How do I cite a youtube video in Bluebook?

To cite a youtube video in Bluebook (21st edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.

What is the Bluebook format for a youtube video citation?

The Bluebook format requires specific elements like author, title, date, and source location arranged in a particular order.

What does the in-text citation look like for a youtube video in Bluebook?

In Bluebook, the in-text citation for the example above is Study Lab, Introduction to Citation Styles, YouTube (2024), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBcD1234.

How to Cite a YouTube Video in Bluebook (21st edition)

Learn how to cite YouTube and online videos in Bluebook format (21st edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

Bluebook Bibliography Format

Here is the standard Bluebook format for citing a youtube video in your bibliography:

Bluebook Example for a YouTube Video

Bluebook does not give a youtube video an entry in the bibliography — it is cited in a note only. Here is that note, formatted by the official Bluebook CSL style definition:

Study Lab, Introduction to Citation Styles, YouTube (2024), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBcD1234.

Step-by-Step Guide

Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your youtube video.
Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the Bluebook (21st edition) template shown above.
Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
Add to your bibliography: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match Bluebook requirements.

Evidence and review notes

Worked examples are generated by citeproc from the published CSL definition, not written by a language model. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.

CSL style record: bluebook.csl

Metadata to collect

channel name and the creator's real name if known
video title
upload date
running time
video URL
timestamp of the passage you quote

Common metadata traps

Use the upload date shown under the video, not the date you watched it.
Credit the channel as author only when it made the video; otherwise name the creator and note the channel.

Read the detailed source guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a youtube video in Bluebook?: To cite a youtube video in Bluebook (21st edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the Bluebook format for a youtube video citation?: The Bluebook format requires specific elements like author, title, date, and source location arranged in a particular order.
What does the in-text citation look like for a youtube video in Bluebook?: In Bluebook, the in-text citation for the example above is Study Lab, Introduction to Citation Styles, YouTube (2024), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBcD1234.