How Long Can a YouTube Short Be? Mastering the Perfect Video Length

How long can a YouTube Short be? Which tool can I use to create a YouTube Short that is the perfect length? If you are a YouTube shorts creator or looking to start, these questions will undoubtedly pop up during your journey. Knowing the answers and harnessing that information can be the key to viral shorts. Fortunately, this guide has done the legwork and offers a detailed and comprehensive report. Let's dive in.

What is a YouTube Short

YouTube Shorts are short-form video content that focuses on vertical videos. They are primarily designed to be created and uploaded via smartphones and have a dedicated section within the YouTube app. They differ from regular YouTube videos because their aspect ratio is optimized for mobile viewing. YouTube videos, on the other hand, can feature various aspect ratios. Moreover, YouTube shorts are limited to a maximum of 60 seconds. You can use them to:

• Grow your subscribers by appealing to viewers who prefer short-form content.
• Experiment with different content formats and reach an audience beyond your subscriber base.
• Increase engagement through quick interactions enabled by likes, comments, and shares of YouTube shorts.
• Capitalize on trending topics.
• Repurpose TikTok videos and Instagram reels.
• Promote a long-form YouTube video.

How long should a YouTube Short be: Unlock YouTube requirements

YouTube Shorts are currently limited to a maximum length of 60 seconds and a minimum of 15 seconds. You can create Shorts using a single continuous video or by combining several 15-second long clips. If you're remixing existing YouTube videos, you can include up to 5 seconds from the original clip, but the remaining 55 seconds must be new content. These guidelines ensure that your Shorts are engaging and optimized for the platform.

Create perfect YouTube Shorts with CapCut desktop video editor

Now that you know how long a YouTube short should be, the CapCut desktop video editor is the second hack to creating perfect YouTube shorts. This is an advanced media editing software that offers three ways to develop these short-form clips. They include script to video, long video to shorts, and manually resizing and organizing your video. CapCut PC offers a wide range of features, allowing you to cut, crop, auto-reframe, add subtitles, apply effects, and more for a captivating short.

Key features

• One-click YouTube Shorts maker: Enter a script, then prompt the CapCut editor to generate a short video or automatically resize long videos using the CapCut long video-to-shorts feature.
• Long video to shorts: Converting long videos to shorts is easier than ever with CapCut's one-click shorts feature. This tool swiftly transforms horizontal long videos into multiple vertical short videos, saving users valuable editing time.
• Extensive video editing features: Leverage auto reframe to adjust the aspect ratio, split scenes to eliminate unwanted parts, auto-caption for instant subtitles, relight to increase brightness, enhance voice for clarity, and so much more.
• Abundant media resources: CapCut provides a wide range of AI stickers, stock videos, music, images, filters, transitions, text templates, and more, allowing you to enhance your videos with creative elements effortlessly.

• Quick sharing to YouTube: Enjoy sharing your video to YouTube directly without exiting the CapCut desktop video editor. This feature streamlines your workflow, enhancing productivity.

How to create YouTube Shorts with CapCut desktop video editor

The CapCut desktop video editor enables you to adhere to a YouTube Short's length and aspect ratio parameters, simplifying the creation process. Click the link below to download the CapCut desktop video editor and design viral shorts.

Using script-to-video

This technique leverages artificial intelligence, enabling you to convert text prompts into videos. After generating the video, you can leverage the Auto-reframe tool to set your video to the 9:16 vertical aspect ratio.

