How to Cite a YouTube Video in Chicago Format
Introduction — what this format is and who uses it
Chicago style is a flexible citation system used widely in history, the humanities, and some social sciences. It offers two main approaches: the Notes and Bibliography system (preferred in humanities) and the Author-Date system (preferred in sciences).
This guide explains how to cite a YouTube video in Chicago format and compares the two systems with clear, code-styled examples you can copy. If you need to generate citations automatically, try Rephrasely’s free citation generator at Rephrasely Citation Generator.
General Rules — key formatting rules
Chicago citation rules for audiovisual material emphasize the creator/username, title, platform, format (YouTube video), length, date posted, and the URL. Use the account name or real name depending on availability and preference.
Keep entries consistent: punctuation, italics for titles, and date format should match the chosen Chicago system. Always provide a full, working URL. For published dates, use the posted date on YouTube.
How to Cite by Source Type — step-by-step for books, journals, websites, and other types
Below are concise step-by-step formats for common source types. Use these as templates when collecting citation details.
Books (Notes and Bibliography)
Step-by-step: author name, title (italicized), edition (if not first), place of publication, publisher, year.
Note:
1. John Smith, Title of the Book (New York: Example Press, 2019), 45.
Bibliography:
Smith, John. Title of the Book. New York: Example Press, 2019.Journal Articles (Author-Date and Notes)
Step-by-step: author name, "article title" (in quotes), journal title (italicized), volume number, issue number, date, page range, DOI or URL.
Author-Date reference:
Smith, John. 2020. "Research Title." Journal of Examples 12, no. 3 (June): 123–45. https://doi.org/xx.xxx/yyyy.
Notes:
1. John Smith, "Research Title," Journal of Examples 12, no. 3 (June 2020): 125, https://doi.org/xx.xxx/yyyy.Websites
Step-by-step: author or organization, "page or article title," website name (if different), published or last modified date, URL.
Bibliography (Notes system):
Author Lastname, Firstname. "Title of Webpage." Website Name. Month Day, Year. https://example.com.YouTube Videos (detailed)
Step-by-step collection: creator's real name and/or username, video title (in quotes), YouTube (italicized), video length, posting date, and full URL. Choose whether to cite the creator's real name or username; if both are given, include real name first followed by the username in square brackets.
Examples below show both Notes/Bibliography and Author-Date formats.
Notes and Bibliography - Note:
1. Marques Brownlee [MKBHD], "iPhone 15 Review: Worth the Upgrade?" YouTube video, 12:34, August 10, 2025, https://youtube.com/watch?v=xxxxxx.
Notes and Bibliography - Bibliography:
MKBHD (Marques Brownlee). "iPhone 15 Review: Worth the Upgrade?" YouTube video, 12:34. August 10, 2025. https://youtube.com/watch?v=xxxxxx.
Author-Date reference:
MKBHD. 2025. "iPhone 15 Review: Worth the Upgrade?" YouTube video, August 10. https://youtube.com/watch?v=xxxxxx.
In-text (Author-Date): (MKBHD 2025)Other types: Interviews, Podcasts, Government Reports
Interviews: For unpublished interviews, cite as personal communication in notes. For published interviews (e.g., on a website or podcast), follow the relevant media format and include the interviewer if relevant.
Podcasts: Treat as audiovisual material: host or producer name, "episode title," Podcast Name (italicized), episode number (if available), release date, length, and URL.
In-Text Citations — rules and examples
Chicago Notes and Bibliography uses footnotes or endnotes for in-text citation details. A superscript number in the text refers to a note with the full citation. Subsequent citations can use shortened forms.
The Author-Date system uses parenthetical citations that include the author (or username) and year. Page or timestamp may be added for precise reference.
Examples for YouTube
Notes (first citation):
1. MKBHD (Marques Brownlee), "iPhone 15 Review: Worth the Upgrade?" YouTube video, 12:34, August 10, 2025, https://youtube.com/watch?v=xxxxxx.
Notes (shortened subsequent citation):
2. MKBHD, "iPhone 15 Review."
Author-Date in-text:
(MKBHD 2025)
Author-Date with timestamp:
(MKBHD 2025, 3:45)Reference List — formatting rules and example
In Notes and Bibliography, include a Bibliography at the end with full citations alphabetized by author/username. Use a hanging indent and single-space within entries if required by your instructor or publisher.
In Author-Date, list references alphabetically in a Reference List with full publication dates and URLs.
Full bibliographic example for a YouTube video (Notes/Bibliography)
MKBHD (Marques Brownlee). "iPhone 15 Review: Worth the Upgrade?" YouTube video, 12:34. August 10, 2025. https://youtube.com/watch?v=xxxxxx.Full reference list example for Author-Date
MKBHD. 2025. "iPhone 15 Review: Worth the Upgrade?" YouTube video, August 10. https://youtube.com/watch?v=xxxxxx.Actionable tip: collect the video’s creator name, exact title, posted date, and URL as soon as you use the video. Store them together in your notes to avoid chasing down details later.
Common Mistakes — 3-4 errors to avoid
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Using the wrong author:
Do not assume the real person is the author when only a username is shown. If both are provided, list real name first followed by username in brackets or vice versa depending on your instructor’s preference.
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Missing timestamps:
For quotes or specific content, include a timestamp in parenthetical citations (e.g., 3:45) so readers can locate the exact moment in the video.
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Inconsistent formatting:
Mixing Notes and Author-Date styles in one paper confuses readers. Pick one system and apply it consistently across citations and the reference list.
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Broken or shortened URLs:
Always include a full, working URL. If your instructor requests a DOI or permalink, use that over a general homepage link.
Practical workflow: cite faster with Rephrasely
Gather your citation details, then use Rephrasely’s free citation generator at https://rephrasely.com/citation to produce Chicago-formatted citations instantly.
After generating citations, run them through Rephrasely’s plagiarism checker if you quoted a transcript, or use the AI writer to draft notes and the AI detector to verify originality. Rephrasely also offers a paraphraser and translator to help adapt and localize quoted material.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose between Notes and Bibliography and Author-Date for a YouTube citation?
Choose Notes and Bibliography for history and most humanities assignments; use Author-Date for sciences and social sciences. If your instructor or publisher specifies a system, follow that guidance. Both systems require the same core details for YouTube: creator, title, platform, video length, date, and URL.
What if the uploader’s real name isn’t available—do I use the username?
Yes. If only a username is available, use that as the author. For example: MKBHD. If a real name appears alongside the username, include both (Real Name [Username]) in the bibliography; use the username in the parenthetical citation if it’s the primary identifier.
Should I include a timestamp when citing a YouTube video?
Include a timestamp when you reference a specific moment, quote, or claim from the video. For Chicago Author-Date, add the timestamp in the parenthetical citation (e.g., MKBHD 2025, 3:45). In Notes, include the time in the note if the reader needs to find the exact spot.