how do you cite a youtube video
You cite a YouTube video by including who created or uploaded it, when it was published, the video title, that it is a video on YouTube, and the URL.
Below is a quick, practical guide in common styles.
Core info you always need
Collect these details first.
- Creator’s real name (if known)
- Channel/uploader name
- Full video title
- Date it was uploaded
- Platform name (YouTube)
- URL
- Timestamp in the video (if you quote a specific moment)
APA Style (7th edition)
Basic rule: Author, date, title in italics with “[Video]”, then YouTube and the URL.
Reference list format Creator last name, Initials. (Year, Month Day). Title of video [Video]. YouTube. URL
If you only know the channel name, treat it as the author.
Big Think. (2012, July 3). Game and productivity [Video]. YouTube. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkdzy9bWW3E4]
If you know both real name and username, you can include both like this:
Smith, J. [Terrifictulipteacher]. (2021, April 17). Tutorial on delicate plants [Video]. YouTube. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SnxBvH-0Mc5]
In-text citations
- Paraphrase: (Author, Year) → (Big Think, 2012)
- Direct quote with time: (Author, Year, mm:ss) → (Powerwatercat, 2019, 3:18)
MLA Style (9th edition)
You put the author (or creator) first, then the video title in quotation marks, then the site (YouTube) in italics, then “uploaded by…”, date, and URL.
Works Cited format Author last name, First name. “Video Title.” Website , uploaded by Uploader, Day Month Year, URL.
Example with named creator:
Liu, Jessica. “Primary vs. Secondary Sources: The Differences Explained | Scribbr.” YouTube , uploaded by Scribbr, 16 Feb. 2021, [https://youtu.be/CPQ95B95bWE.1]
If there is no named author, start with the title:
“The Odd Number Problem.” YouTube , uploaded by Vsauce, 29 July 2020, [https://youtu.be/U6VBV4QUMu0.1]
In-text citations
- Paraphrase with author: (Liu 1:15)
- No author, just title: (“Odd Number Problem” 10:35)
- Use timestamps (e.g., 00:02:15–00:02:52) when you quote a specific part.
Chicago Style (Notes & Bibliography)
Chicago often uses footnotes/endnotes plus a bibliography.
You usually indicate that it’s a YouTube video and may include the video length.
Notes format
Channel Name, “Title of Video,” YouTube video, Month Day, Year, URL.
Example note:
- Chegg, “How to Cite a YouTube Video (MLA, APA, Chicago),” YouTube video, October 21, 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2cNj4orsrE.
Some versions also include the duration after “YouTube video”.
Bibliography format
Channel Name. “Title of Video.” YouTube video, Month Day, Year. URL.
Example bibliography entry:
Chegg. “How to Cite a YouTube Video (MLA, APA, Chicago).” YouTube video, October 21, 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2cNj4orsrE.
Quick side-by-side patterns
| Style | General pattern |
|---|---|
| APA | Author. (Year, Month Day). Title [Video]. YouTube. URL | [4][5][6]
| MLA | Author. “Title.” YouTube, uploaded by Uploader, Day Month Year, URL. | [5][1]
| Chicago (note) | Channel, “Title of Video,” YouTube video, Month Day, Year, URL. | [8][3][6][5]
| Chicago (bibliography) | Channel. “Title of Video.” YouTube video, Month Day, Year. URL. | [3][6][8][5]
Tiny “story” example
Imagine you watched a study-skills video in 2025 and used a tip about scheduling breaks. You could write a sentence like:
Planning short, regular breaks can improve focus during long study sessions (Smart Student, 2025, 4:55).
Then, in your reference list (APA), the entry would look like:
Smart Student. (2021, August 17). YouTube videos: Citing and referencing them in APA 7th style [Video]. YouTube. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgXRccS7va02]
One-sentence takeaway
No matter the style, if you include creator, date, full title, YouTube as the source, and a working URL (plus timestamps for quotes), you are citing a YouTube video correctly.
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