Best Hashtags for YouTube Shorts in 2025

Hashtag Quick Reference

Top YouTube Shorts Hashtags for 2025

Must-Use Essential Hashtags

These hashtags help YouTube categorize your content as a Short:

• #Shorts — Over 1.4 billion videos use this tag
• #YouTubeShorts — Signals Short format to the algorithm
• #Short — Alternative to main Shorts tag

Always include at least one of these on every YouTube Short you post.

Best Viral Hashtags

These increase discoverability in the Shorts feed:

• #viral
• #trending
• #fyp (For Your Page)
• #foryou
• #viralvideo
• #viralshorts
• #explore
• #trendingnow
• #blowthisup

Engagement Hashtags

Tags that signal engaging content:

• #mustsee
• #watchthis
• #dontskip
• #waitforit
• #mindblowing
• #satisfying
• #oddlysatisfying

Best Hashtags by Niche

Gaming

#gaming #shortsgaming #gamingcommunity #gamersofyoutube
#gameplay #youtubegaming #gamingclips #gametok #gamingshorts
#gameplayclips #mobilegaming #pcgaming #consolegaming

Top picks: #Shorts #gaming #gamingclips #viral

Comedy and Entertainment

#funnyshorts #comedy #comedyshorts #funny #relatable
#memes #shortsjokes #humor #lol #lmao #skit #reaction
#wholesomeshorts #memesdaily #funnyvideo

Top picks: #Shorts #funny #comedyshorts #viral

Beauty and Makeup

#makeupshorts #beauty #beautyhacks #skincare #makeup
#beautytips #glowup #makeuptutorial #skincareroutine
#beautyroutine #grwm #makeuplook #beautytrends

Top picks: #Shorts #beauty #makeuptutorial #grwm

Food and Cooking

#foodshorts #cooking #recipe #easyrecipes #food
#cookinghacks #homecooking #foodie #quickmeals
#recipeshorts #streetfood #foodtok #yummy

Top picks: #Shorts #food #recipe #cookinghacks

Fitness and Health

#fitness #workout #gym #fitnessshorts #exercise
#homeworkout #fitnessmotivation #gains #health
#workoutshorts #gymlife #fitnesstips #training

Top picks: #Shorts #fitness #workout #gymlife

Music and Dance

#music #dance #singing #musicshorts #dancer
#cover #musician #vocals #dancetrends #choreography
#singersongwriter #musicvideo #dancechallenge

Top picks: #Shorts #music #dance #viral

Tech and Gadgets

#tech #technology #techshorts #gadgets #techtips
#techreview #smartphone #apps #techtok #innovation
#technews #coding #programming #ai

Top picks: #Shorts #tech #gadgets #techtips

Education and How-To

#education #learning #howto #tutorial #tips
#educational #facts #didyouknow #studytips #lifehacks
#knowledge #learnontiktok #edutok

Top picks: #Shorts #howto #tutorial #lifehacks

Travel and Lifestyle

#travel #travelshorts #wanderlust #explore #adventure
#lifestyle #vlog #travelvlog #destination #vacation
#travelgram #bucketlist #traveltips

Top picks: #Shorts #travel #explore #wanderlust

Pets and Animals

#pets #animals #dog #cat #cute #petshorts
#dogsoftiktok #catsoftiktok #funny #adorable
#puppy #kitten #petlife #animallovers

Top picks: #Shorts #pets #cute #funny

Motivation and Inspiration

#motivation #inspiration #mindset #success #quotes
#motivational #selfimprovement #entrepreneur #goals
#positivity #hustle #grind #growth

Top picks: #Shorts #motivation #mindset #success

How Many Hashtags Should You Use?

YouTube allows up to 15 hashtags, but more isn't better.

Recommended: 3-5 Hashtags

Research shows 3-5 targeted hashtags perform best:

• 1-2 essential tags (#Shorts, #YouTubeShorts)
• 2-3 niche-specific tags
• 1 viral/trending tag (optional)

Why Less Is More

Too many hashtags:

• Dilutes relevance signals
• Looks spammy
• Confuses the algorithm
• Reduces click-through rate

Optimal amount:

• Clear content categorization
• Focused targeting
• Professional appearance
• Better algorithmic matching

Where to Put Hashtags

Option 1: In the Title

Add 1-2 hashtags at the end of your title.

Example: "5 Quick Breakfast Ideas #Shorts #food"

Option 2: In the Description

Place hashtags at the end of your description.

Example: "Try these easy breakfast recipes that take under 5 minutes!

#Shorts #food #easyrecipes #breakfast #cooking"

Option 3: Both (Recommended)

Put your main hashtag in the title, rest in description.

Title: "5 Quick Breakfast Ideas #Shorts" Description: "Try these easy recipes! #food #easyrecipes #breakfast"

Hashtag Strategy for Maximum Reach

The 3-Layer Approach

Layer 1: Broad (1-2 tags) Essential hashtags that reach everyone.

• #Shorts
• #viral or #trending

Layer 2: Niche (2-3 tags) Tags specific to your content category.

• #cooking #recipes (for food content)
• #gaming #gameplay (for gaming content)

Layer 3: Specific (1 tag) Ultra-targeted tag for exact audience.

