Best Time to Post on YouTube in 2025 (Backed by 2M+ Posts)

Are you striving to boost engagement on your YouTube channel? With over 2.5 billion active users, standing out requires more than great content; it demands perfect timing.

At RecurPost, we analyzed 2 million YouTube videos posted over the past 3 months, up to June 2025, to uncover exactly when uploads perform best. The findings are clear: posting at the right time can lead to 2x to 3x more engagement, purely through better alignment with audience behavior.

This guide, developed by RecurPost’s social media marketing experts, reveals the best time to post on YouTube in 2025. Backed by real posting data, it helps creators and marketers schedule their videos for maximum reach, views, and subscriber growth without guessing.

Whether you’re starting out or refining your existing strategy, this guide helps YouTubers maximize reach and viewership. Proper timing ensures your videos stand out and attract more viewers.

• Time Zone
• Type of Content
• Occupation
• Age group

Best Time to Post on YouTube in 2025 According to Days of the Week

This section shares the best times for YouTube for each day of the week. These times, while influenced by US west coast patterns, serve as a general guide for worldwide audiences.

Is Monday a Good Day to Post on YouTube?

The Best Time to Post on YouTube on Monday is between 13:00 and 15:00.

Engagement on Monday starts relatively low during early morning hours, but begins to pick up after 06:00, showing over 4x growth compared to the previous few hours. The late morning hours maintain moderate performance, but a noticeable surge occurs between 13:00 and 15:00, where interaction reaches its Monday peak, typically hitting 3x higher engagement than the early baseline.

After 15:00, engagement gradually declines, dipping back to moderate levels by the early evening. Evening slots from 17:00 to 21:00 remain stable but do not match the earlier peak, and interaction slows significantly by 22:00 onward.

Compared to other days, Monday performs stronger than both Saturday and Sunday during the early and mid-morning, but is outpaced by Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in the afternoon slots.

Best Times to Upload YouTube Videos on Tuesday

The Best Time to Post on YouTube on Tuesday is 06:00, 13:00–15:00.

Tuesday shows an exceptionally strong early surge at 06:00, outperforming most weekday mornings with more than 2x the engagement of Monday’s peak hour. The spike indicates a large segment of users consuming content before the traditional workday starts.

Activity picks up again from 13:00, where a strong afternoon cluster builds through 14:00 and 15:00, maintaining high interaction levels that rival the early morning peak.

Even 05:00 posts show early promise, giving creators flexibility to test pre-dawn scheduling. While engagement slowly declines post-16:00, 19:00 still holds above-average activity, and 23:00 surprisingly outperforms midday hours, hinting at late-night scrolling behavior.

Compared to Monday, Tuesday consistently performs higher across early morning and early afternoon, making it a more favorable day for both short-form and long-form video uploads.

Best Times to Upload YouTube Videos on Wednesday

The Best Time to Post on YouTube on Wednesday is 06:00, 13:00–15:00.

Wednesday delivers one of the strongest early morning peaks of the entire week, with 06:00 alone seeing a 3x+ engagement spike compared to the next active hour. This suggests a large viewer segment starts their midweek routine with video content.

After a brief dip mid-morning, engagement rebounds significantly from 13:00, hitting consistent highs through 14:00 and 15:00, with only a slight taper into 16:00. This mid-afternoon block is ideal for scheduled uploads, outperforming Monday and Tuesday during the same window.

Evening hours begin to decline post-17:00, making earlier uploads more strategic. Still, 19:00 holds mild potential, especially for entertainment-focused content.

Is Thursday a Good Day to Post on YouTube?

The Best Time to Post on YouTube on Thursday is 06:00, 13:00–15:00.

Thursday engagement begins steadily but surges at 06:00, capturing early viewers with numbers that mirror Tuesday’s top performance and outshine Monday by over 2x.

From 13:00 to 15:00, a strong, consistent engagement streak makes this block ideal for scheduled releases. Each of these hours sustains nearly equal interaction, forming a continuous high-visibility window.

Late morning at 11:00–12:00 also sees substantial viewer activity, serving as a reliable secondary window for content.

Evening uploads remain effective at 18:00 and 19:00, though less so than the afternoon highs. Beyond 20:00, interaction drops sharply, and posts in these late-night slots underperform compared to all prior hours.

Compared to Monday and Wednesday, Thursday stands out for both its early morning and sustained midday performance.

YouTube’s Best Posting Times on Friday

The Best Time to Post on YouTube on Friday is at 06:00, 13:00–15:00, and 21:00.

