If you’re trying to grow your YouTube channel, you’re probably keeping a close eye on your watch time. But with YouTube Shorts gaining massive popularity, many creators are wondering: do YouTube Shorts count toward watch time?
What is YouTube watch time?
Watch time is the total amount of time viewers have spent watching your videos. It’s a key metric that YouTube uses to:
- Recommend videos on the home page or in search
- Determine eligibility for the YouTube Partner Programme (YPP)
- Help your content rank better in YouTube’s algorithm
To monetise your channel through the Partner Programme, you usually need:
- 1,000 subscribers
- 4,000 valid public watch hours in the past 12 months, or
- 10 million Shorts views in the past 90 days
Do YouTube Shorts count toward public watch hours?
The short answer: no, most YouTube Shorts do not count toward the 4,000 public watch hours required for monetisation — if they are viewed in the Shorts feed.
Here’s how it works:
✅ They count if:
- The Short is watched outside the Shorts feed (e.g. from your channel page or suggested videos)
❌ They don’t count if:
- The Short is viewed within the Shorts feed (which is where most people watch them)
This means if your Shorts go viral in the Shorts shelf, they can bring lots of exposure and subscribers — but not public watch hours toward monetisation.
Do YouTube Shorts count for monetisation?
Yes, but in a different way.
As of 2023, YouTube allows creators to monetise Shorts through:
- The YouTube Shorts Fund (phased out in many regions)
- Ad revenue sharing for Shorts (available once you’re in the Partner Programme)
To qualify for Shorts monetisation, you need:
- 1,000 subscribers
- 10 million Shorts views in the past 90 days
This is a separate path from the 4,000 public watch hours requirement, which mostly applies to long-form content.
Should you still post Shorts?
Absolutely. Even though they don’t directly count toward your watch hour goal (unless viewed outside the feed), Shorts are powerful for:
- Boosting your visibility
- Growing your subscriber count
- Driving traffic to your long-form content
- Building brand awareness quickly
In fact, many creators use Shorts as a top-of-funnel strategy to bring new viewers into their channel ecosystem.
How to maximise Shorts for watch time and growth
If you want to get the most from Shorts, here are a few tips:
- Include clear CTAs in your Shorts to guide viewers to your long-form videos
- Use Shorts to tease or complement your longer content
- Link your Shorts to related videos in pinned comments or descriptions
- Experiment with topics that already do well on your channel
- Optimise your titles and descriptions with keywords like “YouTube Shorts tips”, “Shorts strategy”, or “how to grow with Shorts”
So, do YouTube Shorts count toward watch time?
Only sometimes. If viewers watch your Shorts outside the Shorts feed, that time contributes to your public watch hours. Otherwise, Shorts won’t help you hit the 4,000-hour requirement — but they can still be a valuable growth tool.
Use Shorts to attract new viewers, build your audience, and support your long-form content. When used strategically, Shorts can be a game-changer for your channel’s success.
