The Best Time to Post on YouTube For More Views and Subs

Timing might not be everything on YouTube, but it certainly makes a difference. Think about it: how many times have you hit “publish” and then waited… and waited… and waited, only to feel disappointed by the view count? It’s frustrating, but often, it’s not just about what you post, it’s also about when you post it.

While there’s no magical, one-size-fits-all moment that guarantees a viral hit, there are patterns, trends, and data-driven insights that can boost your chances of getting noticed. In this article, we’ll explore the best time to post on YouTube (by day of the week too), how timing plays into the algorithm, and what top creators are doing to get their videos seen (so you can do it too).

Table of Contents
– Best Time to Post on YouTube by Day of the Week
– Find Your Best Time to Post with YouTube Analytics
– How Important is Posting Time?
– Tips for Posting on YouTube to Get More Views
– Create Catchy YouTube Videos with Podcastle

Best Time to Post on YouTube by Day of the Week

Before we dive into exact days and times, let’s clear something up: there’s no magical upload hour that guarantees viral success. But based on platform studies and creator experiences, there are patterns that can seriously boost your chances.

Generally, YouTube traffic peaks in the late afternoons and evenings, when people are taking a break during the day, or are done with work or school and have time to scroll, watch, and comment. Weekends also tend to perform better for certain types of content, especially entertainment and lifestyle.

Here are the best times and days to post on YouTube during the week that have been proven to work for many creators:

What’s the Best Time to Post on YouTube on Monday?

Mondays tend to be a little slow on YouTube. People are easing into the week, catching up on work, and generally not in full content-browsing mode just yet. This can also be considered one of the worst days for posting. That said, there’s a quiet window in the late afternoon, usually between 1 PM and 4 PM, where you can catch people taking breaks. It’s a solid time for educational or motivational content to help kickstart the week.

Best Time to Post on YouTube on Tuesday

Engagement starts to pick up on Tuesdays. Viewers are back in a rhythm, and YouTube browsing habits return to normal. Posting around 2 PM - 4 PM can give your video enough runway to build views before the evening rush.

Best Time to Post on YouTube on Wednesday

Midweek often sees some of the highest YouTube traffic. People are actively looking for entertainment, inspiration, or distraction, especially around lunch and after work. Try posting between 11 AM and 1 PM to catch midday browsers, or 6 PM onward for the post-work crowd. It’s a versatile day for nearly any type of content.

Best Time to Post on YouTube on Thursday

Think of Thursday as the pre-weekend warm-up. Viewers start looking for things to relax with, binge on, or queue up for their weekend downtime. You’ll see good engagement between 12 PM and 3 PM, as well as 6 PM and 10 PM, giving your video time to pick up steam before the weekend hits. This is a great day to post vlogs, reviews, or new series episodes.

Best Time to Post on YouTube on Friday

Friday is considered the best day to post on YouTube. As people wrap up their busy week, they’re more likely to spend time on the platform, especially in the evening. Aim to post between 8 PM and 10 PM to catch people heading into weekend mode. Fun, light-hearted, and bingeable content tends to shine here.

Best Time to Post on YouTube on Saturday

Saturday is a high-traffic day, particularly in the mornings. Many viewers have more free time and are in discovery mode – browsing, exploring, and watching longer videos. Try posting between 9 AM and 11 AM, so your content has time to gain traction throughout the day. This is a prime spot for travel videos, lifestyle, and storytelling content.

Best Time to Post on YouTube on Sunday

Sundays are perfect for reflective, inspirational, or relaxing content. Many people use the morning and early afternoon to wind down, catch up on videos, or prep for the week ahead. Posting between 10 AM and 1 PM can help your video reach those weekend scrollers before the Sunday evening slowdown sets in.

At the end of the day, these are just trends, not rules. The best thing you can do is use these as a starting point, then dig into your own YouTube Analytics to build your upload schedule based on your own audience.

Find Your Best Time to Post with YouTube Analytics

General posting times are a solid place to start, but if you really want to grow your channel, the smartest move is to post when your audience is online. Every YouTube channel is different, and the best way to reach more viewers is by matching your upload schedule to their habits.

Lucky for all of us, YouTube Analytics offers all the tools to find your best time to post on the platform. Here’s how:

1. Open YouTube Studio and go to the Analytics tab.
2. Click on the Audience section.
3. Look for the “When your viewers are on YouTube” graph. Note that the darker the purple blocks, the more viewers are online at that time.
4. Spot the peak days and hours when your audience is most active.
5. Post 1–2 hours before your peak time to give your video time to gain traction.

The more you align your posting schedule with your audience’s activity, the better your chances of boosting views, engagement, and long-term growth. YouTube provides you the data, now it’s up to you to use it strategically. Once you’ve nailed your timing, you’re one step closer to mastering the art (and science) of YouTube success.

How Important Is Posting Time?

Let’s be real: if there were one perfect time to post on YouTube that worked for everyone, we’d all be going viral by now. The truth is, what works for one YouTube creator might totally flop for another, and that’s not just bad luck. It’s because your ideal posting time depends on a bunch of personal factors, like where your audience lives, what kind of content you make, and even how your viewers like to watch.