• #30secondrecipes
• #minecraftbuilds

Example Combinations

Gaming Short: #Shorts #gaming #gamingclips #fortnite #viral

Recipe Short: #Shorts #food #recipe #easymeals #cooking

Fitness Short: #Shorts #workout #fitness #homeworkout #exercise

Comedy Short: #Shorts #funny #comedy #relatable #viral

Trending Hashtags for 2025

Currently Trending

• #2025
• #newyear
• #trendingnow
• #viralshort2025
• #trendingshorts

Evergreen Viral Tags

• #viral
• #trending
• #fyp
• #foryou
• #explore
• #blowup
• #mustsee

Seasonal Tags

Adjust hashtags based on time of year:

• January: #newyear #goals #2025
• Summer: #summer #vacation #travel
• October: #halloween #spooky #fall
• December: #christmas #holidays #winter

What Matters More Than Hashtags

Hashtags help discoverability, but other factors have bigger impact:

Watch Time (Most Important)

YouTube prioritizes videos people watch to completion. A video with perfect hashtags but low watch time won't go viral.

Improve watch time:

• Hook viewers in the first second
• Keep videos under 30 seconds initially
• Add curiosity or suspense
• End before viewers get bored

Engagement Rate

Likes, comments, shares, and saves signal quality content.

Boost engagement:

• Ask questions in your content
• Create shareable moments
• Encourage comments
• Reply to comments quickly

Click-Through Rate (CTR)

Your thumbnail and title determine if people click.

Improve CTR:

• Use eye-catching thumbnails
• Write curiosity-driving titles
• A/B test different approaches

Consistency

Regular posting trains the algorithm to promote your content.

Posting schedule:

• Minimum: 3-5 Shorts per week
• Optimal: 1-2 Shorts per day
• Maximum: 3-4 Shorts per day

Hashtag Mistakes to Avoid

Using Irrelevant Hashtags

Don't use popular hashtags that don't match your content.

If your Short is about cooking, don't add #gaming just because it's popular. This confuses the algorithm and annoys viewers.

Overstuffing Hashtags

Don't use all 15 allowed hashtags.

Stick to 3-5 relevant tags. Quality over quantity.

Using Only Broad Hashtags

Don't rely solely on #viral and #trending.

These are too competitive. Add niche tags to reach your actual audience.

Copying Exact Hashtag Sets

Don't use the same hashtags on every video.

Mix up your tags based on each video's specific content.

Ignoring Analytics

Don't guess what works.

Check YouTube Analytics to see which hashtags drive views.

How to Research Hashtags

Method 1: YouTube Search

1. Type a hashtag in YouTube search
2. Check how many videos use it
3. See what top creators in your niche use
4. Note which hashtags appear on viral Shorts

Method 2: Competitor Analysis

1. Find successful creators in your niche
2. Check their hashtag usage
3. Note patterns in their viral content
4. Adapt (don't copy) their strategy

Method 3: Trend Monitoring

1. Check YouTube Trending page
2. Watch popular Shorts in your niche
3. Note recurring hashtags
4. Test trending tags quickly

Method 4: Hashtag Tools

Use free tools to research hashtag popularity:

• YouTube search suggestions
• TubeBuddy (browser extension)
• VidIQ (browser extension)
• Keyword research tools

Hashtag Templates by Content Type

Tutorial/How-To

#Shorts #howto #tutorial #tips #[niche]

Entertainment/Viral

#Shorts #viral #trending #fyp #[content type]

Educational

#Shorts #facts #didyouknow #learning #[topic]

Challenge/Trend

#Shorts #challenge #trend #[challenge name] #viral

Product Review

#Shorts #review #[product category] #unboxing #tech

Quick Reference: Best Hashtag Combos

Copy these for quick use:

General viral: #Shorts #viral #trending #fyp #explore

Gaming: #Shorts #gaming #gamingclips #gameplay #gamer

Beauty: #Shorts #beauty #makeup #grwm #beautytips

Food: #Shorts #food #recipe #cooking #foodie

Fitness: #Shorts #fitness #workout #gym #health

Comedy: #Shorts #funny #comedy #humor #lol

Music: #Shorts #music #song #cover #musician

Pets: #Shorts #pets #cute #dog #cat

Summary

For YouTube Shorts success in 2025:

1. Always use #Shorts — Essential for categorization
2. Add 2-3 niche hashtags — Target your audience
3. Include 1 viral tag — Boost discoverability
4. Keep total to 3-5 — Quality over quantity
5. Place in title and description — Maximum visibility
6. Prioritize content quality — Hashtags are secondary to watch time

Remember: Great content with average hashtags outperforms average content with perfect hashtags. Focus on creating engaging Shorts first, then optimize with the right tags.

For more YouTube growth tips, explore our YouTube video ideas generator and YouTube Shorts caption generator.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many hashtags should I use on YouTube Shorts?

Use 3-5 hashtags per YouTube Short. This should include 1-2 essential tags (#Shorts, #YouTubeShorts), 2-3 niche-specific tags, and optionally 1 viral tag. More than 5 hashtags can dilute relevance and look spammy.

Do I need to use #Shorts on YouTube Shorts?

Yes, always include #Shorts or #YouTubeShorts on every YouTube Short. These hashtags help YouTube categorize your content as a Short and improve discoverability in the Shorts feed.

Where should I put hashtags on YouTube Shorts?

Put your main hashtag (#Shorts) in the title, and place additional niche hashtags at the end of your description. This provides maximum visibility while keeping your title clean and readable.

What are the best viral hashtags for YouTube Shorts?

Popular viral hashtags include #viral, #trending, #fyp (For Your Page), #foryou, #viralshorts, #explore, and #trendingnow. However, combine these with niche-specific tags for better targeting.

Do hashtags matter more than content quality?

No, content quality matters more than hashtags. Watch time, engagement rate, and click-through rate have bigger impacts on YouTube Shorts performance. Great content with average hashtags will outperform average content with perfect hashtags.

Should I use the same hashtags on every YouTube Short?

No, mix up your hashtags based on each video's specific content. Keep essential tags like #Shorts consistent, but vary your niche and viral tags to reach different audience segments and avoid looking spammy.