How to Cite a YouTube Video

YouTube videos are increasingly cited in academic, professional, and online writing, and properly referencing them enhances credibility, prevents plagiarism, and respects content creators. Depending on the context, you may use APA, MLA, or Chicago style—each with its own structure. In APA (7th edition), cite the uploader as the author, include the upload date, title, and URL, using this format: Author, A. A. [Username]. (Year, Month Day). Title of video [Video]. YouTube. URL. In-text citations include the author and year. Chicago Style uses a different structure for bibliography and footnotes, often starting with the creator’s name, followed by the video title, type, length, post date, and URL. If you’re citing a full YouTube channel instead of a specific video, formats adjust accordingly, and APA uses “(n.d.)” when no date is available. A citation style comparison table shows that while formatting differs, all styles prioritize the video’s title, uploader, and publication details. Accurately citing YouTube content ensures transparency and scholarly integrity, especially as video continues to shape education, media, and research.

Why Citing YouTube Videos Matters

Citing YouTube videos properly ensures credibility and allows readers to verify your sources. Whether you’re writing an academic paper, blog post, or professional article, proper attribution avoids plagiarism and respects intellectual property. As video content becomes more prevalent in education and research, citing it accurately is essential for maintaining academic integrity.

What Citation Styles Can You Use for YouTube Videos?

Depending on your field or institution, you may be required to follow one of several citation styles. The most common ones include:

APA (American Psychological Association) – often used in social sciences.
MLA (Modern Language Association) – typically used in humanities.
Chicago Style – preferred in history and some arts.
Harvard & Vancouver – sometimes used in scientific or health-related disciplines.

Each of these has unique formatting rules for citing videos, including how to present the author (or uploader), title, date, and URL.

How to Cite a YouTube Video in APA Style

APA Style is commonly used in academic writing, especially in psychology, education, and other social sciences. When citing a YouTube video in APA 7th edition, it’s important to treat the video as an audiovisual source. You’ll need details such as the video’s uploader (as author), the upload date, the video title, and its URL. If the real name of the content creator is available, APA recommends listing it before the username.

Basic APA Format Structure

To cite a YouTube video in APA (7th edition), use the following format:

Author, A. A. [Username]. (Year, Month Day). Title of video [Video]. YouTube. URL

If the author’s real name is unknown, use the username as the author. If both are available, include both — the real name first, followed by the username in brackets.

Example APA Citation for a YouTube Video

Here’s how a real citation might look in APA format:

Smith, J. [TechExplained]. (2023, August 15). How blockchain works [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyz123

If there’s no identifiable real name, use the username only:

TechExplained. (2023, August 15). How blockchain works [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyz123

In-Text APA Citation for a YouTube Video

For APA in-text citations, use the author’s name and the year of publication:

Parenthetical citation: (Smith, 2023)
Narrative citation: According to Smith (2023), blockchain technology…

If no author name is available, use the username in place of the author.

How to Cite a YouTube Video in Chicago Style

The Chicago Manual of Style is commonly used in history, business, and fine arts disciplines. There are two citation systems within Chicago: Notes and Bibliography (often used in humanities) and Author-Date (used in sciences). Here, we’ll focus on the Notes and Bibliography system for citing YouTube videos.

Chicago Bibliography Format

In the bibliography, a YouTube video citation generally looks like this:

Format:

Creator’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Video.” YouTube video, video length. Posted Month Day, Year. URL.

Example:

Smith, John. “How Volcanoes Erupt.” YouTube video, 5:47. Posted January 10, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example.

Chicago Footnote Format with Example

Format:

Creator’s First Name Last Name, “Title of Video,” YouTube video, video length, posted Month Day, Year, URL.

Example:

John Smith, “How Volcanoes Erupt,” YouTube video, 5:47, posted January 10, 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example.

This format is typically used in footnotes or endnotes for research papers.

How to Cite a YouTube Channel

When citing an entire YouTube channel rather than a specific video, the citation format changes slightly depending on the style.

Channel Name: Always write the channel name as it appears on YouTube.
Creator or Username: Use the full name of the content creator if available. If not, the username is sufficient.

Table: Citation Format Comparison (APA vs MLA vs Chicago)

Here’s a quick comparison of how to cite a YouTube video in different styles:

Style	Format Example
APA	National Geographic. (2022, March 10). Exploring the Deep Ocean [Video]. YouTube. URL
MLA	“Exploring the Deep Ocean.” YouTube, uploaded by National Geographic, 10 Mar. 2022, URL.
Chicago	National Geographic. “Exploring the Deep Ocean.” YouTube video, 5:47. Posted March 10, 2022. URL.

This table helps you quickly distinguish between each citation style’s format.

You may also like this article: How to Change Your YouTube URL