YouTube Shorts length
checker.
Enter your clip length in seconds or mm:ss. See if it qualifies as a Short, how much of the 3-minute cap you use, and which content tier fits best.
Max Shorts length: 3:00 (3 minutes, since Oct 15, 2024)
Parsed duration: 0:35 (35s)
Typical sweet spot: 15–35s
- Hook / one-liner5–15s
- Quick tip12–25s
- Before/after15–35s
- Mini tutorial30–60s
- Story / commentary45–90s
- Deep explainer90–180s
The cap is three minutes since late 2024, but retention still favors shorter cuts. Full Shorts length guide · Safe zone preview · Burn captions in SoCaptions.
Recommended length by content type
The 3-minute cap is a ceiling, not a target. Retention drops when a Short runs longer than the idea needs — use the shortest duration that still delivers the payoff.
| Content type | Recommended length |
|---|---|
| Quick tip / one-liner | 12–25 seconds |
| Before / after or transformation | 15–35 seconds |
| Mini-tutorial | 30–60 seconds |
| Story, breakdown, or commentary | 45–90 seconds |
| Deep explainer | 90–180 seconds (only if every segment earns attention) |
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Frequently asked
How long can a YouTube Short be in 2026?+
Up to 3 minutes (180 seconds) for vertical or square uploads after October 15, 2024. Shorter is usually better for retention — most high-performing Shorts are 20–45 seconds.
What is the best YouTube Shorts length?+
The shortest version that delivers the full payoff. Quick tips: 12–25s. Tutorials: 30–60s. Story or commentary: 45–90s. Only use 90–180s when every segment earns attention.
Does YouTube Shorts have a minimum length?+
There is no official minimum. Very short hooks (5–15s) can work when the idea is instantly clear. Pair with captions so mute viewers catch the point immediately.
What aspect ratio do Shorts need?+
9:16 vertical (1080×1920) is standard. Horizontal uploads may not surface in the Shorts swipe feed even if under 3 minutes.
What's the best YouTube Short length for engagement?+
20–60 seconds for most content. Quick tips and hooks perform best at 12–25s; mini-tutorials at 30–60s. A short watched twice at 23 seconds often beats a 90-second Short that loses half the audience after the hook.
Was the YouTube Shorts limit always 3 minutes?+
No — the limit was 60 seconds before October 15, 2024. YouTube extended it to 3 minutes for square or vertical uploads after that date. Videos uploaded before the change keep their original classification.