Mavericks Docs

YouTube Guidelines

Specifications and best practices for YouTube content

YouTube Content Specifications

YouTube supports a wide range of video formats and resolutions, from standard definition to 8K.

Video Posts

- Parameter Standard Videos YouTube Shorts
  • Resolution
 1920 x 1080 pixels (16:9) recommended 1080 x 1920 pixels (9:16)
  • Aspect Ratio
 16:9 (pillarboxed for 4:3) 9:16 (vertical)
  • File Format
 MP4, MOV, AVI, WMV, MPEG, WebM, etc. Same as standard videos
  • Codec
 Video: H.264, VP9, HEVC (H.265); Audio: AAC, MP3 Same as standard videos
  • Maximum File Size
 256 GB Same as standard videos
  • Video Length
 No limit 60 seconds
  • Audio Loudness
 Target -14 LUFS integrated with True Peak of -1 dBTP Same as standard videos
  • Title Safe Area
 1546 x 902 pixels (80% of 1080p frame) Keep text within center 80% of frame

Thumbnails

- Parameter Specification
  • Size
 1280 x 720 pixels
  • Aspect Ratio
 16:9
  • File Format
 JPG, PNG, or BMP
  • Maximum File Size
 2 MB

Text

  • Title: 100 characters
  • Description: 5,000 characters

For optimal quality, use these bitrate settings based on your resolution and frame rate:

- Resolution Standard Frame Rate (24, 25, 30 fps) High Frame Rate (48, 50, 60 fps)
  • 2160p (4K)
 35-45 Mbps 53-68 Mbps
  • 1440p (2K)
 16 Mbps 24 Mbps
  • 1080p (FHD)
 8 Mbps 12 Mbps
  • 720p (HD)
 5 Mbps 7.5 Mbps
  • 480p (SD)
 2.5 Mbps 4 Mbps

Technical Considerations

  • Audio Loudness: YouTube normalizes audio to -14 LUFS integrated. Content louder than this will be turned down, but quieter content won't be turned up. Aim for -14 LUFS with peaks not exceeding -1 dBTP.
  • Codec Selection: H.264 is most compatible, VP9 offers better quality at the same bitrate, and HEVC (H.265) provides the best compression but requires more processing power.
  • Title Safe Areas: Keep text and important graphics within 80% of the frame (1546 x 902 pixels for 1080p). For critical text, stay within 64% of the frame (1236 x 676 pixels).
  • Color Space: Use Rec. 709 for standard content, Rec. 2020 for HDR content (HDR requires 10-bit color depth).

Content Structure

Effective YouTube videos typically follow this structure:

  1. Opening Hook (First 15 seconds): Capture attention and prevent viewers from clicking away
  2. Intro Sequence (5-8 seconds): Build brand recognition and set expectations
  3. Main Content: Structure with clear sections to maintain viewer interest
  4. Call to Action: Include throughout video, especially at the end
  5. End Screen (Final 20 seconds): Promote other videos, playlists, or channels

Optimal Video Lengths by Content Type

Different content types have different optimal lengths:

  • Tutorials: 7-15 minutes (step-by-step instructions)
  • Entertainment: 8-12 minutes (high retention, frequent pattern interrupts)
  • Educational: 10-18 minutes (in-depth explanations)
  • Product Reviews: 8-12 minutes (comprehensive but concise)
  • Vlogs: 10-15 minutes (personal storytelling)
  • Gaming: 15-30 minutes (gameplay with commentary)
  • Shorts: 30-60 seconds (quick, engaging content)

SEO and Discoverability

Optimize these elements to improve your video's visibility:

  • Title: Include primary keywords in first 60 characters (high impact on search ranking and CTR)
  • Description: Write 200+ words with natural keyword inclusion (medium-high impact on search ranking)
  • Tags: Include specific and general relevant tags (medium impact on search relevance)
  • Thumbnail: Create custom, high-contrast images with text overlay (very high impact on click-through rate)
  • Chapters: Add timestamp chapters for longer videos (medium impact on user experience and retention)
  • Playlists: Organize videos into themed playlists (medium impact on session time and discoverability)

Common Issues and Solutions

- Issue Cause and Solution
  • Copyright Claims
 **Cause**: Using protected content. **Solution**: Use royalty-free music and stock footage, get proper licenses for third-party content, understand fair use limitations, appeal incorrect claims
  • Processing Issues
 **Cause**: Encoding or file problems. **Solution**: Use recommended encoding settings, check internet connection stability, try uploading in lower resolution first, split very long videos into parts
  • Audio Normalization Issues
 **Cause**: Incorrect loudness levels. **Solution**: Target -14 LUFS integrated loudness, keep peaks below -1 dBTP, use a loudness meter during mixing, check final export with loudness analysis tools
  • Low Visibility
 **Cause**: Algorithm or metadata issues. **Solution**: Improve metadata (titles, descriptions, tags), increase audience engagement, promote videos on other platforms, create content on trending topics