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, success requires more than great content: it depends on posting at the right time.

Knowing the best time to post on YouTube is critical for visibility.

At RecurPost, we studied 2 million YouTube videos uploaded over the last 3 months (up to June 2025) to discover the best times to post on YouTube. Results show posting at the right time can generate 2x-3x more engagement by aligning with viewer activity patterns.

This guide, built by RecurPost’s marketing experts, reveals the Best Time to Post on YouTube in 2025. Using real YouTube analytics helps creators and brands build a personalized posting schedule for more reach, higher watch time, and steady subscriber growth.

Whether you are starting out or refining your posting routine, this guide shows the best day and time to post on YouTube. Proper scheduling increases audience engagement, boosts retention, and ensures videos reach their peak performance metrics.

• Time Zone Considerations: Posting across different regions means the Best Time to Post on YouTube shifts. Creators should adjust for global timing and avoid time zone misalignment.

• Content Type Timing: The best times to post on YouTube differ for niches like gaming, fitness, or business. YouTube analytics helps match upload schedules with audience demand.

• Occupation and Viewer Habits: Audiences with 9–5 jobs watch at different hours compared to students or freelancers. Posting during their peak viewing hours ensures better engagement.

• Audience Demographics: Age impacts the best day and time to post on YouTube. Teenagers are active at night, while older viewers prefer afternoon or early evening sessions.

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

Knowing the best day and time to post on YouTube ensures higher visibility and helps avoid the worst posting hours.

This section outlines the best times to post YouTube videos by day of the week. While based on U.S. West Coast viewing, these posting windows act as a global guide for creators.

Is Monday a Good Day to Post on YouTube?

The Best Time to post on YouTube on Monday is between 12:00 and 15:00, making it the day’s prime posting window.

Engagement on Monday begins low during early morning (before 10 AM) but rises after 06:00, showing 4x growth. Activity peaks from 13:00–15:00, the optimal upload timing that delivers up to 3x higher engagement than baseline.

After 15:00, engagement slows. Evening hours (17:00–21:00) stay steady but weaker than midday. Late-night hours (after 22:00) underperform, showing why timing matters.

Compared to other days, Monday is stronger than Saturday or Sunday mornings but weaker than Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday afternoons. Posting on YouTube on Monday works, but midweek brings better results.

Best Times to Upload YouTube Videos on Tuesday

The Best Time to post on YouTube on Tuesday is from 05:00-07:00 and again from 13:00–15:00, making both prime posting windows for early risers and afternoon viewers.

Tuesday delivers a powerful surge at 05:00, outperforming most weekdays with 2x more engagement than Monday’s peak. This shows many users check videos before the workday, making early morning uploads a strong choice.

From 13:00–15:00, activity rises again. This afternoon posting block keeps engagement as high as the morning, showing the best time to post YouTube videos for consistent performance.

Even 05:00 uploads show promise, giving flexibility for testing personalized posting schedules. After 16:00, activity drops, but 19:00 remains solid, and late-night hours (23:00) can outperform midday, showing viewer activity patterns.

Compared to Monday, Tuesday ranks higher across morning and afternoon. It’s one of the best days to post on YouTube for both Shorts and long-form videos.

Best Times to Upload YouTube Videos on Wednesday

The Best Time to post on YouTube on Wednesday is from 06:00-07:00 and again from 13:00–15:00, marking the best time to upload videos on YouTube midweek.

Wednesday brings one of the strongest early morning peaks of the week. At 06:00, engagement spikes 3x higher than the next hour. Many viewers start their midweek routine by watching videos, making this an optimal upload time on YouTube.

After a short dip, activity climbs again from 13:00–15:00, tapering slightly after 16:00. This afternoon posting time on YouTube outperforms Monday and Tuesday, proving Wednesday is the best day to post YouTube videos.

Evening engagement drops after 17:00, so earlier uploads are better. Still, posting YouTube videos at 19:00 works for entertainment or lifestyle niches.

Is Thursday a Good Day to Post on YouTube?

The Best Time to post on YouTube on Thursday is 06:00 and 13:00–15:00. These are the prime YouTube posting times that maximize midweek engagement.

Thursday starts steadily but surges at 06:00, attracting early viewers. This slot mirrors Tuesday’s best results and beats Monday by 2x, proving early morning YouTube uploads work well.

From 13:00–15:00, a strong streak builds. Each hour keeps engagement high, creating a continuous high-visibility posting window on YouTube.

The 11:00–12:00 slot also performs well, giving creators a secondary YouTube posting time for testing uploads.

