Learning how to cite a YouTube video is easier than you might think. YouTube offers a huge library of lectures, tutorials, and documentaries that many people now use as trusted sources.
Still, every style guide has its own rules, and that can feel confusing at first. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the basics step by step, so you’ll know exactly what to include. By the end, you’ll feel confident creating accurate citations that keep your work credible and plagiarism-free.
Why Citing a YouTube Video Matters
When you use information from a YouTube video, you’re building on someone else’s work. Giving proper credit shows respect for the creator and protects you from plagiarism. It also makes your writing stronger, since readers can check the original source themselves.
Citations strengthen your ideas because they show clear evidence behind your arguments. Teachers, professors, and even colleagues will trust your work more when they see accurate references.
Think of it this way: citing a video is like leaving a map. Anyone reading your work can follow the path straight to the video you watched. That level of transparency builds credibility and shows that you take your research seriously.
Key Elements You Always Need to Cite a YouTube Video
Before diving into style guides, let’s talk about the pieces you’ll always need. No matter if you’re writing in APA, MLA, or another format, the building blocks stay the same.
Here’s what you should gather from every video:
Here's what you should gather from every video:
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Author or uploader name – the person or organization responsible for the content.
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Channel name – especially important if the uploader is different from the creator.
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Video title – written exactly as it appears on YouTube.
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Date of upload – use the full date shown on the video page.
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Medium tag – many styles ask you to note that it's a [Video].
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URL – copy the full, direct link to the video.
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Access or retrieval date – some styles, like Harvard or IEEE, require it.
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Timestamp – helpful when you're pointing to a specific moment.
If you're new to citation styles, here's a quick overview:
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APA (American Psychological Association) – often used in social sciences.
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MLA (Modern Language Association) – common in humanities, like literature or arts.
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Chicago – flexible, used in history and publishing.
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Harvard – widely used in the UK and Australia.
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IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) – used for technical and engineering papers.
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AMA (American Medical Association) – followed in medical and health fields.
Each of these styles has slightly different rules, but the core details stay the same. Having them ready will make the actual citation process quick and painless.
It’s worth noting why we focus on APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, IEEE, and AMA. These six are the most widely recognized citation styles around the world.
They cover the biggest academic and professional fields, from psychology and literature to engineering and medicine.
Other specialized styles exist, like ACS for chemistry or Bluebook for law, but once you learn these six, you’ll have the foundation to adapt to almost any system your school or workplace requires.
How to Cite a YouTube Video in APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, IEEE & AMA
Every citation style has its own rules. Let’s go through them one by one with clear templates and examples you can copy. We’ll start with APA since it’s one of the most widely used systems.
APA (American Psychological Association)
APA style is common in psychology, education, and other social sciences. It has very specific rules for citing a YouTube video.
Template
Author Last Name, First Initial. [Channel Name]. (Year, Month Day). Video title [Video]. YouTube. URL
Example
Smith, J. [John Smith Media]. (2023, March 14). How to prepare for a job interview [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/xxxxxxx
In-text citation
(Smith, 2023, 2:15) → here the "2:15" marks the exact timestamp you're quoting.
Key APA tips
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If the real name of the creator is known, list it before the channel name.
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If only the channel is known, just use that.
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Always include the full date, not just the year.
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Add timestamps when pointing to a specific moment in the video.
MLA (Modern Language Association)
MLA style is common in humanities like literature, history, and the arts. It looks a little different from APA because it puts the focus on the creator and the platform.
Template
Creator's Last Name, First Name. "Video Title." YouTube, uploaded by Channel Name, Day Month Year, URL.
Example
Blender Foundation. "Big Buck Bunny." YouTube, uploaded by Blender, 30 May 2008, https://www.youtube.com/xxxxxxx
In-text citation
Use the title and a timestamp if you're quoting directly. For example: ("Big Buck Bunny" 2:45–3:10)
Key MLA tips
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If the real name of the creator is known, use it first.
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If the uploader is different, list them after "uploaded by."
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Always italicize YouTube because it's the container site.
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Use the full date in Day Month Year format.
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Include timestamps when pointing to a specific moment.
Chicago (Notes and Bibliography)
Chicago style is widely used in history, publishing, and some social sciences. It offers two main systems: Notes and Bibliography or Author-Date. Most humanities work uses Notes and Bibliography.
Template (Bibliography entry)
Creator Last Name, First Name. "Video Title." YouTube video, length. Posted by Channel Name, Month Day, Year. URL.
Example (Bibliography)
Blender Foundation. "Big Buck Bunny." YouTube video, 9:56. Posted by Blender, May 30, 2008. https://www.youtube.com/xxxxxx
Template (First Note)
First Name Last Name, "Video Title," YouTube video, length, Month Day, Year, URL.
Example (First Note)
Blender Foundation, "Big Buck Bunny," YouTube video, 9:56, May 30, 2008, https://www.youtube.com/xxxxxx
Key Chicago tips
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Include the video length if it's visible.
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Notes always use first name first; the bibliography flips it to last name first.
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"YouTube video" is written out, not in brackets.
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Both the poster and the original creator can be mentioned if they differ.
Harvard
Harvard style is very common in the UK, Australia, and many European universities. It's straightforward but requires you to include an access date, since online content can change.
