Understanding the best time to post on YouTube: Australia Edition

YouTube has become the go-to platform for businesses seeking to post videos and capture the attention of their target audience. But changing algorithms and evolving user behavior have significantly increased the challenges in succeeding here. For Australian businesses, understanding the best time to post on YouTube in Australia can break the pattern of struggle. 

By identifying the peak engagement times of your target audience, you can tailor your posting schedule to maximize views, boost subscriber growth, and cultivate a more loyal following.  

Here’s why posting time matters on YouTube

The YouTube algorithm (like most social media platforms) prioritizes content that gets early engagement. If you post a video (longform or YouTube Shorts) when your audience is asleep or inactive, you lose out on the initial clicks or views. As a result, your content may suffer, regardless of its quality.
Posting during peak hours gives your YouTube videos the visibility boost they need to generate more watch time and appear higher in recommendations.

In this blog, you’ll learn the exact posting times that work in Australia for YouTube, tailored by day, industry, and campaign needs. We’ll also show you how to use YouTube Studio, Birdeye Social AI, and other tools to perfect your YouTube posting schedule and boost your channel’s reach.

Is there a best time to upload to YouTube?

Yes, there is, especially if you want your YouTube videos to gain traction within the first few hours of posting. The best time to post is when your target audience is online, actively browsing, and ready to engage. Posting at the right time increases the chances your video content appears on homepages, in “Up Next” suggestions, or even gets pushed to the YouTube algorithm’s recommended feed.

Why timing matters for your YouTube strategy:

• Boosts initial engagement: Early likes, comments, and views signal the YouTube algorithm to work in your favor. This helps rank your video content higher.
• Increases watch time quickly: Posting during peak hours maximizes early watch time, which is a key signal of video performance.
• Reaches your audience in real-time: Your audience demographics are more likely to watch videos and stay engaged if you post when they’re most active.
• Drives sustained traction: A well-timed video on YouTube can continue to attract views for days, extending its relevance and reach.

But timing isn’t universal. Factors such as time zones, video format, content type, and even competition from trending videos influence the optimal posting times for your niche. This is why knowing the posting schedule that aligns with your viewers’ audience’s viewing habits, especially for Australian YouTube users, is critical.

When is the best time to post on YouTube Australia: A quick glance

Based on aggregated insights from YouTube strategists and platform research data, the best time to post on YouTube Australia falls into three consistent engagement windows throughout the week:

• Morning slot: 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM AEST
• Midday slot: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM AEST
• Evening slot: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM AEST

These optimal posting times are aligned with typical Australian audience demographics (students during commutes, professionals on lunch breaks, and families browsing YouTube after work). P

Posting right before these peak hours allows your YouTube videos to gain early watch time and surface prominently in feeds.

Here’s a quick reference table to plan your YouTube posting schedule:

Why these times work:

• Videos gain traction during free time and commutes.
• Early engagement metrics help the YouTube algorithm push your content further.
• Scheduling around these posting times ensures visibility during key watch time windows.

 Up next, we break down each day’s strategy in more detail, helping you fine-tune your posting schedule based on your target audience.

The best time to post on YouTube Australia: Day-wise update

No account sees the same engagement on YouTube every day; there are good days and bad days. 

Monday may start slowly, while Sunday evenings tend to see higher binge-watch patterns. In this section, we break down the optimal time to post on YouTube for Australian accounts for each day, explain why that timing is effective, and how it fits into your broader YouTube posting schedule.

The best time to post on YouTube Australia: Monday

Best times: 8 AM, 1 PM, 6–8 PM (AEST)

Monday mornings are about starting the week strong, for both business channels and YouTube users. Posting at 8 AM targets early commuters and mobile users catching up on video content. And since most people like to watch light and quickly digestible content, this is your spot if you post YouTube Shorts. 

The 1 PM slot captures lunch breaks, while 6–8 PM aligns with Australia’s peak streaming hours, when most people watch videos to unwind after work.

The best time to post on YouTube Australia: Tuesday

Best times: 8–9 AM, 2 PM, 7–8 PM (AEST)

Tuesdays tend to have steadier audience retention than Mondays on YouTube videos. Viewers are settled into their weekly rhythm and more likely to watch longer videos during breaks or in the evening. When you upload YouTube videos during the mid-morning or early afternoon period, it ensures your YouTube videos get indexed and gain traction before the evening peak hours.

The best time to post on YouTube Australia: Wednesday

Best times: 8 AM, 1 PM, 7–8 PM (AEST)

YouTube analytics across industries show that Midweek is a content sweet spot, with Wednesday standing out for the best traction during the early morning and evening hours. 

