The Ultimate Guide to the Best Hashtags for YouTube Shorts in 2024

Discover the best hashtags for YouTube Shorts in 2024 to boost visibility and engagement. Learn strategies for effective hashtag use and trend monitoring.

Vidulk

27 Apr 2026 — 4 min read

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

Key Takeaways

Hashtags are vital metadata that boost discoverability and engagement on YouTube Shorts.
Research using tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, Google Keyword Planner, and trend monitoring to find top-performing tags.
Balance broad and niche hashtags (ideal mix: 2–3 broad, 3–5 niche) and keep total tags between 5–10.
Use location-based and seasonal/event tags for hyper-targeted reach and timely relevance.
Regularly update and track performance in YouTube Analytics to refine your hashtag strategy.

Understanding YouTube Shorts and Hashtags
Researching the Best Hashtags for YouTube Shorts
Strategies for Choosing and Using Hashtags Effectively
Curated List of the Best Hashtags for YouTube Shorts
Dos and Don’ts of Hashtag Usage
Conclusion and Next Steps
FAQ

Section 1: Understanding YouTube Shorts and Hashtags

YouTube Shorts are vertical, under-60-second videos designed for quick consumption on mobile devices. Creators leverage Shorts for brand awareness, tutorials, comedy skits, and trending challenges. Strategic hashtags act as clickable metadata, guiding viewers and YouTube’s algorithm to your content.

For creators repurposing long-form content into Shorts, tools like Vidulk - AI Video Clipping App streamline extracting your best moments automatically.

Clickable Metadata: When users click a hashtag, they access a feed of related Shorts, deepening engagement and signaling relevance to the algorithm.
Enhanced Discoverability: Relevant tags can increase your chance of impressions by up to 20%, surfacing your Shorts in search results and suggested feeds.

Mini Case Study: By analyzing top-performing Shorts in YouTube Studio, one creator identified that combining challenge and niche tags (e.g., #fitnesschallenge, #homeworkout) drove a 30% increase in click-through rate. Below is a snapshot of the analytics dashboard that illustrates this spike.

Section 2: Researching the Best Hashtags for YouTube Shorts

Adopt a research-driven approach to uncover both evergreen and trending hashtags. Combine data tools with daily trend monitoring and seasonal planning.

Data-Driven Tools for Trending Hashtags

Ahrefs & SEMrush:
- Enter a seed term like “cooking shorts.”
- Filter by search volume (10K+ monthly) and rising trends.
- Export top 20 hashtags, noting their Keyword Difficulty score.
Google Keyword Planner:
- Input seed keywords to view related search queries.
- Sort by trend growth over the last 30 days.
- Compile a list of 10–15 potential hashtags to test.

Pro Tip: Terms with moderate volume (5K–15K) and accelerating trends often outperform static high-volume tags.

Trend Monitoring on YouTube Shorts

Browse the Shorts feed daily to spot viral challenges.
Note in-the-moment songs and copy associated hashtags (e.g., #DanceChallenge2024).
Set up Google Trends alerts for niche keywords (e.g., “pet tricks”).

Seasonal & Event-Based Hashtags

#SummerRecipes, #BackToSchool, #ChristmasDIY
#NewYearResolutions, #HalloweenMakeup
#SXSW, #Coachella, #ComicCon2024

Event-based tags can boost engagement by 25%. For AI-powered suggestions, explore AI-powered tag generation.

Section 3: Strategies for Choosing and Using Hashtags Effectively

Balancing Broad vs. Niche Hashtags

Broad Hashtags: #shorts, #viral, #trending – wide reach but high competition.
Niche Tags: #DIYHomeDecor, #PlantBasedRecipes – targeted audience with better engagement.

Recommended mix: 2–3 broad tags and 3–5 niche tags per Short.

Optimal Quantity and Placement

Use 5–10 hashtags to avoid spam flags.
Place broad tags first, followed by niche and location/seasonal tags.
Tip: Keep your top-priority hashtag within the first three positions.

Location-Based & Niche Targeting

Add 1–2 hyper-local tags (e.g., #sorsogoncity).
Engage sub-communities with niche tags (e.g., #UrbanGardening).
Example: A travel Short in Sorsogon uses #mayonvolcano and #bulusanlake alongside #travelvlog.

Section 4: Curated List of the Best Hashtags for YouTube Shorts

Use this ready-made list to plug into your next Short:

Entertainment & Comedy

#shortscomedy
#shortsfunny
#ShortsJokes
#ShortsHumor
#ComedyShorts
#SketchComedy

Educational

#StudyWithMe
#LearningTips
#shortseducation
#shortsstudy
#KnowledgeNuggets

Lifestyle & Vlogging

#Vlogger
#DailyVlog
#TravelVlog
#VloggerLife
#shortscooking
#shortscraft

Fitness & Wellness

#FitnessTips
#HomeWorkout
#ExerciseMotivation
#Fitness
#wellness

Trends & Challenges

#shortschallenge
#shortsprank
#ViralChallenge
#TrendAlert
#DanceChallenge

Tech & News

#TechShorts
#InnovateWithMe
#shortsnews
#shortstech
#DigitalTrends

Motivational

#motivation
#inspiration
#mindset
#positivity
#goals

Hobbies & Interests

#photography
#gaming
#art
#music
#shortsmusic
#shortsart

Location-Based

#sorsogon
#bicol
#philippines
#mayonvolcano
#bulusanlake

Section 5: Dos and Don’ts of Hashtag Usage

Dos

Use 5–10 hashtags per Short.
Mix broad and niche tags.
Place broader hashtags before specific ones.
Update tags regularly for trends and seasons.
Add location hashtags when relevant.

Don’ts

Avoid overusing generic tags (e.g., #shorts only).
Don’t ignore niche specificity.
Don’t use irrelevant hashtags to avoid penalties.
Always review performance in YouTube Analytics.
Keep location tags precise and relevant.

Conclusion and Next Steps

You now have a complete playbook for selecting and deploying the best hashtags for YouTube Shorts. Remember to:

Track performance in YouTube Analytics.
Adjust your hashtag list monthly.
Stay nimble by adopting new trends.
Share your success stories to refine collective knowledge.

Ready to level up your Shorts? Apply these strategies today and let us know which best hashtags for YouTube Shorts worked for you!

FAQ

How many hashtags should I use in my YouTube Short?

Ideally, use 5–10 hashtags. This range avoids spam flags and ensures a balanced mix of broad and niche tags.

What’s the best way to find trending hashtags?

Combine tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Google Keyword Planner with daily trend monitoring on the Shorts feed and Google Trends alerts.

Should I include location-based hashtags?

Yes—adding hyper-local tags (e.g., #sorsogoncity) can boost visibility within regional audiences and enhance targeted reach.

How do I measure hashtag performance?

Review your YouTube Analytics to see which tags drive views, engagement, and watch time. Update your strategy based on these insights.