
Wondering about the best time to post on YouTube for maximum views and engagement? This has been an ongoing debate among digital creators for years.
Publishing your video at the right time is the key to capturing attention and reaching a larger audience.
Recent digital media statistics prove that YouTube is still a giant in watch time. Optimizing your upload schedule helps you get the most out of this giant.
Strategically speaking, choosing the best time to post is simple: publish when most of your audience is active.
You might be asking: “Is there really one perfect time of day to post on YouTube?”
On average, the best time to post on YouTube is between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM on weekdays. This data comes from research across 100,000+ YouTube channels in different industries and regions.
The reason is simple: users usually start watching videos after school or work, creating higher initial view counts during these hours.
But do these times work for everyone?
From our experience, it’s hard to generalize one best time across all niches and audiences.
That’s why it’s always better to find a personalized posting window for your channel. Even better, you can use YouTube Studio analytics to see when your audience is most active.
Ever wondered if there’s a best day to post on YouTube? The short answer: YES.
Research across 100,000+ YouTube channels reveals average best posting times for each day of the week. These insights will finally help you answer the endless question: “What’s the best time to post today?”
While these are general averages, if you already have a decent subscriber base, you can check the “Analytics” tab in YouTube Studio for the most accurate data on your audience.
Here are the average best times (GMT+3 Istanbul/Turkey) for each day of the week:
The best time to post on Monday is around 2:00 PM. As people adapt to the workweek, they are more likely to browse YouTube, making it a prime window to capture attention.
On Tuesday, the best posting time is also around 2:00 PM. As the week moves forward, people stay productive but remain open to discovering new content, driving steady viewership throughout the day.
The best posting times on Wednesday are 1:00 PM, 4:00 PM, and 7:00 PM. These three golden slots let you catch lunch-break viewers at 1:00, after-school/work audiences at 4:00, and evening viewers at 7:00.
On Thursdays, the best times are 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM. Post at 4:00 to engage your audience in the late afternoon, and at 6:00 to catch professionals wrapping up their day and opening YouTube.
Fridays work best between 12:00 - 1:00 PM and 5:00 - 6:00 PM. As the weekend approaches, people look for distractions, making these windows ideal for boosting visibility.
Saturdays work best between 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Weekend mornings are perfect for YouTube browsing, so publishing at this time helps maximize views.
On Sundays, the sweet spot is between 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM. People enjoy relaxed mornings or personal routines, making this a good opportunity to share your video before the week starts.
The best day to maximize YouTube views is Thursday at 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM, when users are most active.
Monday and Wednesday also perform well. But remember — there’s no single “perfect day.” Consistency and high-quality content are what really drive success.
YouTube Shorts are the platform’s new favorite — and everyone is using them. New YouTube stats show that 58% of creators plan to leverage Shorts in 2025.
If you’re creating Shorts, you already know they provide massive reach and visibility. But with growing competition, timing your Shorts is more important than ever.
The best Shorts posting times depend on your location, niche, and audience. But here are the average times you can start with:
And let’s not forget about livestreams! While casual streams don’t need perfect timing, if you want your subscribers to join in real time, there are preferred slots.
YouTube Live, which can generate 2–3x more views than regular uploads, works best on weekdays in the late afternoon, between 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM.
For creators and brands, understanding the best times to post videos can be a game-changer. Each industry has unique audience behaviors, making it crucial to tailor your upload schedule.
For example, while weekends may not work well for most niches, gaming and tech channels often see their highest engagement on Saturdays and Sundays.
That’s why our study tracked industries separately to highlight the most effective posting windows for different content types.
Here are valuable industry-specific insights to help you build your YouTube content calendar and grow views:
The travel and tourism industry thrives on inspirational content. Posting midday or at night helps viewers escape and dream about upcoming trips.
Best times for Travel & Tourism:
Best days: Tuesday and Wednesday
YouTube is great for showcasing the latest styles and trends. Posting in the afternoons and evenings, when consumers have more browsing time, increases visibility and engagement.
Best times for Fashion & Apparel:
Best days: Weekends, especially Saturday
Fitness and wellness audiences are loyal and motivated. Target them early in the morning or late at night when they’re preparing for or finishing workouts.
Best times for Fitness & Wellness:
Best days: Tuesday and Wednesday
The food & beverage niche sparks cravings at specific times. Weekday afternoons and Sunday evenings are ideal when people look for recipe ideas or plan meals.
Best times for Food & Beverage:
Best days: Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Professionals in digital marketing are usually active during work hours. While weekends are slower, short insights or updates can still perform well.
Best times for Digital Marketing/Social Media:
Best days: Monday - Thursday
Tech brands offer diverse products and services. Posting late mornings on weekdays works well for professionals, while weekend afternoons reach hobbyists and enthusiasts.
Best times for Tech Brands:
Best days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Our research-based average posting times will definitely improve your views, but finding your personal optimal time is essential.
So, how can you do this?
Boosting views directly from your YouTube channel is actually easy.
YouTube’s built-in analytics tool is one of the best ways to discover your optimal posting times. You can access it in two ways:
YouTube Studio provides valuable insights such as audience location, gender, age, and active hours. To access analytics, you must have a YouTube channel. This tool helps you track viewer behavior closely and plan your content accordingly.
Information provided by AI may contain errors and cannot be considered binding. For accurate information, please contact our representative.