Evening uploads at 18:00–19:00 still work but are weaker than the afternoon. After 20:00, engagement drops fast, making late-night YouTube posting less effective.

Compared to Monday and Wednesday, Thursday is stronger, both in early hours and sustained afternoon peaks, making it one of the best days to post on YouTube.

YouTube’s Best Posting Times on Friday

The Best Time to post on YouTube on Friday is 06:00, 13:00–15:00, and 21:00. These slots mark Friday as a prime posting day on YouTube.

Friday starts with strong activity at 06:00, making it a powerful early morning YouTube posting time. This slot matches and even outperforms Thursday’s best performance.

From 13:00–15:00, engagement remains high, forming one of the strongest afternoon posting windows on YouTube all week. Each hour offers consistent results and reliable visibility.

At 21:00, Friday shows a unique spike. Unlike most days, late-night YouTube uploads work well here, catching post-work audiences ready for entertainment.

Overall, Friday outperforms Monday, Wednesday, and Tuesday in multiple slots. It’s one of the best days to post on YouTube in 2025, both for Shorts and long-form videos.

Ideal Times to Post YouTube Videos on Saturday

The Best Time to Post on YouTube on Saturday is 02:00, 07:00, and 13:00–15:00. These are Saturday’s prime YouTube posting windows for weekend audiences.

Saturday starts with a rare but strong 02:00 spike, great for global timing uploads or reaching late-night YouTube viewers.

From 06:00–12:00, engagement stays high, matching weekend routines. This morning, posting time on YouTube helps capture relaxed viewers with more free time.

Between 13:00 and 15:00, Saturday posts hit one of the week’s top three peaks. This afternoon, YouTube posting time consistently drives strong engagement from leisure-focused weekend audiences.

Saturday proves to be one of the best days to post on YouTube, delivering competitive results from early morning through late afternoon, rivaling Thursday and Friday.

Is Sunday a Good day to post on YouTube?

Yes, Sunday is one of the best days to post on YouTube, offering strong engagement throughout the morning and afternoon.

The Best Time to post on YouTube on Sunday is 06:00, 10:00–12:00, and 13:00–15:00. These blocks are Sunday’s prime YouTube posting windows.

Sunday starts strong at 06:00, building into 10:00–12:00, a mid-morning YouTube posting time perfect for weekend planners and relaxed audiences.

The 13:00–15:00 slot is Sunday’s highlight, one of the best times to post YouTube videos on weekends, matching Friday and Saturday with 3x engagement over low-activity hours.

Evening hours taper off, proving that afternoon posting on YouTube on Sunday works best. Uploading before 16:00 guarantees higher visibility.

Summary of optimal posting times:

Best Day to Post on YouTube

Sunday has emerged as the best day to post on YouTube, based on updated 2025 data. Engagement runs strong from 06:00–15:00, peaking between 13:00–15:00 with 3x higher interaction. This prime YouTube posting time captures relaxed weekend audiences before the workweek begins.

Thursday still ranks well, especially in the early afternoon. But Sunday’s YouTube posting times outperform Thursday with stronger engagement depth across midday blocks.

Best Time to Post on YouTube on Weekends

• On weekends, the Best Time to post on YouTube is 10:00–15:00, peaking at 13:00–15:00 both Saturday and Sunday. Viewers browse longer on weekends, with afternoon YouTube uploads gaining higher session duration and engagement.

• Saturday builds engagement from 10:00–15:00. This makes Saturday YouTube posting times highly strategic, especially for creators targeting relaxed weekend audiences.

• Sunday starts earlier, with 06:00 activity that peaks at 13:00–15:00. These Sunday YouTube posting times show 3x engagement compared to morning or evening.

For creators, posting before noon is best. Uploads before 12:00 PM on weekends align with viewer activity patterns on YouTube, maximizing visibility based on 2 million analyzed videos.

For non-global audiences, here are the best times to publish on YouTube by countries/regions.

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 to take breaks or finish 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 & Lifestyle: 10 AM–12 PM on weekends is the Best Time to Post on YouTube. Relaxed viewers browse lifestyle and entertainment content late morning.

• Education & How-to: 2 PM–4 PM (Tues–Thurs) is the best posting time on YouTube for tutorials and guides, aligning with study or break hours.

• Gaming: 7 PM–9 PM (Fri–Sat) is the prime YouTube posting time for gamers, matching peak evening play and streaming hours.

• Fitness & Health: 6 AM–8 AM (weekdays) is the best YouTube posting time for workout and wellness content, catching viewers before their day starts.