Friday delivers a consistent surge in viewer activity starting from 06:00, making it a powerful early launch day, matching and slightly outpacing Thursday’s top performance.

From 13:00 through 15:00, engagement holds steady at its highest levels, making this one of the most potent afternoon windows in the week. All three hours deliver nearly identical results, providing a reliable and high-impact time slot.

Surprisingly, 21:00 shows a strong secondary peak, unlike most other days, where engagement tapers off sharply at night. This makes Friday night uniquely viable for late uploads targeting post-work audiences.

Friday outperforms Monday, Wednesday, and even Tuesday in multiple slots, making it one of the most strategically important days to publish on YouTube in 2025.

Ideal Times to Post YouTube Videos on Saturday

The Best Time to Post on YouTube on Saturday is 02:00, 06:00–12:00, and 13:00–15:00.

Saturday begins with an unusual but powerful engagement spike at 02:00, ideal for creators targeting global audiences or late-night viewers.

From morning (06:00) through noon, viewer activity remains strong and steady, aligning with weekend routines and increased leisure time.

The 13:00–15:00 window on Saturday delivers exceptional performance, marking one of the top three engagement blocks of the entire week. These afternoon hours consistently yield above-average results, making them highly valuable for reaching relaxed weekend audiences.

Saturday’s engagement pattern proves it to be a powerful weekend publishing day, with competitive performance from early morning to late afternoon, rivaling both Thursday and Friday.

Is Sunday a Good Fun to Post on YouTube?

• Answer: Yes, posting on Sunday is highly beneficial.

The Best Time to Post on YouTube on Sunday is 06:00, 10:00–12:00, and 13:00–15:00.

Sunday builds momentum early, starting strong from 06:00, and leading into a reliable mid-morning phase between 10:00 and 12:00, ideal for creators targeting weekend planners and relaxed viewers.

The 13:00 to 15:00 window on Sunday is the highlight, delivering some of the highest engagement all week. It rivals the peak blocks of Friday and Saturday, consistently delivering 3x engagement compared to low-activity periods.

Evening hours gradually taper, suggesting afternoon is the true prime time for Sunday uploads. Posting before 16:00 ensures maximum visibility before attention starts to fade.

Summary of optimal posting times:

Best Day to Post on YouTube

Sunday has now emerged as one of the best days to post on YouTube, based on updated data. With consistently strong performance from early morning to mid-afternoon, Sunday content captures viewers during their relaxed downtime. Engagement peaks between 13:00 and 15:00, showing up to 3x the interaction levels compared to baseline hours. This late morning to early afternoon slot makes Sunday ideal for maximizing views and interaction before the workweek resumes.

Thursday still performs well, particularly in the early afternoon. However, Sunday outperforms Thursday across a broader period, especially in engagement depth during midday blocks.

Best Time to Post on YouTube on Weekends

On weekends, the best time to post is between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM, with peak spikes at 13:00–15:00 on both Saturday and Sunday. Unlike weekdays, viewer behavior on weekends favors longer browsing and higher session duration, especially in the afternoon when users are relaxed and more engaged.

• Saturday sees a strong build-up starting at 10:00, with sustained high interaction through 14:00–15:00, making it a strategic window for uploads.
  
• Sunday matches or even exceed this trend, with an earlier ramp-up beginning at 06:00 and peaking at 13:00–15:00, showing 3x engagement compared to early morning or late evening slots.
  

For creators, this means posting before 12:00 PM on weekends ensures maximum visibility and aligns well with viewer behavior trends observed across 2 million analyzed videos.

Best time to post on YouTube in 2025 by location

What Is the Best Time to Post on YouTube in the United States?

• Timing: 3 PM to 6 PM
• Insight: This timeframe captures American viewers as they finish their workday and begin their evening routines, making it an excellent opportunity for engagement as they seek entertainment and relaxation.

When Should You Post on YouTube in Canada?

• Timing: 3 PM to 6 PM EST
• Insight: Like the U.S., the late afternoon to early evening is optimal in Canada for reaching viewers as they unwind from the day’s activities, providing a strategic window for maximizing views and engagement.
• Canada-Specific Patterns: Canadian viewers show particularly strong engagement on weekday evenings between 4 PM and 5 PM local time across all provinces. For weekend content, 10 AM to 12 PM on Saturdays and Sundays yields the highest engagement rates. Content creators targeting specific Canadian regions should note that Atlantic provinces tend to engage earlier in the day, while western provinces show stronger evening viewing patterns.

What Are the Optimal Times to Post on YouTube in the United Kingdom?

