YouTube now counts uploads in their own bucket: 100 a day, one unit each

Description and use

Automated YouTube channels can now upload up to 100 videos per day, as each upload costs 1 unit in a separate quota bucket, freeing the main 10,000‑unit limit for other API calls.

Problem

Automated YouTube channels were limited by high upload quota costs, restricting uploads to about six per day.

Outcome

Automated channels can now upload up to 100 videos per day without hitting the main quota, while still respecting the 10,000‑unit limit for other API calls.

Workflow

• 1. Configure OAuth consent screen (publish app to avoid seven‑day token expiry).
• 2. Use Studio to track both the Video Uploads bucket (100 calls/day) and the default bucket (10,000 units/day).
• 3. Upload videos as private, setting a publish time for the next available slot.
• 4. Wait if either bucket would be exceeded instead of failing.
• 5. Publish videos at a default rate of one per day, ensuring visibility before public release.

Evidence

For years an upload through the YouTube Data API cost about 1,600 of a project's 10,000 daily units, which held an automated channel to six uploads a day.

Source

The reference page for videos.insert now reads: "A call to this method has a quota cost of 1 unit in the Video Uploads quota bucket", with a quota impact of 100 calls per day.

Source

Studio counts the two buckets separately per Pacific day and waits rather than fail when either would be exceeded.

Source