You found the perfect YouTube video for your research paper, but now you’re staring at a blank citation wondering how to format it. YouTube citations are tricky — each style guide treats them differently, and getting it wrong could cost you points.

Citing a YouTube video requires more than just pasting the URL. APA, MLA, and Chicago each have specific rules for the creator, date, title, and platform. This guide covers all three styles with real examples you can copy and adapt.

APA 7th Edition: Citing a YouTube Video

APA treats the uploader as the author. If the uploader’s real name is available, use it. Otherwise, use the channel name.

Reference List Format

Uploader Name. (Year, Month Day). Title of video [Video]. YouTube. URL

Example (real name available):
Smith, J. (2024, March 12). Understanding cognitive behavioral therapy [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/abcdef123

Example (channel name only):
CrashCourse. (2023, July 5). The French Revolution: A complete history [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/ghijkl456

In-Text Citation

Parenthetical: (CrashCourse, 2023)
Narrative: CrashCourse (2023) explains that the French Revolution fundamentally restructured European politics.

MLA 9th Edition: Citing a YouTube Video

MLA focuses on the creator of the video content. If the creator and uploader differ, list the creator first and add “uploaded by” before the uploader name. Use quotation marks around the video title.

Works Cited Format

Creator Last Name, First Name. “Title of Video.” YouTube, uploaded by Uploader Name, Day Month Year, URL.

Example:
Johnson, Emily. “Exploring Quantum Computing for Beginners.” YouTube, uploaded by TechEdu, 10 Jan. 2026, https://youtu.be/abcdef123.

In-Text Citation

(Johnson) or, for a specific timestamp, (Johnson 05:12)

Chicago Style (Notes-Bibliography): Citing a YouTube Video

Chicago typically uses footnotes for YouTube videos and treats the bibliography entry as optional. Include the video length in the citation.

Footnote Format

1. Creator First Name Last Name, “Title of Video,” YouTube video, Length, Month Day, Year, URL.

Example:
1. Jessica Liu, “How to Write a Strong Essay Conclusion,” YouTube video, 3:50, February 8, 2024, https://youtu.be/2UElC_YZ0Eo.

Bibliography Format

Liu, Jessica. “How to Write a Strong Essay Conclusion.” YouTube video, 3:50, February 8, 2024. https://youtu.be/2UElC_YZ0Eo.

Quick Reference Comparison

Element	APA 7th	MLA 9th	Chicago
Author	Uploader/channel name	Video creator	Video creator
Title format	Italicized	Quotation marks	Quotation marks
Date placement	After author (in parentheses)	After uploader, near end	After title, near end
Platform	YouTube [Video]	YouTube, uploaded by	YouTube video, Length

Common YouTube Citation Mistakes

• Using the URL as the citation — A URL is not a citation. You need the creator, date, title, and platform following the correct style.
• Forgetting the bracketed [Video] descriptor in APA — APA requires the format description in square brackets after the title.
• Omitting the upload date — Always include the full date the video was published, not just the year.
• Confusing creator and uploader in MLA — If the person who created the video is different from the channel that uploaded it, MLA requires both pieces of information.

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Keeping track of three different citation formats across multiple source types is exhausting. Formatly handles YouTube citations and every other source type for APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, and Turabian automatically. Upload your document, select your style, and receive a perfectly formatted paper with full tracked changes. Try Formatly free and eliminate citation stress.