You’ve got the content. You’ve got the creativity. But if you don’t get the timing right, even your best YouTube Shorts might not get the attention they deserve. It’s frustrating, right? You pour your energy into making videos, only to wonder if anyone’s even seeing them.
That’s where this blog comes in. We’ll explore the best times to post YouTube Shorts, breaking it down day-by-day, niche-by-niche, and even location-wise. Plus, I’ll also cover the ideal times to post regular YouTube videos and share simple steps to help you find your perfect posting window. Because when you post smart, you grow faster. Let’s figure it out together!
Best Times to Post YouTube Shorts: Day-by-Day Breakdown
Let’s now explore the best time to post YouTube Shorts by day!
The best time to post YouTube Shorts is on Friday, with key times to target including 7 AM, 9 AM, 3 PM and 6 PM Onwards. To find out the ideal posting times for different days of the week, we analyzed 1000+ accounts. Here is what we found.
9 AM, 11 AM, 3 PM, 8 PM – 10 PM
7 AM, 11 AM, 2 PM, 5 PM
12 PM, 3 PM, 8 PM
9 AM, 12 PM, 3 PM
7 AM, 9 AM, 3 PM, 6 PM Onwards
9 AM, 10 AM, 1 PM, 6 PM Onwards
Fridays and Saturdays are generally the days of highest engagement for YouTube Shorts, with significant engagement also seen on Thursdays.
What are the Best Days and Times to Post YouTube Shorts?
You probably have a rough idea of the optimal YouTube Shorts posting time, but let’s break it down day by day so you can hit ‘publish’ at just the right moment.
Best Times to Post YouTube Shorts on Monday
The best times to post on Monday are 9 AM, 11 AM, 3 PM, and 8–10 PM.
Mondays are busy. People check their phones in the morning before starting work, during breaks, and in the evening when they’re finally relaxing after a long day.
Best Times to Post YouTube Shorts on Tuesday
The best times to post on Tuesday are 7 AM, 11 AM, 2 PM, and 5 PM.
By Tuesday, most people are settled into their weekly routine. Morning commutes, lunch breaks, and early evenings give you plenty of chances to catch them scrolling.
Best Times to Post YouTube Shorts on Wednesday
The best times to post on Wednesday are 12 PM, 3 PM, and 8 PM.
Midweek can feel a bit slow. Lunchtime and early afternoon breaks are perfect for a quick scroll, while evenings are great video posting timing for people relaxing after a long day.
Best Times to Post YouTube Shorts on Thursday
The best times to post on Thursday are 9 AM, 12 PM, and 3 PM.
Thursday has that “almost the weekend” vibe. People take more breaks and start thinking about weekend plans, making these times great for posting.
Best Times to Post YouTube Shorts on Friday
The best times to post on Friday are 7 AM, 9 AM, 3 PM, and 6 PM onwards.
By Friday, everyone’s ready to wind down. Early mornings work for commuters, while afternoons and evenings are perfect for the start of the weekend mood.
Best Times to Post YouTube Shorts on Saturday
The best times to post on Saturday are 9 AM, 10 AM, 1 PM, and 6 PM onwards.
Saturdays are relaxed. Morning posts catch people sipping coffee, and evenings are great after everyone’s done with their day’s plans.
Best Times to Post YouTube Shorts on Sunday
The best times to post on Sunday are 9 AM, 3 PM, 5 PM, and 9 PM.
Sundays are for chilling and preparing for the week ahead. Morning and afternoon posts work well, and evening slots catch people squeezing in some last-minute scrolling before bed.
Best Time To Post YouTube Shorts for Different Niches
When it comes to YouTube Shorts’ peak hours by day, you can observe that they vary according to different niches and industries, too. This is because the posting habits of people belonging to different niches are different.
Let’s have a look at when to post Shorts for max engagement depending on different industries or niches.
Fitness & Health
The best times to post are 6 AM – 9 AM and 5 PM – 8 PM.
People into fitness usually start their day early or hit the gym after work. Posting in the morning catches early risers getting their workout inspo, while evenings are great for those squeezing in a workout after a busy day.
Food
The best times to post are 7 AM – 1 PM and 5 PM – 7 PM.
Food content does best when people are thinking about meals — breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Morning to early afternoon works well for recipe ideas, and evenings are perfect for last-minute dinner inspiration.
Education
The best times to post are 8 AM – 12 PM, 3 PM – 4 PM, and 7 PM on weekdays.
