How to Cite YouTube Videos
Complete guide with examples for APA, MLA, and Chicago formats
🎥 Why Cite YouTube Videos?
YouTube and online videos are increasingly used as academic sources. Whether you're citing a TED Talk, educational tutorial, documentary, or interview, proper citation gives credit to creators and allows readers to locate and verify your sources.
📝 Information You'll Need
Before citing a YouTube video, gather these elements:
✅ Required Information
- Video creator/uploader (channel name)
- Video title
- Upload date
- Platform name (YouTube)
- URL (video link)
📅 Optional Information
- Real name (if channel name is a username)
- Video duration
- Timestamp (for specific quotes)
- Producer/director (for professional videos)
💡 Pro Tip: For YouTube, the "channel name" is usually the creator/uploader. You can find the upload date below the video title. Use the full URL or the shortened youtu.be link.
📘 APA 7 Format
Basic Format
Creator, A. A. [Channel Name]. (Year, Month Day). Title of video [Video]. Platform. URL Examples
1. Standard YouTube Video
In-text: (TED, 2024) or (TED, 2024, 0:45) for timestamp
2. Video with Real Name and Channel Name
In-text: (Harris, 2023)
3. Educational/Tutorial Video
In-text: (Khan Academy, 2024)
4. Video with Only Channel Name (No Real Name)
In-text: (Vsauce, 2023)
📌 APA Key Rules for YouTube Videos
- ✓ Include [Video] in square brackets after title
- ✓ Use sentence case for video titles
- ✓ Include channel name in brackets if different from creator name
- ✓ If no real name available, use channel name as author
- ✓ Include timestamp in in-text citation for specific quotes (0:45)
- ✓ Use the platform name "YouTube" (not "YouTube.com")
📗 MLA 9 Format
Basic Format
"Title of Video." YouTube, uploaded by Channel Name, Day Month Year, URL. Examples
1. Standard YouTube Video
In-text: ("How to Make Stress")
2. Video with Real Name
In-text: ("The Legend of Ragnarok")
3. Educational Video
In-text: ("Introduction to Algebra")
4. Video with Performer/Creator Credit
In-text: ("What Is the Resolution")
📌 MLA Key Rules for YouTube Videos
- ✓ Use title case for video titles
- ✓ Video title in quotes, platform name (YouTube) in italics
- ✓ Include "uploaded by" before channel name
- ✓ Abbreviate months (Jan., Feb., Mar., etc.)
- ✓ Access date is optional for YouTube (videos have stable URLs)
- ✓ You can omit "https://" from URLs
📙 Chicago Style
Notes-Bibliography Format
Footnote/Endnote:
1 Channel Name, "Title of Video," YouTube video, duration, Month Day, Year, URL. Bibliography:
Channel Name. "Title of Video." YouTube video, duration. Month Day, Year. URL. Examples
1. Standard YouTube Video
Footnote:
Bibliography:
2. Video with Real Name
Footnote:
Bibliography:
3. Educational Video
Footnote:
Bibliography:
📌 Chicago Key Rules for YouTube Videos
- ✓ Include "YouTube video" after the title
- ✓ Include video duration (HH:MM:SS or MM:SS)
- ✓ Use title case for video titles
- ✓ Put video title in quotation marks
- ✓ Spell out months in full (January, February, etc.)
- ✓ Shortened footnotes for subsequent citations: Channel Name, "Short Title."
🔧 Common Problems & Solutions
❓ Can't Find Real Name of Creator
Solution: Check the channel's "About" page for the real name. If unavailable, just use the channel name as the author. This is perfectly acceptable for all formats.
❓ Video Deleted or Made Private
Solution: If you cited a video that's now unavailable, keep the citation but add a note: "[Video no longer available]" at the end. This shows you did access it originally.
❓ Citing a Specific Timestamp
Solution: In APA in-text citations, include the timestamp like this: (TED, 2024, 3:45). In MLA and Chicago, you can add the timestamp in parentheses after the quote in your text.
❓ YouTube Shorts vs. Regular Videos
Solution: Cite YouTube Shorts the same way as regular YouTube videos. The URL format might be different (youtube.com/shorts/...) but the citation format remains the same.
❓ Live Stream or Premiere
Solution: Use the date the live stream occurred or the premiere date. If the stream is now archived on YouTube, cite it as a regular video with the original air date.
❓ Other Video Platforms (Vimeo, TikTok, etc.)
Solution: Use the same format but replace "YouTube" with the appropriate platform name (Vimeo, TikTok, etc.). The basic structure remains the same across video platforms.
🔍 Where to Find Citation Information
📺 Video Title
Located at the top of the video player. Copy it exactly, including any punctuation or special characters.
👤 Channel Name
Found below the video title. Click on the channel name to visit their page and check the "About" section for a real name.
📅 Upload Date
Below the video title, you'll see "Published on [date]" or a relative date like "3 months ago." Click "Show more" in the description to see the exact date.
⏱️ Video Duration
Visible in the bottom-right corner of the video thumbnail, or in the player's progress bar (e.g., 0:00 / 14:28).
📊 Quick Comparison
| Element | APA 7 | MLA 9 | Chicago |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author/Creator | Channel Name [Handle] | "uploaded by" Channel | Channel Name |
| Title Case | Sentence case | Title Case | Title Case |
| Video Title | Italicized | In quotes | In quotes |
| Platform | YouTube (plain) | YouTube (italics) | "YouTube video" |
| Duration | Not required | Not required | Required (14:28) |
| Medium Indicator | [Video] after title | None (platform implies) | "YouTube video" after title |
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Cite YouTube Videos Now →Disclaimer: These examples provide general guidance. Always verify citations against official style manuals (APA Publication Manual, MLA Handbook, Chicago Manual of Style) and follow your instructor's specific requirements. Citations provided as-is.