• Technology & Reviews: 3 PM–5 PM (Wed–Thurs) is the best time to upload on YouTube tech content, when users research before purchases.

• Business & Finance: 7 AM–9 AM (Mon–Wed) is the best YouTube posting time for market news and insights, reaching professionals before work.

• Beauty & Fashion: 10 AM–12 PM on weekends is the best YouTube upload time for tutorials and trends, aligning with leisure browsing.

• Travel & Adventure: 8 AM–10 AM (Thurs–Fri) is the best YouTube posting time for inspiration, as users plan weekend trips.

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 general Best Time to Post on YouTube is 3 PM–6 PM (Thurs–Fri), when audiences anticipate the weekend and engagement peaks.

But every channel is unique. New creators should personalize their YouTube posting schedule by testing with YouTube Analytics and audience activity reports.

Finding YOUR best time with the 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 received in each hour within the time frame of the last 48 hours. 

For every performing video or short ad, 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 in 2025 requires discipline, consistent posting, and knowing the Best Time to post on YouTube for growth. Apply these tips to boost visibility, engagement, and align with the best YouTube posting times:

• Understand Your Audience: Use YouTube Analytics to track demographics, watch times, and activity. Tailoring content improves retention and boosts performance.

• Consistency Matters: Maintain a steady YouTube posting schedule. Posting at the best times to post on YouTube builds anticipation and viewer loyalty.

• Use YouTube Analytics: Track engagement metrics, watch time, and traffic. Refine your YouTube posting strategy based on performance.

• Prioritize Quality: Create valuable content that improves click-through rates and increases YouTube visibility and subscriber growth.

• Engage Your Community: Respond to comments, ask for feedback, and build loyal connections. Engagement helps with audience tracking and increasing promotion chances..

• Promote Everywhere: Share videos across newsletters, blogs, and social media. Sync uploads with cross-platform timing for better visibility.

• SEO Optimization: Add keywords like “Best Time to Post on YouTube” into titles, tags, and descriptions. SEO boosts discovery on YouTube and Google.

• Test and Refine: Experiment with Shorts, long-form, and different posting times on YouTube. Adapt to audience preferences.

• Study Competitors: Analyze competitor YouTube posting schedules and industry trends to gain an edge.

• Stay Consistent: Growth takes time. Study long-term analytics trends and refine your posting schedule.

• Time Zone Planning: Global creators should schedule posts for time zone peaks to maximize engagement.

• Adapt to Algorithm: Keep up with YouTube algorithm changes in 2025 and adjust your strategy for lasting visibility.

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 Analytics: Use YouTube Analytics audience report to see when your viewers will be most active tomorrow.

2. Consider Day Patterns: Compare with this guide’s best YouTube posting times by day.

3. Factor Events: Adjust for holidays, trends, or major events that may shift viewing patterns.

4. Schedule in Advance: Use YouTube’s scheduling feature to publish at the prime posting window tomorrow.

5. Prepare Promotion: Align cross-platform promotion with your YouTube posting time for better engagement.

6. Check Realtime Activity: Use YouTube Studio Realtime Analytics to confirm today’s or tomorrow’s best posting time.

Worst time to post on YouTube

Uploading at the wrong hours lowers engagement. Data shows the Worst Time to post on YouTube is before 10 AM on any day. Mondays are the least effective since audiences are busy returning to work schedules.

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

YouTube differs from platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter. The Best Time to Post on YouTube is unique because of its algorithm-driven distribution and long-term engagement.

Unlike instant-sharing platforms, YouTube follows a search-and-recommendation model like Google. The YouTube algorithm indexes and categorizes each upload before pushing it to viewers.

A new YouTube upload undergoes analysis and classification before being promoted based on age and the YouTube copyright checker. This ensures videos are searchable, categorized correctly, and remain discoverable well after release.

While upload processing depends on YouTube video dimensions, the focus is on delivering relevant, high-quality content.

Posting at the Best Time to Post on YouTube ensures strong early engagement, which boosts long-term algorithm favorability. Unlike other platforms, YouTube rewards a mix of timing, content quality, and sustained interaction.

So, if you want to grab those timings, it is recommended to follow the list 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 Time to post on YouTube directly impacts performance. Aligning uploads with viewer routines boosts engagement, retention rates, and visibility.

Success comes from consistent posting, quality videos, and adapting to trends. Keep your audience central, and use YouTube Analytics to refine your posting schedule for long-term growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.