Best time to post
Best time to post on YouTube on Thursday
Long videos: 5 PM, 6 PM, and 7 AM. Shorts: 7 PM, 8 PM, and 9 PM. Times are your audience's local time, from Buffer's study of 1.8 million videos (July 2026).
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Best hours on Thursday
The three top slots of the day, best first.
Long videos
- 15 PM
- 26 PM
- 37 AM
Shorts
- 17 PM
- 28 PM
- 39 PM
Is Thursday a good day to post on YouTube?
In the study, Thursday is one of the weakest days for long videos, so keep your most important posts for Sunday, Tuesday, and Monday.
In the study, Thursday is the third strongest day of the week for Shorts.
How Thursday compares with the rest of the week
| Day | Long videos | Shorts |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 9 AMTop day #3 | 8 PMWeakest |
| Tuesday | 9 AMTop day #2 | 8 PMWeakest |
| Wednesday | 7 AM | 7 PM |
| Thursday | 5 PMWeakest | 7 PMTop day #3 |
| Friday | 12 PM | 4 PMTop day #1 |
| Saturday | 12 PM | 7 PMTop day #2 |
| Sunday | 10 AMTop day #1 | 7 PM |
Data: Buffer, published July 2026, based on 1.8 million videos. Checked on October 9, 2026. Read the Buffer study
How to use these times
Plan in your audience's time zone
The study times already apply in your audience's local time. If most of your followers live in another country, convert the slot to their time zone, not yours.
Check YouTube Studio
YouTube Studio shows when your own followers are online. Compare it with the study before you copy a slot from a general chart.
Test two slots for two to four weeks
Post at the top slot and at one other slot for two to four weeks, then keep the one that gets more views in the first hours.
Frequently asked questions
Still have a question? Contact us
Is Thursday a good day to post on YouTube?
In the study, Thursday is one of the weakest days for long videos, so keep your most important posts for Sunday, Tuesday, and Monday. In the study, Thursday is the third strongest day of the week for Shorts.
What time should I post on YouTube on Thursday?
Long videos: 5 PM, 6 PM, and 7 AM. Shorts: 7 PM, 8 PM, and 9 PM. Times are your audience's local time, from Buffer's study of 1.8 million videos (July 2026).
Which time zone are these times in?
Your audience's local time. Buffer says the recommended times apply in local time, so no conversion is needed when your followers live in your time zone. If most of them live elsewhere, convert the slot to their zone.
What is the best day to post on YouTube?
In Buffer's study the strongest days for long videos were Sunday, Tuesday, and Monday. In Buffer's study the strongest days for Shorts were Friday, Saturday, and Thursday.
Plan your YouTube posts on Thursday ahead of time
Pick the slot once and PostVIA publishes on time, even when you are offline.
No credit card required