YouTube End Screens: How to Make Cool Video Outros

To make a YouTube end screen, leave space in your video's final 5 to 20 seconds, then add clickable elements in YouTube Studio. You can use the existing footage or design an outro background first. The background itself is not clickable.

You can add up to four elements to a standard 16:9 video. Other aspect ratios may allow fewer.

You can use end screens to direct viewers to:

• A video from your channel or another channel
• YouTube playlists
• A subscribe button
• Another YouTube channel you want to promote
• An external website if you are in the YouTube Partner Program and the destination follows YouTube policies.

This older vidIQ layout shows several end-screen elements.

How to Make a YouTube End Screen

Start by checking eligibility and choosing where the clickable elements will sit. If you want a custom background, design it before you upload.

1. First, Make Sure Your YouTube Video is Long Enough

Your video needs to be at least 25 seconds to have an end screen. Leave room for the end screen in the final 5 to 20 seconds. End screens are unavailable on videos set as made for kids. They do not appear in the Shorts player; for Shorts, use the Related Video feature instead, which requires advanced feature access.

Above all, don’t forget to leave space at the end of your video for an outro.

2. Use the Correct Dimensions for Your YouTube End Screen

Match your outro background to your video's resolution and aspect ratio. For a 16:9 video, use 1920 by 1080 pixels for 1080p or 3840 by 2160 pixels for 4K. These are video-frame sizes, not fixed sizes for clickable elements. If you use a custom image for an end-screen element, YouTube recommends an image at least 300 by 300 pixels.

Check out the example below. Photography creator Ben Johnson uses a crisp self-portrait for the "subscribe" feature.

3. Use a YouTube End Screen Maker

A custom outro background is optional. You can add clickable end-screen elements over your existing footage. If you use a design tool, choose a template that matches your video, adapt the colors and text to your channel, and leave clear space for your planned elements. Exporting the artwork does not make it clickable; you add the interactive elements in YouTube Studio.

Here is an example of a template layout that leaves room for two video elements and a subscribe element:

4. Add the End Screen to Your Video Project

If you created an outro clip:

1. Download it as an MP4.
2. Drop the end screen into your video project (Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, Davinci Resolve, etc.)
3. Add your end screen clip to the last few seconds of your video.
4. Upload the full video to YouTube.
5. Add the clickable elements in YouTube Studio using the next section.

How to Add an End Screen on YouTube

Finished editing your video? Now it’s time to upload the footage and add interactive elements to your outro.

In the short above, Dan walks you through the steps to add an end screen to your videos. Here's what you need to do:

Follow these steps in YouTube Studio:

1. Sign in to YouTube Studio on a computer.
2. Select Content and open the video's title or thumbnail.

1. Select Editor, then End screen.

1. Apply a template or choose the elements you want to add. For a video element, choose Most recent upload, Best for viewer, or a specific video.
2. Position the elements in the preview and adjust their start and end times on the timeline.
3. Play the preview to check placement and timing, then select SAVE.

You can also add an end screen during upload in the Video elements step.

Keep in mind:

YouTube cards and video watermarks won't show up on an end screen.

3 End Screen Strategies to Test

Use these choices as starting points, then compare how viewers respond.

1. Choose a relevant next step. Start with one video or playlist that continues the topic, rather than filling every available slot.
2. Keep the ending focused. Deliver the promised answer, then move into the recommendation. Do not shorten the whole video just to reach the end screen sooner. Read More: find the best YouTube video length
3. Give viewers a reason to continue. Tell them what the next video helps them do while its clickable element is visible. Read More: write a clear YouTube CTA

To check clicks, open YouTube Studio, choose Content, select the video, then go to Analytics > Engagement. Look for End screen element click rate. Compare your own videos before changing the recommended content, layout, or spoken prompt.

YouTube End Screen Examples

These layouts show different ways to leave room for clickable elements. Choose a layout that fits the next step you want viewers to take.

1. Think Media, YouTube Education Channel

Think Media keeps the presenter visible beside two video recommendations.

2. Good Energi, Travel Channel

Good Energi separates a next-video recommendation from the subscribe element.

3. Minority Mindset, Personal Finance Channel

Knowing how to make a YouTube outro is a valuable skill. Next up, learn how to add YouTube info cards to your videos and promote extra content on your channel.