Revealed: The best time to post on YouTube to get more views & subscribers is…

In a recent survey conducted by Birdeye, we discovered that 36% of respondents consider YouTube the most crucial social media platform for establishing their online presence. This sentiment isn’t surprising, given that YouTube boasts 2.70 billion monthly active users as of 2024. With the platform witnessing millions of new videos daily, strategic planning becomes imperative to stand out. 

That is why knowing the best time to post on YouTube is imperative to those aiming to maximize their reach and engagement. 

So, when exactly is the best time to hit that upload button and captivate your audience? Let’s delve deeper and know the optimal posting schedules tailored for different days of the week and different industries. 

What is the best time to post on YouTube? 

Based on industry research and analysis, the optimal times to post on YouTube typically are weekdays, specifically during: 

• Early mornings (around 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM) 
• Late afternoons (from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM)

These timeframes coincide with periods when viewers are likely to check their YouTube subscriptions before starting their day or unwinding after work or school.

But that’s not all. Let’s find out the best time to post on YouTube for each day of the week. 

Best time to post YouTube Shorts

The most accurate timing for posting YouTube Shorts varies. However, general trends suggest that posting during peak activity periods:

• Early mornings (around 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM)
• Late afternoons (around 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM)
• During lunchtime (around 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM)

We advise you to experiment extensively to determine the most accurate timing for maximizing engagement with your YouTube Shorts.

Best time to post on YouTube per day of the week

The best time to upload to YouTube on each day of the week is as follows:

Best time to post on YouTube on Monday

• Mornings (8:00 AM – 11:00 AM): Jump-start your week by posting your content early in the morning when viewers catch up on their favorite channels before starting their workday.

• Evenings (5:00 PM – 9:00 PM): As the workday winds down, many people unwind by scrolling through YouTube. Posting in the evening can catch the attention of both students and professionals seeking entertainment.

Best time to post on YouTube on Tuesday

• Late mornings (10:00 AM – 12:00 PM): On Tuesdays, viewers may be easing into their week, making late mornings a prime time to capture their attention.

• Afternoons (2:00 PM – 4:00 PM): Post-lunch breaks and mid-afternoon slumps create opportunities for viewers to engage with your content.

Best time to post on YouTube on Wednesday

• Early afternoons (12:00 PM – 2:00 PM): By midweek, people may be looking for distractions during their lunch break, making early afternoons a favorable time to post.

• Evenings (6:00 PM – 9:00 PM): Midweek fatigue sets in, prompting viewers to unwind with YouTube content in the evening.

Best time to post on YouTube on Thursday

• Mid-mornings (9:00 AM – 11:00 AM): With the weekend on the horizon, viewers are eager for fresh content to get them through the day.

• Late afternoons (3:00 PM – 5:00 PM): As the workday winds down, viewers are more likely to engage with content before heading home.

Best time to post on YouTube on Friday

• Early afternoons (1:00 PM – 3:00 PM): Friday afternoons are ideal for posting content as viewers anticipate the weekend.

• Evenings (5:00 PM – 8:00 PM): Whether winding down after work or preparing for a night out, viewers actively seek entertainment on Friday evenings.

Best time to post on YouTube on Saturday

• Late mornings (10:00 AM – 12:00 PM): Many viewers use Saturday mornings to catch up on their favorite content after a busy week.

• Early afternoons (1:00 PM – 3:00 PM): People are more likely to be online, looking for entertainment options as the day progresses.

Best time to post on YouTube on Sunday

• Brunch time (11:00 AM – 1:00 PM): Sunday mornings often involve a leisurely brunch, making it an opportune time to post content for viewers to enjoy during their relaxed weekend routines.

• Late afternoons (4:00 PM – 6:00 PM): As the weekend approaches, viewers may be looking for ways to wind down before the start of the new week, making late Sunday afternoons an ideal posting time.

Weekends offer more flexibility in posting times, as viewers have more free time to engage with content. Experiment with different posting schedules on Saturdays and Sundays to determine when your audience is most active and receptive to your videos.

