YouTube Watch Hours Calculator
Calculate how long it will take to reach 4,000 watch hours for YouTube monetization. Whether you're streaming or uploading videos, this free tool shows exactly when you'll qualify for the YouTube Partner Program.
Stream Settings
Time to Monetization
Streaming vs Videos: Watch Hours Comparison
24/7 Streaming
- Reach 4,000 hours in ~13 days
- No new content needed daily
- Passive watch time accumulation
- Works while you sleep
Regular Videos
- Reach 4,000 hours in ~4 years
- Requires consistent uploads
- Depends on video performance
- More effort per watch hour
Understanding YouTube Watch Hours
What Counts?
Only public videos and streams count toward the 4,000 hour requirement. Unlisted, private, and deleted videos don't count. Shorts currently don't count toward watch hours but may change.
12-Month Window
YouTube measures watch hours over a rolling 12-month period. Hours from more than a year ago no longer count. Consistent streaming ensures you maintain your threshold.
Other Requirements
Besides 4,000 watch hours, you need 1,000 subscribers and must follow YouTube's monetization policies. Live streams help with both watch hours and building a subscriber base.
Frequently Asked Questions
You need 4,000 public watch hours in the last 12 months to qualify for the YouTube Partner Program. This equals about 240,000 minutes of watch time. Both regular videos and live streams count toward this requirement.
Yes! Live streams are one of the fastest ways to accumulate watch hours. A 24/7 stream with just 10 concurrent viewers generates 7,200 watch hours per month - almost twice the yearly requirement in just one month.
It varies by channel size. With regular uploads and 1,000 daily views, it takes about 8-12 months. With 24/7 streaming and 50 concurrent viewers, you can reach 4,000 hours in just 4 days.
A watch hour is 60 minutes of cumulative viewing time across your channel. If 60 people watch 1 minute each, or 1 person watches 60 minutes, both count as 1 watch hour. Only public videos count - unlisted and private do not.
Once you're accepted into the YouTube Partner Program, you won't lose monetization if your watch hours drop below 4,000. However, YouTube may review channels that consistently underperform and reserves the right to remove monetization.