• Timing: 2 PM to 4 PM GMT
• Insight: The late afternoon in the UK is prime for catching viewers who are looking for a midday break or a distraction as they wind down their workday, effective for both full-length videos and YouTube Shorts.

Discover the Best Time to Post on YouTube Across Europe

• Timing: 2 PM to 4 PM CET
• Insight: Mid to late afternoon is when European viewers are most likely taking breaks or finishing their workday, making it an ideal time to post content that can capture their attention and encourage engagement.

What Is the Best Time to Post on YouTube in Australia?

• Timing: 8 AM to 11 AM AEST
• Insight: Australian viewers prefer starting their day with fresh content. Posting in the morning hours captures this audience when they are most receptive and likely to engage deeply with new videos. To further refine your posting strategy across platforms, also consider the best times to post on Instagram in Australia for maximum reach and engagement.

When Is the Best Time to Post Videos and YouTube Shorts in Asia?

• Timing: 6 PM to 9 PM IST
• Insight: Evenings are the peak viewing times in Asia, both for standard videos and YouTube Shorts. This period sees high engagement as viewers look for entertainment to relax after their day.

Global Best Time to Post on YouTube

• Timing: 12 PM to 3 PM EST (5 PM to 8 PM GMT)
• Insight: When targeting a worldwide audience simultaneously, this timeframe represents the sweet spot that overlaps with active viewing hours across multiple major regions. This period captures afternoon viewers in North America, evening audiences in Europe, and morning viewers in parts of Asia, making it the most effective window for maximizing global reach and engagement.

Best time to post on YouTube according to the Industries

Entertainment and Lifestyle: For channels focusing on entertainment and lifestyle, weekends are prime time, especially Saturdays and Sundays late morning to early afternoon, i.e., 10 AM to 12 PM. People are more likely to seek leisure content during their free time.

Education and How-to Content: Weekday afternoons, particularly from Tuesday to Thursday, 2 PM to 4 PM can be effective for educational and how-to content. This aligns with people looking for informative content during breaks or after school/work hours.

Gaming: Late evenings and weekends from 7 PM to 9 PM are key times for the gaming community, as this audience tends to engage in gaming activities during their leisure time. Friday and Saturday nights can be particularly effective.

Fitness and Health: Early mornings on weekdays or weekends cater to individuals looking for workout inspiration or health tips to start their day right. Posting around 6 AM to 9 AM can capture the morning routine audience.

Technology and Reviews: Mid-week, specifically Wednesdays and Thursdays, in the late afternoon, around 3 PM to 5 PM, when people might be looking for reviews or tech advice to inform purchasing decisions or stay updated on tech news.

Business and Finance: Early weekdays, from Monday to Wednesday, posting before the workday starts, around 7 AM to 9 AM, can engage professionals seeking industry news, market updates, or financial advice.

Beauty and Fashion: Weekends in the late morning to early afternoon, around 10 AM to 1 PM, when viewers have more free time to explore beauty tips, fashion trends, and makeup tutorials.

Travel and Adventure: Posting on Thursday or Friday morning can be strategic, as it’s when people begin to plan weekend getaways or dream about future travels, seeking inspiration for their next adventure.

Best time to post Youtube shorts

To maximize your reach and interaction with short-form content, understanding the best time to post on YouTube Shorts for each day of the week is essential for creators looking to build engagement in this rapidly growing format.

Best Time to Post YouTube Shorts on Monday

• Timing: 12 PM to 2 PM
• Insight: Monday afternoons provide an excellent opportunity to capture viewers seeking quick entertainment during lunch breaks or as they transition back into the work week. Posting Shorts during this window helps viewers ease into their week with bite-sized, engaging content.

Best Time to Post YouTube Shorts on Tuesday

• Timing: 9 AM to 11 AM
• Insight: Kickstart your Tuesday morning with a burst of engagement by posting Shorts during these hours. Morning posts can capture viewers looking for quick, entertaining content as part of their morning routine.

Best Time to Post YouTube Shorts on Wednesday

• Timing: 6 PM to 8 PM
• Insight: Midweek evenings are perfect for catching viewers who unwind with brief, engaging videos. Posting Shorts on Wednesday evening ensures you reach your audience when they are most likely to seek out quick, relaxing content.

Best Time to Post YouTube Shorts on Thursday

• Timing: 9 AM to 11 AM
• Insight: Capture the Thursday morning audience with Shorts that provide a quick entertainment or informational bite. This time slot can help you engage viewers looking for a pleasant start to their day, setting a positive tone for their morning activities.

