional methods. By 2024, 87% of marketers plan to incorporate AI tools, with the majority (26%) predicting that YouTube will lead the way in developing promising generative AI features.
How to Find Your Channel’s Best Time to Post Your Video
To determine the best time to post your videos, the Analytics dashboard is your go-to resource for the most accurate and reliable data about your channel. If your channel attracts sufficient traffic, you’ll gain access to an advanced report that reveals when your viewers are most active on the platform. This data is particularly valuable, as it allows you to post content when your audience is online, which may differ from the general trends mentioned earlier.
To access this page, follow these steps:
- Open YouTube Studio.
- Click on Analytics.
- Open the Audience tab and view your report.
Posting Videos on YouTube
With this personalized information, you’ll be able to find the best time to upload YouTube videos. When it comes to posting videos on YouTube, the data shows that the best times and days to upload shouldn’t be viewed as strict rules. Instead, this information should be used as a guide to help optimize the channel for both short-term and long-term success. The most important factor in leveraging YouTube effectively for a brand is creating high-quality, relevant content for the audience. With YouTube’s continued growth in popularity and revenue potential, investing in doing it right is a valuable opportunity.
