A YouTube Short can now be up to 3 minutes long , as long as it’s vertical or square and meets Shorts requirements.

Quick Scoop: How Long Can a YouTube Short Be?

For 2026, here’s the simple breakdown:

  • Maximum duration: Up to 3 minutes per Short.
  • Previous limit: 60 seconds before YouTube expanded Shorts in October 2024.
  • Format requirement: Vertical or square video so YouTube classifies it as a Short.

So if you upload a vertical video that’s 2 minutes 30 seconds long, it can still count as a Short in the current system.

Ideal Length vs. Maximum Length

Even though you can go to 3 minutes, most creators perform better with shorter runtimes:

  • Many current creator and SaaS guides recommend 15–30 seconds as a strong “sweet spot” for retention and completion rates.
  • A broader “good” range for most niches is 15–60 seconds , especially when the pacing is tight and every second adds value.
  • Longer Shorts (60–180 seconds) tend to work more like mini long-form videos and only pay off if the story truly needs the extra time.

Think of it this way: the algorithm rewards watch time and completion rate, so a concise Short that most people finish will usually beat a bloated 3‑minute clip.

Practical Tips for 2026 Creators

Here are some quick, actionable ways to use the new time limit:

  1. Match length to content type
    • Quick tips, memes, visual gags: 15–20 seconds.
    • Simple “how-to” or listicle: 20–35 seconds.
    • Story-style or transformation clips: 30–60 seconds.
  1. Treat 3 minutes as “advanced mode”
    • Use 90–180 seconds only when you can maintain strong narrative or educational momentum (e.g., mini-tutorials, breakdowns, commentary).
 * If viewers are dropping off early in your analytics, test shorter cuts of the same idea.
  1. Watch for music and copyright quirks
    • Some guides note that Shorts over 1 minute using certain copyrighted or Content ID–claimed audio can run into visibility or blocking issues, even though 3 minutes is allowed overall.
 * When in doubt, use safe audio, or keep music-heavy Shorts closer to the 15–60 second range.

Mini FAQ (Forum-Style)

Q: Can a YouTube Short be 2 minutes?
A: Yes. Since the 2024 update, 2‑minute vertical videos can qualify as Shorts.

Q: Is 3 minutes a good idea or just the hard limit?
A: It’s the hard cap. Performance data and expert guides still lean toward 15–45 seconds for many niches, especially for growth-focused channels.

Q: If I’m starting from scratch in 2026, what should I do?
A: Begin with 15–30 second Shorts, publish consistently, and then experiment toward 45–60 seconds once you see what holds audience attention in your analytics.

SEO Bits for Your Post

  • Focus keyword to repeat naturally: “how long can a YouTube Short be”.
  • Example meta description (under 160 characters):
    • Wondering how long a YouTube Short can be in 2026? Learn the current 3‑minute limit, ideal Short length, and best practices to boost retention.

You can structure your article with headings like:

  • <h1>How Long Can a YouTube Short Be in 2026?</h1>
  • <h2>Official YouTube Shorts Time Limit</h2>
  • <h2>Best Performing Lengths for Shorts</h2>
  • <h2>Tips to Choose the Right Length</h2>

Remember to add a short note at the bottom such as:
“Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.” (matching your desired bottom note text).