BYTETOOLS

YouTube Chapter Timestamp Generator

Build a YouTube chapter list from titles and durations — start times are added up for you and checked against YouTube's chapter rules before you copy.

Enter each chapter's title and how long it runs — start times are added up for you.

0:00
—
—
1
Chapters
0:45
Total length
Issues
Rule check

YouTube needs at least 3 chapters for the timeline to split — you have 1.

Chapter list — paste into your video description

0:00 Intro

What is the YouTube Chapter Timestamp Generator?

YouTube Chapter Timestamp Generator builds the timestamp list that turns a video into chapters. Instead of calculating start times by hand, you enter each chapter's title and how long it runs; the tool accumulates the start times, formats them (0:00, 4:35, 1:02:10) and assembles the finished list for your description.

  • Start times auto-accumulated from per-chapter durations
  • Enforces YouTube's rules: starts at 0:00, 10-second minimum, 3+ chapters
  • Accepts mm:ss and h:mm:ss durations, formats output correctly
  • Inline validation on the exact row with the problem
  • Copy or download the finished chapter list
  • Total video length calculated as you go

How to use the YouTube Chapter Timestamp Generator

  1. 1

    Enter a title and a duration (like 2:45) for each chapter.

  2. 2

    Add rows as needed — start times are calculated automatically from the durations.

  3. 3

    Fix any flagged rule violations: minimum 10 seconds per chapter, at least 3 chapters.

  4. 4

    Copy the finished chapter list into your YouTube video description.

About the YouTube Chapter Timestamp Generator

YouTube Chapter Timestamp Generator builds the timestamp list that turns a video into chapters. Instead of calculating start times by hand, you enter each chapter's title and how long it runs; the tool accumulates the start times, formats them (0:00, 4:35, 1:02:10) and assembles the finished list for your description.

It validates YouTube's chapter rules as you type: the list must start at 0:00, every chapter must be at least 10 seconds long, and you need at least three chapters for the timeline segments to appear. Problems are flagged on the exact row that causes them.

The generator runs 100% locally in your browser — titles and timings are never uploaded, and the finished list is ready to copy or download.

Frequently asked questions

How do I add chapters to a YouTube video?

Paste a list of timestamps with titles into the video description, starting with 0:00. As of 2026 YouTube requires at least three timestamps, each chapter at least 10 seconds long, and the first one must be 0:00 — then the progress bar splits into chapters automatically.

Why aren't my YouTube chapters showing up?

The usual causes: the list doesn't begin with 0:00, there are fewer than three timestamps, a chapter is shorter than 10 seconds, or the timestamps aren't in ascending order. This tool checks all of those before you copy.

Do I enter start times or durations?

Durations. You say how long each chapter runs and the tool adds them up into start times, which is much easier when you are planning chapters from an edit timeline. The output is the standard start-time format YouTube expects.

What timestamp format does YouTube use?

Minutes and seconds (4:35) for videos under an hour and h:mm:ss (1:02:10) beyond that. The generator picks the right format automatically based on your total running time.

Is my chapter list uploaded anywhere?

No. Everything is calculated in your browser; the tool has no connection to YouTube. You copy the finished list and paste it into your description yourself.

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