How to sort clips by length for waiting room managers in 2026

A plain guide for waiting room managers to sort clips by length, with steps, tools to try and mistakes to avoid.

By XP Daily · 2026-10-23

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

A waiting room screen works better when the shortest clips come first, because a patient is more likely to finish a clip before being called. Find the length of each clip, order the playlist from shortest to longest, and let the screen start at the top. You can do it by hand on paper or in a spreadsheet.

Approach	How it orders clips
Paper list or sticky note	You rank by hand
Spreadsheet	You sort by a length column you fill in
YTSort	Reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first ^[1]

What you need before you start

Sorting clips by length for a waiting room 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, you can copy the clips into your own first or work from a written list.
The length of each clip. YouTube shows it on each thumbnail. You need it to rank the clips.
A reason for going short first. Patients come and go, so a short clip has a better chance of being seen to the end. Know that reason, because it decides what you do with the long clips.
A place to keep the order. The playlist itself, a paper list or a spreadsheet all work. What matters is that the order lives in one place.
A web browser. Only needed if you want a tool to do the sorting. Add the tool to your browser once, before you start, following its own instructions.

Set the playlist up before the room fills. Changing the order while people are waiting tends to interrupt the room.

Step by step

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

Open the playlist you want to sort. Make sure you can access the playlist before choosing a way to put shorter clips first.
List every clip with its length. Write the title and the time shown on the thumbnail. Do not sort yet.
Mark clips that must stay in order. Some clips tell one story across a few parts. If a later clip needs an earlier one, keep those two together.
Rank the rest from shortest to longest. Put the shortest at the top.
Decide what happens to the very long clips. You can leave them at the end or save them for a quieter part of the day.
Check the order before you commit. Read the new list once from top to bottom and look for clips that now sit in a confusing place.
Apply the order. Reorder the playlist by hand, or use a tool that does it for you.
Start the screen at the top. Let the playlist run from the shortest clip.
Swap content as the day changes. Review the list at the start of the day; a short clip can fill a morning rush better than a long programme.
Review after a few sessions. If the order is not helping the room, change it.

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 and rank them by hand. Nothing is published here about price or limits because it depends on what you already own.

A spreadsheet. A column for the title, a column for length and a sort on the length column gives you a shortest-first list. Check how it behaves on your phone if you plan to use it away from your desk. 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 one option. Reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first. ^[1] It sorts the full playlist, not just the videos loaded on screen. ^[1] It shows the before and after order so you can check it before applying. ^[1] It can sort only videos within a length range and move the rest to the end, ^[1] which suits a waiting room where the shortest clips should run during the busiest times. If its usual fast method is ever unavailable, it automatically switches to drag-and-drop. ^[1]

You can get it through a bookmark, 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] YTSort is free, and all install options include the same features. ^[1] It is free, open-source software under the GPL-2.0-only licence. ^[1]

Common mistakes to avoid

Playing clips that depend on earlier ones out of order. If a later clip relies on an earlier one, a pure shortest-first order can confuse the room. Keep dependent clips together.

Trusting the order without a look. Read the new order once before you start. A quick check catches clips that ended up in an odd spot.

Forgetting the long clips. Moving them to the end is fine, but give them a quieter slot in the day or they never get played.

Trying to sort a playlist that is not yours. Check who owns it first. If it is not yours, copy the clips into your own playlist or keep a written list.

Running the same order all day. A waiting room changes through the day, so review the list as the crowd changes.

Never reviewing the order. If the order is not working for the room, change the approach instead of sticking with it.

Frequently asked questions

Can YTSort sort a waiting room playlist by clip length?

Yes. YTSort reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first, ^[1] so the shorter clips sit at the top of the waiting room screen. It sorts the full playlist, not just the videos loaded on screen. ^[1] It is one option; you can also rank clips by hand or in a spreadsheet.

Which browsers work with YTSort for waiting room managers?

The add-on needs Chrome or Edge. The script works in any browser, including Firefox, once you add a script manager such as Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey, a small add-on that runs scripts for you. ^[1] It can also be run from a bookmark. ^[1]

Can the new order be checked before the waiting room screen shows it?

With YTSort, the before and after order can be checked before applying it. ^[1] With a paper list or spreadsheet, you see the order as you write it, so read it through once before you start the screen. Check each tool's current details before choosing how to sort your playlist.

Is YTSort free for waiting room managers?

Yes. YTSort is free, and all install options include the same features. ^[1] It is free, open-source software under the GPL-2.0-only licence. ^[1] Nothing needs to be paid for, so it can be set up once and left to run on a waiting room screen.

Can YTSort hold long clips out and show the shortest ones first?

Yes. YTSort can sort only videos within a length range and move the rest to the end, ^[1] which suits a waiting room where the shortest clips should play during the busiest times. Check the before and after order before applying it. ^[1]

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)