Engagement tends to rise as people start planning for the weekend. Businesses should ideally post YouTube videos just before lunch and again ahead of prime time, as this gives your videos the edge in watch time and visibility. It’s a good day for educational and how-to video content that viewers consume during focused breaks.

The best time to post on YouTube Australia: Thursday

Best times: 9 AM, 2 PM, 7–9 PM (AEST)

Thursdays also offer high engagement from niche audiences, following the midweek bump most accounts see. By closely monitoring your YouTube analytics dashboard for this day, you can ensure your best video content reaches the intended audience.

Posting in the late morning and evening helps you capitalize on both scroll-happy users and subscribers with more free time.

The best time to post on YouTube Australia: Friday

Best times: 9 AM, 1–2 PM, 6 PM (AEST)

Fridays are transition days, marking the shift from work mode to a weekend mindset. Users are still active during the day but tend to wind down early. Posting before 2 PM allows your YouTube content to ride the wave into after-work views, giving it longevity into Saturday morning.

The best time to post on YouTube Australia: Saturday

Best times: 10–11 AM, 1 PM, 6–8 PM (AEST)

Saturday is prime time for longer videos and binge-worthy series. People scroll in bed, browse between errands, or dive into deep content by evening. Post during late morning to land on their watchlist and hit your stride during evening peak viewing hours.

The best time to post on YouTube Australia: Sunday

Best times: 10 AM, 4 PM, 7–9 PM (AEST)

Sundays are perfect for grabbing attention before the workweek begins. Many YouTube users catch up on missed videos and prepare for Monday. Posting by 10 AM ensures early visibility, while afternoon and evening slots benefit from extended watch time as people wind down.

Each day has its rhythm, and so should your YouTube posting schedule. Businesses need to understand what the industry demands of them, but also consistently analyze their YouTube performance to determine the best times to post on YouTube to reach their target audience. 

The best time to post on YouTube Australia for different industries

Not all content serves the same purpose, and not all audiences behave the same way. A real estate walk-through won’t hit the same posting time sweet spot as a dental care explainer or a chef’s recipe short. This section breaks down the best time to post on YouTube Australia by industry so you can tailor your posting schedule to when your viewers are most likely to watch videos and take action.

The best time to post on YouTube Australia for healthcare

Best times: 8–9 AM or 12–1 PM (AEST)

People seeking healthcare information often browse YouTube videos during their morning routines or lunch breaks to research symptoms, treatments, or local practices. Educational video content like FAQs, procedures, and practitioner intros tends to perform well in the mornings when users are more receptive to how-to content and wellness advice.

The best time to post on YouTube Australia for restaurants

Best times: 11 AM–12 PM or 7–8 PM (AEST)

Food-related content thrives just before meal times, when cravings peak and people start searching for takeout, dine-in, or recipes. They typically perform across all content formats, including behind-the-scenes kitchen footage, chef tips, and new dishes. 

You can always experiment with different content types and keep it engaging if you post YouTube Shorts regularly for your audience. 

The best time to post on YouTube Australia for real estate businesses (Agents and property management firms)

Best times: 9–10 AM, 3–4 PM, or 6 PM (AEST)

Prospective buyers, tenants, and investors often start browsing YouTube content in the morning or during lunch breaks and then revisit options after work. Property tours, neighborhood overviews, and long-form videos on financing tips get higher watch time during these windows when the audience is relaxed and more focused.

The best time to post on YouTube Australia for home services

Best times: 8–9 AM or 1–2 PM (AEST)

Homeowners researching repairs or upgrades tend to browse during the day, often during project planning or service downtimes. Post YouTube videos for this niche early so they’re discoverable before decision-makers call for quotes or start comparison shopping.

The best time to post on YouTube Australia for professional service firms

Best times: 8 AM or 1–2 PM (AEST)

For professional service firms (Legal, accounting, and consulting firms) that post videos, benefit from sharing educational content during working hours, when business owners and professionals are looking for credible advice. 

Businesses that upload videos before or during lunchtime slots allow their content to reach viewers while they browse between meetings or tasks.

In the next section, we’ll explore how you can move ahead from generic industry standards to discover your optimal posting times for your YouTube channel. By using tools like YouTube Studio and Birdeye Social AI, you can refine your YouTube posting schedule based on your channel’s unique data.

How to find the best time to post on YouTube Australia for your channel

While general timing guidelines are helpful, your channel’s performance depends on your unique audience demographics, time zones, and content format. Fortunately, platforms like YouTube Studio and tools like Birdeye Social AI offer powerful insights to tailor your YouTube posting schedule with precision.

