New Clothes Design
Social media platforms expect to see new features, different formats, and ways to engage the audience. To stay ahead of the curve, we have to adopt new things. If we go five years back, YouTube shorts were launched in comparison with TikTok short-form videos. Now it's 2025, YouTube Shorts are available on iOS, Android, web browsers, Mac OS, iPad OS, and Windows on the YouTube app.
YouTube Shorts recorded the highest engagement rate with 5.91% which is more than TikTok & Facebook Reels. This guide is going to be helpful for the creators who wonder about the ideal length for YouTube Shorts. Let's uncover a few facts about how long a YouTube short can be?
What are YouTube Shorts?
YouTube shorts are (1-3 minute or less) videos that people can watch on the homepage of the YouTube app or Shorts tab. The Vertical short videos came into existence in September 2020 and are booming right now. You will be surprised to know that over 1 billion Shorts have been uploaded to the app, and every month, there is an addition of 25 million shorts to the YouTube App. The creators and viewers both are getting benefits from it. Creators are making good money while viewers are saving time and getting enjoyed with quick, fast, funny, and entertaining clips.
History Of YouTube Short
In 2020, March TikTok was banned in India, and after 5 months, YouTube Shorts was first released in India in September 2020. Later, it was released in the United States and then worldwide. YouTube shorts are similar to Facebook and Instagram reels, The vertical short videos are now famous and much preferred.
Why should you create YouTube Shorts?
YouTube Shorts ( 1-3 min or less) made for mobile users, especially for audiences who have short attention spans. Audiences and creators love shorts for many reasons. Creating youtube shorts and watching them is fun.
Here are a few reasons, you need to consider for the creation of YouTube shorts:
- The demand for YouTube shorts is very high as they're quick, fun, and can be watched and shared easily on any device.
- Such videos convey the whole concept of content within a few seconds. Users do not need to spend minutes or hours to get an idea.
- You can use various tools to convert long videos into short clips and earn money easily. You do not need high-end video editing skills to post shorts.
- YouTube Shorts as a new revenue source to supplement your existing YPP ad revenue income as creators can earn between $0.01 and $0.07 for every 1,000 views on Shorts depending upon the RPM of your niche and other factors.
When Creators Started Focusing on YouTube Shorts?
Back in 2020, The developers started seeing success in short-form content. So due to the popularity of short videos on TikTok, YouTube started shorts. In 2021, the average number of views on YouTube shorts was 30 billion, and in 2024, the views were 90 billion. It keeps on rising and showing YouTube shorts creation can be a career for youngsters. However, some get confused with the minimum length of YouTube Shorts for monetization. We are coming on it and will clear all the confusions you have about the youtube shorts length.
How Long Can a YouTube Short Be?
The maximum YouTube short length is 3 min, and ideally it is 30 to 33 seconds. If your video is 1 minute long, you need to focus on a captivating hook for 3 seconds. The next 15-30 seconds is often the sweet spot for retaining viewer attention and encouraging repeat views. Fast visuals within the first 10 seconds are also highly recommended.
According to the reports, Short lengths have been extended, 1-3 minute, shorts are a great chance for creators to create and captivate their audience. This update was launched in October 15, 2024. Where every video with a square or vertical aspect ratio can be up to three minutes in length is considered as short and monetized in the Shorts revenue-sharing model from the Shorts Feed.
Why Does Video Length Matter for YouTube Shorts?
Creators can make videos in less than 3 minutes but research demonstrates the success of shorts with length of 15 – 33 seconds. They are easy to watch, quick, punchy, and to the point and scored a better retention and engagement. We suggest creators ensure that their topic gets covered within 3 minutes and user intent should be fulfilled within the time frame.
YouTube Shorts Dimensions & Aspect Ratio
Formatting and visuals are key to success for YT shorts. These factors determine views, watch time and user intent by YT algorithms. The video should be vertical 1080 pixels x 1920 pixels, making it a 9:16 aspect ratio while editing for mobile phones. Remember, the User will scroll down if you do not add an engaging hook and striking visuals.