Step
1. Script to video
2. Launch the CapCut desktop video editor and select "Script to video" from the homepage. This will open the script-to-video text box.
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4. After opening the script tool, you can create a YouTube video script on any topic. There are two ways to generate a video script. The first is to write your own script. To do this, click "Write your own script" and copy and paste your script directly into the text box.
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6. Alternatively, you can use the AI writer to assist with writing. Click the AI writer button at the bottom, select either "General topic" or "Specific topic," enter your content in the input box, and then click "Generate video." You can also choose the voice by clicking "Flurry."
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8. For a simpler approach, use the AI writer. After clicking on AI Writer, you can choose from different types of script generators. Enter the prompt for the story you want to generate, click "Generate script," and wait for CapCut to create the script. Then click "Generate video" to use the script and convert it into a video.
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Step
10. Edit video
11. Once your video is generated and added to the timeline, select it, then auto-reframe it from the "Video" tab in the right panel. Select 9:16 as the new ratio, the preferred YouTube Shorts video size that renders best. Click the text timeline track to customize the font size, style, color, animation, and more. To rearrange the footage, drag a clip from the video timeline track. Relight your video for perfect brightness, remove flickers, customize the playback speed, split scenes, crop, trim, etc. CapCut PC also allows you to add music to the video. You can adjust the volume, add a fade in/out, enhance the voice, isolate vocals, etc.
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Step
13. Export and share

Click "Export" from the top right corner, and then adjust your video's title and cover. Customize the resolution (up to 4K), bit rate, codec, format (MP4 or MOV), and frame rate (up to 60 fps). Click "Export" and select YouTube in the next window to upload the short directly to your channel.



Using long video to shorts

This is an AI tool that can automatically shorten a long video and create an engaging short clip. You can use the whole video or only source the short from a section of the video.

Step
1. Upload video
2. Open the CapCut PC editor, select "Long video to shorts" from the home page, then drag and drop your video.
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Step
4. Generate and edit the short
5. A preview window will appear once your short has been created. Use the slider at the bottom to select the part you want to convert to shorts. Next, choose how long you want your short to be and keep it under 60 seconds. Click "Get shorts" to generate your clip. You can then customize it to suit your preferences. Adjust the caption style and leverage effects, filters, animations, transitions, etc.
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Step
7. Export and share

Click "Export" from the top right corner, and then adjust your video's title and cover. Customize the resolution (up to 4K), bit rate, codec, format (MP4 or MOV), and frame rate (up to 60 fps). Hit "Export." In the next window, select YouTube to upload the short directly to your channel.



Using CapCut PC's editing tools

You can also leverage CapCut desktop's extensive video editing tools to shorten your video. It lets you crop the video, adjust the aspect ratio, trim the length, add captions, and more.

Step
1. Upload video
2. Launch the CapCut desktop editor and select "New project." Drag and drop your target video into the timeline, or hit "Import" and add the footage via your file explorer. If the video is in your CapCut space, go to "Spaces" to upload it.
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Step
4. Split and edit
5. First, select your video timeline and click on the video point you want to start splitting. Click the "Split" button just above the timeline. Proceed and move the play head to the endpoint of the video section you want to cut out. Click "Split" again to separate the selected video part and make it your YouTube Short.
6. Next, focus on refining the visual aspects of your video. Crop the footage to remove any unwanted elements, zoom in or out to emphasize specific details, and rotate clips as needed to achieve the perfect angle.
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8. To simplify the entire process, right-click the video timeline and select "Split scene". This automatically separates the video into bite-sized portions that are appropriate for YouTube Shorts.
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10. Now that your YouTube Shorts video is ready, it is time to make it unique and enrich its content. To further enhance your video, add music and sound effects that complement the content. Select a soundtrack that sets the desired tone and atmosphere, then adjust its volume and placement on the timeline to create a harmonious blend with the visuals. Incorporate natural soundscapes, dialogue, or other sound effects to immerse the viewer in the scene.
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Step
12. Export and share

Click "Export" from the top right corner, and then adjust your video's title and cover. Customize the resolution (up to 4K), bit rate, codec, format (MP4 or MOV), and frame rate (up to 60 fps). Hit "Export." In the next window, you'll see quick sharing options. Click on the "YouTube" button and click "Share" to upload the short directly to your channel.



