How to sort drawing tutorials by length for drawing and art learners in 2026

Learn how to sort drawing tutorials by video length, plan art practice sessions, compare sorting options and put shorter lessons first.

By XP Daily · 2026-10-29

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

To sort drawing tutorials by length, list each video's title and duration, then arrange the videos from shortest to longest or longest to shortest. Keep lessons in a useful learning order when one technique depends on another. For a YouTube playlist you own, YTSort can reorder the full playlist by video length and show the proposed order before you apply it. ^[1] ^[1] ^[1]

Option	How it orders tutorials	What to check
Paper list or sticky note	Rank titles by their recorded video lengths.	Keep related lessons together and check the order by hand.
Spreadsheet	Arrange tutorial entries using a duration column you fill in.	Check the chosen app's sorting features and cost.
Playlist ordering controls	Move videos manually into the intended sequence.	Confirm the final playlist order and preserve necessary prerequisites.
YTSort	Reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first. ^[1]	YTSort is free, and all install options include the same features. ^[1]

What you need before you start

Sorting drawing tutorials by length can help you choose a lesson that fits the time available for drawing practice. Prepare the playlist and decide whether shorter lessons should come first or longer demonstrations should be grouped together.

A playlist of drawing tutorials. Gather the YouTube videos you want to organize. If you want to change their order directly, make sure the playlist belongs to your account.
The length of each video. Use the duration shown on each video to decide where it belongs. Include every tutorial you want to sort rather than judging length from the title.
A learning goal. Decide whether the aim is to fit drawing into a short break, work through detailed demonstrations, or arrange lessons for a longer practice session.
An order that supports learning. Some tutorials introduce materials or basic shapes before moving to shading, perspective or more advanced techniques. Consider these dependencies before changing the sequence.
A place to record the result. A paper list, spreadsheet or playlist can hold the order. Keep the titles beside their durations so the list remains easy to follow.
A browser if you want automatic sorting. A browser-based option can help reorder a YouTube playlist without manually moving every video.

Decide what matters more for the session: video length or the order in which drawing skills are introduced. That decision will guide the sorting method.

Step by step

These steps work whether you arrange drawing tutorials on paper, in a spreadsheet or directly in a playlist.

Open the playlist. Find the collection of drawing tutorials you want to organize. Check that you can access the playlist and identify which videos belong in the sorting task.

Record every title and duration. Write down each tutorial's title and video length. A title alone may not tell you how long a demonstration takes, so use the displayed duration rather than estimating it.

Choose the direction. Shortest first can help when you have limited time. Longest first can put extended demonstrations at the top when you want to plan a longer session. Choose one direction before arranging the list.

Check the learning sequence. Look for tutorials that build on earlier lessons. For example, a lesson about shading may make more sense after a lesson about basic forms. Keep essential prerequisites together or make a note of the order in which they should be watched.

Arrange the videos by duration. Compare the recorded lengths and move the shortest tutorials to the top for a short-first list. For a long-first list, reverse the direction. Keep the titles beside the durations so each video stays identifiable.

Decide where longer or shorter exceptions belong. A short introduction may need to come before a longer exercise even if the duration sort would place it elsewhere. If your method allows exceptions, keep the necessary lessons together. If you are sorting automatically, consider whether the resulting order will support the intended learning sequence.

Review the proposed order. Read the list from top to bottom. Check for missing tutorials, misplaced prerequisites and demonstrations that belong together. A preview can help you review a new order before applying it.

Apply the order. Reorder the videos by hand or use a tool that sorts a YouTube playlist by duration. If using an automatic option, follow its instructions and confirm that the change has been applied.

Start drawing with the first suitable tutorial. Open the first lesson and follow along with the materials you need. A short video may still require extra practice time, so allow time for drawing rather than planning around video duration alone.

Review the list after a practice session. If the order makes a technique harder to learn, adjust it. Keep the arrangement useful for the way you study instead of treating duration as the only consideration.

The aim is to make tutorials easier to choose, not to force every drawing lesson into a duration-only sequence.

Tools that can do it

You can organize drawing tutorials without dedicated sorting software. The right method depends on whether you want to change the playlist itself or simply prepare a viewing list.

Paper list or sticky note. Write each tutorial's title and duration, then rank the entries by hand. This method lets you consider drawing prerequisites while deciding the order. Price and other details depend on the supplies you already have.

A spreadsheet. Put tutorial titles in one column and video lengths in another. Arrange the entries by the duration column to create a short-first or long-first list. Check that the titles remain paired with the correct durations after sorting. Specific spreadsheet features and costs are not established here, so check the details of the app you choose.

The playlist's own ordering controls. You can arrange videos manually in a playlist you control. Use the duration displayed for each tutorial as a guide, then check the resulting sequence. This approach leaves you responsible for deciding where each video belongs.

YTSort. YTSort is made by the team that publishes this site, XP Daily. YTSort is one option among these methods. It is a free browser tool that reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first. ^[1] It sorts the full playlist, including videos that have not loaded on screen. ^[1] It shows the proposed order so you can review it before applying the change. ^[1]

YTSort can also sort videos within a selected length range and move the remaining videos to the end. ^[1] It displays the playlist's total, average, shortest and longest video durations, and can export each video's position, title, duration and URL to a CSV file. ^[1] ^[1] These features can help when planning a drawing curriculum or keeping a record of a tutorial collection.

