Chicago 17th Edition — YouTube & Video Citations

Chicago YouTube Video Citation Generator

Cite YouTube videos, TED talks, and online lectures in Chicago 17th edition (Notes-Bibliography) format. Get the footnote and bibliography entry ready to copy.

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How to cite a youtube video in Chicago

Search for the youtube video

Paste a DOI, URL, ISBN, title, or author name to find the exact source record.

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Verify author, year, title, container, and publication details before copying the final citation.

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Get the complete Chicago citation plus the matching in-text citation or footnote format.

Chicago YouTube Citation Format

Footnote (YouTube Video):

First Name Last Name, "Title of Video," YouTube video, duration, Month Day, Year, URL.

Bibliography (YouTube Video):

Last Name, First Name. "Title of Video." YouTube video, duration. Month Day, Year. URL.

TED Talk (TED.com):

Last Name, First Name. "Title of Talk." TED video, duration. Month Year. URL.

In-Text Citation:

Superscript number (e.g., ¹, ², ³) corresponding to the footnote

Chicago YouTube Citation Examples

YouTube Video (Known Author)

R. C. Sproul, "What Is Reformed Theology?," YouTube video, 48:21, March 15, 2019, https://youtu.be/example.

Footnote:

Bibliography:

Sproul, R. C. "What Is Reformed Theology?" YouTube video, 48:21. March 15, 2019. https://youtu.be/example.

In-text: ¹

YouTube Video (Channel Name as Author)

Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell, "The Immune System Explained," YouTube video, 6:48, June 10, 2023, https://youtu.be/example.

Footnote:

Bibliography:

Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell. "The Immune System Explained." YouTube video, 6:48. June 10, 2023. https://youtu.be/example.

In-text: ²

TED Talk (TED.com)

Brené Brown, "The Power of Vulnerability," TED video, 20:19, June 2010, https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_the_power_of_vulnerability.

Footnote:

Bibliography:

Brown, Brené. "The Power of Vulnerability." TED video, 20:19. June 2010. https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_the_power_of_vulnerability.

In-text: ³

Educational Lecture

Harvard University, "Introduction to Machine Learning," YouTube video, 1:22:05, January 20, 2024, https://youtu.be/example.

Footnote:

Bibliography:

Harvard University. "Introduction to Machine Learning." YouTube video, 1:22:05. January 20, 2024. https://youtu.be/example.

In-text: ⁴

Examples formatted in Chicago style

Citing Timestamps in Chicago Video Citations

Citing a Specific Moment

Include the timestamp in the footnote only:
...as demonstrated.³ [Footnote: Harvard University, "Introduction to Machine Learning," YouTube video, at 14:32, January 20, 2024, URL.]

Shortened Subsequent Notes

After the first full footnote, use a shortened form:
Last Name, "Shortened Title."
Sproul, "What Is Reformed Theology?"
Never add timestamps to the bibliography entry.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a YouTube video in Chicago style?

Chicago style (Notes-Bibliography) uses two formats. The footnote uses first name first with commas: Footnote: First Name Last Name, "Title of Video," YouTube video, duration, Month Day, Year, URL. Bibliography: Last Name, First Name. "Title of Video." YouTube video, duration. Month Day, Year. URL. In-text, use a superscript number (e.g., ¹) that corresponds to the footnote.

Do I need the video length in a Chicago YouTube citation?

Including the duration is recommended when it is available (e.g., "YouTube video, 12:34"). It helps readers identify the source. If the duration is not readily available, you may omit it — the citation is still valid without it.

How do I cite a TED talk in Chicago style?

For a TED talk on TED.com: Footnote: First Name Last Name, "Title of Talk," TED video, duration, Month Year, URL. Bibliography: Last Name, First Name. "Title of Talk." TED video, duration. Month Year. URL. For a TED talk uploaded to YouTube, use the standard YouTube format with the YouTube URL.

What goes in the footnote vs. the bibliography for a video?

The footnote uses first name first and separates elements with commas: First Name Last Name, "Title," YouTube video, duration, Month Day, Year, URL. The bibliography uses last name first and separates elements with periods: Last Name, First Name. "Title." YouTube video, duration. Month Day, Year. URL. After the first full footnote, subsequent references use a shortened form: Last Name, "Shortened Title."

How do I cite a YouTube video with no author in Chicago style?

If no individual or organizational author can be identified, begin the citation with the video title: Footnote: "Title of Video," YouTube video, duration, Month Day, Year, URL. Bibliography: "Title of Video." YouTube video, duration. Month Day, Year. URL. If a channel name is available, use it as the author.

Is this Chicago YouTube citation generator free?

Yes — CiteMe lets you generate Chicago-style YouTube video citations for free. Search for any video and get the correctly formatted footnote, bibliography entry, and superscript in-text marker instantly.