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Until October 2024, a Short had to end at 60 seconds. Now YouTube lets it run three times as long. That’s useful, but the limit is not a target: the right length is the shortest one that still tells the whole idea.
the limit is not the target
- 0–15 sA quick hit: a punchline, a reaction
- 20–60 sThe sweet spot for most talking shorts
- 60–90 sA short story, or a tip with steps
- 90 s–3 minOnly when it truly holds attention
The limits, in plain words
YouTube decides what is a Short from two things: length and shape. A vertical or square video of 3 minutes or less is a Short. Anything wider than square is a regular video, whatever its length.
- Longest
- 3 minutes (180 seconds)
- Shortest
- No official minimum
- Shape
- Vertical (9:16) or square (1:1)
- Wider than square (16:9)
- A regular video, at any length
- Where to upload
- The YouTube app or YouTube Studio
- Uploaded before Oct 15, 2024
- Over a minute? It stays a regular video
Vertical
A Short
up to 3:00
Square
A Short
up to 3:00
Wide
A regular video
any length
Music and copyright in Shorts over a minute
Longer Shorts come with two rules worth knowing before you add a song. Most songs from the Shorts audio library can play for up to 90 seconds in a 3-minute Short; some are limited to 60 or 30 seconds.
The bigger one: a Short over a minute with an active copyright claim is blocked everywhere. It can’t be watched, recommended or earn money until the claim is solved. Your channel isn’t penalized, and the Short comes back once the claimed part is removed or the claim is released.
- Up to 1:00
- Nothing new: the usual copyright rules apply
- Over 1:00
- Blocked everywhere: no views, no recommendations, no money, until the claim is solved
- Talking videos rarely get claims. Background music in your podcast can.
- Adding a song? Use the Shorts audio library or a royalty-free track.
- Got a claim on a long Short? Cut the claimed part, or dispute the claim if you have the rights.
How long should your Short be?
Every second, some people swipe away. So the later your point comes, the fewer people are still there to hear it. That’s why most good talking shorts land between 20 and 60 seconds.
people still watching
Said in 30 seconds: most people are still there for the point
Said in 2 minutes: most have swiped away before it
- Said in 30 seconds: most people are still there for the point
- Said in 2 minutes: most have swiped away before it
Use length to fit the moment, not the other way round:
- 15–30 s
- A punchline, a reaction, one surprising fact
- 30–60 s
- One clear tip, a strong opinion, a short story
- 60–90 s
- A story that builds, or a tip with a few steps
- 90 s–3 min
- Only when every part holds attention: a gripping story, a full walkthrough
When to make two Shorts instead of one
If a moment runs past a minute, ask whether it’s one idea or two. It’s usually two when you hear yourself say “and another thing”, when there are two points or two stories, or when the setup takes longer than the point.
One 2-minute short
- Two ideas fight for attention
- The second point comes late
- One chance in the feed
Two 50-second shorts
- One idea each, said fully
- Each point comes early
- Two chances to be found
Two tight shorts usually do better than one long one, and each gives you another chance to reach someone new.
Check your length before you film
Speaking pace is steady enough to plan with: about 150 words a minute in English and about 120 in Arabic. These are averages, so your own pace may differ.
| Length | English (~150 a minute) | Arabic (~120 a minute) |
|---|---|---|
| 15 s | ~37 words | ~30 words |
| 30 s | ~75 words | ~60 words |
| 60 s | ~150 words | ~120 words |
| 90 s | ~225 words | ~180 words |
| 3 min | ~450 words | ~360 words |
Cutting from a long video instead of writing a script? The same rule holds: start on the strong line, end right after the payoff. More in how to turn a long video into shorts.
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