Are you an aspiring YouTube creator? If so, you’re probably wondering what type of channel you should make. A gaming one? A cooking one? Something related to your hobby?
If you can’t decide, immerse yourself in the world of YouTube channel topics. See what types of videos others are making, then study their methods for creating unique content no one else can copy.
The list below will help you get started. From weird to charming, we’ve gathered some of the fastest-growing YouTube channel ideas from real creators who’ve found success. Let’s dig in!
Just imagine it. What if someone remixed every rap or R&B song in medieval style?
That’s what Beedle the Bardcore (385,000 subscribers) is doing, and the idea is refreshingly fun. From Eminem’s “The Real Slim Shady” to Mary J. Blige’s “Family Affair,” you get a taste of pop culture mixed with medieval flutes, harps, and bagpipes. Each remix is nostalgic yet surprisingly new.
The success of this channel proves that no matter what you’re into, someone will find it interesting. All you have to do is target the right viewers!
Why this channel works:
Of all the ideas for a YouTube channel, anything to do with coffins or funerals is probably the riskiest. After all, we’re talking about death. It’s a sensitive topic and pretty morbid to think about.
All that aside, Ask a Mortician (1.95 million subscribers) draws people in with a unique channel idea. Instead of shying away from uncomfortable topics, a licensed mortician answers questions about death, mourning, and funerals. Is it legal to mummify someone? What happens to a body during cremation? Are protective caskets a scam?
Ask a Mortician proves that education channels can be fun, too (even the grim ones).
Why this channel works:
Most online tutorials are helpful because they show you how to do something meaningful. So what happens when a channel looks helpful but doesn’t teach you anything at all?
In the case of HowtoBasic (17.2 million subscribers), it’s not what you think. This channel markets itself as a place of learning, but every tutorial goes wrong. From making a hamburger to fixing a flat tire, the final result is usually chaos and destruction. It’s comedic gold!
Why this channel works:
Sometimes, the best YouTube channel ideas are amazingly simple. For instance, what would your favorite foods look like if they were ground up and reshaped into sausage?
It’s a weird idea, but Ordinary Sausage gained 711,000 subscribers pursuing it. Over time, this channel has turned almost anything into sausage, and not just popular foods. They’ve done hair sausage. Snow sausage. Valentine’s Day roses as sausage.
Why this channel works:
Many YouTube channels focus on people and their daily lives. So on a platform filled with vloggers and on-camera personalities, showing objects is one way to stand out.
For instance, Jelle's Marble Runs created the “Olympics” of marble racing. Like Hot Wheels, this creator tosses marbles down a race track to see which one will cross the finish line first. There are twists, turns, and other marbles in the stands cheering on the contestants. With everything going on, this channel idea (with 1.37 million subscribers) is cute, charming, and entertaining all at once!
Why this channel works:
What happens when you swallow 3,000 milligrams of caffeine powder? How would your body respond to 12 energy drinks if you drank them all in 10 minutes?
These are patient stories that either Chubbyemu (a licensed provider) or his colleagues have seen in the past. The creator says they’re “variations” of real cases, so they may be exaggerated a bit. Either way, it’s hard not to click on a video that reads, “A Farmer Injected Cow Antibiotic Into His Leg.” Maybe that’s why Chubbyemu has 2.77 million subscribers.
Why this channel works:
Most cooking channels don’t share recipes from the 1900s while sprinkling in a history lesson and taste test. Typically, it's the average recipe video. Creators show you how to make something popular, like sourdough bread or seafood pasta — maybe a Thanksgiving turkey.
But Tasting History (1.65 million subscribers) is a rare channel that goes above and beyond. It immerses you in a different era by sharing the history of specific meals, how to make them, and most importantly, how they taste.
Why this channel works:
What do you imagine when you think of “review” channels on YouTube? Do you see a creator explaining the pros and cons of buying the latest iPhone? A pet sitter ranking the most obedient dogs?
Well, Mikasacus (334,000 subscribers) flips that concept on its head. Instead of reviewing things you can buy or own, they review things nobody can buy or own, like air, water, and anxiety.
You’ve probably seen a lot of reviews on YouTube, but watching someone review water is…a different level of content creation. Mikasacus experiments with other concepts (primarily gaming), but the “reviews” are arguably the best.
Why this channel works:
There’s a wide range of content on YouTube, especially when it comes to cooking channels. But how many of them let a dog named Francis sit in the kitchen and narrate each tutorial? We can only think of one: Cooking with Dog (1.6 million subscribers).
What’s interesting about this concept is that the creator doesn’t have to speak. By letting Francis narrate, the creator sticks to what they do best: cooking. Viewers get a tasty recipe plus the entertainment value of Francis’ fancy accent.
Why this channel works:
Lip-reading channels are popular on YouTube, but none of them execute the idea like Bad Lip Reading (8.17 million subscribers). This channel narrates various conversations, such as those between U.S. House of Representatives members and professional athletes at sporting events.
But unlike some channels, Bad Lip Reading lives up to its name. Instead of translating conversations accurately, they get things wrong on purpose — and it’s hilarious. You’ll laugh to the point of tears because whoever writes the scripts is basically an undercover comedian.
Why this channel works:
Now that you have some inspiration, it’s time to create videos on your own channel!
Coming up with a suitable theme or topic can be challenging, but remember that the best creators do four essential things:
When you’re ready to jump in, here are 10 brilliant tips for starting a YouTube channel!
Lydia Sweatt is a writer who loves balancing her article/blog time indoors with a healthy dose of nature. She bikes, hikes, and identifies edible plants along the way.
Jul 28, 2022
4 min read
Aug 4, 2020
2 min read
Jul 31, 2020
5 min read
