How to sort videos by duration for commuters in 2026

Learn how to sort YouTube videos by duration for a commute, choose a sorting method, check the order and keep longer videos for another time.

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.

To sort videos by duration for a commute, list each video's length, arrange the videos from shortest to longest, and check the order before watching. If the videos are in a YouTube playlist you own, YTSort can reorder the playlist by duration, with the shortest or longest videos first. ^[1]

Option	How it orders videos	Price	Requirements
Paper list or sticky note	Rank video titles by duration by hand.	Depends on supplies already available.	A list of video titles and lengths.
Spreadsheet	Sort a duration column after recording video lengths.	Not published for a specific spreadsheet app.	A spreadsheet with titles and durations.
YTSort	Reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first. ^[1]	Free. All install options include the same features. ^[1]	Chrome or Edge for the extension, or a supported browser and script manager for the script version. ^[1]

What you need before you start

Sorting videos by duration can help commuters find something that fits the time available before the next stop. Start by deciding how much time is available for watching and whether shorter videos should come first or longer videos should be grouped together.

A playlist you can access. If the videos are in a YouTube playlist you own, you can change their order in that playlist. For someone else's playlist, you can copy the videos into your own first or work from a written list.
The length of each video. You need each video's duration to put the videos in order. YouTube displays video lengths on thumbnails.
A time limit for watching. A short trip may call for shorter videos, while a longer journey may leave room for longer ones. Decide what to do with videos that do not fit the time available.
A place to keep the order. A paper list, spreadsheet or playlist can hold the sorted results. Choose one place so you do not have to reconstruct the order each time.
A web browser. A browser is needed if you want a tool to reorder a YouTube playlist. Check the tool's requirements before starting.

If the commute involves several changes or interruptions, consider keeping a note of where to resume watching. Sorting the playlist helps organize the videos, but it does not decide how much time the journey will leave for each one.

Step by step

These steps work with a paper list, a spreadsheet or a tool that reorders a playlist.

Open the playlist or gather the videos. Start with the videos you want to organize. If you plan to change the order of a YouTube playlist itself, make sure it belongs to your account.

Record each video's title and duration. Use the length displayed on the video thumbnail. Keeping titles beside durations makes it easier to identify the right video when you reorder the list.

Decide how to handle the available time. Think about the time usually available for watching during the commute. You can put shorter videos first, or use a duration range to identify videos that fall within a preferred length.

Choose the sorting direction. Shortest to longest puts brief videos at the top. Longest to shortest puts longer videos first. Choose the direction that makes the list easier to use for the journey.

Arrange the videos by duration. On paper, rank the videos by their recorded lengths. In a spreadsheet, sort the duration column. For a YouTube playlist you own, a suitable sorting tool can rearrange the playlist for you.

Review videos that fall outside your preferred range. If you are looking for videos of a particular length, decide whether the remaining videos should stay together at the end or remain in the list for another time.

Check the proposed order before applying it. Read through the list from top to bottom. Look for videos that have been placed incorrectly and consider whether any related lessons need to stay together. If a tool shows a preview, use it to review the changes first.

Apply the order and confirm the result. If you sorted a written list, keep it somewhere easy to consult. If you changed a playlist, check that the new order appears as intended.

Choose a video that suits the journey. Start with a video that fits the time available, allowing room for interruptions and the time needed to get off at the right stop.

Review the order when your routine changes. A list made for a short journey may not suit a longer trip. Reorder the videos or adjust the duration range when the time available changes.

The aim is to make it easier to find a video that suits the journey, rather than to watch every video in a fixed order regardless of the time available.

Tools that can do it

You do not need software to organize videos by length. The right method depends on whether you want a simple list or want to change a YouTube playlist directly.

Paper list or sticky note. Write down each video's title and duration, then rank the videos by hand. This gives you a list you can consult when choosing what to watch. Price and other details depend on the supplies already available.

A spreadsheet. Put video titles in one column and durations in another, then sort by duration. This can make a long list easier to review and update. Check the spreadsheet app's own instructions and details before choosing one.

YTSort. YTSort is made by the team that publishes this site, XP Daily. YTSort is one option for sorting 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]

YTSort can show the before and after order so you can review the proposed changes before applying them. ^[1] It can also sort videos within a chosen length range and move the others to the end. ^[1] These options can help organize videos around the time available for a commute.

YTSort is free, and all install options include the same features. ^[1] It is available as 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, with Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey installed. ^[1]

Before choosing a method, consider whether you need to change the actual playlist or only want a sorted list to consult. A paper list or spreadsheet can organize durations without changing the playlist. YTSort changes the order of a YouTube playlist you own. ^[1]

Common mistakes to avoid

Choosing a sorting direction without a purpose. Shortest first can help when the time available is limited. Longest first can put longer videos at the top. Decide which arrangement helps before changing the list.

Ignoring videos outside the preferred duration range. A video that is too long for one journey may still be useful on another. Decide whether to move such videos to the end or keep them on a separate written list.

Changing a playlist without checking the order. Read through the proposed arrangement before applying it. A preview can help identify misplaced videos before the playlist changes.

Sorting a playlist that does not belong to the account. Check the playlist owner before attempting to change its order. For someone else's playlist, copy the videos into a playlist you own or keep a written list instead.

Separating lessons that depend on one another. A duration-based order does not account for lesson dependencies. If a later video needs an earlier lesson, keep those videos together where necessary.

Assuming the list will match every journey. Commute times and available viewing time can change. Review the order when the journey changes, and choose a video that leaves enough time to prepare for the next stop.

Frequently asked questions

How can commuters sort videos by duration?

Record each video's title and length, then arrange the videos from shortest to longest or longest to shortest. A paper list or spreadsheet can hold the sorted order. For a YouTube playlist you own, YTSort can reorder the playlist by duration. ^[1] Check the final order before watching so the first videos suit the time available for the journey.

Can YTSort sort a YouTube playlist by video length?

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] This can help organize a playlist around the time available for a commute. Review the proposed order before applying the changes.

Can YTSort show the playlist order before sorting?

Yes. YTSort shows the before and after order so the proposed changes can be checked before they are applied. ^[1] Reviewing the order is useful when a playlist contains related lessons or videos that should remain together. A paper list or spreadsheet can also be reviewed before the playlist is changed manually.

Which browsers support YTSort?

The YTSort extension needs Chrome or Edge. The script version works in any browser, including Firefox, with Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey installed. ^[1] YTSort can also be run from a bookmark. ^[1] Check which installation method suits the browser available on the device before starting.

Is YTSort free to sort videos by duration?

Yes. YTSort is free, and all install options include the same features. ^[1] It is also open-source software under the GPL-2.0-only licence. ^[1] The available installation methods are a bookmark, a browser script and a Chrome Web Store extension. ^[1] Check the browser requirements before choosing an option.

Can YTSort move videos outside a chosen duration range?

Yes. YTSort can sort only videos within a selected length range and move the remaining videos to the end of the playlist. ^[1] This can help separate videos that suit a shorter journey from longer videos that may be more convenient to watch later. Review the proposed order before applying the changes.

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)