Key takeaways
- Buffer’s 1.8M-video study finds long-form and Shorts peak at almost opposite times (Sunday 10am versus Friday evening), so schedule them separately.
- Published studies show the general pattern, but your own audience’s activity is the more reliable signal — test and compare.
Best time to post on YouTube: what the research shows
- Buffer long-form (24 Jul 2026; 1.8 million videos): top slot Sunday 10am; Sunday, Tuesday and Monday the strongest days
- Buffer Shorts (same study): top slots Friday 4pm, 6pm and 7pm; evenings 6–11pm generally strong; Friday and Saturday the best days
- Sprout Social’s 2026 study does not include YouTube
One study, not two
With a single large study there is no second source to agree or disagree with, which is a limit rather than a finding. What Buffer’s data does show is that the two formats behave differently, so plan long-form and Shorts on their own patterns.
How to apply this
Treat Sunday morning for long-form and Friday evening for Shorts as tests, and compare them with your own channel’s analytics.
Sources
Figures are from the studies named above, read on 23 September 2026. The fuller guide lists each source and covers how often to post.
best time to postplatform
FAQ
- What is the best time to upload a long-form YouTube video?
- Buffer’s 2026 study (1.8M videos, 24 July 2026) found Sunday at 10am the top slot for long-form. It is one study; Sprout Social’s study does not cover YouTube.
- Is the best time different for YouTube Shorts?
- Yes. Buffer found Shorts peak on Friday at 4pm, 6pm and 7pm, with evenings 6–11pm strong, almost the opposite of long-form.
- Should I treat these times as fixed?
- No. They are averages from one large study; compare your own channel’s analytics before committing.