Overseas Marketing · Deepege Editorial Team
YouTube Shorts Length 2026: How Long Can YouTube Shorts Be?
How long can YouTube Shorts be? Up to 3 minutes (180 seconds), as long as the video is square or vertical. Anything longer or wider is treated as a regular long-form video. That YouTube Shorts length cap is the same for uploads and the Shorts camera. The catch is that several YouTube tools and rules still work on a 60-second clock: Edit into a Short from your own long video stops at 60 seconds, and a Short over 1 minute with an active copyright claim is blocked worldwide.
Quick answer (checked November 11, 2026 on YouTube Help):
| How you make the Short | Maximum length | Other limits YouTube states | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upload in YouTube Studio on a computer | 3 minutes | Square or vertical; up to 15 files at a time | Upload YouTube Shorts |
| Upload or record in the YouTube app | 3 minutes | Multi-segment Shorts camera; duration set in the upper-right corner | Get started creating Shorts |
| Edit into a Short (from your own long video) | 60 seconds in total | Your own public long-form videos only; no Audio Library music | Create Shorts from your videos |
| A song from the Shorts audio library | Most songs up to 90 seconds | Some tracks are limited to 60 or 30 seconds | Understand three-minute Shorts |
| Every Short | 3 minutes | Max upload resolution 1080p; title up to 100 characters | Get started creating Shorts |
- 3 minutes is the cap for every Short, whether you upload it or record it in the app.
- 60 seconds is the cap when you turn your own long video into a Short with Edit into a Short.
- 1 minute is where the copyright rule changes: longer Shorts with an active claim are blocked globally.
- No minimum length is stated on the YouTube Help pages we checked.
How long can a YouTube Short be if you upload it?
You can upload a YouTube Short of up to 3 minutes from YouTube Studio or the YouTube app. YouTube's page Upload YouTube Shorts lists only two requirements for the file: up to 3 minutes, and a square or vertical aspect ratio. In Studio on a computer you can pick up to 15 short videos at once, but each one needs its details filled in before you publish.
Two more limits apply at upload. YouTube's Get started creating YouTube Shorts page says the maximum upload resolution for Shorts is 1080p and the title can be up to 100 characters. So if you keep a 4K vertical master for other platforms, export the YouTube version at 1080p.
How long can you record with the Shorts camera?
The Shorts camera in the YouTube app records up to 3 minutes, in several segments if you like. YouTube calls it a multi-segment camera: you hold or tap Capture to record a segment, tap again to stop, and repeat. You can change the recording duration in the upper-right corner, and use Undo to drop the last segment.
How long can a Short be when you edit a long video into one?
Edit into a Short is limited to 60 seconds. On YouTube's Create YouTube Shorts from your videos page, the steps are: open the watch page of your video, tap Remix, then Edit into a Short, and select up to 60 seconds. If you select less, you can record more with the Shorts camera, but the total stays at 60 seconds (YouTube's example is 45 seconds of the long video plus 15 seconds recorded).
The same page lists who can use it. Only you can edit your own long-form video into a Short, and only public videos qualify; private and unlisted videos and videos with third-party copyright claims cannot be used. You cannot add music from the Audio Library to these Shorts. If the option is missing, YouTube Studio's "Shorts remixing" setting ("Allow people to sample this content") has to be switched on for that video. The new Short links back to your original video.
So if you want a 2- or 3-minute Short from a long video, cut it in an editor and upload it as a new file instead.
What counts as a YouTube Short?
A YouTube Short is a square or vertical video of up to 3 minutes. YouTube's Understand three-minute YouTube Shorts page explains how the upload date decides it:
- Uploaded on or after October 15, 2024: a square or vertical video up to 3 minutes is categorized as a Short and earns under the Shorts revenue sharing model.
- Uploaded before October 15, 2024: the video stays a long-form video, even if it is vertical and between 1 and 3 minutes, and keeps earning under the long-form model on the watch page.
- Official Artist Channels: the cut-off is December 8, 2025 instead.
To keep a short video out of Shorts, YouTube's advice is to use a wider aspect ratio such as 16:9.
What changes after the first minute of a Short?
Two rules still treat the first minute of a Short differently.
Copyright claims. YouTube says any Short over 1 minute with an active copyright claim of any type, including manual claims, is blocked globally. It will not play, will not be recommended and cannot earn money. Your channel gets no penalty, and the Short becomes viewable again once you remove the claimed content or win a dispute. Shorts under 1 minute have no new limits. We checked the US and UK English versions of the page on November 11, 2026, and both state this blocking rule.
Music. In a 3-minute Short you can use most songs from the Shorts audio library for up to 90 seconds, but some tracks are limited to 60 or 30 seconds. Royalty-free music from the YouTube Audio Library in YouTube Studio won't get a Content ID claim, according to the same page.
In practice: if your Short uses a popular song or a clip you do not own, keep it under 60 seconds. If it is all your own footage and audio, the full 3 minutes is open.
Does YouTube Shorts length affect monetization?
Within the 3-minute limit, YouTube's pages do not set a length condition for earning. YouTube says Shorts that show up in the Shorts Feed are eligible for monetization under its Shorts policies, and a Short that is blocked globally (for example, over 1 minute with a claim) is not.
The thresholds that matter, from YouTube Help (checked November 11, 2026):
- Joining YouTube Partner Program with Shorts: 1,000 subscribers and 10 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days. The alternative path is 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 qualified watch hours in 12 months, and Shorts Feed views do not count toward those watch hours (YouTube Partner Program overview).
