YouTube Hashtags and Timing Guide: Best Tags and Posting Schedule 2025

YouTube Hashtags: Full Guide

YouTube hashtags help your videos get discovered by organizing content around topics. Unlike other platforms, YouTube hashtags work differently and have specific rules for maximum effectiveness. Use our YouTube hashtag generator to find trending tags for your videos.

How YouTube Hashtags Work

Where Hashtags Appear

Above video title:

First 3 hashtags from description
Clickable and discoverable
Most prominent placement

In video description:

All hashtags you add
Help with search discovery
Support video categorization

In search results:

Hashtag pages show related videos
Users can follow hashtag feeds
Improves discovery

YouTube Hashtag Rules

Limits and restrictions:

Maximum 15 hashtags per video
Over 15 hashtags = all hashtags ignored
Must be relevant to content
No spaces (use camelCase: #SocialMediaTips)
No special characters except underscores

Best YouTube Hashtags by Category

Popular General Tags

High-traffic hashtags:

#YouTube
#Viral
#Trending
#Entertainment
#Education
#Tutorial
#Review
#Tips
#Guide
#HowTo

YouTube Shorts Hashtags

Essential for Shorts:

#Shorts (always include)
#YouTubeShorts
#Short
#QuickTips
#60Seconds
#Viral
#Trending
#FYP (For You Page)
#Explore
#Discovery

Educational Content

Learning and tutorials:

#Tutorial
#HowTo
#LearnWithMe
#Education
#Tips
#Guide
#StepByStep
#Beginner
#Advanced
#Skills

Entertainment Hashtags

Comedy and entertainment:

#Funny
#Comedy
#Entertainment
#Memes
#Reactions
#Challenge
#Prank
#Sketch
#Parody
#Hilarious

Gaming Hashtags

Gaming content:

#Gaming
#Gameplay
#Gamer
#LiveStream
#Twitch
#ESports
#Review
#Walkthrough
#Tips
#Strategy

Lifestyle and Vlog Tags

Personal content:

#Vlog
#DayInMyLife
#Lifestyle
#Travel
#Food
#Fashion
#Beauty
#Fitness
#Health
#Motivation

YouTube Timing: When to Post

Best Posting Times (General)

Peak engagement hours:

Monday to Wednesday: 2 PM to 4 PM
Thursday and Friday: 12 PM to 3 PM
Saturday: 9 AM to 11 AM
Sunday: 9 AM to 11 AM

Time Zone Considerations

Target audience locations:

US Eastern: 2 PM to 4 PM EST
US Pacific: 11 AM to 1 PM PST
UK: 2 PM to 4 PM GMT
Global audience: 12 PM to 3 PM UTC

Content-Specific Timing

Educational content:

Weekdays: 10 AM to 12 PM
After school: 3 PM to 5 PM
Evening learning: 7 PM to 9 PM

Entertainment content:

Weekdays: 6 PM to 9 PM
Weekends: 12 PM to 6 PM
Friday nights: 7 PM to 10 PM

Gaming content:

Weekdays: 6 PM to 11 PM
Weekends: 10 AM to 11 PM
Peak: 8 PM to 10 PM

Hashtag Methods for Different Video Types

YouTube Shorts Approach

Hashtag mix for Shorts:

#Shorts #QuickTips #SocialMedia #Marketing #Tutorial #Business #Growth #Tips #Education #Success

Why this works:

Includes required #Shorts tag
Mixes broad and specific tags
Targets learning audience
Uses trending topics

Long-Form Video Strategy

Educational video example:

#SocialMediaMarketing #YouTubeTips #DigitalMarketing #ContentCreator #BusinessGrowth

Entertainment video example:

#Comedy #Funny #Entertainment #Viral #Trending

Live Stream Approach

Live content hashtags:

#Live #LiveStream #Interactive #QandA #Community

Research Tools for YouTube Hashtags

Free Tools

YouTube search suggestions:

Start typing in YouTube search
Note autocomplete suggestions
Use relevant phrases as hashtags
Check trending topics

YouTube trending page:

Visit YouTube.com/trending
Note popular hashtag patterns
Adapt to your content niche
Track seasonal trends

Paid Tools

Advanced hashtag research:

TubeBuddy: Tag suggestions and optimization
VidIQ: Hashtag analytics and tracking
Ahrefs: YouTube keyword research
SEMrush: Video content optimization

Competitor Analysis

Research successful channels:

Find top videos in your niche
Note their hashtag usage
Identify patterns
Adapt successful strategies

YouTube Algorithm and Hashtags

How Hashtags Affect Algorithm

Algorithm considerations:

Hashtags help categorize content
Improve search visibility
Connect related videos
Support recommendation engine

What works:

Relevant, specific hashtags
Mix of broad and niche tags
Consistent hashtag themes
Trending topic inclusion

Hashtag Performance Tracking

Monitor these metrics:

Search traffic from hashtags
Impressions from hashtag pages
Click-through rates
Watch time from hashtag traffic

