How long can a YouTube Short be?

Short answer

Up to 3 minutes (180 seconds) for vertical or square uploads after October 15, 2024. Most high-retention Shorts are 20–45 seconds.

Detail

YouTube expanded the Shorts maximum from 60 seconds to 180 seconds in October 2024. That is the hard cap — not a target. The algorithm still favors completion rate, so the best length is the shortest version that delivers the full idea. Quick tips land at 12–25 seconds, mini tutorials at 30–60 seconds, and story formats at 45–90 seconds. Use the free Shorts length checker at /tools/youtube-shorts-length to validate any duration before upload.

  • Max length: 180 seconds (3 minutes)
  • Recommended for most hooks: 20–45 seconds
  • Requires 9:16 vertical for Shorts feed placement
  • Caption the hook in the first second for mute viewers
Related answers
What aspect ratio should YouTube Shorts use?

9:16 (1080×1920). Shorts is vertical-only. Anything wider gets letterboxed and won't appear in the Shorts swipe feed.

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