YouTube End Screen Planner
End screens are free real estate for more watch time, yet most creators slap on whatever YouTube suggests. This planner maps the right next video, playlist, and subscribe element for each upload to keep viewers in your ecosystem.
YouTube & VideoPDF + CSV5 sectionsfree, no paywall
What you get
- An element plan for each video, playlist, and subscribe slot
- A logic guide for picking the best next video to feature
- A verbal CTA script so the end screen is reinforced on camera
- Editable CSV for planning plus a branded print-ready PDF
How to use this template
- 1. Reserve end-screen time. Plan the last 5-20 seconds for end screens while scripting so the visuals leave room for the elements.
- 2. Pick the best next video. Choose a related video that continues the viewer journey, not just your newest upload, to maximize watch time.
- 3. Add a verbal CTA. Write a short on-camera line that points to the end-screen video so viewers act instead of scrolling away.
- 4. Track what works. Note which end-screen videos earn clicks so you keep featuring the patterns that keep sessions going.
Still choosing the tool you will run this in? Compare two side by side, or read how each profile is built in our review methodology.
What's inside
3 of 5 sections shown; the remaining 2 come with the free download.
What is a YouTube end screen?
A YouTube end screen is the clickable layer over the last 5 to 20 seconds of a video. It can hold a specific next video, a playlist, a subscribe button or an approved link, and it only works when your footage leaves space for the elements and runs long enough for anyone to tap one.
It is the cheapest watch-time gain available to a channel with a back catalogue. Pointing viewers at a closely related video instead of your newest upload keeps them in one session, and this planner settles that pairing while you are still editing rather than at upload time.
End screen plan
One row per video. Decide the next video, playlist, and subscribe placement before you edit.
| Video title | Next video to feature | Playlist | Subscribe element? | End-screen length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| My budget filming setup | 3 lighting mistakes | Gear guides | Yes | 15 sec |
Choosing the right next video
Featuring a closely related video, rather than just your latest upload, keeps viewers in a logical journey and lifts session watch time, which YouTube rewards across your whole channel.
Reinforce the end screen verbally. Viewers act far more often when the host tells them what to do next than when an element simply appears with no spoken prompt.
2 more sections and the PDF + CSV are behind the free download.
Tools that help with this
The template does the thinking; these are the products creators run it in. The full software directory has the rest.
Canva
Canva is a browser-based design platform for thumbnails, social graphics, presentations, and videos, with drag-and-drop editing and 1M+ templates.
$0/mo
Placeit
Placeit is a browser-based design tool by Envato that specializes in product mockups, logo creation, and merchandise design templates.
$14.95/mo
Figma
Figma is a browser-based design tool used by creators, designers, and teams to build graphics, thumbnails, social media posts, and full UI/UX projects.
$0/mo
TubeBuddy
TubeBuddy is a YouTube-certified browser extension and channel management toolkit that plugs directly into YouTube Studio.
$0/mo
Categories to browse: Thumbnail & Graphics Tools.
Frequently asked questions
What is a YouTube end screen?
It is the interactive layer YouTube shows over the final 5 to 20 seconds of a video, holding up to four elements such as a next video, a playlist and a subscribe button. You place it in Studio, but the footage has to leave room for it.
How long should a YouTube end screen be?
End screens can run from 5 to 20 seconds. Plan for the longer end of that range when featuring a next video and subscribe element, and leave room in your script so the outro does not feel rushed.
What should I feature on an end screen?
Feature the most relevant next video to continue the viewer journey, a themed playlist, and a subscribe element. Choosing a related video over your newest upload usually drives more session watch time.
Should the end screen show my newest video?
Usually not. A closely related video keeps the session going, because the viewer has just told you what interests them. Your newest upload is already being pushed to subscribers through notifications and the home feed.
Do end screens work on phones?
Yes, but the tap targets are small, so two elements read better than four. The spoken line matters more on a phone, where many viewers are half-watching and will not notice a card appear on its own.