Key takeaways
- Up to 60 hashtags per video; over 60, YouTube ignores all of them.
- Hashtags go in the title or description, with no spaces.
- Up to 3 of the most engaging description hashtags show by the title.
- Over-tagging and unrelated hashtags can get a video removed from search.
On this page
What is the YouTube hashtag limit?
60 per video. YouTube counts hashtags across the title and description together, and a video or playlist with more than 60 has every hashtag ignored. Its help centre sets these rules:
| Rule | What YouTube says |
|---|---|
| How many | Up to 60 per video or playlist; over 60, every hashtag is ignored |
| Where they go | The title or description, on long videos and Shorts |
| Format | No spaces: join the words, as in #TwoWords |
| Shown by the title | Up to 3 from the description, the ones YouTube considers most engaging |
| Over-tagging | Can remove the video from your uploads or from search |
How many hashtags should you use on YouTube?
Three to five. The cap is 60, but only 3 show by the title and YouTube warns that over-tagging can take a video out of search, so a short, relevant set does more: one broad tag for the topic, one or two niche tags for the exact subject, and your channel’s own tag. Generate candidates with the YouTube hashtag generator.
Should YouTube hashtags go in the title or the description?
Mostly the description, at the end. That keeps the title readable for search and suggested videos, and YouTube picks up to 3 description hashtags to show by the title anyway. A hashtag in the title shows as part of the title itself, so use one there only when it is the topic people search. Check the title and description length with the YouTube character counter.
Which hashtags does YouTube not allow?
Hashtags unrelated to the video, which YouTube treats as misleading, and hashtags that harass, promote hate, are sexual or are vulgar. Plain tags or repeated sentences pasted into the description count as misleading too. A hashtag that breaks these rules does not show, and the video can be removed or age-restricted. Compare every network’s rules in the hashtag limits by platform.
How do you schedule YouTube videos with hashtags?
With SkedCast: upload the video, write the title and description with your hashtags, and pick the time. The composer counts hashtags as you type and warns before you pass 60, and saved hashtag groups keep your regular sets one click away. See the YouTube scheduler for every option.
Sources
FAQ
- How many hashtags can I use on a YouTube video?
- Up to 60, counted across the title and description together. Three to five relevant ones work best.
- What happens if I use more than 60 hashtags on YouTube?
- YouTube ignores every hashtag on the video, not just the ones over the limit, and over-tagging can remove it from search.
- Do title and description hashtags count toward the same limit?
- Yes. YouTube counts hashtags in the title and description together.
- Which hashtags show above a YouTube title?
- Up to 3 from the description, the ones YouTube considers most engaging.
- Do hashtags work on YouTube Shorts?
- Yes. They go in the Short’s title or description under the same rules, and YouTube suggests hashtags as you type one.