In other words, timing on YouTube isn’t one-size-fits-all, and here are the factors that make this statement accurate:

Your Niche or Industry

Different niches have very different viewing patterns. For example, the audience enjoying entertainment (comedy, vlogs, gaming) content is often active in the evenings and weekends, as they relax and have more free time. This makes 6 PM-11 PM on the weekdays and all day Saturday and Sunday ideal times for posting this kind of content.

Audience Location and Time Zone

Time zones are critical. Your viewers may not be in your region, so what works for you locally may not align with them. If your audience is mainly in the U.S., aim for EST or CST time zones, which cover a large portion of U.S. viewers. If your audience is global, you might need to find a “middle ground” time, like 12 PM EST, which catches evening in Europe and morning on the U.S. West Coast.

You can use YouTube Analytics – Audience tab – Top geographies to find where most of your viewers are located.

Type of Content

Different formats behave differently in the YouTube algorithm and in how viewers consume them.

For long-form videos, timing matters more. These need momentum, ideally posted 1-2 hours before your audience's peak, so YouTube can index and recommend them.

YouTube Shorts are less dependent on post timing, as they often gain traction through the Shorts feed over time, but posting during high-traffic windows still helps with early reach.

Audience Age & Lifestyle

Knowing your audience’s daily routine helps you predict when they’re likely to watch. Here are some examples to help figure out what’s best for your viewers.

1. Teens and college students tend to be online late at night or mid-morning.
2. Working professionals are more likely to watch during lunch breaks or after work.
3. Parents may watch content early in the morning or after kids go to bed (e.g., 9 PM–11 PM).

In short, the best time to post is not universal, it’s purely personal. Use these factors as a lens to analyze your channel data and spot patterns that work for your unique audience.

Tips for Posting on YouTube to Get More Views

So, you’ve peeked at your analytics and spotted when your viewers are online.  Awesome! Now it’s time to turn that data into action. Here are some smart tips to help you get the most out of every upload:

1. Schedule Your Videos Ahead of Peak Time

Don’t rush to hit “publish” exactly when your audience is most active. Instead, upload and schedule your video 1-2 hours before your peak hours. This will let YouTube process your video and get it ready to push to your viewers right when they show up. It’s like arriving early to set up before the party starts.

2. Keep a Consistent Posting Schedule

People love routines, and that goes for your viewers, too. When you upload regularly (say every Tuesday at 5 PM), your audience starts to expect your content, and they’ll keep coming back. Besides, YouTube’s algorithm notices consistency and can reward you with better reach. So, pick a schedule you can stick to and own it.

3. Trust Your Own Data, Not Just Generic Rules

There are plenty of “best times to post” charts floating around, but remember: your Youtube channel is unique. Use your YouTube’s “When your viewers are online” feature to find your sweet spots. Then experiment a bit, see what works, tweak if needed, and keep learning.

4. Batch Your Content and Schedule It

Life happens, so don’t rely on posting live every time. Instead, try making several YouTube videos in one go, then use YouTube’s scheduling tool to set them to go live at your chosen times. It keeps your channel active and your audience happy, even if you get busy.

5. Be There When Your Video Goes Live

The first hour after publishing can make a big difference. If possible, stick around to respond to comments and engage with viewers. Your activity sends a positive signal to YouTube that your video is worth promoting further. It also builds community and encourages viewers to come back.

6. Use Custom Thumbnails and Compelling Titles

Timing helps, but grabbing attention is just as important. Pair your strategic posting with eye-catching thumbnails and clear, engaging titles that tell viewers exactly what they’ll get. A strong thumbnail and title combo can make the difference between a quick scroll past and a click.

7. Monitor and Adapt Over Time

YouTube audiences evolve. Maybe your fans’ schedules shift, or new viewers come from different time zones. Make it a habit to check your Analytics every few weeks or months to see if your posting times still line up with when your viewers are online. Stay flexible and willing to adjust.

By combining these simple, practical steps with your own audience insights, you’ll start posting smarter and growing your views more consistently. It’s not about guessing the perfect time; it’s about knowing your viewers and showing up.

Create Catchy YouTube Videos with Podcastle

You don’t need a full production team or a ton of time to make high-quality YouTube videos. With Podcastle, you can make your creative process painless and publish content that looks and sounds noteworthy.

Here’s what you can do with Podcastle:

1. Generate realistic voiceovers using the 1000+ authentic AI voices or clone your own voice within seconds. This is great if you don’t want to record audio every time.
2. Record and edit videos right from your browser, no fancy setup required.
3. Correct eye contact with the camera.
4. Remove background noise from the video.
5. Blur video background.
6. Transcribe audio automatically, which makes adding subtitles or repurposing content way easier.
7. Enhance the quality of your videos, and much more.

Podcastle is all about making your creative process smoother, simpler and more fun, so you can focus more on your YouTube ideas and creativity and less on the tech side of things.