How to find the videos that fit a free hour for playlist organizers

Q: Which browsers work with YTSort?

The extension needs Chrome or Edge. The script version works in any browser, including Firefox, once you add a script manager such as Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey. You can also run YTSort from a bookmark or use it as a browser script. Pick the option that suits your setup, and try it on one playlist first before using it on a longer course.

Steps for playlist organizers to find the videos that fit a free hour, the tools to try, and the mistakes to avoid.

By XP Daily · 2026-11-05

XP Daily is published by the makers of DaysAid, QuickDictate and YTSort, which are compared here alongside other tools.

Write down your free time, list each video with its length, and add the lengths from the top until the hour runs out. YTSort can sort only the videos within a length range and move the rest to the end. ^[1]

Option	How it helps find videos that fit a free hour
Paper list or sticky note	You write each title and length and add the times by hand.
Spreadsheet	You keep a length column and a running total and check it against your free time.
YTSort	Sorts a YouTube playlist you own by video length and can move videos outside a length range to the end. ^[1]

What you need before you start

Finding the videos that fit a free hour takes only a few things.

A playlist you own. Reordering a playlist in place only works on one that belongs to your account. For someone else's playlist, copy the videos into your own first or work from a written list.
The length of each video. YouTube shows it on each thumbnail. You need it to judge which videos fit.
The free time, decided first. Know how long your hour is, so you measure each video against a fixed limit.
A place to keep the list. The playlist itself, a paper list or a spreadsheet all work, as long as the list lives in one place.
A web browser. Only needed if you want a tool to do the sorting. Add the tool once, before you start, following its own instructions.

Set aside a few minutes to build the list before the hour begins, so the free time goes to watching.

Step by step

These steps work with any tool, including a pen and a sheet of paper.

Write down the free time you have. Decide the length of the block before you look at any video.
List every video with its length. Write the title and the time shown on the thumbnail. Do not choose yet.
Mark videos that depend on earlier ones. Keep those lessons together so a course does not get split across the hour.
Pick the videos that fit. Add the lengths from the top of your list, stopping when the time runs out.
Set aside the rest. Note the videos that did not fit so they wait for a longer block.
Check the chosen set once. Read it from top to bottom and confirm it covers what you want to watch.
Apply the choice. Move the fitting videos to the top by hand, or use a tool that does it for you.
Watch from the top. Start with the first video and keep going until the hour ends.
Review after a few sessions. If the hour keeps running short or long, adjust the list.

Tools that can do it

You do not need software for this. Here are options to consider.

Paper list or sticky note. You write each title and length, add the times by hand, and cross off what fits.

A spreadsheet. You keep a column for the title, a column for the length and a running total, then check the total against your free time. Facts about specific spreadsheet apps are not provided here, so check their own pages for limits and cost.

YTSort. YTSort is made by the team that publishes this site. YTSort is free. ^[1] It sorts a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first. ^[1] It can sort only videos within a length range and move the rest to the end. ^[1] It shows the total, average, shortest and longest video duration for the playlist. ^[1] Before anything changes, it shows the before and after order so you can check it before you apply it. ^[1]

You can get YTSort as a bookmark that runs it, a browser script, or a Chrome Web Store extension. ^[1] The extension needs Chrome or Edge, and the script version works in any browser, including Firefox, with Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey installed. ^[1]

Common mistakes to avoid

Choosing videos before you know the time. Fix the free hour first, then pick what fits.

Splitting a course in the middle. Cutting a series can leave you lost. Keep dependent lessons together.

Trusting a total without a check. Add the lengths yourself, or read the preview, before you commit to the hour.

Forgetting the videos that did not fit. Note them so they get watched in a longer block.

Changing a playlist that is not yours. YTSort reorders playlists you own. Copy the videos into your own list first. ^[1]

Never reviewing the choice. If the hour keeps running long or short, adjust the list instead of sticking with it.

Frequently asked questions

How to find the videos that fit a free hour in a YouTube playlist?

List each video with its length, then add the lengths from the top of the list until your hour runs out. Those videos are the ones that fit. Put them first, and set the rest aside for a longer block. If you want a tool to do the sorting, YTSort can sort only the videos within a length range and move the rest to the end. ^[1] It also shows the before and after order so you can check the result. ^[1]

Can YTSort show how long a playlist is before it changes anything?

Yes. YTSort shows the total, average, shortest and longest video duration for the playlist. ^[1] It also shows the before and after order, so you can check the result before anything is applied. ^[1] With a paper list or spreadsheet, you add the lengths yourself and see the total as you write it down, which keeps every step in your hands.

Does YTSort sort the whole playlist or only the videos on screen?

YTSort sorts the full playlist, not just the videos loaded on screen. ^[1] It reorders by video length, shortest or longest first. ^[1] After sorting, it reads the playlist back from YouTube and re-applies any moves that did not stick. ^[1] Still, read the new order once from top to bottom before you start watching.

Which browsers work with YTSort?

The extension needs Chrome or Edge. ^[1] The script version works in any browser, including Firefox, once you add a script manager such as Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey. ^[1] You can also run YTSort from a bookmark or use it as a browser script. ^[1] Pick the option that suits your setup, and try it on one playlist first before using it on a longer course.

Can YTSort export the list of videos to a spreadsheet?

Yes. YTSort exports the position, title, duration and web address (URL) of every video to a CSV file. ^[1] A CSV file opens in a spreadsheet, so you can mark the videos that fit your free hour there. How you set up the spreadsheet and what you mark in it is up to you.

YTSort is free; all install options include the same features. ^[1]

Try YTSort

Sources

YTSort's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)