Best Video Length for Higher Ad Payouts

The length of your YouTube videos plays a major role in how much ad revenue you earn. It doesn’t just affect viewer retention or engagement—it directly influences how many ads YouTube can serve and how valuable those impressions are.

Choosing the right video length can be the difference between mediocre and high earnings, even with the same number of views.

Why Length Matters for Monetization

YouTube allows multiple ad formats: pre-roll, mid-roll, post-roll, and display ads. Short videos may only qualify for pre-roll or display ads. Longer videos, on the other hand, allow you to insert mid-roll ads, which significantly increase your revenue potential.

As of 2022 and continuing into 2025, any video longer than eight minutes is eligible for mid-roll ads. This threshold is where many creators see a spike in RPM and total earnings.

A single pre-roll ad might earn a few cents. But if a viewer watches a ten-minute video with two or three ad breaks, your revenue from that view could double or triple.

The Eight-Minute Rule

The eight-minute mark is critical. It’s the minimum required to enable manual mid-roll ads. However, this doesn’t mean you should pad every video just to cross the line.

Poor retention on longer videos can hurt your overall channel performance. If your audience consistently drops off before the mid-roll ad, you're not benefiting from the extra length.

Aim to create videos that naturally fit the eight-to-fifteen-minute range. This gives you space to provide value and place ads without stretching your content thin.

Ideal Length by Content Type

Different types of content perform better at different lengths, both in terms of engagement and monetization.

Tutorials and how-tos: 10 to 20 minutes. This allows for thorough explanations and multiple ad placements.

Product reviews and comparisons: 8 to 12 minutes. Viewers looking to make buying decisions are willing to watch longer if the content is detailed.

Storytelling or vlogs: 12 to 18 minutes. If you can hold attention with editing and pacing, longer content works well here.

Education and deep dives: 15 to 25 minutes. Channels covering historical topics, psychology, or finance can earn well with long, binge-worthy videos.

Experiment with your format to find what your audience responds to—and what keeps them watching past the halfway point.

Short-Form vs Long-Form Revenue Potential

YouTube Shorts and videos under two minutes are growing in popularity, but they generally earn much less per view than long-form content. The Shorts revenue pool is smaller, and viewers often swipe quickly, limiting the number of monetized impressions.

Short-form is excellent for reach, brand building, and top-of-funnel growth. Long-form is where most creators earn consistent ad revenue.

If your goal is income, consider using Shorts to attract viewers and then direct them to longer, monetized videos through pinned comments, playlists, or end screens.

Watch Time Drives More Than Just Views

YouTube rewards creators who can keep viewers on the platform longer. Longer videos with high average view duration tend to perform better in search and suggested feeds.

More watch time also signals to advertisers that your content is trusted, which can lead to higher CPMs over time. If a ten-minute video keeps people engaged for eight minutes, it's more valuable than a three-minute video with a full watch.

This is why pacing, editing, and scripting matter just as much as length. A poorly structured long video won’t help you.

When Shorter Is Better

Sometimes a concise, five-minute video can outperform a longer one if it answers a specific question really well. If your viewers are coming from search, value speed and clarity.

This works especially well in niches like:

• Tech troubleshooting
• Cooking tips or single-step recipes
• Fitness form breakdowns
• Quick explainers

The key is to pair this with a smart monetization plan, like affiliate links or linking to a longer companion video.

How to Find Your Ideal Video Length

Start by looking at your analytics:

• What’s your average view duration?
• Where do most people drop off?
• Which videos have the highest RPM and CPM?

Use this data to adjust. If viewers drop off after seven minutes, don’t stretch your videos to fifteen. If your ten-minute videos outperform your six-minute ones in both earnings and retention, adjust accordingly.

YouTube is not one-size-fits-all, and your ideal video length may vary depending on your niche and audience behavior.

Maximize Ad Placement Without Losing Viewers

If you're making videos in the 10 to 15-minute range, you can add mid-roll ads approximately every four to five minutes. But stuffing too many ads can turn viewers away.

Balance is key. Insert ads at natural breaks—between topic shifts, after list items, or before a concluding point. Avoid placing ads in the middle of a sentence or transition.

If you’re using automated ad placement, review where YouTube places them and manually adjust if necessary. A better ad experience keeps people watching longer, which helps your revenue in the long run.

Consider Creating Series Instead of Single Videos

If your content naturally runs long—like 30-minute tutorials or deep-dive case studies—consider breaking it into a series. This allows you to earn from multiple videos and gives viewers a reason to binge-watch.

For example:

• Part 1: How to Set Up Your YouTube Channel
• Part 2: How to Create Your First Three Videos
• Part 3: How to Monetize in Your First 30 Days

Each video can include one or two mid-rolls and point to the next in the series, improving both session duration and monetized views.

Use Chapters to Keep Viewers Watching Longer Videos

Adding chapters in your description or using YouTube’s auto-chapter tool can make longer videos feel more digestible. This helps viewers skip to the part they care about, rather than bouncing entirely.

When people feel in control of their viewing experience, they tend to stay longer. And the longer they stay, the more ad opportunities you create.

You can also see in analytics which chapters get the most replay or drop-off, helping you structure future videos more effectively.