Ultimately, the best time to upload on YouTube may vary depending on your audience’s behavior and preferences. Regularly monitoring your analytics and experimenting with different posting times can help you identify the most optimal schedule for effectively reaching and engaging your audience. 

Best times to post on YouTube for different industries

In our article about the best time to post on social media per platform, we shared that the best times to post on YouTube can vary depending on the industry and target audience. 

Understanding your audience’s unique viewing habits and preferences within your industry is key to determining the optimal posting times. 

Here are some general industry guidelines:

Business and education

• Weekdays: Late mornings (10:00 AM – 12:00 PM) and early afternoons (1:00 PM – 3:00 PM) when professionals and students take breaks and seek educational content.
• Weekends: Sunday evenings (6:00 PM – 9:00 PM) when individuals may catch up on learning and career-related videos.

Entertainment and lifestyle

• Weekdays: Late afternoons and evenings (4:00 PM – 9:00 PM) when viewers are winding down after work or school.
• Weekends: Saturday mornings (9:00 AM – 11:00 AM) and Sunday afternoons (1:00 PM – 4:00 PM) when people have more leisure time.

Tech and gaming

• Weekdays: Evenings (6:00 PM – 10:00 PM) when gamers and tech enthusiasts are most active after school or work.
• Weekends: Friday evenings (7:00 PM – 10:00 PM) and Saturday afternoons (12:00 PM – 4:00 PM) when gaming and tech communities engage in longer sessions.

Fitness and wellness

• Weekdays: Early mornings (6:00 AM – 9:00 AM) when viewers are looking for workout routines and motivation to start their day.
• Weekends: Sunday mornings (8:00 AM – 11:00 AM) and afternoons (2:00 PM – 5:00 PM) when people have more time for self-care and fitness activities.

Restaurants and hospitality

• Weekdays: Evenings (5:00 PM – 8:00 PM) when viewers plan meals and look for recipe inspiration.
• Weekends: Saturday afternoons (1:00 PM – 4:00 PM) and Sunday evenings (5:00 PM – 8:00 PM) when people have more time to experiment with cooking.

Automotive

• Weekdays: Early evenings (4:00 PM – 7:00 PM) when car enthusiasts and potential buyers research vehicles after work.
• Weekends: Saturday mornings (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM) when people have time for leisure activities like watching car reviews and DIY maintenance tutorials.

Healthcare

• Weekdays: Late mornings (10:00 AM – 12:00 PM) and early afternoons (1:00 PM – 3:00 PM) when individuals may take breaks at work or school to seek health-related information.
• Weekends: Sunday evenings (6:00 PM – 9:00 PM) when people have time to focus on self-care and wellness.

Dental

• Weekdays: Mid-mornings (9:00 AM – 11:00 AM) when individuals are likely to schedule appointments and research dental care options.
• Weekends: Saturday mornings (10:00 AM – 12:00 PM) when families may plan dental check-ups or seek oral hygiene tips together.

Real Estate

• Weekdays: Late mornings (10:00 AM – 12:00 PM) and early afternoons (1:00 PM – 3:00 PM) when potential homebuyers may be browsing listings during work breaks or lunchtime.
• Weekends: Saturday mornings (9:00 AM – 11:00 AM) and afternoons (2:00 PM – 4:00 PM) when people have more time for property viewings and open houses.

Legal

• Weekdays: Early afternoons (12:00 PM – 2:00 PM) and evenings (5:00 PM – 7:00 PM) when individuals may have legal questions or seek legal advice after work or during their lunch break.
• Weekends: Sunday evenings (4:00 PM – 6:00 PM) when people have time to research legal matters or plan consultations for the upcoming week.

Insurance

• Weekdays: Late mornings (10:00 AM – 12:00 PM) and early afternoons (1:00 PM – 3:00 PM) when individuals may review insurance policies or research coverage options during work breaks.
• Weekends: Saturday mornings (9:00 AM – 11:00 AM) and afternoons (3:00 PM – 5:00 PM) when people have time to compare insurance quotes and make purchasing decisions.

