There are many factors that influence the success of your YouTube videos: video titles, thumbnails, YouTube SEO, posting time, and (perhaps most importantly) content quality. With so many elements to consider, it can be challenging to pinpoint what will create the strongest connection with your YouTube subscribers.

However, after analyzing over 1 million YouTube videos, we can provide clear insights into at least one crucial factor: the best time to post on YouTube.

This article will outline the prime posting times for YouTube and guide you in identifying the optimal schedule for your own channel. By leveraging these insights, you can maximize views and engagement—and if you're lucky, even go viral with a million-view video!

>> Read more:

• How to make money on YouTube 2024
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I. Best Time to Post on YouTube

According to SO9 data, the best time to post videos on YouTube is Wednesday at 4 PM—videos published at this time tend to receive the highest views.

Other high-performing posting times include:

📌 Thursday at 4 PM

📌 Monday at 4 PM

✅ In general, videos posted between 3 PM and 5 PM on weekdays tend to get the most views.

❌ The worst time to post on YouTube is between 3 AM and 5 AM, when most viewers are asleep.

1. YouTube Peak Viewing Times

On most weekdays, the ideal time to post videos on YouTube falls between 3 PM and 5 PM. Below is the best time to post on YouTube for each day of the week:

Best YouTube Posting Times

• Monday: 4 PM
• Tuesday: 3 PM
• Wednesday: 4 PM
• Thursday: 4 PM
• Friday: 3 PM
• Saturday: 5 PM
• Sunday: 3 PM

2. Best Time to Post on YouTube by Day

⏰ Monday:

• Best time: 4 PM
• Other peak hours: 3 PM & 5 PM
• Videos posted at 4 PM on Mondays rank third highest in weekly average views.

⏰ Tuesday:

• Best time: 3 PM
• Other peak hours: 4 PM & 5 PM
• Late afternoon remains the best time for high engagement.

⏰ Wednesday:

• Best time: 4 PM
• Other peak hours: 3 PM & 5 PM
• Wednesday has the highest average views of the week, making it the best day to post.

⏰ Thursday:

• Best time: 4 PM
• Other peak hours: 3 PM & 5 PM
• Second-highest average views of the week—a strong day for posting.

⏰ Friday:

• Best time: 3 PM
• Other peak hours: 4 PM & 5 PM
• Engagement peaks between 3 PM - 5 PM, making it a great time to post.

⏰ Saturday:

• Best time: 5 PM
• Other peak hours: 3 PM & 4 PM
• Saturday sees lower engagement, so consider avoiding this day if possible.

⏰ Sunday:

• Best time: 3 PM
• Other peak hours: 4 PM & 5 PM
• Lowest viewership day of the week, so posting on Sundays requires strategic planning.

3. Best Days to Post on YouTube

The best days to post videos on YouTube are Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Based on our data, these three days have similar average view counts.

For optimal results, schedule your YouTube posts between 3 PM and 5 PM on these days.

The worst day to post on YouTube is Sunday, followed by Saturday. Videos posted on weekends generally receive lower viewership than those posted on weekdays, so consider focusing on weekday uploads for better engagement.

II. How to Find Your Personal Best Time to Post on YouTube

The suggested best times to post above serve as general guidelines. However, each audience has different viewing behaviors, so identifying your own optimal posting time is crucial for maximizing engagement.

Below is a guide to help you determine the best time for your YouTube channel to post videos for maximum interaction.

1. Use SO9 Analytics

SO9's channel performance report provides an overview of your social media activities, helping you track marketing campaign effectiveness and adjust your strategy accordingly.

On the performance report dashboard, you can select any social platform to track. You can also filter by channel and time period. Each platform has different key performance indicators (KPIs).

Key YouTube Performance Metrics in SO9

• Views: Tracks how many people have seen your videos and evaluates content reach.
• Subscribers: Measures audience engagement and growth. SO9 also analyzes subscriber demographics (gender, age, location).

By analyzing your audience’s active hours, SO9 helps you determine your personal best posting time. The platform continuously updates insights, saving you time and allowing you to focus on creating high-quality content.

Want to see how it works? Try SO9's 3-day free trial and generate a personalized demo to explore its features firsthand!

2. Use YouTube Studio

2.1. Access YouTube Studio

First, navigate to YouTube Studio. While there are multiple ways to access it through your YouTube channel once logged in, the easiest way is to visit studio.youtube.com.

2.2. Analyze Your YouTube Performance

To access all relevant data, click on the Analytics tab on the left side of the screen. Here, you'll find an overview of your YouTube analytics, including:

• Views
• Watch time
• Subscriber growth
• Engagement metrics
• And more!

By leveraging these insights, you can identify the best times to post based on your audience’s behavior and maximize your content’s performance.

3. Navigate to the 'Audience' Tab

In this section, you'll find valuable insights into which videos are helping grow your audience—a crucial metric if your goal is to expand your YouTube channel. You'll also see various audience statistics, including location, age, gender, and the type of content your viewers prefer (such as YouTube Shorts, Livestreams, or long-form videos).

4. Check "When Your Viewers Are on YouTube"

Here, you'll see a heatmap displaying the specific times when your audience is most active on YouTube. Similar to Buffer’s engagement graph, darker purple shades indicate peak activity times, while lighter shades represent lower activity.

These insights help you determine the best time to post your videos for maximum reach and engagement.

🔹 Tip: Regularly monitor this data, as it updates based on the past 28 days. Peak engagement hours may shift over time, so staying updated ensures you continue optimizing your posting schedule effectively.

Conclusion

Posting videos at the optimal time on YouTube not only boosts engagement but also expands your reach to new potential audiences. It plays a crucial role in determining the success of your marketing efforts.

We hope the insights shared in this article help you optimize your posting schedule and maximize your YouTube growth.

For more business management and marketing strategies, visit SO9.io and stay ahead with the latest industry updates!

🚀 Wishing you success on your YouTube journey!