Best Time to Post YouTube Shorts on Friday

• Timing: 6 PM to 8 PM
• Insight: Friday evenings are when people begin to relax into their weekend mode. Posting YouTube Shorts during this time can attract viewers eager for enjoyable, concise content to kick off their weekend.

Best Time to Post YouTube Shorts on Saturday

• Timing: 10 AM to 12 PM
• Insight: Saturday mornings are ideal for YouTube Shorts as viewers are relaxed and browsing content at a leisurely pace. This time frame allows you to reach audiences who are looking for quick entertainment as they start their weekend activities.

Best Time to Post YouTube Shorts on Sunday

• Timing: 11 AM to 1 PM
• Insight: Sunday late mornings capture viewers who are winding down their weekend and seeking light, entertaining content. This period offers strong engagement potential as people are typically relaxed and have time to engage with short-form videos before preparing for the upcoming week.

While these times are optimal based on general viewer habits, it’s important to tweak and refine them based on the specific demographics and location of your audience. Understanding when your viewers are most active on YouTube can help tailor your posting schedule for the best possible engagement.

How to find YOUR best time to post on YouTube

The best times to publish on YouTube are between 3 PM to 6 PM on Thursdays and Fridays when viewers anticipate the weekend.

New creators should consider a customized approach to finding optimal posting times for their specific YouTube channel, as outlined below.

Finding YOUR best time with audience report:

The time post analysis from your YouTube Analytics can reveal when your specific audience is most active, giving you personalized insights beyond general recommendations.

Access YouTube Analytics: Start by logging into your YouTube account and heading to your channel’s YouTube Studio.

Go to Analytics: In YouTube Studio, click on “Analytics” in the left sidebar. This will take you to your channel’s analytics dashboard.

Audience Tab: Within the Analytics dashboard, click on the “Audience” tab. Here, you’ll find valuable insights about your viewers.

Viewers’ Online Activity: Look for the section that provides information about when your viewers are most active on YouTube. This section may include data on days of the week and hours of the day when your audience is online.

Analyze the Data: Study the data to identify patterns. The dark purple color represents the best timings. Note which days of the week and times of the day show higher viewer activity. These are your potential best times to post.

Experiment and Observe: Based on the insights from your audience demographics report, start posting your videos at the identified peak times. Monitor the performance of your videos and track engagement (views, likes, comments) over a few weeks.

Refine Your Schedule: Use the data from your experiments to refine your posting schedule. Continue to adjust and optimize your posting times based on ongoing performance analysis.

Finding YOUR best timing without an audience report:

Establish a Baseline: Begin by creating a spreadsheet that has the days of the week and hours of the day.

We have already created one and shared it below, so we suggest you make a copy of it and start working on your YouTube success. 

Initiate posting: Start posting your videos at different times and on different days of the week. Keep a record of the posting schedule in a spreadsheet.

Record Engagement Metrics: After each video has been live for a few weeks, record engagement by heading to the ‘Overview’ section followed by ‘Realtime’. This live update tells you how many views you have got in each hour within the time frame of the last 48 hours. 

For every performing video or short add 1 to the spreadsheet while deducting 1 if it is the least or worst performing.

Identify Trends: Analyze your spreadsheet data to identify trends. Look for patterns in engagement based on the days and times you posted. For instance, here in the spreadsheet, the ones that have darker shades are your best timings, while the lighter ones are the worst.

Experiment and Compare: Based on your initial observations, start posting more videos at the times that seem to generate higher engagement. Compare the performance of these videos with others posted at different times.

Iterate and Optimize: Continue to experiment and adjust your posting schedule based on the data you collect. Over time, you’ll refine your posting strategy to align with your audience’s preferences.

Consider Time Zones: If your audience is spread across different time zones, take this into account when determining your best posting times. Aim to reach as many viewers as possible at their peak hours.

Tips to Grow Your YouTube Channel

Running a YouTube channel requires discipline and dedication beyond just content creation.

Follow these best practices to maintain channel growth and engagement:

• Understand Your Audience:

Audience knowledge forms the foundation of your YouTube strategy. Insights into viewer preferences, behaviors, and demographics allow content tailoring that increases engagement and loyalty.

• Consistency is Key:

Regular posting schedules build viewer anticipation. Scheduling YouTube videos at optimal times maintains a steady content stream that boosts visibility and encourages return viewers.

• Analyze Your YouTube Analytics:

YouTube Analytics tracks viewer engagement, watch times, and traffic sources. This data refines content strategy and optimizes posting schedules.

• Quality Over Quantity:

High-quality videos that offer viewer value generate more shares and YouTube recommendations, increasing visibility and subscriber growth.