These suggested posting times serve as starting points for different industries. Use social media monitoring and experiment with different posting times to determine the best times to reach and engage your target audience. 

How to find the best time to post on your YouTube channel?

Finding your YouTube channel’s best time to post involves analyzing audience behavior, monitoring engagement metrics, and experimenting with different posting schedules. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Analyze audience demographics

Use YouTube Analytics to gain insights into your audience demographics, including their location, age, and interests. Understanding who your viewers are can help you tailor your posting schedule to their preferences.

2. Review engagement metrics

Analyze your channel’s engagement metrics, such as watch time, views, likes, comments, and shares. Look for patterns and trends in when your videos receive the most engagement.

3. Identify peak activity periods

Use YouTube Analytics to determine the times and days of the week when your audience is most active. Look for spikes in viewership and engagement metrics to identify peak activity periods.

4. Experiment with posting times

Conduct A/B testing by posting videos at different times and days of the week. Monitor how each video performs regarding views, watch time, likes, comments, and shares.

5. Track performance metrics

Continuously monitor your videos’ performance metrics to assess the impact of different posting times on engagement and viewership. Track which posting times generate the highest engagement and adjust your posting schedule accordingly.

6. Engage with your audience

Pay attention to viewer feedback and comments to gauge their preferences and interests. Engage with your audience and ask for their input on when they prefer to watch your videos.

7. Stay consistent

Once you’ve identified your channel’s best time to post, stick to a consistent posting schedule to maintain audience engagement and loyalty. Consistency is key to building a loyal audience and growing your channel.

Our customers, their stories:

“We totally depend on Birdeye's social media calendar. We schedule out our content in advance, which is super helpful. Although we like to say we pride ourselves on each practice operating independently for things like holiday hours, we do create bulk messages and posts that can be used across multiple locations. This saves us a ton of time. It creates a consistency and it's super convenient to log into one dashboard and see everything that's scheduled across different platforms.”

– Meghan Bingham, Senior Operations Manager, Valley Veterinary Care

Tips to maximize YouTube views and subscribers

1. Create eye-catching thumbnails and titles that entice viewers to click on your videos. Use clear imagery and text that accurately represent your content and pique viewers’ curiosity.

2. Use relevant keywords in your video titles, descriptions, and tags to improve discoverability and search rankings. Research popular search terms and trends in your niche to optimize your content for maximum visibility.

3. Share your YouTube videos on your social media channels, website, and email newsletter to reach a wider audience. Encourage viewers to subscribe to your channel and engage with your content by liking, commenting, and sharing.

4. Engage with your audience to create a sense of community by responding to comments, asking for feedback, and incorporating viewer suggestions into your content. Doing this leads to increased loyalty and engagement.

5. Collaborate with other YouTubers in your niche to expose your channel to new audiences and attract more subscribers. Go on guest appearances or offer shout-outs to leverage each other’s audiences and grow your subscriber base.

Why stop only at YouTube? Maximize your reach across social media platforms and know: 

• What’s the best time to post on Twitter 
• When’s the best time to post on Instagram 

FAQs on what is the best time to post on YouTube

Stay consistent and post on multiple platforms at the best time with Birdeye Social

Mastering the best time to post on YouTube is crucial for maximizing your channel’s visibility and engagement. With Birdeye Social, businesses can streamline their social media management efforts and ensure consistent posting at optimal times across multiple platforms. 

By leveraging Birdeye Social’s advanced features, businesses can:

• Schedule posts for peak engagement times
• Analyze audience behavior and preferences
• Manage multiple platforms from one dashboard
• Optimize content strategy for maximum reach
• Enhance brand visibility and grow audience
• Seamlessly integrate with 3,000+ CRM systems 

Let Birdeye help you schedule your YouTube videos to post at the best times.