How Long Can YouTube Shorts Be: Figure Out the Perfect Length for Your Videos!

Bite-sized content is designed to fit our shorter attention spans and provide a quick, easy way to consume content on the go. From a creator's perspective, short-form content is a great way to reach more people and build an audience. It's a win-win for everyone involved. 

‍

But how long should YouTube Shorts be to still remain engaging to the audience? Once you get to the end of this blog post, you’ll become a real pro at everything related to YouTube Shorts duration! And, most importantly, you’ll figure out your very own perfect video length. 

{{blog-ad}}

What Is the Current YouTube Shorts Time Limit?

As of October 2024, YouTube Shorts has had some big changes to its maximum duration. Let's take a look at the current time limits and what they mean for creators.

The Maximum Length

Good news for creators on YouTube! You can now make your YouTube Shorts up to three minutes long. That's a big change from the previous limit of 60 seconds, which gives you more freedom to tell your stories and create content in a way that suits you.

‍

You might be wondering what kind of music you can use for the longer shorts.

‍

You can use any song in the Shorts Audio Library for videos up to one minute long. If your video is over a minute, you can use royalty-free music from YouTube. The music won't be flagged by Content ID, so you can use it as much as you want. 

Minimum YouTube Shorts Video Length

The maximum length has gone up, but the minimum duration for YouTube Shorts is still 15 seconds. This keeps the format quick and easy to digest, which users have come to expect from the platform.

The Evolution of YouTube Shorts Length

If you want to get a handle on what's going on with YouTube Shorts at the moment, it's worth taking a look at how the platform has developed over time.

‍

1. Initial launch: 15-60 seconds

2. Pre-October 2024: 15-60 seconds

3. Post-October 2024: 15-180 seconds (3 minutes)

‍

This progression shows that YouTube is dedicated to keeping up with what creators want and what users like in the constantly changing short-form content space. 

‍

It's worth noting that the line between short- and long-form content has been a bit blurred for a while now. It seems that any video over 10 minutes can be considered "long-form," so YouTube might still have some length upgrades to make down the road. 

What Is the Best Length for YouTube Shorts?

While you can now make your YouTube Shorts longer, it's still important to think about what length works best for your content and audience. 

‍

Here are a few things you can think about to decide what length your YouTube Shorts should be:

Audience Engagement

Shorter video clips tend to have higher completion rates, which can have a positive effect on the performance of your content in search algorithms. 

‍

How long should YouTube Shorts be ideal, if you focus on in-depth content? Shorter videos limit the amount of in-depth content you can show, and this might be necessary for certain niches or styles of storytelling. In this case, it would be great if you could give the audience as much value as possible within the three-minute limit. 

Content Type

The length of your content should fit with what you're trying to say. 

‍

For example:

- Quick tips and facts: 15-30 seconds

- Tutorials or how-tos: 30-60 seconds

- Storytelling or multi-part content: 60-180 seconds

Platform Trends

YouTube Shorts now allows for longer videos, but many users still prefer shorter content in this format. Keeping your videos concise is a great way to maintain viewer interest and encourage repeat views.

‍

Tip: take a look at what your competitors are up to. Have the content creators in your area of expertise started making the most of the longer video limits?

Make the Most of Different YouTube Shorts Lengths

15-30 seconds

These super-short videos are great for:

- Grabbing attention fast

- Sharing one key message or fact

- Creating content that's easy to share

31-60 seconds

The slightly longer format is great for:

- Giving a quick tutorial or showing off a product

- Joking around or telling a story

- Promoting a service

61-180 seconds (YouTube Shorts Max Length)

The new extended limit means you can now create:

- More detailed explanations or tutorials

- Multi-step processes or recipes

- Longer stories or narratives

‍

It doesn't matter how long your content is, the most important thing is to keep your viewers engaged from start to finish.

How Does Video Length Affect Performance?

The length of your YouTube Shorts can have a major impact on how well they perform on the platform. Here are some things to think about:

Algorithm Favor

Do YouTube Shorts have a time limit when it comes to the algorithm promoting them? Video completion rate is an important metric for YouTube's algorithm, and shorter videos might have an advantage in this regard because viewers are more likely to watch them all the way through.

‍

Audience Retention

Can YouTube Shorts be 3 minutes? Remember that the plus side of longer videos is that you can pack more content into them, but the downside is that viewers might get distracted and lose interest. So it's really important to keep them engaged throughout the whole video, regardless of how long it is.

‍

Discoverability

You can get good results with different kinds of shorts in the Shorts feed, but you need to make sure you've got the right content for people who don't hang around and those who want more in-depth info.

How to Create the Best YouTube Shorts

Can I upload 2 minute Shorts on YouTube? It doesn't matter how long your YouTube Shorts are, following these tips can help you get the best results from your content:

‍

1. Get people's attention from the start

2. Use eye-catching visuals and transitions

3. Make your message clear and concise

4. Use trending sounds or music when it fits

5. End with a strong call to action

6. Add captions so more people can access your content

7. Try different lengths to see what works

How to Use YouTube Shorts in Your Content Strategy

If you want to reach new audiences and engage with existing followers in new ways, think about including YouTube Shorts in your content strategy. Here are a few ways you can do it:

Use Your Long-Form Content Once Again

Take advantage of Shorts to create short videos to tease or highlight your longer videos. This will help drive traffic to your main channel.

Get Creative with Video Series

Think up a series of short videos that fit together to tell a bigger story or look at a topic in-depth over several videos.

‍

Can a YouTube Short be over 1 minute in such a case? Both extra short and 3-minute-long videos might work if you manage to make sure there’s no fluff. 

Experiment with Various Formats

Try out different video lengths and styles to find out what your audience likes best and helps you reach your goals with the content you're putting out there.

‍

Final Thoughts

It is really important for creators to get to grips with YouTube Shorts length if they want to make an impact on the platform. Although the current limit of 3 minutes gives you more space to tell your story, it is worth remembering that shorter, more focused content often works best in the short-form video format. 

‍

But, let’s be honest, it might not even matter what format you decide to choose as long as you manage to post engaging videos consistently. 

‍

This can be a tough one, especially when you're trying to optimize for different lengths and styles. But don't stress. BigMotion has got your back. Our AI-powered video creation platform is here to help you produce high-quality, faceless videos quickly and efficiently.

‍

Our platform uses advanced AI technology to handle all the time-consuming parts of video production, so you can focus on your content strategy. 

‍

‍

Ready to take your YouTube Shorts creation process to the next level? Give BigMotion a try and see the magic that AI-driven content creation can do for you.