Template
Author or Organisation Year, Video title, YouTube video, viewed Day Month Year, <URL>
Example
Blender Foundation 2008, Big Buck Bunny, YouTube video, viewed 1 September 2025, https://www.youtube.com/xxxxxx
In-text citation
(Blender Foundation 2008)
Key Harvard tips
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The year goes right after the author's name.
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Italicize the video title.
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Always include "YouTube video" as the medium.
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Add the date you viewed the video, since the content may be updated or removed.
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Enclose the link in angle brackets < >.
IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)
IEEE style is common in engineering, computer science, and technical papers. It uses a numbered reference list and always includes an access date.
Template
[#] Author, “Video title,” YouTube, Date of publication. [Online Video]. Available: URL. [Accessed: Day Month Year].
Example
[1] Blender Foundation, “Big Buck Bunny,” YouTube, May 30, 2008. [Online Video]. Available: https://www.youtube.com/xxxxxx. [Accessed: 1 September 2025].
In-text citation
IEEE uses numbers in square brackets: [1]
Key IEEE tips
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The reference list is numbered in the order sources appear.
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Always label the medium as [Online Video].
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Include both the upload date and your access date.
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URLs should be complete and direct.
AMA (American Medical Association)
AMA style is widely used in medicine, nursing, and health sciences. It keeps citations short but requires both the published date and the access date.
Template
Author. Title [Video]. YouTube. Published Date. Accessed Date. URL.
Example
Blender Foundation. Big Buck Bunny [Video]. YouTube. Published May 30, 2008. Accessed September 1, 2025. https://www.youtube.com/xxxxxx
In-text citation
AMA uses superscript numbers in the text, like this: Big Buck Bunny is often cited as an early open-source film.1
Key AMA tips
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Only list the author if you're sure they created the video.
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If you're not certain, treat the uploader as the author.
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Always write out "Published" and "Accessed" with full dates.
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Keep formatting consistent with punctuation – AMA can be strict.
Special Cases When Citing YouTube
Sometimes you’re not just citing a single video. You might need to reference a channel, a playlist, or even a YouTube comment. Here’s how to handle those situations.
Citing a YouTube Channel
When you're citing an entire channel, use the channel name as the author. In APA, you also add [YouTube channel] after the title. For example:
Blender. (n.d.). Blender [YouTube channel]. YouTube. Retrieved September 1, 2025, from https://www.youtube.com/@Youtubechannel
👉 Many creators also look up how to create a custom YouTube URL, but for citations, always copy the direct link from your browser.
Citing a Playlist
Playlists can be cited just like videos. Include the playlist title in italics, note it as a YouTube playlist, and add the link.
Quoting a Specific Timestamp
If you're citing a particular moment, include the timestamp in your in-text citation. Example (APA): (Blender Foundation, 2008, 2:45)
Citing a Comment
When a comment is important to your research, use the commenter's name, note that it's a comment, and link directly if possible. Example (MLA):
User123. "This short film inspired me to study animation." Comment on Big Buck Bunny. YouTube, 15 June 2021, https://www.youtube.com/xxxxxx
No Author or No Date
If a video doesn't list an author, use the channel name. If there's no date, APA uses (n.d.) and MLA uses the upload year if it's available.
Quick Comparison Table of Citation Styles
Here’s a snapshot of how the six major styles handle YouTube citations.
| Style | Author / Uploader | Date Format | Title Style | Medium Tag | Access Date | In-Text Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| APA | Author + [Channel] if both known | Year, Month Day | Italics | [Video] | Only for channels | (Smith, 2023, 2:15) |
| MLA | Creator; "uploaded by" if different | Day Month Year | "Quotes" | YouTube italicized as container | Not required | ("Big Buck Bunny" 2:45–3:10) |
| Chicago | Creator; add channel if needed | Month Day, Year | "Quotes" | "YouTube video" written out | Not required | Note: 1. Author, "Title," YouTube video… |
| Harvard | Author or Org | Year after name | Italics | YouTube video | Always required | (Blender Foundation 2008) |
| IEEE | Author or Org | Month Day, Year | "Quotes" | [Online Video] | Always required | [1] |
| AMA | Author if known; uploader if not | Month Day, Year | Plain text | [Video] | Always required | Superscript |
Conclusion
By now, you’ve seen that learning how to cite a YouTube video is mostly about gathering the right details and matching them to the style you’re using. Once you know the basics, author, title, date, medium, link, and sometimes access date, you can build correct citations in minutes.
The small touches make a big difference. Adding timestamps, checking italics, and making sure you’ve included access dates where needed shows that you care about accuracy. That effort not only keeps your work plagiarism-free but also helps your readers trust your research.
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FAQs | Frequently Asked Questions |
Can I cite a YouTube video in a PowerPoint presentation?
Yes. The format depends on your style guide, but it’s usually enough to include the author, title, platform, and year on the slide or in your reference list.
How do you cite a YouTube video in a bibliography vs. in-text citation?
The bibliography entry is always full, with all details included. In-text citations are shorter, usually the author and year (APA), or the title (MLA).
Do I need to include the video’s runtime in my citation?
Only Chicago style usually requires the video length. For other styles, it’s optional unless your teacher or publisher asks for it.
Can I cite a YouTube video if it’s not from an official source?
Yes. Just make sure the video is relevant and credible. If it’s a copy of a movie or TV show, mention the original work in your citation instead of treating it as a regular video.