Students and learners often watch educational content before classes, during short breaks, or while studying in the evening. Posting around these times helps you reach them when they’re in learning mode.
Entertainment
The best times to post are 7 AM, 12 PM – 2 PM, and 7 PM – 9 PM.
Entertainment Shorts are perfect for people looking for quick fun throughout the day — during breakfast, lunch breaks, or winding down in the evening.
Lifestyle
The best times to post are 12 PM – 2 PM and 7 PM – 9 PM.
Lifestyle content fits nicely into people’s midday breaks or relaxed evenings. Whether it’s beauty, fashion, or daily vlogs, these are the times your audience is most likely scrolling and engaging.
Technology
The best times to post are 12 PM – 3 PM and 7 PM – 10 PM (on Monday and Tuesday).
Tech lovers often check out new gadgets or reviews during lunch or after work. Posting early in the week during these windows helps you reach your audience when they’re looking for the latest updates.
Travel
The best times to post are 10 AM – 1 PM and 9 PM – 11 PM.
Travel content gets attention mid-morning when people daydream about their next trip, and at night when they’re scrolling and planning future getaways.
Finance & Investing
The best times to post are 7 AM – 9 AM and 6 PM – 9 PM.
Finance audiences often check markets and money tips first thing in the morning or after work. Posting at these times helps you catch them when financial planning is top of mind.
Business & Entrepreneurship
The best times to post are 6 AM – 9 AM and 8 PM – 11 PM.
Entrepreneurs and business-minded viewers start their day early and often wind down late. Early morning posts reach the go-getters starting their day, while late evening posts work well for those hustling after hours.
Best Times to Post YouTube Shorts by Location
Where your audience lives plays a big role in when they’re online. Time zones, daily routines, audience activity patterns, and even cultural habits can impact engagement.
Here’s a region-by-region breakdown of the YouTube Shorts upload schedule to help you post at just the right time.
What Are the Best Times to Post YouTube Shorts in the US?
📆 Weekends: 9–11 AM EST
In the U.S., mornings before work and evenings after are your best bet and are considered to be YouTube Shorts peak hours by day. People often scroll while commuting or relaxing after their shift. And on weekends, mid-morning is prime time when folks are sleeping in and taking it slow.
What Are the Best Times to Post YouTube Shorts in Canada?
📆 Weekends: 9–11 AM EST
Similar to the U.S., Canadian audiences are active before heading to work or school and again in the evening. Weekend mornings are perfect for grabbing their attention over a cup of coffee.
What Are the Best Times to Post YouTube Shorts in the UK?
📆 Weekends: 8–10 AM GMT
UK viewers tend to check their phones first thing in the morning and again after school or work. Weekend best time to post Shorts are generally between 8 AM to 10 AM.
What Are the Best Times to Post YouTube Shorts in Germany?
📆 Weekends: 9–11 AM CET
Germans are early risers and love their routines. Morning and late afternoon are the peak engagement windows to post, especially during commute hours.
What Are the Best Times to Post YouTube Shorts in India?
📆 Weekends: 10 AM–12 PM IST
Indian viewers are active before the workday begins and in the evening after dinner. On weekends, they’re more relaxed, making mid-morning the perfect time to post.
What Are the Best Times to Post YouTube Shorts in Japan?
📆 Weekends: 9–11 AM JST
Morning commutes and late evenings are ideal for Japanese audiences. Nighttime posts perform well as people unwind with their phones.
What Are the Best Times to Post YouTube Shorts in Australia?
📆 Weekends: 9–11 AM AEST
Australian users are most active before heading to work and during the post-work chill hours. On weekends, late morning is perfect while they relax at home or plan their day.
What Are the Best Times to Post YouTube Shorts in Brazil?
📆 Weekends: 9–11 AM BRT
In Brazil, early birds scroll before heading out, and evenings are for winding down with some light content. Weekend mornings are great for higher engagement.
What Are the Best Times to Post YouTube Shorts in Mexico?
📆 Weekends: 10 AM–12 PM CST
Mexican audiences love catching up on content either before their day begins or after work. On weekends, late mornings work best when people are chilling and browsing.
If you’re targeting a global audience and want to go for time-zone optimized posting, make sure to schedule your Shorts based on where your viewers are most active. And to make life easier, you can always use SocialBu’s scheduling feature to post at the best local times automatically.
