YouTube Mid-Roll Ads Minimum Video Length 2026: 8 Minutes Requirement

YouTube's mid-roll ad eligibility threshold is 8 minutes of video length. This is a hard cutoff: videos must be 8:00 or longer. A video that is 7:59 gets no mid-roll ads. This threshold has been at 8 minutes since YouTube lowered it from 10 minutes in a previous update, and as of 2026 it remains at 8 minutes. The 8-minute minimum applies to the final uploaded video duration — not the content duration. If your intro, outro, and bumpers push a 7-minute topic to 8:30, you qualify.

Videos shorter than 8 minutes are still eligible for pre-roll ads (shown before the video starts) and post-roll ads (shown after the video ends), assuming you are a YPP member. Pre-roll and post-roll ads earn less per video than a combination of pre-roll plus multiple mid-rolls. Estimated earnings for a pre-roll-only video are roughly $1-$3 per 1,000 views (RPM), depending on niche and geography. Adding mid-rolls typically brings that to $2-$6+ per 1,000 views in the same niche.

Padding a video to 8 minutes with filler content violates YouTube's advertiser-friendly guidelines and tanks watch time metrics. Instead, add genuine value to naturally extend your video: include a step-by-step walkthrough, add a case study or real example, include an FAQ section at the end, or go deeper on a subtopic you typically cover briefly. These additions serve the viewer and incidentally push your duration above 8 minutes. Tutorial and educational content is naturally suited to 8-12 minute runtimes because the format demands depth.

The ideal structure for an 8-10 minute video maximizing mid-roll revenue: Hook (0:00-0:30), Context/intro (0:30-1:30), Main content section 1 (1:30-4:00), Mid-roll break at 4:00, Main content section 2 (4:00-6:30), Mid-roll break at 6:30, Conclusion + CTA (6:30-8:00). This gives you 2 mid-roll breaks, which is optimal for an 8-minute video. Placing the first break at or after the 4-minute mark ensures high-retention viewers see it, maximizing ad completion rates and your effective RPM.