Advanced YouTube Timing Methods

Audience Analytics

Use YouTube Studio data:

Go to Analytics > Audience
Check "When your viewers are on YouTube"
Post during peak activity times
Adjust based on your data

A/B Testing Posting Times

Test methodology:

Post similar content at different times
Track performance over 2-4 weeks
Note patterns in views and engagement
Optimize schedule based on results

Global Audience Considerations

Multiple time zones:

Identify primary audience locations
Calculate optimal overlap times
Consider scheduling multiple posts
Use YouTube Premieres for global events

Holiday and Seasonal Tags

January: #NewYear #Resolutions #Goals February: #ValentinesDay #Love March: #Spring #StPatricksDay April: #Easter #SpringBreak May: #MothersDay #Memorial June: #Summer #FathersDay #Pride July: #FourthOfJuly #Summer August: #BackToSchool #Summer September: #Fall #BackToSchool October: #Halloween #Spooky November: #Thanksgiving #Grateful December: #Christmas #Holidays #NewYear

How to leverage trends:

Monitor Google Trends
Check Twitter trending topics
Adapt trending topics to your niche
Create timely, relevant content

YouTube Hashtag Mistakes to Avoid

Common Errors

Don't do:

Use irrelevant hashtags
Exceed 15 hashtag limit
Use banned or restricted tags
Copy competitors exactly
Ignore hashtag performance

Do instead:

Research relevant tags
Mix broad and specific hashtags
Create original combinations
Track performance regularly
Adapt based on results

Banned Hashtag Types

Avoid these categories:

Discriminatory language
Violence or harmful content
Adult content
Misleading information
Spam or repetitive tags

Tools and Resources

Free YouTube Tools

Built-in features:

YouTube Analytics
Search suggestions
Trending page
Creator Studio insights

External free tools:

Google Trends
Social media trend trackers
Competitor research
Hashtag generators

Recommended Paid Tools

Professional options:

TubeBuddy: Comprehensive YouTube optimization
VidIQ: Advanced analytics and insights
Hootsuite: Social media scheduling
SocialRails: Multi-platform management

Measuring Hashtag Success

Key Metrics to Track

Performance indicators:

Video impressions
Click-through rate
Watch time
Subscriber growth
Engagement rate

Regular Review Process

Monthly hashtag audit:

Review top-performing videos
Identify successful hashtag patterns
Note underperforming tags
Research new trending hashtags
Update hashtag strategy

Conclusion

YouTube hashtags and timing work together to maximize your video's reach and engagement. Use relevant, researched hashtags combined with strategic posting times based on your audience analytics for best results.

Remember that consistency in both hashtag strategy and posting schedule helps build audience expectations and improves algorithmic performance over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many hashtags should I use on YouTube videos?

YouTube allows up to 15 hashtags, but 3-5 relevant hashtags typically perform best. Using too many hashtags can appear spammy and may hurt your video's discoverability. Focus on quality over quantity by choosing highly relevant hashtags for your content and target audience.

Should I put hashtags in the title or description?

Hashtags work in both the title and description, but most creators put them in the description for a cleaner title appearance. If you use hashtags in the title, YouTube will display up to 3 hashtags above your video title. Description hashtags help with search without cluttering your title.

What's the best time to post YouTube videos?

The best posting times vary by audience, but general guidelines suggest 2-4 PM on weekdays and 9-11 AM on weekends (EST). Check your YouTube Analytics to see when your specific audience is most active, as this varies significantly by demographics, geography, and content niche.

Do hashtags actually help YouTube videos get discovered?

Yes, hashtags help YouTube understand your content topic and can improve discoverability in search results and suggested videos. However, they're just one ranking factor. Content quality, engagement, watch time, and relevance to search queries are more important for overall video performance.

Can I use the same hashtags for all my videos?

While you can use some consistent branded hashtags, avoid using identical hashtag sets for every video. YouTube may view this as spam. Instead, use 1-2 consistent channel hashtags and 3-4 video-specific hashtags that accurately describe each video's unique content.

Should I create custom hashtags or use popular ones?

Use a mix of both. Popular hashtags increase discoverability but have more competition. Custom or niche hashtags help you reach specific audiences with less competition. A good strategy combines 1-2 popular hashtags with 3-4 more specific or branded hashtags.

How do I know if my hashtags are working?

Monitor your YouTube Analytics to track traffic sources and search terms that lead viewers to your videos. Look at impression and click-through rates for videos with different hashtag strategies. Also check if your videos appear in hashtag search results and monitor engagement patterns.

What happens if I use banned or irrelevant hashtags?

Using banned hashtags can result in your video being hidden from search results or even channel penalties. Irrelevant hashtags may be ignored by YouTube's algorithm or could mislead viewers, leading to quick drop-offs that hurt your video's performance. Always use accurate, relevant hashtags.

Ready to optimize your YouTube strategy? Try SocialRails to schedule your videos, track hashtag performance, and manage your content calendar across all social media platforms.

TL;DR - Quick Answer