All 15 YouTube Video Categories Explained

YouTube officially supports 15 content categories for video uploads. Each category has a human-readable name and a numeric ID used by the platform's Data API. Knowing the full list helps creators pick the right category during upload, helps researchers understand how YouTube segments content, and helps developers build tools that filter or analyze videos by type.

This is the complete list as of 2026, with descriptions, niche examples, and the category ID used in YouTube's API.

All 15 YouTube Video Categories (Name, ID, and Description)

Film & Animation (ID 1): Feature films, short films, animated content, and video essays about cinema. Not for home video or casual vlogs.

Autos & Vehicles (ID 2): Car reviews, motorcycle content, vehicle restoration, driving tutorials, and automotive news.

Music (ID 10): Official music videos, lyric videos, covers, music performances, and audio tracks. Note that music videos often have separate monetization arrangements with rights holders.

Pets & Animals (ID 15): Animal care, pet training, wildlife content, and animal behavior videos. A large and popular category with moderate advertiser CPM.

Sports (ID 17): Sports highlights, athletic training, commentary, match analysis, and sport-specific tutorials. Fitness content straddles Sports and Howto & Style.

Short Movies (ID 18): A specialized category for short-form narrative films distinct from the main Film & Animation category.

Travel & Events (ID 19): Travel vlogs, destination guides, event coverage, and location-based content.

Gaming (ID 20): Game walkthroughs, reviews, livestream highlights, esports, and gaming news. One of the largest categories on the platform by upload volume.

Videoblogging (ID 21): A legacy category that has been largely absorbed by People & Blogs in practice. Rarely selected by new creators.

People & Blogs (ID 22): The most commonly used catch-all category. Vlogs, lifestyle content, day-in-the-life videos, and content where the creator's personality is the primary draw.

Comedy (ID 23): Stand-up comedy, sketch comedy, parody videos, and humorous content. A distinct category from general Entertainment.

Entertainment (ID 24): A broad category for content that does not fit a specific niche — variety shows, reaction videos, and general interest content.

News & Politics (ID 25): News coverage, political commentary, current events analysis, and journalism. CPM spikes significantly during election cycles.

Howto & Style (ID 26): Tutorials, DIY projects, cooking demonstrations, beauty and fashion, fitness instruction, and how-to content of all types. One of the most broadly applicable categories.

Education (ID 27): Academic content, educational explainers, lectures, and skill-building tutorials. Distinct from Howto & Style — Education implies structured learning whereas Howto implies practical instruction.

Science & Technology (ID 28): Tech reviews, science explainers, software tutorials, engineering content, and STEM education. Commands strong advertiser CPM.

Nonprofits & Activism (ID 29): Content from nonprofit organizations, advocacy campaigns, and social cause content.

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YouTube Categories That Were Removed or Deprecated

YouTube originally launched with more content categories than the 15 active today. Several were removed or consolidated as the platform matured.

The most notable removal is "Gadgets & Games," which split into the separate Gaming and Science & Technology categories. "Autos & Vehicles" was previously split further but consolidated. "Short Movies" (ID 18) and "Videoblogging" (ID 21) are technically still in the API but rarely used in practice — many platforms that display categories omit them from active selection.

If a video you check shows a deprecated or unfamiliar category ID, it was likely uploaded years ago and assigned to a category that has since been consolidated. The category still functions in the algorithm but may not be selectable for new uploads.

How to Find What Category Any YouTube Video Is In

The YouTube Category Checker at the top of this page accepts any video URL and returns the official category name and numeric ID in under two seconds. This is the fastest way to check category for videos on channels you do not own — YouTube Studio only shows category data for your own uploads.

Use the checker to audit competitor videos, verify that your own uploads saved the correct category, or research what categories perform best in your niche. The result comes directly from YouTube's Data API, so it reflects the actual value stored in the platform's database.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there more than 15 YouTube categories?

The YouTube data source returns 15 actively used categories for video uploads in most regions. A few legacy category IDs exist in the system but are not available for new uploads and are rarely assigned to existing videos.

What happened to the Pets & Animals category?

Pets & Animals (ID 15) still exists and is actively used. It was not removed. Animal content — including wildlife and pet care — should still be filed under this category rather than Entertainment or People & Blogs.

Why does my video show a category I did not select?

YouTube may default to a category during upload if the uploader skips the category field or selects a deprecated option. Check your video in YouTube Studio under Details and make sure the correct category is saved. You can verify the live category on any video using the checker above.

Is the category list the same in all countries?

The core category list is consistent globally, but some categories may have restricted availability in certain regions. YouTube's API allows you to query available categories by region code if needed.