How to Cite a YouTube Video in APA, MLA and Chicago
To cite a YouTube video, you need the name of the person or channel that uploaded it, the upload date, the video title and the URL. In APA 7th edition the format is Uploader. (Year, Month Day). Title of video [Video]. YouTube. URL. In MLA 9th edition it is "Title of Video." YouTube, uploaded by Uploader, Day Month Year, URL. In Chicago 17th edition the bibliography entry is Uploader. "Title of Video." YouTube video, length. Month Day, Year. URL. For quotes, add a timestamp in the in-text citation so readers can jump to the exact moment.
The examples below use an invented channel and video.
Collect the details
Open the video page and note:
- Uploader: the channel name shown under the video. If the channel name is a person's real name, you can use it in the author format (surname, initials).
- Upload date: shown in the description area.
- Title: exactly as it appears.
- URL: copy from the address bar or the share button. Remove extra tracking parameters, but keep the video ID.
- Length: for Chicago.
- Timestamp: the hours, minutes and seconds where a quote or key point appears.
APA 7th edition
Format
Uploader Name. (Year, Month Day). Title of video [Video]. YouTube. URL
Example: channel name
Science Shed. (2025, April 9). Why bread rises: The chemistry of yeast [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abc123xyz
Example: person's name with channel name
If the channel belongs to a person and you know their real name, APA lets you give the real name, followed by the channel name in square brackets:
Nakamura, E. [Science Shed]. (2025, April 9). Why bread rises: The chemistry of yeast [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abc123xyz
APA in-text citations
- (Science Shed, 2025)
- Science Shed (2025) demonstrates...
- Quote with timestamp: (Science Shed, 2025, 3:42)
Use the format the reference list uses. If the entry starts with "Nakamura, E.," the in-text citation is (Nakamura, 2025).
MLA 9th edition
Format
"Title of Video." YouTube, uploaded by Uploader, Day Month Year, URL.
Example
"Why Bread Rises: The Chemistry of Yeast." YouTube, uploaded by Science Shed, 9 Apr. 2025, www.youtube.com/watch?v=abc123xyz.
When the creator is different from the uploader
If you know the creator and it's a different person or organisation from the uploader, put the creator first:
Nakamura, Emi. "Why Bread Rises: The Chemistry of Yeast." YouTube, uploaded by Science Shed, 9 Apr. 2025, www.youtube.com/watch?v=abc123xyz.
If the creator and uploader are the same, MLA usually starts with the title to avoid repeating the name, or you may start with the creator's name and omit "uploaded by." Be consistent within your paper.
MLA in-text citations
- With a title-first entry: ("Why Bread Rises")
- With an author: (Nakamura)
- With a timestamp: ("Why Bread Rises" 00:03:42-00:03:58)
Chicago 17th edition
Footnote
- Science Shed, "Why Bread Rises: The Chemistry of Yeast," YouTube video, 12:47, April 9, 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abc123xyz.
Short form:
- Science Shed, "Why Bread Rises."
Bibliography
Science Shed. "Why Bread Rises: The Chemistry of Yeast." YouTube video, 12:47. April 9, 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abc123xyz.
The "12:47" is the video's total length. To point to a specific moment in a note, add it: "at 3:42."
Quick comparison
| APA 7 | MLA 9 | Chicago 17 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starts with | Uploader | Title (or creator) | Uploader |
| Title format | Italics, sentence case | Quotation marks, title case | Quotation marks, title case |
| Description | [Video] | none | YouTube video, length |
| Platform | YouTube (plain) | YouTube (italic) | YouTube |
| Timestamp in-text | (Uploader, Year, 3:42) | (Title 00:03:42) | in the note |
Special cases
Videos from official organisations
A news outlet, university or government channel is cited by its channel name in the author position, just like an individual. If a university channel posts a lecture by a named professor, you can mention the professor in your sentence ("In a public lecture posted by Northgate University, Dr. Chen argues...").
YouTube Shorts and live streams
Cite them the same way. For a live stream archived on the channel, use the date it was streamed. In APA the bracket description can be [Video] or, for clarity, [Video livestream].
Reuploaded content
If a video is a reupload of someone else's work, try to find and cite the original. Citing a reupload can credit the wrong person, and reuploads are often removed.
Videos embedded in another page
Sometimes you watch a YouTube video embedded in a news article or blog post. Cite the video itself, using its YouTube details, unless the surrounding article is the source you're actually using. If you rely on both, cite each separately: the article for its written analysis and the video for what is said or shown in it.
Videos that may be removed
Videos can be deleted or made private after you cite them. Write down the details while you watch, including the exact title and upload date, and keep notes with timestamps for any quotes. If a video you cited disappears before you submit, consider whether there's a more stable source for the same point.
Comments
Comments are rarely cited, but if you must, APA lets you cite a comment by the commenter's username with the first 20 words of the comment as the title, in brackets as [Comment on the video "Title"]. Check whether your instructor accepts this as a source.
Using videos as evidence
A video is a fine source when the creator has relevant expertise or when the video itself is what you're analysing (for example, in a media studies essay). For factual claims, check whether the video cites its sources and, where possible, cite those directly.
If you're quoting extensively, consider taking notes with timestamps as you watch. A YouTube description generator is aimed at creators, but if you produce videos yourself, remember to credit any sources you used in the description so viewers can cite you accurately too.
Generating the citation
Inkwell's APA citation generator and MLA citation generator can format video citations once you enter the uploader, date, title and URL. Check the uploader name matches the channel exactly, including capitalisation.
FAQ
How do I cite a YouTube video with no date?
Videos on YouTube always show an upload date, so look in the description area. If you're citing a video from another site with no date, use "n.d." in APA and add an access date in MLA.
Should I use the channel name or the person's real name?
Use the channel name as shown. In APA you may add the real name with the channel name in brackets if you know it reliably. In MLA you can list a known creator first and the channel as uploader.
How do I cite a specific part of a video?
Add a timestamp to your in-text citation: (Science Shed, 2025, 3:42) in APA, or a time range in MLA such as ("Why Bread Rises" 00:03:42-00:03:58).
Is "YouTube" italicised?
In MLA, yes, because it's the container. In APA and Chicago, no.