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THIS Is the Ideal YouTube Video Length for MAX Engagement

By Cecilia Hwung | Last Update:

Looking to create an engaging YouTube video? However, how long should your video be? It is not at all surprising that many people are willing to get a presence on YouTube. But in order to be unique among the 500 hours of video that are uploaded every minute, you have to consider what is a good length for a YouTube video.

The general perception is the longer videos are better, because they can offer more value. But this is really not always the case. Today, people's attention span is shortening. The longer a video is, the more likely people will abandon it. Thus, it's necessary to strike a balance between informing the viewers adequately and engaging them.

So, in this article we will talk about the ideal YouTube video length. You will also find some tips for how to create engaging content that keeps your audience interested. Please keep reading.

Ideal YouTube Video Length

Ideal YouTube Video Length

An important consideration when developing YouTube videos is the length. This would depend on the kind of content and who it is being meant for. The following are the general rules you can use to judge the ideal YouTube video length.

For Educational and Tutorial Videos

The ideal video length for the educational and tutorial videos is 5 to 10 minutes. The audience needs to get some important information in a short period of time. A longer time duration can make the viewers get bored and click away.

Ideal YouTube Video Length for Educational and Tutorial Videos

For Entertainment Videos

The optimal duration of an entertaining video is between 10 and also 20 minutes. This is because the viewers might want to enjoy or engage more for a longer time. However, shorter films suffer from the content, while the longer ones have excessive dullness.

For Vlogs

The ideal YouTube video length of the vlogs should be around 10 to 15 minutes. The day-to-day lives of the vloggers appeal to some viewers, but they do not want to watch them for a long time. The longer the videos become, the more they risk being dull, and those that are too short may not provide enough information.

For Product Reviews

The ideal YouTube video length of product reviews must be between 3 to 5 minutes. For this reason, every viewer tries to find unique features and benefits of a given product in the blink of an eye. But very long videos may put the viewers off because concise ones can be insufficient.

In summary, the ideal length of a YouTube video should be based on whether it is going to convey information or provide entertainment and for whom. With the help of such recommendations, creators can make their videos very catchy and instructive at the same time while drawing people's attention.

Best YouTube Video Length for Monetization

Many content creators want to monetize their YouTube videos. The best YouTube video length for monetization should lie somewhere between the engagement and the revenues provided by opportunities.

According to the monetization policies of YouTube, creators are allowed to include advertisements in videos longer than 8 minutes. This allows for mid-roll ads during a video. Thus, targeting just a little more than 8 minutes of the video may help increase monetization.

In the case of content creators, such sweet spots usually fall in between 10 and 20 minutes for monetized videos. This duration is sufficient to incorporate more than one ad placement without making the viewer feel overly flooded, so long as the content holds a lot of appeal.

Best YouTube Video Length for Monetization

Maximum YouTube Video Length

The maximum length of a video for standard YouTube accounts is 15 minutes. But if you verify your account, an easy action that requires a phone number only, then the limit will increase significantly. Verified YouTube accounts are now able to upload videos that can run for twelve hours or have a limit of 128GB, whichever is less. This expanded boundary offers numerous options in the form of content creation.

How Do You Edit the Length of a Video

Nobody is going to upload an unedited video onto YouTube. Necessary editing can also ensure that your video doesn’t stray too far from the optimal time for audience engagement, monetization possibilities, or even platform-dependent standards. A practical solution is VideoProc Converter AI, an easy yet powerful video editing software.

VideoProc Converter AI is a comprehensive video editor that offers a range of features, including cutting, trimming, and merging videos. All of these features are essential for adjusting video length. It's user-friendly and accessible for both novices and experienced editors. You can easily get the ideal length for your YouTube video with just a few simple clicks.

Free Download For Win 7 or later
Free Download For Mac OS X 10.6 or later

Note: The Windows version now supports AI-powered Super Resolution, Frame Interpolation, and Stabilization to enhance video and image quality. These AI features are not yet available in the Mac version but will be coming soon.

Download and install the VideoProc Converter AI on your own device. After that, here is how to get the ideal YouTube video length with VideoProc Converter AI:

Step 1. On the main screen of VideoProc Converter AI, click on the Video Converter menu.

VideoProc Converter AI Main Interface

Step 2. Drop your video onto the program. Click the Cut icon.

Cut Video in VideoProc Converter AI

Step 3. Drag the green knobs to set the start and end points of the part you want to keep. Hit the orange Cut button to confirm your selection. Repeat this step to select more sections you want. Click done when you cut them all out.

Video Cutting Interface

Step 4. Start editing the length of your video by clicking the RUN button.

Best Practices for YouTube Video Engagement

Creating engaging YouTube videos is more than just deciding on the ideal YouTube video length. In order to hold and keep your audience's attention, you should also consider the following aspects.

Focus on Watch Time and Video Length

It is important to find a middle ground between the duration and the viewers' attention. Although longer videos could improve watch time, they only work if viewers remain hooked until the very end. Do not make a five-minute video if you can clearly explain that in two minutes. Don't waste people's time by stretching out the content just to hit a certain number of minutes.

Define Your Target Audience

The audience's knowledge – their age, interests, and even their viewing habits can significantly influence product creation. Various audiences prefer different video lengths and also styles. After knowing your audience well, customize the content according to their tastes. This could involve producing shorter, more succinct videos aimed at the younger generation or longer and in-depth ones for an older segment.

Use Appropriate Content Formats

Did you format the video content properly for mobile viewing? There is a need to decide between long and short video formats, especially when we look at mobile streaming. It is also necessary to pay attention to the thumbnail image so that it looks good and allows the viewers to understand what your video is about just from a glance. The aspect ratio of standard YouTube video formats is 16:9. It's good for both mobile and desktop but adds boxing if 4:3. YouTube Shorts video size is usually 9:16, the maximum number of which is sixty seconds.

Common YouTube Video Size

Create a Catchy Title and Description

First impressions matter. It is the title and also description that attract the viewers. They should be very captivating and also representative of the video’s content. It is also possible to incorporate the relevant keywords in your title and description tags for better search visibility. But make sure they are very authentic and accurately reflect the video.

FAQ

Does YouTube Video Length Matter?

The length of the video is one very important factor that influences the viewer's behavior on YouTube. Short videos may lack some depth, and longer ones can cause viewer boredom. YouTube algorithms favor the retention-rate videos, but the concept of a retaining video is very vital. The ideal YouTube video length must match the content type and also the audience's preferences.

What Is a Good Length for a YouTube Video?

The ideal YouTube video length is usually 10-15 minutes long, in the balance between content depth and attention spans among the viewers. But this also depends on the type of content and the target audience. While updates or tips might take less time, the educational content could need more. Audiences' engagement metrics and flexibility should provide direction for the length changes.

About The Author

Cecilia Hwung is the marketing manager of Digiarty Software and the editor-in-chief of the VideoProc team. She pursues common progress with her team and expects to share creative content and useful information with readers. She has a strong interest in copywriting and rich experience in editing tips.

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VideoProc is a primary branch of Digiarty Software that is a leading multimedia software company founded in 2006. It endeavors to provide easier hardware-accelerated video audio editing and conversion solutions. The installed base of the VideoProc product has reached 4.6 million units from 180 countries since its release 5 years ago.

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