Ideal Length for a YouTube Short in 2025

The best length for a YouTube Short in 2025 is between 15 to 40 seconds. Even though YouTube now allows Shorts to go up to 60 seconds (and even longer in some cases), shorter videos tend to perform better — especially when it comes to views, watch time, and how the algorithm pushes your content. If you’re making Shorts to grow your channel, reach more people, or simply get more likes and comments, keeping your videos quick and engaging is the way to go. In this article, we’ll break down why shorter is better, how to pick the right length for your content, and what YouTube’s algorithm seems to prefer this year.

What Are YouTube Shorts?

YouTube Shorts are short, vertical videos that are easy to watch on a phone. They’re meant to be quick, catchy, and scrollable — kind of like TikToks or Instagram Reels. You can upload a Short that’s up to 60 seconds long. But in 2025, YouTube is even testing longer Shorts (up to 3 minutes for some creators). Still, just because you can go longer doesn’t mean you should. People scroll fast. And the shorter your video, the better chance you have of keeping their attention all the way to the end — which helps your video get seen by more people.

Why Shorter Videos Work Better

The YouTube algorithm looks at watch time and completion rate — basically, how much of your video people actually watch. Here’s the thing: most people won’t stick around for a full minute unless your content is really good. But if your video is only 20 seconds long, chances are more people will watch all the way through — and that sends a signal to YouTube that your content is worth promoting. That’s why 15 to 40 seconds is the sweet spot right now. You get in, grab attention, and finish before the viewer gets bored. That’s exactly what the algorithm likes.

Best Lengths Based on Your Content

The “perfect” length can change depending on what kind of Short you’re making. Here’s a quick guide:

Type of Content	Best Length
Funny clips & memes	10–20 seconds
Quick tips & tutorials	20–35 seconds
Product demos	25–40 seconds
Storytelling or skits	40–60 seconds

If your video needs more time, go for it — but only if every second counts. Don’t stretch a 20-second idea into a full minute.

How YouTube Shorts Work in 2025

Here’s a quick look at what you need to know about Shorts this year:

Feature	Details
Video direction	Vertical (9:16)
Max resolution	1080 x 1920 (Full HD)
Max length	60 seconds (some get 3 mins)
Best-performing length	15 to 40 seconds
Format	MP4

Shorter videos also take less time to create, edit, and upload — so you can post more often without burning out.

How to Keep People Watching?

Getting your video length right is one thing. But here’s how to make sure people stay till the end:

• Start strong: Hook the viewer in the first 2 seconds.
• Keep it moving: Cut out anything boring or slow.
• Use subtitles: Most people watch with sound off.
• End with a surprise or call to action: Make it worth staying till the last second.

When people watch all the way through — or better yet, watch your video more than once — YouTube takes notice and shows it to more people.

Choose Quality Over Length

Just because you can upload a 60-second Short doesn’t mean you should. Focus on quality over quantity. A tight, funny, helpful, or surprising 20-second video will always beat a dull 60-second one. If you post content regularly and focus on keeping it short and punchy, you’ll start to see more views, better engagement, and faster channel growth. And if you’re serious about using YouTube or social media to grow your personal brand or business, getting certified can help you stand out. You can check out this Marketing and Business Certification to learn how to build and market your content professionally. Or if you’re diving deeper into the tech behind content platforms, automation, and AI — check out Blockchain Council for Deep Tech certification options.

Conclusion

In 2025, short and simple still wins. The ideal length for a YouTube Short is between 15 to 40 seconds, especially if you want people to watch the whole thing and keep scrolling through your content. Stick to the point. Cut the fluff. And focus on keeping your audience interested from start to finish. That’s how you’ll get results — and how YouTube’s algorithm will work for you instead of against you.