• Engage With Your Community:

Respond to comments, request feedback, and encourage viewer interaction to build community. Active engagement strengthens audience relationships and signals content value to YouTube, increasing promotion chances.

• Promote Your Videos:

Share content across social media, blogs, and email newsletters. Cross-platform promotion drives additional traffic and attracts new subscribers.

• Optimize for SEO:

Strategic keywords in titles, descriptions, and tags boost video discoverability on YouTube and Google. SEO connects content with viewers beyond YouTube’s platform.

• Test and Adapt:

Experiment with different content types, posting times, and promotional strategies as digital marketing trends evolve. Identify what resonates best with your audience.

• Monitor Trends and Competitors:

Monitor niche trends and competitor activities to inspire content and maintain competitive advantage.

• Be Patient and Analyze Long-Term Trends:

YouTube success requires patience and persistence. Analyze long-term analytics trends to understand channel growth patterns and adjust strategies accordingly.

• Plan for Time Zones:

For global audiences, schedule releases to accommodate different time zones, reaching viewers during their peak viewing hours.

• Stay Updated with Algorithm Changes:

Stay informed about YouTube algorithm changes to adapt content and strategy for effective audience reach.

Determining the Best Time to Post Tomorrow

When planning morning uploads, research shows the best time to post on YouTube in the morning is typically between 8 AM and 10 AM on weekdays, when viewers often check content before starting their day. When planning your YouTube upload for the next day, follow these steps to determine the optimal posting time:

1. Check Your Analytics: Review your YouTube Analytics audience report to identify which hours tomorrow show the highest viewer activity based on historical data.
2. Consider Day-Specific Patterns: Reference the day-specific recommendations in this guide for tomorrow’s day of the week, as viewing patterns vary significantly between weekdays and weekends.
3. Account for Current Events: Factor in any major events, holidays, or trending topics that might affect viewing patterns tomorrow.
4. Schedule in Advance: Once you’ve identified the optimal time, use YouTube’s scheduling feature to set your video to publish automatically at that precise time tomorrow, ensuring you don’t miss the engagement window.
5. Prepare Promotion: Plan your cross-platform promotion to align with your YouTube posting time to maximize initial engagement signals.

Check Real-Time Activity: If you’re wondering about the best time to post on YouTube today specifically, check your real-time analytics to see current viewer activity patterns, which may differ from historical trends due to current events or trending topics.

Worst time to post on Youtube

Posting on YouTube at suboptimal times reduces engagement rates. Our data shows the worst posting time is before 10 AM any day, with Monday being the least effective day as viewers return to work schedules.

Why is YouTube’s best time different from other social media platforms?

YouTube stands as a unique giant in the vast pool of social media platforms, primarily because of its distinctive approach to content distribution and engagement.

Unlike instant-sharing platforms like Instagram or TikTok, where content is rapidly pushed to followers upon posting, YouTube adopts a more meticulous process similar to its parent company Google’s search indexing. This thoughtful distinction highlights how YouTube’s algorithm sets itself apart.

When you upload a YouTube video, the platform doesn’t immediately push it into the user feeds. Instead, it undergoes a comprehensive analysis and indexing phase.

This process ensures that videos are appropriately categorized, searchable, and filtered based on age and youtube copyright checker, making them accessible not just upon release but over time, serving users’ search queries with precision.

The time YouTube takes to process and analyze a video is influenced by youtube video dimensions, underscoring the platform’s commitment to delivering content that is both relevant and high-quality.

Posting when your target audience is most likely to engage not only aligns with YouTube’s preference for quality engagement but also increases the likelihood of your content being favored by the algorithm long-term. This approach sets YouTube apart as a platform where thoughtful content creation and strategic timing converge to create lasting viewer relationships.

So, if you want to grab those timings, it is recommended to follow the list that is given below:

• Best time to post on social media
• Best time to post on ig
• Best time to post on TikTok
• Best time to post on fb
• Best time to post on Twitter
• Best time to post on Reddit
• Best time to post on Google My Business

Conclusion

The best times to post on YouTube significantly impact performance. Understanding viewers and aligning content with their daily routines makes the difference in engagement.

Consistency, quality, and adaptability drive YouTube success. With patience and dedication, your content reaches its potential. Keep your audience central to your strategy.

FAQs

Debbie Moran

Debbie Moran is a Digital marketing strategist with 5+ years of experience producing advertising for brands and helping leaders showcase their brand to the correct audience. She has been a part of RecurPost since 2019 and handles all the activities required to grow our brand’s online presence.