- New from February 1, 2027: YouTube's Shorts monetization policies page says that to earn a share of Shorts ad revenue from the Creator Pool and YouTube Premium revenue for a month, a channel will need at least 10 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days. The YPP overview asks partners to review and accept updated terms in YouTube Studio by January 31, 2027.
- Which views count: since March 31, 2025, the public Shorts view count includes every start or replay with no minimum watch time. YPP eligibility and revenue sharing still use "engaged views," so the change did not alter earnings. Non-original Shorts, such as unedited clips from movies or reuploads of other creators' videos, are not eligible.
YouTube Shorts vs TikTok vs Instagram Reels: how long can each be?
YouTube Shorts has the shortest cap of the three big short-video platforms. TikTok and Instagram both allow far longer uploads, so a video that works on those may not count as a Short on YouTube.
| Platform | Longest upload | Number to plan around | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube Shorts | 3 minutes, square or vertical | 60 seconds if it uses claimed music or clips | November 11, 2026 |
| TikTok | 10 minutes recorded in the app, 60 minutes uploaded | 3 minutes for all creators through scheduling tools on TikTok's Content Posting API | November 8, 2026 |
| Instagram Reels | 20 minutes | 3 minutes; longer Reels are not recommended to new audiences | October 31, 2026 |
Our guides on how long TikTok videos can be and how long Instagram videos can be have the full tables and sources for those two platforms. If you post one video everywhere, a cut of up to 3 minutes fits all three platforms and stays eligible for recommendations on Instagram. Keep it under 60 seconds if it uses music or footage that could be claimed on YouTube.
How long should a YouTube Short be?
YouTube does not publish an ideal Short length; 3 minutes is a limit, not a target. Pick the length from the content and the rules above:
- Using a trending song or someone else's clip? Stay under 60 seconds so a claim cannot block the Short.
- Cutting from your own long video in the app? You have 60 seconds. For more, edit offline and upload.
- Telling a full story with your own footage? Use up to 3 minutes, and check that every scene earns its place.
- Posting the same cut to TikTok and Reels? Keep it at 3 minutes or less so it is recommended on Instagram.
- Before you publish: YouTube's app has a Get feedback button that analyzes a Short's hook, pacing and more. It is a quick check before you post a longer Short.
Plan and write your Shorts with Deepege (our product)
Deepege is our own AI content tool for marketing teams, and these free tools cover the writing around a Short. The YouTube video ideas generator suggests topics from YouTube search suggestions, the video script generator outlines a 60-second or 3-minute script, the hook generator drafts the first line, and the YouTube title generator writes a title, description and tags you can trim to the 100-character title limit. To turn one long video into Shorts, TikToks and Reels, see our guide on how to repurpose video content.
FAQ
How long can YouTube Shorts be in 2026?
Up to 3 minutes (180 seconds). Any square or vertical video of 3 minutes or less uploaded on or after October 15, 2024 is categorized as a Short; longer or wider videos are long-form.
Is there a minimum length for YouTube Shorts?
The YouTube Help pages we checked on November 11, 2026 do not state a minimum length for Shorts. They set only the 3-minute maximum and the square or vertical aspect ratio.
Why is my YouTube Short limited to 60 seconds?
You are probably using Edit into a Short, which lets you select up to 60 seconds of your own long video, including anything you record on top. Uploading an edited file from YouTube Studio or the app allows up to 3 minutes.
Why was my Short over 1 minute blocked?
YouTube blocks any Short over 1 minute that has an active copyright claim, including claims on music. The block lifts once you remove the claimed content or the claim is resolved, and your channel is not penalized.
Can a 3-minute YouTube Short make money?
Yes. Shorts up to 3 minutes that play in the Shorts Feed can earn from Shorts ad revenue sharing, as long as they follow YouTube's monetization policies and are not blocked by a copyright claim. From February 1, 2027, a channel needs at least 10 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days to share in that revenue each month.
How long can YouTube Shorts music be?
Most songs from the Shorts audio library can be used for up to 90 seconds in a 3-minute Short, but some tracks are limited to 60 or 30 seconds. Music from the Audio Library cannot be added to Shorts made with Edit into a Short.
FAQ
How long can YouTube Shorts be in 2026?
Up to 3 minutes (180 seconds). Any square or vertical video of 3 minutes or less uploaded on or after October 15, 2024 is categorized as a Short; longer or wider videos are long-form.
Is there a minimum length for YouTube Shorts?
The YouTube Help pages we checked on November 11, 2026 do not state a minimum length for Shorts. They set only the 3-minute maximum and the square or vertical aspect ratio.
Why is my YouTube Short limited to 60 seconds?
You are probably using Edit into a Short, which lets you select up to 60 seconds of your own long video, including anything you record on top. Uploading an edited file from YouTube Studio or the app allows up to 3 minutes.
Why was my Short over 1 minute blocked?
YouTube blocks any Short over 1 minute that has an active copyright claim, including claims on music. The block lifts once you remove the claimed content or the claim is resolved, and your channel is not penalized.
Can a 3-minute YouTube Short make money?
Yes. Shorts up to 3 minutes that play in the Shorts Feed can earn from Shorts ad revenue sharing, as long as they follow YouTube's monetization policies and are not blocked by a copyright claim. From February 1, 2027, a channel needs at least 10 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days to share in that revenue each month.
How long can YouTube Shorts music be?
Most songs from the Shorts audio library can be used for up to 90 seconds in a 3-minute Short, but some tracks are limited to 60 or 30 seconds. Music from the Audio Library cannot be added to Shorts made with Edit into a Short.