YTSort is free, open-source software under the GPL-2.0-only licence, and all installation options include the same features. ^[1] ^[1] You can use a bookmark, a browser script or a Chrome Web Store extension. ^[1] The extension needs Chrome or Edge. The script version works in any browser, including Firefox, when Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey is installed. ^[1]

Choose a manual method if you only need a written viewing order. Consider YTSort if you want to reorder a YouTube playlist you own by duration and review the proposed order before applying it.

Common mistakes to avoid

Sorting by length without considering the lesson sequence. A short tutorial may explain a technique needed for a longer demonstration. Check which lessons depend on others before changing the order, and keep important prerequisites together.

Recording only some of the videos. A list with missing tutorials can produce an incomplete viewing plan. Review the playlist and make sure every intended video appears in the list before sorting.

Confusing video duration with practice time. A brief demonstration of perspective or shading may require substantial time to follow along. Allow time to draw, pause and repeat a technique rather than scheduling only the video's running time.

Applying a new order without reviewing it. Read the proposed list first. If using YTSort, check the proposed order before applying it. ^[1]

Forgetting about longer tutorials. Moving extended demonstrations to the bottom can make them easier to postpone. Set aside a suitable practice session for them if they are part of the learning goal.

Assuming every sorting method changes the playlist itself. A paper list or spreadsheet provides an order to follow, while a playlist sorting tool can change the order of the videos in a playlist you own. Decide whether a written plan or a changed playlist is the desired result.

Choosing a browser option without checking compatibility. Check the browser requirements and installation instructions before choosing an extension or script. YTSort's extension requires Chrome or Edge, while its script version supports browsers including Firefox with a compatible script manager installed. ^[1]

Things to check before you choose

Before settling on a method, consider how you use drawing tutorials and what the final order needs to accomplish.

Playlist ownership. If the goal is to change the playlist itself, confirm that it is one you own. Otherwise, consider creating your own collection or keeping a separate viewing list.
Learning dependencies. Decide whether strict duration order is appropriate or whether some tutorials need to stay together for a particular technique.
Length range. If you want to focus on tutorials that fit a specific session, check whether the sorting method can handle a chosen duration range.
Review before applying. Check whether you can see the proposed order before committing to the change.
Browser compatibility. Verify that the chosen option works with the browser you use and that any required script manager is available.
Cost and licence. Check published terms when choosing a tool. YTSort is free, open-source software under the GPL-2.0-only licence, and its installation options include the same features. ^[1] ^[1]
Records for later. If you want to track a drawing curriculum, check whether exporting titles and durations would be useful. YTSort can export each video's position, title, duration and URL to a CSV file. ^[1]

A useful arrangement balances duration, available practice time and the order in which skills need to be learned.

Frequently asked questions

How can drawing tutorials be sorted by length?

Record the title and duration of each drawing tutorial, then arrange the entries from shortest to longest or longest to shortest. Check the sequence for lessons that depend on earlier techniques before applying the order. A paper list or spreadsheet works for a viewing plan, while a sorting tool can reorder a YouTube playlist you own.

Can YTSort sort drawing tutorials by duration?

Yes. YTSort reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, with the shortest or longest videos first. ^[1] It sorts the full playlist rather than only the videos loaded on screen. ^[1] Review the proposed order before applying it, especially when the tutorials form a structured drawing course. ^[1]

Can YTSort show the playlist order before sorting?

Yes. YTSort shows the proposed order so it can be checked before it is applied. ^[1] This is useful for reviewing a drawing curriculum in which some lessons should follow others. Check the sequence for misplaced introductions, prerequisite techniques and longer demonstrations before committing to the change.

Which browsers support YTSort for drawing tutorials?

YTSort offers a bookmark, a browser script and a Chrome Web Store extension. ^[1] The extension needs Chrome or Edge. The script version works in any browser, including Firefox, with Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey installed. ^[1] Check the installation instructions for the option that matches the browser used to watch drawing lessons.

Is YTSort free for sorting drawing tutorials?

Yes. YTSort is a free browser tool, and all its installation options include the same features. ^[1] It is also open-source software under the GPL-2.0-only licence. ^[1] Before choosing any sorting method, consider whether a manual list, spreadsheet or automatic playlist reorder meets the needs of the drawing practice schedule.

Should drawing tutorials always be sorted from shortest to longest?

No. Shortest-first ordering can help when selecting a lesson for a short practice session, but video length does not show whether a technique is suitable for a learner's current stage. A longer lesson may explain a foundation needed for later exercises. Review the learning sequence, keep dependent lessons together and adjust the order when duration alone does not support the learning goal.

Can YTSort sort only drawing tutorials within a certain length?

YTSort can sort videos within a selected length range and move the remaining videos to the end. ^[1] This can help when organizing tutorials for a particular practice session. Check the resulting order to confirm that the videos within the chosen range are useful for the planned exercise and that moving the other lessons has not interrupted an important learning sequence.

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)