Best Time to Post on YouTube
Publish a few hours before your audience is free to watch — early afternoon on Thursday through Saturday so videos are ready for prime evening viewing.
YouTube — Weekly Engagement Heatmap
Adjusted for UTC
Hover a cell to see the exact time
Top 5 best times to post on YouTube
Thu, 7:00 PM
Thu, 8:00 PM
Thu, 9:00 PM
Thu, 10:00 PM
Fri, 1:00 AM
Data based on average industry research. Your audience may differ — test and analyze with your platform analytics.
Best time to post on YouTube, by day
Peak window for each day of the week, in US Eastern Time (ET). The heatmap above shows the same data in your local timezone.
| Day | Best time (ET) | Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 2:00 PM | Low |
| Tuesday | 2:00 PM | Great |
| Wednesday | 2:00 PM | Great |
| Thursday | 2:00 PM | Excellent |
| Friday | 2:00 PM | Excellent |
| Saturday | 9:00 AM | Excellent |
| Sunday | 9:00 AM | Great |
Why these are the best times to post on YouTube
YouTube views build over hours and days, not minutes, so the goal is to publish *ahead* of peak watch time, not during it. Releasing in the early afternoon (2–5 PM) lets a video accumulate the first signals before the 7–10 PM viewing rush. Thursday through Saturday give new uploads the runway into the weekend, when watch sessions are longest.
Found your window? Schedule your YouTube posts to publish automatically at peak time.
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All platforms in one heatmapFrequently asked questions
What is the best time to post on YouTube?
Publish a few hours before your audience is free to watch — early afternoon on Thursday through Saturday so videos are ready for prime evening viewing. The single strongest window is Thursday at 2:00 PM ET. Times shown in the heatmap are automatically converted to your own timezone.
What are the best days to post on YouTube?
YouTube views build over hours and days, not minutes, so the goal is to publish *ahead* of peak watch time, not during it. Releasing in the early afternoon (2–5 PM) lets a video accumulate the first signals before the 7–10 PM viewing rush. Thursday through Saturday give new uploads the runway into the weekend, when watch sessions are longest.
Does posting time really change YouTube engagement?
Timing is a multiplier, not magic. Posting into an already-active window gives your content the early engagement that algorithms reward, but quality and relevance still matter most. Use these windows as a strong starting point, then confirm with your own YouTube analytics.
How do I find my own best time to post on YouTube?
Industry windows are averages. Check your YouTube analytics to see when your followers are actually online, test a few different slots over 4–8 weeks, and track which posts earn the most engagement. Then schedule consistently around the winners.
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