MecraYouTube API quota explained: limits, costs and what to do when it runs out
The YouTube Data API daily quota: the 10,000-unit default, the separate upload bucket, per-method costs, the reset time and ways to use the quota efficiently.
Every application that connects to YouTube through software is subject to the YouTube Data API quota. The quota limits how much a Google Cloud project can do per day. For automation tools a "quota exceeded" error is one of the most common reasons videos don't upload, so it pays to know how it works.
The default quota
According to Google's documentation, projects that enable the YouTube Data API get by default 100 search.list calls per day, 100 videos.insert (video upload) calls per day and a shared 10,000 units per day for all other endpoints (YouTube Data API docs). So search and video upload sit in separate buckets, while other operations are counted against the shared 10,000-unit pool.
Older sources may quote a very high unit cost per upload; per the current official documentation an upload counts as 1 in its own bucket, and that bucket is capped at 100 calls a day. Always check the current values in Google's documentation.
Cost of operations
YouTube's general rule: reading a list usually costs 1 unit, while creating, updating or deleting a resource usually costs 50. Examples from the quota cost table:
| Operation | Cost |
|---|---|
videos.list, channels.list (read) | 1 unit |
videos.update (update title/description) | 50 units |
thumbnails.set (upload a thumbnail) | 50 units |
playlistItems.insert (add a video to a playlist) | 50 units |
comments.insert (post a comment) | 50 units |
captions.insert (upload captions) | 400 units |
videos.insert (upload a video) | 1 call in its own bucket (100 per day) |
search.list (search) | 1 call in its own bucket (100 per day) |
The YouTube Analytics API and Reporting API have their own separate quotas; check their documentation.
When does it reset?
According to Google, daily quotas reset at midnight Pacific Time (PT). That is 07:00 UTC while US daylight saving time is in effect (mid-March to early November) and 08:00 UTC in US standard time (early November to mid-March).
Ways to use the quota efficiently
- Avoid search. To list a channel's uploads read the channel's "uploads" playlist with
playlistItems.listinstead ofsearch.list; it is far cheaper. - Read in batches.
videos.listcan query up to 50 video IDs in one call. - Use a cache. Don't ask for the same data again within a short time; refreshing analytics panels every few minutes is enough.
- Avoid needless updates. Enter title and thumbnail correctly at upload; fixing them later costs 50 units or more.
- Wait on errors. When you get
quotaExceeded, retrying repeatedly doesn't help; wait for the reset. - Plan uploads. 100 uploads a day is plenty for most channels; in projects that get squeezed the bottleneck is often the shared 10,000 units for other operations.
What happens when the quota is full?
The API returns a quotaExceeded error, and operations of that type are rejected until the quota resets. A good automation tool handles it like this: it shows you the error, queues the job, resumes where it left off when the quota reopens and shows the last known data in the dashboard meanwhile. A tool without this behavior may stop production when the quota fills (criteria for choosing a tool).
How do you get more quota?
Google offers a quota extension form for projects that exceed the default; but before applying you need a compliance audit that shows your project complies with the YouTube API Services Terms of Service (Quota and compliance audits). The same audit is needed to lift the rule that keeps videos uploaded from new API projects private.
Should you use your own project?
An automation tool uses its own API project and OAuth client, and spends quota from that project. If a tool uses a shared project, the quota is the shared limit of everyone using it; that's why a tool's quota management and business model matter.
Mecra and the quota
Mecra keeps its calls to YouTube efficient by caching recent responses for a while; when the quota is full it shows the last known data on the dashboard and resumes uploads and refreshes by itself after the reset. You can see the daily limits (AI, YouTube API, disk) on the Logs page.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
When does the YouTube API quota reset?
Daily quotas reset at midnight Pacific Time.
How many videos can I upload per day?
According to Google's documentation, a project gets by default 100 video-upload calls (videos.insert) and 100 search calls (search.list) per day, plus a shared 10,000 units per day for all other endpoints. Your practical limit can also be affected by YouTube's own per-channel upload limits.
I get a “quotaExceeded” error. What should I do?
Wait for the quota to reset and cut unnecessary read calls (list playlists instead of searching, cache results). If it is constantly too small, apply for a quota extension; that requires a compliance audit first.
Where can I see my quota?
In Google Cloud Console under APIs & Services > YouTube Data API v3 > Quotas you can see your daily usage and limits.
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