Watch Time Tracker

Track Your 4,000 Watch Hours for Monetization

Enter video length, views, and retention to see total watch time, YPP progress, and how many more views you need.

Enter Video Details

Hours

Minutes

Seconds

%

YouTube Partner Program Requirements

Both thresholds must be met within the past 12 months.

4,000

Watch Hours

Rolling 12-month window. Old hours expire as new ones accumulate — not lifetime total.

1,000

Subscribers

Must also have 1,000 subscribers. Shorts views do NOT count toward watch hours.

The Watch Time Formula

Watch Time = Length × Retention % × Views
10 min video, 50% retention, 10,000 views = 833 hours
15 min video, 60% retention, 5,000 views = 750 hours
5 min video, 40% retention, 20,000 views = 667 hours

Fastest Ways to Hit 4,000 Hours

Make 8–15 min videos

Longer content × same retention = more hours per view.

Build playlists

Autoplay stacks watch time across multiple videos per session.

Nail the first 30 seconds

Strong hooks raise retention — the multiplier in the formula.

Promote externally

Reddit, newsletters, and forums drive views that count.

Frequently Asked Questions

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