YouTube playlist guide
How to Find a YouTube Playlist ID
A YouTube playlist ID is the value after list= in a playlist URL. Copy that value from a playlist page, a watch URL, a youtu.be short link, or a YouTube Music URL, then use it in playlist tools, embeds, APIs, or reports.
Direct answer
To find a YouTube playlist ID, look for list= in the URL and copy the characters that follow it. In youtube.com/playlist?list=PLabc123, the playlist ID is PLabc123.
Steps
Use this method when you need a clean playlist ID for calculators, CSV exports, embeds, or API work.
- Step 1
Copy the YouTube playlist URL or a watch URL that includes list=.
- Step 2
Find the list= parameter in the address.
- Step 3
Copy the value after list= until the next ampersand or the end of the URL.
- Step 4
Use the ID in a playlist calculator, CSV export, embed, API request, or reporting workflow.
Examples
Playlist ID examples from common YouTube URLs
Playlist page
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLabc123ExampleID
Playlist ID: PLabc123ExampleID
Video inside a playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ&list=PLabc123ExampleID&index=2
Playlist ID: PLabc123ExampleID
Short YouTube link
https://youtu.be/dQw4w9WgXcQ?list=PLabc123ExampleID
Playlist ID: PLabc123ExampleID
YouTube Music playlist
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_exampleID
Playlist ID: OLAK5uy_exampleID
Use the ID
Extract and copy the ID
Paste a long URL and copy the list= value without reading parameters by hand.
Calculate total watch time
Use the playlist ID or URL to calculate duration at 1x, 1.25x, 1.5x, 1.75x, or 2x.
Export playlist metadata
Turn the playlist into rows with titles, channels, durations, video IDs, and URLs.
Extract playlist links
Collect available video links from a playlist for research or content planning.
FAQ
Playlist ID questions
What is a YouTube playlist ID?
A YouTube playlist ID is the unique value in the list= parameter of a playlist URL. It tells YouTube which playlist to load.
Where is the playlist ID in a YouTube URL?
Look for list= in the URL. The playlist ID starts immediately after list= and ends before the next ampersand or the end of the URL.
Can a video URL contain a playlist ID?
Yes. A watch URL can contain both v= for the video and list= for the playlist. Use the list= value as the playlist ID.
Do I need a tool to find the ID?
You can find it manually, but a tool is helpful when the URL is long, copied from a mobile app, or mixed with tracking parameters.
Method: this guide reads the standard URL parameters YouTube uses for public playlist pages and watch pages. Updated 2026-07-01 by YouTube Playlist Tools.