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How do you calculate YouTube watch time?
Multiply views by the average view duration in seconds, then divide by 3,600. 12,000 views at 30 seconds is 100 hours. Use the views and the average view duration from your own analytics. This page does the multiplication. It does not open a YouTube channel, and the hours do not predict views or acceptance into a program.
Calculate watch hours
Published hour figures
The 100 hour row is only the formula. The other rows are YouTube's published thresholds, read on 2 November 2026. YouTube Partner Program eligibility says ads and Premium currently need 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 qualified watch hours in 12 months, or 10 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days. The expanded program, in eligible countries, starts at 500 subscribers, 3 public uploads in 90 days, and 3,000 qualified watch hours, or 3 million qualified Shorts views. YouTube's 1 February 2027 change raises the ads and Premium entry for new creators to 8,000 qualified watch hours in 365 days, or 20 million qualified Shorts views, still with 1,000 subscribers. YouTube says creators already in the program are not affected by that entry change. Fan funding stays at 500 subscribers and 3,000 hours, or 3 million Shorts views.
Qualified watch hours come from public long-form videos. YouTube says they do not include Shorts, private videos, unlisted videos, deleted videos, ads, or livestreams that stay unlisted, deleted, or unarchived. Meeting a number does not by itself admit a channel. YouTube reviews the channel.
| Hours | Views in the example | How |
|---|---|---|
| 100, an example | 12,000 | 12,000 views × 30 seconds |
| 3,000 | 360,000 | At a 30 second average |
| 4,000 | 480,000 | At a 30 second average |
| 4,000 | 240,000 | At a 60 second average |
| 8,000 | 960,000 | At a 30 second average |
Earnings per 1,000 views are a different figure. The YouTube RPM calculator divides the earnings you type by the views you type.
Chapters are markers in the description. The chapter generator formats a list that starts at 00:00.
Questions about watch time
How do you calculate YouTube watch time?
Multiply views by the average view duration in seconds, then divide by 3,600. 12,000 views at 30 seconds is 100 hours.
How many views is 4,000 watch hours?
At a 30 second average, 4,000 hours is 480,000 views. At a 60 second average, it is 240,000 views. YouTube's current ads and Premium threshold is 4,000 qualified watch hours in 12 months, with 1,000 subscribers. From 1 February 2027, new creators need 8,000 qualified watch hours. Meeting the number does not by itself admit a channel.
Do Shorts count toward YouTube watch hours?
No. YouTube says Shorts watch time does not count toward the long-form qualified watch hours. Shorts eligibility uses qualified Shorts views instead.
Is this YouTube watch time calculator free?
Yes. It runs in your browser. There is no account and no charge.
Does this predict views?
No. It multiplies the views and duration you type. It does not predict views, earnings, or acceptance into a YouTube program.
Vlozy makes the video and can publish it to the YouTube account you connect. This page only multiplies the numbers you type. See what Vlozy does.