How to sort tutorial playlists by length for tutorial followers in 2026

A plain guide for tutorial followers to sort a tutorial playlist by video length, with steps, the tools to try and the mistakes to avoid.

By XP Daily · 2026-10-24

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

Find the length of each video in the playlist, put the shortest or longest first, and start at the top. You can do it by hand on paper or in a spreadsheet.

Option	How it orders videos	Cost
Paper list or sticky note	You rank by hand	not published
Spreadsheet	You sort by a length column you fill in	not published
YTSort	Reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first ^[1]	Free; all install options include the same features ^[1]

What you need before you start

Watching tutorials in a length order takes only a few things.

A tutorial 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 rank the videos.
A reason for sorting by length. It might be to fit a free half hour with shorter tutorials or to give long ones a dedicated block. Know which, because it decides what you do with the long videos.
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 aside a short block before a tutorial series begins. Sorting while you are already watching tends to break your flow.

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 order by length.
List every video with its length. Write the title and the time shown on the thumbnail. Do not sort yet.
Decide shortest first or longest first. Short tutorials fit quick breaks, while long ones deserve their own session. Pick one order before you move on.
Mark videos that must stay in order. Some tutorials build on earlier ones. If lesson two needs lesson one, keep those two together.
Rank the rest by length. Put the shortest at the top if you chose shortest first.
Decide what happens to the very long videos. You can leave them at the end or schedule them for a longer free block.
Check the order before you commit. Read the new list once from top to bottom and look for tutorials that now sit in a confusing place.
Apply the order. Reorder the playlist by hand, or use a tool that does it for you.
Watch from the top. Start with the first video and move down the list.
Keep notes as you go. Short tutorials pass quickly, so a line or two per video helps the ideas stick.
Review after the first few sessions. If the order is not helping you learn, 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 length-ordered 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 is free, and each way to get it carries the same features. ^[1]

You can get YTSort 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]

Common mistakes to avoid

Sorting a series that builds video by video. If later tutorials rely on earlier ones, a pure length order can leave you confused. Keep dependent tutorials together.

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

Forgetting the long videos. Moving them to the end is fine, but plan when you will watch them so they do not drift off your schedule.

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

Watching without notes. Short tutorials go by fast, so notes can help you keep track of what you watched.

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

Frequently asked questions

How to sort a tutorial playlist by length in YouTube?

List each video with its length, decide whether you want shortest or longest first, rank the videos, then apply that order to the playlist by hand or with a tool. A quick read of the new order before you start catches videos that ended up in an odd spot.

Can a tutorial playlist be sorted by length for free?

Yes, YTSort is free, and each way to get it carries the same features. ^[1] A paper list or a spreadsheet costs nothing beyond what you already own. Check each tool's current details before you choose how to sort your playlist.

Can the new playlist order be checked before it is applied? [[c:ytsort-dry-run]]

With YTSort, yes. It shows the before and after order so you can check it before applying. ^[1] With a paper list or a spreadsheet, you see the order as you write it, so read it through once before you start watching.

Which browsers work with YTSort?

The extension needs Chrome or Edge. The script works in any browser, including Firefox, with Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey installed. ^[1] It can also be run from a bookmark. ^[1]

Should tutorial followers sort every series by length?

Not always. If a tutorial series builds video by video, keep dependent videos in order. Sorting by length can suit a free half hour or a long dedicated block. Review the order after a few sessions and change it if it is not helping.

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)