Getting YouTube 4000 Hours is one of the main eligibility criteria for monetizing your YouTube channel. The YouTube Partner Program (YPP) allows creators to make passive earnings from ads placed on their videos. To qualify for YPP, your channel must have a minimum of 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours of watch time. Watch hours are a key video engagement metric that every creator is focused on increasing, and it can make or break your channel’s success.

Unlike views, which reset each month, YouTube’s watch hour metric is a rolling 365 days. So if you publish a new video in January, it’ll count toward your watch hours until February of next year. That’s why it’s important to keep publishing regularly and make each video better than the last.

How to Reach 4000 Hours of Watch Time on YouTube: Tips and Tricks

Lenos’ YouTube Watch Time Calculator can help you understand how long it will take to reach 4,000 hours and the best ways to increase your watch time. It’s a great way to plan your content and improve your video marketing strategy.

Create playlists that group similar videos. This makes it easy for viewers to find the right content and encourages them to watch more of your videos. For example, if you made a travel documentary in three parts, creating a “series” playlist ensures that your viewers will get suggested the next video in the series. This will drive up your watch hours and improve your YPP chances.