Key considerations for YouTube shorts optimization

Creating great YouTube shorts is an art. Fortunately, like any form of art, there are tips you can harness to help you reach optimum productivity. Below are some tips to get you going:

• Video dimensions: YouTube shorts use the vertical 9:16 aspect ratio for the ideal mobile experience. Ensure you resize your clip appropriately without losing key content within the frame.
• Video title: Use descriptive but concise titles that accurately reflect your short's content. Include relevant keywords to improve searchability.
• Thumbnails selection: Add attention-grabbing thumbnails with eye-catching visuals, clear text, bright colors, etc, to make the short stand out. You can test several thumbnail designs to see which ones gain more clicks.
• Hashtags and descriptions: Stay updated with trending topics and incorporate relevant trends in your shorts. These increase visibility. Also, ensure your description offers relevant context.
• Sound and music: Use music and sound effects to set the tone and mood for your short and create an impact on your audience. Leverage trending audio whenever possible.
• Engagement features: Foster engagement by replying to comments and encourage viewers to leave comments by posing questions. Also, add a CTA at the end, asking your audience to like, comment, and share your video.

How to get more views on YouTube shorts

YouTube Shorts receive over 70B views daily, meaning you have a limitless audience to reach. Consider the tips below to increase your views:

• Cross-promote your shorts: Share links to your Shorts on other social media platforms like X(Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, etc.
• Collaborate with other creators: This provides more exposure for your content by enabling you to leverage another creator's subscriber base.
• Participate in trends: Regularly check for relevant music, sounds, and other trending media you can piggyback on to grow your reach.
• Interact with your audience: Respond to comments, answer questions, and contribute to discussions about your shorts. This can keep viewers coming back.

Conclusion

The answer to how long can Shorts be on YouTube is now at your fingertips. Moreover, you can use this guide as a reference when designing your shorts. Also, ensure you leverage the CapCut desktop video editor for the most streamlined experience. Whether you want to edit your video or have an AI tool generate one for you, CapCut PC is the solution. It can speed up your creation process, enabling you to create more Shorts while maintaining top quality. Besides, its video resources, such as effects, filters, transitions, and more, will fascinate you and your audience. Download the CapCut desktop video editor today and create viral YouTube Shorts.

FAQs

1. What is the perfect YouTube short size?
2. A 1920 by 1080 pixels resolution and an aspect ratio of 9:16 is the ideal size for YouTube shorts. This size is optimized for mobile viewing and ensures optimal quality. You can quickly implement these parameters when using the CapCut desktop video editor. It offers a range of resolutions, including 1080p, and enables you to auto-reframe your video to 9:16 without losing the key content. Install the CapCut PC editor today and create precisely sized YouTube shorts.
3. Can a YouTube short be over 1 minute?
4. No. Currently, the length of a YouTube short cannot exceed one minute, regardless of whether it is a continuous video, an amalgamation, or a remix. If your footage exceeds one minute, you can trim it using the CapCut desktop video editor. However, if you don't feel up to manual shortening, leverage CapCut's long video-to-short feature. This function automatically analyzes and generates a short video from your footage. Turn to the CapCut desktop video editor today to easily adjust the length of your shorts.
5. Are shorter YouTube videos better?
6. Shorter videos can be better in some cases since they cater to users with shorter attention spans. They can also appeal more to viewers since they require less time investment. However, they limit the depth of your content. This means you need to evaluate your content, audience, and goals to determine if shorter clips are ideal.
7. Fortunately, whether you intend to create long or short YouTube videos, the CapCut desktop editor can handle it. It offers the tools to edit all video forms and provides resources catering to multiple video subjects, including business and education. Install the CapCut desktop video editor and create the best YouTube videos.
8. What's the maximum and minimum length allowed for YouTube Shorts?
9. 60 seconds is the maximum length, while 15 seconds is the minimum. This limit applies to continuous, remixed, and amalgamated videos. You can use the CapCut editor to automatically or manually shorten existing content, enabling you to adhere to YouTube Shorts regulations. If your content requires more than 60 seconds, you can create a sequel. Alternatively, post the footage as a regular YouTube video, then design a short that links to the long-form video. Download the CapCut desktop video editor today and precisely resize your video length.