Let’s explore how each works.

YouTube Studio

YouTube Studio offers free, built-in analytics that can help you pinpoint your optimal posting time. In the Audience tab, you’ll find a heatmap showing when your audience watched your YouTube videos. This is your golden reference point; it helps identify your peak hours, including which days and time slots deliver the most watch time and engagement.

How to use it:

• Navigate to YouTube Studio → Analytics → Audience tab
• Look for “When your viewers are on YouTube.”
• Choose posting times 1–2 hours before peak activity
• Monitor changes week over week for evolving audience’s viewing habits

Pro Tip: Don’t rely on a single week’s data. Use 4–6 weeks of viewer data to get a reliable picture. Also, closely monitor performance to confirm whether those posting times are truly effective for your channel. 

Birdeye Social AI

For multi-location businesses and brands managing content across social media platforms, Birdeye Social AI offers a deeper layer of precision. It utilizes GenAI to recommend the optimal time to post on YouTube for each location and audience segment across Australia. It also helps you craft better video content, captions, and hashtags based on past video performance.

What you can do with Birdeye Social AI:

• Analyze audience demographics across regions and time zones
• Identify posting time matter patterns based on engagement trends
• Automate and schedule YouTube videos posted to match viewer behavior
• Compare posting times across other social media platforms

If you manage multiple locations or serve a global audience, Birdeye helps unify your YouTube posting schedule while adapting to each business location’s audience behavior.

How to use the best time to post on YouTube Australia for your marketing campaigns

Whether you’re launching a product, promoting seasonal offers, or building brand authority, aligning your YouTube posting schedule with the audience’s viewing habits can significantly improve video performance and campaign ROI.

Here’s how to integrate posting time into your broader marketing strategy:

Streamline your YouTube posting schedule

A consistent posting schedule trains your YouTube subscribers (and the YouTube algorithm) to expect new content at regular intervals. Schedule videos for your best-performing slots and stick to a cadence—whether that’s weekly, biweekly, or multiple times a week.

Here is what you can do to streamline YouTube schedules: 

• Prioritize peak hours uncovered via YouTube analytics
• Use posting templates by content type: Shorts in the afternoon, long-form videos in the evening, etc.
• Batch content creation so you never miss your optimal time

Automate YouTube uploads

Tools like YouTube Studio or Birdeye Social AI allow you to schedule videos in advance, ensuring you never miss a sweet spot for engagement, even during weekends or holidays.

Some best practices to follow are: 

• Set uploads 1–2 hours before your target peak viewing hours
• Pre-schedule content for holidays or campaigns that span time zones
• Maintain frequency even across multiple social media platforms

Understand the audience demographics and patterns in detail

Deepen your insights beyond basic viewer data. Examine how audience demographics evolve, including age, location, and the shift from mobile to desktop, and adjust your content timing accordingly.

• Target mobile users with quick YouTube Shorts during commutes
• Launch tutorials when professionals are online (e.g., lunchtime on weekdays)
• Review engagement metrics to refine your timing and content type

Customize content for different time zones

Businesses can consider publishing YouTube videos over a staggered release or opt for multiple uploads across different time zones, especially if they intend to reach beyond one state or a specific region in Australia. 

Here is how you can make the most of this concept: 

• Use YouTube analytics to identify the majority time zone of your top viewers
• Localize your posting times for franchises or regional businesses
• Coordinate cross-channel campaigns by aligning posts across all social platforms

Mastering posting time isn’t just about one viral hit; it’s about creating predictable momentum that can bring results for your business. 

Conclusion

Figuring out the best time to post on YouTube Australia isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a marketing essential. Whether you’re running a clinic, a real estate firm, or a national brand, aligning your YouTube posting schedule with when your target audience is most active can significantly boost watch time, improve video performance, and help your videos reach a broader audience of the right viewers.

From leveraging YouTube Studio insights to automating campaigns with tools like Birdeye Social AI, the key is consistency, timing, and staying tuned into your audience’s behavior.

FAQs on how to find the best time to post on YouTube Australia

Grow your YouTube channel in Australia with Birdeye

Looking to scale your YouTube channel across multiple business locations or boost your social presence with smarter, AI-powered publishing?

With Birdeye Social AI, you can:

• Discover the best time to post for every audience segment
• Automate your YouTube posting schedule and cross-post to other social platforms
• Use GenAI to optimize your video title, hashtags, and post captions
• Access real-time analytics to refine your engagement metrics

Try Birdeye Social AI and turn your YouTube strategy into a repeatable growth engine.