How to Find the Best Time to Post YouTube Shorts?
While general tips are a great starting point, the truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all time to post. Your audience is unique, and to really make your Shorts pop, you’ll need to find your sweet spot.
That’s where tools like YouTube Analytics and SocialBu come in. Together, they help you go beyond the guesswork and actually turn your data into a smart, personalized posting strategy. Let’s walk through how to do it.
Step 1: Use YouTube Analytics
You can use YouTube Analytics to understand when your viewers are most active. Follow these steps to determine the YouTube analytics posting schedule:
- Sign in to your YouTube account, select your profile at the top-right corner and select YouTube Studio from the drop-down menu.
- Click on ‘Analytics’ in the left-hand menu.
- In the Analytics section, go to the ‘Audience’ tab.
- Look for the ‘When your viewers are on YouTube’ report. This report shows the days and times when your audience is most active. The dark purple bars indicate the highest activity.
Step 2: Experiment with Different Times
Now that you’ve got a rough idea of when your audience is active, it’s time to test it out. Don’t just pick one time and hope for the best — try a few and see what actually works. Here’s how you can do it with SocialBu:
Based on your YouTube Analytics, choose different times — maybe one in the morning, one in the afternoon, and one in the evening.
- Head over to SocialBu. Select “New Post” from the top.
- Choose “YouTube” as the platform of your choice. Add a description for your YouTube Shorts and select what you want to post.
- Click the “drop-down” menu next to “Option” and select the box before “Post as Short.”
- Once you are done with the edits, select “Schedule” at the bottom and choose a date and time for your YouTube Shorts to go live.
You can pre-plan and schedule multiple YouTube Shorts at different times to finally decide a time that works best for you.
Step 3: Monitor Performance
Once your Shorts are going out at different times, it’s time to track what’s working and what’s not.
Here’s how to monitor performance using SocialBu:
- Head to your SocialBu’s dashboard.
- Select “Analyze” from the left pane.
- Here you can view the engagement on your YouTube videos, find out how well your hashtags are performing, and even view the top-performing YouTube Shorts.
Using this data, you can adjust your posting strategy and increase engagement and views on your YouTube Shorts.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, timing does matter — but it doesn’t have to be a guessing game. By using a mix of YouTube Analytics and SocialBu, you can figure out exactly when your audience is most likely to watch, engage, and share your content.
Whether you’re posting fitness clips at sunrise or funny fails at midnight, what matters most is posting consistently — and that’s where SocialBu truly shines. With its smart scheduler and performance tracking tools, you can plan, post, and grow without the stress.
So if you’re ready to stop guessing and start growing, give SocialBu a try and start scheduling your YouTube Shorts like a pro.
Your content deserves to be seen — and now you’ve got the timing to match!
FAQs
What Is the Best Time for Uploading Shorts on YouTube?
The best posting times depend on your audience’s demographics, but they usually fall between 12 PM to 3 PM and 7 PM to 10 PM.
How to Go Viral on YouTube Shorts?
To go viral on YouTube Shorts:
- Create unique, attention-grabbing content
- Use catchy music and sound effects
- Time your upload strategically (see above)
- Engage with your audience through comments and responses
- Promote your Shorts on social media and other platforms
How to Get More Views in YouTube Shorts?
To get more views on YouTube Shorts:
- Optimize your title, description, and tags with relevant keywords
- Use a social media management tool such as SocialBu
- Use eye-catching thumbnails
- Create high-quality, engaging content
- Utilize YouTube’s features, such as polls, quizzes, and questions
What Are Peak Hours for YouTube?
Peak hours often range from late afternoon to early evening, around 2-4 PM or 6-8 PM, depending on your audience’s time zone.
How to Boost YouTube Views?
To boost YouTube views, create high-quality, engaging content that resonates with your target audience. Optimize your title, description, and tags with relevant keywords, and use eye-catching thumbnails to grab viewers’ attention.
Can I Upload 10 Shorts on YouTube per Day?
Yes, but it’s recommended to upload no more than 5-10 Shorts per day to avoid overwhelming your audience.
How to Get 3 Million Views on YouTube Shorts?
To get 3 million views on YouTube Shorts:
- Create unique, attention-grabbing content
- Utilize YouTube’s features, such as polls, quizzes, and questions
- Promote your Shorts on social media and other platforms
- Engage with your audience through comments and responses
- Collaborate with other creators or influencers