An APA YouTube citation follows the format: Author/Channel. (Year, Month Day). Title of video [Video]. YouTube. URL. This APA YouTube citation generator creates properly formatted APA 7th edition citations for YouTube videos automatically. Paste a YouTube URL to auto-fill title, channel, and date, or enter details manually. The tool follows the current 2026 APA standard for citing audiovisual sources.
How to Cite a YouTube Video in APA Format
Citing a YouTube video in APA format requires specific elements: Author/Channel, Date, Title, [Video] notation, YouTube, and URL. The APA 7th edition (published 2020) added expanded guidelines for citing audiovisual and online media sources, including YouTube videos, TED Talks, and online lectures. This APA YouTube citation generator handles all the formatting automatically.
The standard APA YouTube video citation format is:
APA YouTube Citation Examples
| Scenario | APA 7th Edition Citation |
|---|---|
| Channel name only | CrashCourse. (2022, June 10). Statistics basics explained [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxxxx |
| Real name + channel | Smith, J. [TechExplained]. (2024, March 5). How quantum computing works [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyyyy |
| TED Talk on YouTube | Robinson, K. (2006, June 27). Do schools kill creativity? [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzzzz |
| Educational channel | Khan Academy. (2023, September 1). Introduction to calculus [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaaaa |
| Music video | Beyoncé. (2022, July 29). Break my soul [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbbbb |
APA YouTube Citation: Key Formatting Rules
- Author vs. channel: If the uploader's real name is known, use it as author and put the channel name in brackets: Smith, J. [ChannelName]. If only the channel name is known, use it directly as the author.
- [Video] notation: Always include [Video] in square brackets after the title. This is required by APA 7th edition for all audiovisual sources.
- Date format: Use the full upload date: (Year, Month Day). Example: (2024, March 15). If no date is available, use (n.d.).
- Title formatting: Italicize the video title. Use sentence case — capitalize only the first word and proper nouns.
- "YouTube." as source: Always write "YouTube." as the source name before the URL. This identifies the platform.
- URL: Include the full YouTube URL. No period after the URL. Use the standard watch URL, not shortened youtu.be links.
Common APA YouTube Citation Mistakes
- Missing [Video] notation. APA 7th edition requires the [Video] bracket after the title for all video sources. Forgetting this is the most common mistake.
- Using shortened URLs. Use the full YouTube URL (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=...) rather than shortened links (youtu.be/...).
- Wrong author format. Do not write the channel name in quotation marks. If using a real name with a channel, use the bracket format: Last, F. [Channel].
- Missing the upload date. YouTube always shows an upload date — click "...more" under the description to find it. Do not use (n.d.) if the date is available.
When to Use This APA YouTube Citation Generator
Use this APA YouTube citation generator whenever you reference a YouTube video in an academic paper, essay, or research project requiring APA format. This includes educational videos, TED Talks, lectures, tutorials, documentaries, music videos, and any other content hosted on YouTube.
For other source types, use our dedicated generators:
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I cite a YouTube video in APA format?
To cite a YouTube video in APA 7th edition format: Author/Uploader. (Year, Month Day). Title of video [Video]. YouTube. URL. Example: CrashCourse. (2022, June 10). Statistics basics explained [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxxxx. Use the channel name as author if no individual person is identified. Include [Video] in brackets after the title.
Do I use the channel name or real name for APA YouTube citations?
If the uploader's real name is known and different from the channel name, use the real name as author and put the channel name in brackets: Smith, J. [TechExplained]. (2024, March 5). Title [Video]. YouTube. URL. If only the channel name is known (e.g., Kurzgesagt, Vox), use the channel name as the author without brackets.
Should I include [Video] in my APA YouTube citation?
Yes. APA 7th edition requires a format identifier in square brackets after the title for audiovisual sources. For YouTube videos, use [Video]: Title of the video [Video]. This tells readers the source is a video, not a text-based article. The [Video] notation appears after the title and before the period, inside the reference entry.
How do I cite a TED Talk from YouTube in APA?
If you accessed the TED Talk on YouTube: Speaker, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of talk [Video]. YouTube. URL. Example: Robinson, K. (2006, June 27). Do schools kill creativity? [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxxxx. If you accessed it on the TED website: Speaker, A. A. (Year, Month). Title [Video]. TED Conferences. https://www.ted.com/talks/...
How do I find the exact upload date for a YouTube video?
The upload date appears below the video title on YouTube. Click "...more" under the video description to see the full date. Our APA YouTube citation generator auto-fills the exact upload date when you paste a YouTube URL. If a date cannot be determined, use (n.d.) in the citation. Always verify dates match the video you are citing.
Can I cite a specific timestamp in a YouTube video using APA?
APA does not have a specific format for timestamps in the reference list, but you can include a timestamp in your in-text citation for direct quotes or specific claims: (CrashCourse, 2022, 3:45). In the reference list, cite the full video as normal. The timestamp in the in-text citation helps readers locate the specific moment referenced.
Is this APA YouTube citation generator free?
Yes, this APA YouTube citation generator is completely free with no signup, paywall, or hidden costs. Paste any YouTube URL and the tool auto-fills the video title, channel name, upload date, and URL from YouTube's metadata. It then formats everything per APA 7th edition rules. You can generate unlimited YouTube citations at no cost.
How do I cite an online lecture or educational video in APA?
For online lectures or educational videos on YouTube: Instructor, A. A. [Channel Name]. (Year, Month Day). Title of lecture [Video]. YouTube. URL. For university lecture recordings not on YouTube: Instructor, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of lecture [Video]. Platform Name. URL. Include [Video] or [Video lecture] in brackets. The format is the same as other YouTube citations.
This free APA YouTube citation generator is maintained for 2026 and follows the APA 7th Edition Publication Manual. Whether you need to cite a TED Talk, an educational lecture, or a tutorial video in APA format, this tool delivers accurate, copy-ready citations with the proper [Video] notation instantly.