Analytics
Best time to post on YouTube
There's no single best time to post on YouTube for everyone. The best time for you is shortly before your own viewers are most active, which YouTube Studio shows you. Timing mainly helps the first hours. Over weeks, the topic and packaging matter far more.
Cuetta team2 min read
On this page
Why generic "best times" don't work
Lists that say "post at 3pm on Thursday" average together millions of different viewers in different time zones. Your viewers might be students in India, office workers in the US or night owls in the UK. The only chart that matters is your own.
Find your best time in YouTube Studio
- 1
Open the Audience tab
In YouTube Studio Analytics, find the chart that shows when your viewers are on YouTube.
- 2
Find the peak
Note the days and hours with the darkest bars. Times are shown in your local time zone.
- 3
Publish a little before
Aim for one to two hours before the peak, so the video is ready when your viewers arrive.
Small channels may not see this chart until they have enough viewers. Until then, use where most of your viewers live and post in their late afternoon or early evening.
Check what actually worked
The audience chart shows when viewers are online, not when your videos do best. Look back at your videos: did the ones posted at a certain time get more views in their first day? That's the real test.
When timing matters and when it doesn't
| Timing matters more for | Timing matters less for |
|---|---|
| News, launches and trends | Search videos people find for months |
| Channels whose views come mostly from subscribers | Evergreen how-to and explainer videos |
| Premieres and live streams | Videos YouTube recommends over weeks |
News, launches and trends
- Timing matters less for
- Search videos people find for months
Channels whose views come mostly from subscribers
- Timing matters less for
- Evergreen how-to and explainer videos
Premieres and live streams
- Timing matters less for
- Videos YouTube recommends over weeks
Consistency beats the perfect hour
A regular schedule helps your viewers know when to expect you. Picking a good time and sticking to it usually beats chasing the perfect hour each week.
Read how to get more views on YouTube for the things that matter more.